The focus of this paper is to propose a method for prioritizing knowledge and technology

factor in companies’ business strategy. The data has been gathered and analyzed from

Malaysian-owned company of medium size type industry, employing around 250 employees

and listed in the Malaysian Bourse Stock of Exchange, since 2000. Sense and respond model

is used to determine competitive priorities of the firms. Then knowledge and technology

part of sense and respond questionnaire is used to calculate the variability coefficient i.e. the

uncertainty caused by technology and knowledge factor. The results show that the company

is not leading in term of technology (spear head technology share is around 33%). Therefore,

the enhancement of technology and knowledge to SCA values is not significantly seen in

this study. The usage of the core technologies is around 41% and it might seem relatively

enough. In terms of basic technology, while its share is the lowest (around 25%), it has the

highest source of uncertainties among technology types. In this case, the proposed model

helped to have a clear and precise improvement plan towards prioritizing technology and

knowledge focus.

A method for frequency-multiplexed multi-sample gas sensing is presented. It enables measuring multiple samples placed simultaneously in the setup, without any optical or mechanical switching. Samples are measured using heterodyne detection and signal from each sensing path is encoded at different carrier frequency. Subsequently, a signal from particular sample is retrieved through heterodyne beatnote demodulation at unique frequency. This technique is particularly suitable for real-time calibration of the sensor through a sequential (or simultaneous) detection of three signals: from unknown sample, reference sample and baseline. Basic setup is demonstrated and proof-of-concept experiments are presented. Very good agreement with spectra measured using standard tunable diode absorption spectroscopy is obtained.

Apart from medical care, medical biological equipment or physical environment biggest impact on our health has our behaviours. According to the Functional Health Model (FMZ) H. Wrony-Polańskiej (2003), pro-health behavior is conditioned by the availability of cognitive and behavioral resources, among which the sense of coherence plays an important role. Aim of the study was assessment of dependence between the sense of coherence and health behaviors of studying students. The study involved 245 second and third year students studying in humanities and science. The study was used the M. Ziarko Health Behavior Questionnaire and the A. Antonovsky SOC-29 Life Guidance Questionnaire. Research analysis has confirmed that there is a statistically significant relationship between health behaviors and the sense of coherence and its components: comprehensibility, manageability and meaningfulness. On the basis of the research conducted and based on the Functional Health Model it can be concluded that an important practical direction is to develop from a young age in healthy children and adolescents a special emphasis on the development of this resource.

We define the need for sense-making as the desire to find reliable connections between the objects, situations, and relationships that people encounter. We have proposed and tested that there are possible individual differences in the need for sense-making and that these individual differences are insightful in characterizing individuals and their behaviors. A correlational study (N = 229) showed that need for sense-making was positively related to self-esteem, extroversion, conscientiousness, openness, and sense of control. Additionally, a higher need for sense-making was associated with greater perception of it as an important part of people’s identity. Thus, need for sense-making is relevant to understanding individual differences and can furthermore comprise a significant element of people’s identity. These results break new ground in the study of individual differences in the need for sense-making and can be of great importance in work and organizational psychology.

Animals kept outside their natural environment often suffer from boredom. They don’t hunt or have a chance to conduct their mating rituals, and their natural tendency for physical activity is limited by space. These deficiencies affect their psychological well-being. But when it comes to dogs, we can help them by exploiting their excellent sense of smell.

Satellite remote sensing provides a synoptic view of the land and a spatial context for measuring drought impacts, which have proved to be a valuable source of spatially continuous data with improved information for monitoring vegetation dynamics. Many studies have focused on detecting drought effects over large areas, given the wide availability of low-resolution images. In this study, however, the objective was to focus on a smaller area (1085 km2) using Landsat ETM+ images (multispectral resolution of 30 m and 15 m panchromatic), and to process very accurate Land Use Land Cover (LULC) classification to determine with great precision the effects of drought in specific classes. The study area was the Tortugas-Tepezata sub watershed (Moctezuma River), located in the state of Hidalgo in central Mexico. The LULC classification was processed using a new method based on available ancillary information plus analysis of three single date satellite images. The newly developed LULC methodology developed produced overall accuracies ranging from 87.88% to 92.42%. Spectral indices for vegetation and soil/vegetation moisture were used to detect anomalies in vegetation development caused by drought; furthermore, the area of water bodies was measured and compared to detect changes in water availability for irrigated crops. The proposed methodology has the potential to be used as a tool to identify, in detail, the effects of drought in rainfed agricultural lands in developing regions, and it can also be used as a mechanism to prevent and provide relief in the event of droughts.

Paper presents the description and floristic and ecologica characteristics of three plant communities on the area of Jasnorzewski Gardens in the region of Arctowski Station (Polish Academy of Sciences) on King George Island. They are: 1) Deschampsio antarctici-Colobanthetum quitensis, 2) Polytrichetum alpini, 3) Calliergidio austro-straminei-Calliergonetum sarmentosi. All communities show a considerable differentiation to several variants. Distribution of plant communities on the studied area is presented on a map based on computer analysis of multispectral air photographs.

The water’s edge is the most iconic and identifiable image related to the city of Durban and in seeking an ‘authenticity’ that typifies the built fabric of the city, the image that this place creates is arguably the answer. Since its formal establishment as a settlement in 1824, this edge has been a primary element in the urban fabric. Development of the space has been fairly incremental over the last two centuries, starting with colonial infl uenced built interventions, but much of what is there currently stems from the 1930’s onwards, leading to a Modernist and later Contemporary sense of place that is moderated by regionalist infl uences, lending itself to creating a somewhat contextually relevant image. This ‘international yet local’ sense of place is however under threat from the increasingly prominent ‘global’ image of a-contextual glass high-rise towers placed along a non-descript public realm typical of global capital interests that is a hallmark of the turnkey project trends by developers from the East currently sweeping the African continent.

Traditional methods of mineral exploration are mainly based on very expensive drilling and seismic methods. The proposed approach assumes the preliminary recognition of prospecting areas using satellite remote sensing methods. Maps of mineral groups created using Landsat 8 images can narrow the search area, thereby reducing the costs of geological exploration during mineral prospecting. This study focuses on the identification of mineralized zones located in the southeastern part of Europe (Kosovo, area of Selac) where hydrothermal mineralization and alterations can be found. The article describes all the stages of research, from collecting in-situ rock samples, obtaining spectral characteristics with laboratory measurements, preprocessing and analysis of satellite images, to the validation of results through field reconnaissance in detail. The authors introduce a curve-index fitting technique to determine the degree of similarity of a rock sample to a given pixel of satellite imagery. A comparison of the reflectance of rock samples against surface reflectance obtained from satellite images allows the places where the related type of rock can be found to be determined. Finally, the results were compared with geological and mineral maps to confirm the effectiveness of the method. It was shown that the free multispectral data obtained by the Landsat 8 satellite, even with a resolution of 30 meters, can be considered as a valuable source of information that helps narrow down the exploration areas.

The aim of the paper was to analyse relations between power in professional work and in close sexual relationships. Power in professional work was analysed with respect to the managerial position, the number of subordinates and salary. Power in close sexual relationships was determined on the basis of a sense of reinforcement of power as a sexual motivation, a propensity for sexual domination, the sense of power in relations with a partner in a close relationship, sexual assertiveness, realization of one’s own sexual phantasies and inclination to initiate sexual activity. The research was carried out on a group of 205 participants in which 100 of respondents occupied managerial positions at work and 105 were subordinates. The following tools were used: the Sense of Power Scale (Anderson, John, & Keltner, 2012), the Multidimensional Sexuality Questionnaire (Snell, Fisher, & Walters, 1993), the AMORE scale (Hill & Preston, 1996), the Need for Power and Influence Questionnaire (Bennett, 1988) and a data sheet. The results showed that power in the workplace was correlated a more frequent initiation of sexual activity, greater assertiveness in sexual matters, more frequent realisation of one’s own phantasies and an increased propensity for sexual domination.