Abstract
A part of analysis of results of experimental and theoretical research that were carried out aiming to develop a new semi-destructive method for subsequent determination of concrete compressive strength, is shown in this paper. The main part of the experimental research was precise measuring of drilling speed for various classes of concrete. Drilling equipment was specially constructed by modifying the standard coring machine with diameter 50 mm. For experimental testing, the modified core cutting drill was used for measuring the time needed to reach the depth of 50 mm in 432 testing cubes, made of the most commonly used concrete classes in a civil engineering practice. On the base of obtained results and by using mathematical modelling the reliable correlation between the drilling speed of concrete and its compressive strength was established. The advantages of this method are minimal destruction of the tested RC structures and fact that data about concrete compressive strength could be obtained at site, after simple processing of in-situ testing results.

Abstract
In this paper, we examine the relationship between agency problems and firm multinational scope. We consider firm foreign market exit decisions to be a function of country, industry and firm level factors and analyze how firm agency problems can moderate the influence of these factors. Examining a random sample of US manufacturing firms, we find that where external governance is strong and CEO incentives are aligned with shareholder interests, firms are more likely to remain in advanced, high potential markets, especially if they compete in global technologies. Conversely, firms with weaker governance and shorter-term CEO incentives are more likely to exit in response to growth in the home market or to follow peer exits. Taken together, these results show how the incentives of managers play an important role in influencing the foreign exit decisions of firms, thus extending both the literature on firm corporate governance and the literature on multinational scope of firms.

Abstract
This article present data from an evaluation report on crime prevention measures for a group of juvenile boys in a small Norwegian town. The boys were of different ethnic minorities and were between the ages of 15-19 years. The crimes they were committing had developed from typical juvenile offences to seriously violent- and to some degree organized criminal acts. For the boys, these acts resulted in repeated and prolonged prison sentences. The core question was; How to stop the unfortunate and increasing criminal activity amongst the boys? The article will present the methods and approaches used in the interaction with the boys and identify what factors that led to positive change.

Abstract
Trade nowadays are significantly different, especially for emerging markets, and this has posed new challenges for existing international trade theories. As a response to the recent call for firm-level analysis in international trade field, this study looks at the effects of performance-aspiration levels, slack resources and firm inertia on firms risk-taking behavior (export in this paper). Using a dataset of 1904 firm-year observations from Chinese pharmaceutical industry, I conclude that export would increase the further the focal firms performance is below or above their aspiration levels. But firm size, as an indicator of inertia, can moderate the relationship between performance-aspiration levels and export behavior. Generally speaking, no matter performance is below or above aspiration levels, larger firms are more risk-averse and less likely to export or export less than other firms. I also distinguish between performance-aspiration levels and find that firms are also more likely to export when they have accumulated slack resources.

Abstract
Applying safety values in hospitals is important and a must as safety values will support the hospital to achieve a better performance. In fact, all hospitals may claim that they have adopted safety values for their patients. However, facts show that there are still many adverse events take place due to the lack of implementing the safety values. In Indonesia the statistics of adverse events is not properly managed and presented; adverse events happen but many are not well noted and reported. This article aims to identify safety values applied in PQR, which is one of the most modern hospitals in Indonesia. The PQR safety values which are part of its safety culture will be identified through questionnaire introduced by Sorra and Nieva. Ten dimensions of values will be used to identify the PQR safety values. The findings are expected to provide a clear picture to which extent safety values have been implemented. This study also describes the gap between the expected and the actual of the safety values. Eventually, based on the findings, it is expected that the PQR can improve its safety values properly to achieve high organization performance.

Abstract
The present study was undertaken to determine the role of dopamine (DOP) in the excitability of the peripheral vestibular system in the frog. For this purpose, using multi-unit recording of action potentials from the semicircular ampulla posterior whole nerve in the isolated preparation with the aid of external perfusion, we investigated the effects of DOP agonists that are involved in modulatory actions on synaptic transmission in the frog semicircular canals. External application of DOP (0.1-1 mM), D1 agonist chloro-APB hydrobromide (CAPB; 50-100 ?M) and D2 agonist quinerolane (QUI; 50-100 ?M) induced a dosedependent and reversible decline in the resting discharge frequency. 100 ?M CAPB and 100 ?M QUI induced a decrease in firing frequency (mean 3.5?1.2 and 61.5?6.2% of the control level, respectively, n=6). Firing evoked by 1 ?? AMPA, 50 ?? NMDA and 300 ?? ACPD could be depressed by administration of 50 ?M CAPB by 67.1?9.4% (n=5, *P<0.05), 39.1?16.8% (n=5, *P<0.05) and 49.5?10.2% (n=5, *P<0.05), respectively. In similar conditions, firing evoked by AMPA, NMDA and ACPD could be depressed by administration of 50 ?M QUI by 25.7?8.4% (n=4, *P<0.05), 38.8?14.2% (n=5, *P<0.05) and 34.2?9.8% (n=4, *P<0.05), respectively. The inhibitory action of DOP agonists on l-glutamate responses persisted in high Mg2+ solution in conditions of selective activation of postsynaptic membrane. The results obtained suggest that DOP may interact with both D1 and D2 receptor subtypes. The inhibition of NMDA, AMPA, ACPD responses by DOP agonists suggests that DOP exerts inhibitory control over both ionotropic and metabotropic types of l-glutamate receptors, and that one possible site for DOP action is on the postsynaptic membrane of the synapse. This mechanism may result in the reduction of the activated firing rate, thus, preventing over-excitation and excitotoxic injury of the afferent dendrites after external application of l-glutamate and excessive receptor stimulation.

Abstract
Climate sensitivity of tree growth will effect the development of forest ecosystems under a warmer and drier climate by changing species composition and inducing shifts in forest distribution. We applied dendroclimatological techniques to determine impact of climate warming on growth of three native and widespread coniferous tree species in the European Alps (Norway spruce, Picea abies; European larch, Larix decidua; Scots pine, Pinus sylvestris). Selected species differ in phenological and successional traits and grow intermixed within a dry inner Alpine environment (750 m a.s.l., Tyrol, Austria). Time series of annual increments were developed from ? 120 mature trees. To identify the climatic factors most closely associated with variations in tree growth, we calculated multiple regression and Pearson-correlation functions for the common interval from 1911-2008 using yearly tree-ring indices and monthly and seasonal climate variables (precipitation, temperature) from a nearby meteorological station. Species-specific growth response to recent climate warming was analysed by means of moving response functions. Major findings of our study were: (i) current May-June precipitation was the environmental factor most strongly associated with growth of Larix decidua and Picea abies (r = 0.462 and 0.557, respectively; P < 0.001), whereas Pinus sylvestris showed highest correlation coefficients with precipitation in spring (March-May; r = 0.440, P < 0.001). (ii) Multiple regression analyses revealed that May-June temperature most strongly limited radial growth of Picea abies (r = -0.365, P < 0.001). (iii) Moving response function coefficients showed increasing sensitivity of Picea abies to June precipitation and temperature and of Pinus sylvestris to April precipitation. (iv) Time series of basal area index indicate successional elimination of Larix decidua by Picea abies. Results suggest that growth of native conifers exposed to a dry inner Alpine environment is increasingly impaired by drought, which is most likely related to recent climate warming. We suggest that at low altitude in the Eastern Central Alps prolonged drought periods, as projected under continued climate warming, will lead to a shift in species composition to more drought-tolerant species.

Abstract
In this talk, we develop both e?cient and ine?cient methods of inference for accelerated failure time regression under length-biased sampling and right censoring. This kind of data arises in both prevalent cohort and current duration study designs. An HIV sero-prevalence study can have a prevalent cohort design if the status but not the time of HIV infection is known at a fixed cross-sectional sampling time, after which patients are followed until they acquire AIDS or the study is censored. Certain time-to-pregnancy studies have a current duration design if time of initiation of unprotected intercourse is known but time to successful pregnancy is censored at a fixed cross-sectional sampling time. In both cases, there exists a bias in the sampling of the event time (the time between the initiating and terminal events) because the probability of observing the patient is proportional to the magnitude of the event time. This biased sampling structure 2 induces a dependence between the covariates and the event time. We obtain the surprising result that this dependency can actually be ignored without decreasing the e?ciency of the regression parameter estimator. We apply the proposed procedures to data from a French Fecundity study and present several simulation results for illustration.

Abstract
Urban Chinese immigrant women face cultural, linguistic, and economic barriers due to specific aspects of traditional Chinese culture: Confucianism, patriarchy, and patriliny. Yet for economic reasons, they are often obliged to become second income providers, which potentially conflicts with their traditional roles of housewife, parent, wife, and daughter?in?law. There were four hypotheses to be tested through 17?item questionnaires of convective samplings: to discover the daily stress factors reported by urban Chinese immigrant women. The second goal is to relate these factors to womens demographic information. The third goal is to document their coping strategies for overcoming stressors. Fourth is to correlate these findings with other literature. Results found that these women feeling stress due to the responsibilities of being dedicated to their marriage (84%), speaking Chinese at home (84%), and being housewife while having flexible job (52%) but receiving less income than their husbands (85%). English proficiency was the utmost stress factors (53%), and the best coping strategy was social networking within families, friends, and relatives (72%).All findings emphasized those found in literature reviews on stress factors, the relationship between stress factors to womens demographic information, and coping strategies. Implications such as offering English classes, family planning, or job training for new or old immigrants could possibly ease some of their stress.