moderator's job in selected public stations of Český Rozhlas. It analyzes programmes Ranní interview and Dvacet minut Radiožurnálu on Radiožurnál, Káva o čtvrté on Český dio Wave and Dáme řeč and Host Dopoledního expresu on Český rozhlas Sever. It focuses on the moderator's role

<p>Elevated blood pressure (BP) is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD), which are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Dietary minerals such as sodium (Na) and potassium (K) play a crucial role in overall health and play a specific function in regulating blood pressure in the human body. Numerous studies have been conducted on the association between blood pressure and dietary intervention. While many nutritional intervention studies have shown adverse effects of excessive Na intake and the beneficial impact of supplemental K in humans, less is understood on Na and K tissue retention and health outcomes of such retention. The most commonly used biomarkers to study Na retention and regulation is urine Na. However, the use of urine Na concentration as an indicator of Na retention has its limitations and has been recently questioned. In-vivo neutron activation analysis (IVNAA) is a unique and powerful technique for elemental analysis in the human body that has the potential to quantify Na and K retention and monitor their bio-kinetics. This research work designed an in vivo neutron irradiation system with high sensitivity and minimal radiation dose to measure Na/K and monitor Na/K bio-kinetics. The system was characterized, tested, and validated for K measurement in mice and rats. Moreover, we developed a methodology for in vivo quantification of Na in pigs in bone and soft tissue after dietary intervention. The project's overall goal is to exploit the potential of a compact DD neutron generator-based neutron activation analysis system for in vivo quantification of Na and K in humans and small animals.</p>

This study examined whether the quality of the sibling relationship can alter the negative impact of stress on child well being. Participants were of 311 families (236 two parent families and 75 single parent families) with an adolescent child (M age of child at Time 1 = 11.25, SD = .99, 51% female) who took part in the Flourishing Families Project. Data were assessed using both a multiple time point cross-section and a two wave longitudinal design. Hierarchal linear regression suggested that when assessing the direct effects of sibling on well being, sibling affection is a better predictor of well being, but when assessing indirect effects, sibling conflict is a better predictor. Little evidence was found to support the idea that siblings moderate the impact of stress by buffering or decreasing the negative impact of stress. Results did indicate that sibling conflict was a salient moderator of stress in that conflict exacerbates the already negative impact of stress. Results from this study also suggest that when assessing the buffering or exacerbating impact of siblings, cross-sectional data produces better explanatory power than when these constructs are assessed longitudinally. However a single time point, cross-sectional design does not account for dynamic changes over time in either the sibling relationship, the level of stress or well being. Research designs such as multiple time, point cross-sectional studies or growth curve analyses are recommended.

Although replication is considered an indispensable part of the scientific method in software engineering, few replication studies are published each year. The rate of replication, however, is not surprising given that replication theory in software engineering is immature. Not only are replication taxonomies varied and difficult to reconcile, but opinions on the role of replication contradict. In general, we have no clear sense of how to build knowledge via replication, particularly given the practical realities of our research field. Consequently, most replications in software engineering yield little useful information. In particular, the vast majority of external replications (i.e., replications performed by researchers unaffiliated with the original study) not only fail to reproduce the original results, but defy explanation. The net effect is that, as a research field, we consistently fail to produce usable (i.e., transferable) knowledge, and thus, our research results have little if any impact on industry. In this dissertation, we dissect the problem of replication into four primary concerns: 1) rate and explicitness of replication; 2) theoretical foundations of replication; 3) tractability of methods for context analysis; and 4) effectiveness of inter-study communication. We address each of the four concerns via a two-part research strategy involving both a theoretical and a practical component. The theoretical component consists of a grounded theory study in which we integrate and then apply external replication theory to problems of replication in empirical software engineering. The theoretical component makes three key contributions to the literature: first, it clarifies the role of replication with respect to the overall process of science; second, it presents a flexible framework for reconciling disparate replication terminology; and third, it informs a broad range of practical replication concerns. The practical component involves a series of replication studies, through which we explore a variety of replication concepts and empirical methods, ultimately culminating in the development of a tractable method for context analysis (TCA). TCA enables the quantitative evaluation of context variables in greater detail, with greater statistical power, and via considerably smaller datasets than previously possible. As we show (via a complex, real-world example), the method ultimately enables the empirically and statistically-grounded reconciliation and generalization of otherwise contradictory results across dissimilar replications—which problem has previously remained unsolved in software engineering.

Die studie ondersoek die inligtingswaarde van dividende as 'n moontlike verldaring van die waargenome aandeleprysreaksie op dividendaankondigings. Twee algemene hipoteses is getoets, naamlik dat 'n betekenisvolle verandering in 'n maatskappy se dividendbeleid inligting oor daardie maatskappy se toekomstige verdienste per aandeel bevat, en tweedens dat hierdie inligting in die reaksie van aandelepryse na die aankondiging van die verandering gereflekteer word. Die belangrikste bevindinge is soos volg: • Die inligting vervat in huidige dividendaankondigings kan nie deur beleggers gebruik word om die volgende jaar se verdienste per aandeel van 'n maatskappy te voorspel nie. Die aandeleprysreaksie op positiewe, negatiewe en neutrale nuus is statisties beduidend, maar vind hoofsaaklik in dieselfde rigting plaas. Beleggers sou dus nie die inligting vervat in dividendaankondigings kan gebruik om bogemiddelde opbrengskoerse te genereer nie. • Die inligtingswaarde van dividende is dus 'n onwaarskynlike verldaring van die invloed van 'n maatskappy se dividendbeleid op die waarde van sy gewone aandele. / This research investigates the information content of dividends as a possible explanation for the observed share price reaction to dividend announcements. Two hypotheses were tested, namely that a significant change in a company's dividend policy contains information on that company's future earnings per share, and secondly, that this information is reflected in the share price reaction after the announcement of the change. The most important findings are as follows: • Investors cannot use the information contained in current dividend announcements to predict a company's earnings per share for the next year. • Share price reactions to positive, negative and neutral news are statistically significant, but will be in the same direction. Hence investors cannot use this information to generate above-normal returns. The information content of dividends is therefore an unlikely explanation of the influence a company's dividend policy has on the value of its ordinary shares. / Business Management / MCom (Sakebestuur)

La dépression est une psychopathologie répandue qui débute fréquemment au cours de l’adolescence. Maintes répercussions tant personnelles qu’économiques et sociales ont été associées à ce trouble. Plusieurs facteurs, dont la consommation de cannabis, ont été identifiés comme étant susceptibles d’influencer l’apparition et le développement de symptômes dépressifs. Il existe toutefois une absence de consensus par rapport au lien entre la consommation de cannabis et les symptômes dépressifs à l’adolescence, qui pourrait notamment résulter de différences méthodologiques telles que le contrôle de tierces variables. Parmi ces variables, la relation parent-adolescent pourrait modérer la relation entre la consommation de cannabis et les symptômes dépressifs. Ce mémoire vise d’une part à vérifier la relation entre la consommation de cannabis et la manifestation de symptômes dépressifs à l’adolescence et, d’autre part, le rôle modérateur de la relation parent-adolescent sur ce lien. L’échantillon compte 1 740 adolescents québécois suivis longitudinalement du secondaire II au secondaire IV. Des analyses de régression multiple hiérarchique ont été effectuées afin de tester les hypothèses à l’étude. Les résultats démontrent une faible relation positive entre la consommation de cannabis en secondaire II et les symptômes dépressifs évalués deux ans plus tard. Par ailleurs, une seule dimension de la relation parent-adolescent, soit le faible soutien parental, a été identifiée comme ayant un pouvoir prédictif sur les symptômes dépressifs. Cet effet d’interaction explique néanmoins une variance insuffisante pour être significatif d’un point de vue clinique. Les implications de ces résultats pour la recherche sont discutées. / Depression is a prevailing psychopathology which often begins during adolescence. Multiple repercussions on personal, economic and social levels have been associated with this disorder. Many factors including cannabis have been identified as likely to influence the onset and development of depressive symptoms. However, there is a lack of consensus concerning the link between cannabis use and depressive symptoms in adolescence, which could result from methodological differences as the control of potential confounding variables. Among these variables, parent-adolescent relationship has been identified as a potential moderator in the relationship between cannabis use and depressive symptoms. The present research project firstly aims to examine the relationship between cannabis use and the manifestation of depressive symptoms in adolescence and, secondly to verify the potential moderating effect of parent-adolescent relationship on that link. The sample includes 1 740 Quebec teenagers followed longitudinally in high school. Multiple hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to test the hypotheses. Results indicate a weak positive relationship between cannabis use and depressive symptoms assessed two years later. Moreover, only one dimension of the parent-adolescent relationship, defined as low parental support, has been identified as having predictive power on depressive symptoms. However, the variance explained by this interaction is insufficient to be considered on a clinical level. The implications of these findings are discussed.

This thesis deals with medial presentation of two most watched sporting events in the Czech Republic the football Synot league and hockey Tipsport league, on channel ČT Sport. The first chapter introduces the history and play system the top two competitions. The second chapter lists the most important corruption scandals since 1993 in the Czech football and hockey, and discuss also the issue of hooliganism. The third chapter presents the history of the channel ČT Sport, all programs dealing with hockey and football competitions, the most important journalistic tools and TV professions involved in these programs. The fourth chapter presents the first part of the analysis of the two selected TV programs. The fifth chapter presents the analysis of communication and semiotic aspects of the programs Bully and Studio. The sixth chapter contains the author's own survey, which focuses on the perception of programs Bully and Studio from the perspective of the grand public. The aim of this thesis is to determine which of the competitions is presented in a better way, both from a professional point of view and in terms of the perception of spectators.

The factors associated with employees' work related attitudes and cognitions were examined. A sample of employees from Community Living Trust (CLT), an organisation within the disability support worker industry, completed a questionnaire that included several measures: supervisor and colleague support, role conflict, role ambiguity and role overload, time-based, strain-based and behaviour-based work-to-family/family-to-work conflict, organisational commitment, job satisfaction and turnover intentions. The purpose of this study was to explore the extent to which supervisor and colleague support contributed to a reduction in role conflict, role ambiguity and role overload. In addition, the relationship between support and work-to-family/family-to-work conflict were also explored. Finally, the organisational outcomes, in particular organisational commitment, job satisfaction and turnover intentions, were examined. It was found that supervisor and colleague support did, in some cases, moderated the relationship between role stressors, conflict and job satisfaction / organisational commitment. It was also found that job satisfaction and affective commitment mediated the relationship between the role stressors, WF strain-based conflict and turnover intentions. The major implications from this research are that human resource initiatives should be developed that aims to identify the support needs employees may have, in order to increase levels of job satisfaction and organisational commitment and decrease levels of turnover intentions. The final chapter of this research explored the practical implications to the organisation, employees and the need for future research.

Die studie ondersoek die inligtingswaarde van dividende as 'n moontlike verldaring van die waargenome aandeleprysreaksie op dividendaankondigings. Twee algemene hipoteses is getoets, naamlik dat 'n betekenisvolle verandering in 'n maatskappy se dividendbeleid inligting oor daardie maatskappy se toekomstige verdienste per aandeel bevat, en tweedens dat hierdie inligting in die reaksie van aandelepryse na die aankondiging van die verandering gereflekteer word. Die belangrikste bevindinge is soos volg: • Die inligting vervat in huidige dividendaankondigings kan nie deur beleggers gebruik word om die volgende jaar se verdienste per aandeel van 'n maatskappy te voorspel nie. Die aandeleprysreaksie op positiewe, negatiewe en neutrale nuus is statisties beduidend, maar vind hoofsaaklik in dieselfde rigting plaas. Beleggers sou dus nie die inligting vervat in dividendaankondigings kan gebruik om bogemiddelde opbrengskoerse te genereer nie. • Die inligtingswaarde van dividende is dus 'n onwaarskynlike verldaring van die invloed van 'n maatskappy se dividendbeleid op die waarde van sy gewone aandele. / This research investigates the information content of dividends as a possible explanation for the observed share price reaction to dividend announcements. Two hypotheses were tested, namely that a significant change in a company's dividend policy contains information on that company's future earnings per share, and secondly, that this information is reflected in the share price reaction after the announcement of the change. The most important findings are as follows: • Investors cannot use the information contained in current dividend announcements to predict a company's earnings per share for the next year. • Share price reactions to positive, negative and neutral news are statistically significant, but will be in the same direction. Hence investors cannot use this information to generate above-normal returns. The information content of dividends is therefore an unlikely explanation of the influence a company's dividend policy has on the value of its ordinary shares. / Business Management / MCom (Sakebestuur)

This thesis aimed at examining the impact of decorative pictures, defined as pictures which make an instructional material aesthetically appealing rather than conveying information for learning. In research, the use of decorative pictures was considered to be detrimental for learning for a long time. In contrast, recent research revealed that the impact of these pictures is moderated by a number of variables. In a series of experiments which were based on cognitive-affective theories of learning with media, a selected number of theoretically derived moderators were examined in a series of experiments. A first experiment (N1 = 82) investigat-ed the effectiveness of different levels of emotional charge (positive vs. negative) and the impact of different contexts (learning context vs. leisure time context) shown in decorative pictures. Results showed that learning performance was higher for positive than negative pictures, while the measured pleasure of students mediated this effect. Decorative pictures showing a learning context were also found to enhance learning while the students’ assessments of arousal and dominance were raised for these pictures. In a second experiment (N2 = 81), design features of anthropomorphism, defined as features which elicit the tendency to attribute human characteristics to non-human objects, were implemented in decorative pictures. Based on a two-factorial design with the inclusion of human faces (present vs. absent) and personalized labels (present vs. absent), both human faces and personalized labels were found to foster learning. In comparison to a control group without decorative pictures (experiment 3; N3 = 102), the inclusion of both mentioned anthropomorphic features in decorative pictures led to a higher learning performance. In contrast, decorative pictures without anthropomorphic features decreased learning. Both features additionally enhanced the mental effort and intrinsic motivation of students, although a task-irrelevant cognitive load was increased by the inclusion of decorative pictures. The emotional charge (positive vs. negative) and the degree of text-picture connectedness (weakly vs. strongly) of decorative pictures were additionally examined in three other experiments (N4 = 108, N5 = 86, N6 = 162). Moreover, these groups were compared with an additional control group without decorative pictures. All three experiments revealed that decorative pictures with a strong connection to the learning topic of a text and a positive charge increased learning. In comparison with the control group, positive, strongly connected pictures mainly enhanced and negative, weakly connected pictures mainly impaired learning. Results can be explained by significant differences among the assessment of cognitive processes of learners. In conclusion, decorative pictures may be used in order to enrich an instructional material if boundary conditions like the context-relatedness, the degree of anthropomorphism, the text-picture connectedness, and the emotional charge are taken into account. / Die vorliegende Dissertation untersucht den Einfluss dekorativer Bilder, welche per Definition ein Lernmaterial eher ästhetisch schmücken als lernrelevante Informationen zu vermitteln. In der Forschung wurden solche Bilder bisher vorrangig als lernhinderlich betrachtet. Neuere Befunde weisen jedoch darauf hin, dass der Einfluss dieser Bilder einer Reihe von moderierenden Einflüssen unterliegt. Auf der Grundlage von verschiedenen Experimenten, welche auf kognitiv-affektiven Theorien des Lernens mit Medien beruhen, wurde eine ausgewählte Anzahl theoretisch abgeleiteter Moderatoren näher untersucht. In einem ersten Experiment (N1 = 82) wurden Einflüsse der emotionalen Ladung (positiv vs. negativ) sowie des dargestellten Lernkontexts (Lernkontext vs. Freizeitkontext) von dekorativen Bildern analysiert. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass sich das Lernergebnis durch positive Bilder im Kontrast zu negativen Bildern verbesserte, während dieser Effekt durch die Zufriedenheit der Studenten mediiert wurde. Auch dekorative Bilder mit einem Lernkontext erhöhten die Lernleistungen, während Lernende durch diese Bilder eine höhere Aktivierung sowie Dominanz angaben. Ein zweites Experiment (N2 = 81) bestimmte den Einfluss anthropomorphisierter Bestandteile von dekorativen Bildern, welche die Tendenz zur Attribution menschlicher Charakteristiken auf nicht-menschliche Objekte auslösen können. Auf der Grundlage eines zwei-faktoriellen Untersuchungsdesigns, gekennzeichnet durch die Einbettung von menschlichen Gesichtern (vorhanden vs. nicht-vorhanden) und personalisierter Beschriftungen (vorhanden vs. nicht-vorhanden), konnten menschliche Gesichter und personalisierte Beschriftungen die Lernleistungen erhöhen. Im Kontrast zu einer Kontrollgruppe ohne dekorative Bilder (Experiment 3, N3 = 102), erwies sich der Einsatz anthropomorphisierter Bilder als lernförderlich, wohingegen dekorative Bilder ohne anthropomorphisierte Bestandteile lernhinderlich waren. Beide Bestandteile erhöhten außerdem die wahrgenommene mentale Anstrengung sowie intrinsische Motivation der Lernenden, obwohl sich die lernirrelevante Belastung durch die Hinzunahme dekorativer Bilder erhöhte. Die emotionale Ladung (positiv vs. negativ) sowie der textliche Bezug (gering vs. hoch) von dekorativen Bildern wurden in drei weiteren Experimenten (N4 = 108, N5 = 86, N6 = 162) zusammen mit einer zusätzlichen Kontrollgruppe ohne dekorative Bilder untersucht. Jedes der drei Experimente ist ein Beleg für den lernförderlichen Einfluss dekorativer Bilder mit positiver Ladung und hohem Textbezug. Im Vergleich zur Kontrollgruppe, erweisen sich dekorative Bilder mit positiver Ladung und hohem Textbezug als lernförderlich, wobei dekorative Bilder mit geringem Textbezug und negativer Ladung also lernhinderlich nachgewiesen wurden. Einen Erklärungsansatz liefern zusätzlich gemessene kognitive Variablen. Zusammenfassend zeigt sich, dass dekorative Bilder durchaus lernförderlich beim Design von Lernmaterialien eingesetzt werden können, wenn moderierende Einflüsse, wie der dargestellte Lernkontext, der Grad der ausgelösten Anthropomorphisierung, der Textbezug, sowie die emotionale Ladung dekorativer Bilder beachtet werden.