The aim of this project was to study the identity of probiotic lactobacilli in fermented milk products from the United Kingdom/European markets during their survival during shelf-life. This in vitro study was also aimed at undertaking studies on some of the physiological probiotic criteria, such as resistance to stomach/intestine conditions and also possible functional properties of the isolates, such as antimicrobial activities, antibiotic resistance/susceptibility and antibiotic resistance genes, biofilm formation and production of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). Primarily, a comparative study was carried out on selectivity of MRS-Clindamycin, MRS-Sorbitol and MRS-IM Maltose, to select the right medium for enumeration of probiotic Lactobacillus. Based on selectivity of medium for recovery of the targeted lactobacilli and also simplicity of preparation, MRS-Clindamycin was chosen as the best medium for enumeration of probiotic Lactobacillus in fermented milks. The results of enumeration of lactobacilli showed that 22 out of a total 36 tested products contained more than 106 colony forming units/g at the end of their shelf-life, which comply with the recommended minimum therapeutic level for probiotics. Rep-PCR using primer GTG-5 was applied for initial discrimination of isolated strains, and isolates, which presented different band profile, were placed in different groups. The isolated Lactobacillus spp. were identified mainly as Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus paracasei by analysis of partial sequences of the 16S ribosomal RNA and rpoA genes. In order to characterize the isolates for probiotic properties, this study was focused on six Lactobacillus isolates along with two commercial Lactobacillus cultures from Chr. Hansen (Lactobacillus acidophilus La5 and Lactobacillus casei C431) and three Lactobacillus type strains (Lactobacillus casei subsp. casei, Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei and Lactobacillus acidophilus) which were purchased from NCIMB. The stomach and intestine conditions were mimiced using a batch culture fermentation system, and the combined effects of pH, enzymes and bile salts on survival of tested isolates was tested. The tested isolates were able to survive at low pH environment and also high concentrations of bile salts of the upper digestive tract. The potential of tested isolates for biofilm formation was determined in different conditions of nutritional and physiological stresses. The capability of tested isolates to produce biofilm in nutrient rich medium was recorded. However, the growth limitation, such as nutrient shortage in diluted media and also using inulin rather than glucose in synthetic medium, did not induce biofilm formation. Antimicrobial activities of tested bacteria against indicator bacteria namely Escherichia coli NCTC 12900, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium DT124 and Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis PT4 and Lactobacillus delbruckii subsp. bulgaricus were studied. The production of organic acids and bacteriocin was considered as key mechanisms for antimicrobial activity of tested strains. Screening the isolates competence for production of CLA demonstrated that this feature is species dependent and also entirely related to the level of initial linoleic acid in the medium. Eleven tested isolates were also assessed for their antibiotic resistance profile by determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). The acquired resistance to cefoxitin, ceftriaxone, chloramphenicol, erythromycin, gentamycin, kanamycin, lincomycin, streptomycin, tylosin tartarate, tetracycline and vancomycin was observed in all tested isolates. Also their genetic background of antibiotic resistance genes was studied by PCR reactions and none of the tested isolates showed positive bands for investigated resistance genes.

Background: Breastfeeding rates continue to remain low in the UK even though a number of initiatives have been delivered in an attempt to increase them. Evidence suggests a large proportion of mothers now perceive breastfeeding as the best feeding practice for their baby and many wish to do so, but are unable to for a number of reasons including issues around breastfeeding in public. This study set out to explore lived experience of breastfeeding in public to better inform our understanding. Methods: A qualitative approach was chosen using semi-structured interviews to facilitative an in-depth exploration of mothers’ experiences of public breastfeeding. Women aged 31 to 40 years old who had experience of breastfeeding in public within London were interviewed and narratives analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Results: Two themes emerged from the data: “Societal attitudes as ostracising” and “Becoming a nursing mother”. It was evident these mothers experienced a strong transference from a British society generally disapproving and feeling uncomfortable with breastfeeding. Consequently implicit expectations are placed on them to conceal the behaviour either by covering their breast or breastfeeding in discrete locations including feeding rooms. Transitioning from a woman to a mother is a significant life stage and being able to breastfeed successfully appeared to be an important aspect of motherhood for these mothers. Their determination to breastfeed exceeded the challenges they faced in public with their confidence enhancing with time. Findings are considered in light of current social attitudes and the importance of normalising views about breastfeeding in society in order to improve health outcomes.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to collaborate with a community partner to administer a current needs assessment of persons with epilepsy (PWE) and determine the types of resources that PWE would like to access through the community partner. Methods: A self-report needs assessment survey was administered to caregivers and PWE across the state of South Carolina during a community partner educational workshop (n= 20) and via secure software distributed through an email link (n= 54). Key findings: The most frequently reported challenges (>. 50%) were concerns about finding time to participate in epilepsy community activities, the personal safety of the PWE, finding social connections or social support, finding mental or behavioral health services, and work concerns. However, top ranked concerns centered on personal safety (27.8%), lack of insurance/not enough money to pay for epilepsy treatment (15.3%), and difficulty with daily management of epilepsy (13.9%). Participants reported likely engagement with the epilepsy community partner via in-person meetings, over the phone, and through social media contacts; however, there were differences between PWE and caregivers regarding preferences for communication. Almost 60% endorsed that they would likely participate in a brief program to learn skills to manage their epilepsy daily. Significance: Persons with epilepsy in South Carolina continue to have many unmet needs and would access resources, if available, from a state-wide epilepsy community partner via various modes of communication.

This study aims to generate insights into the business start-up and maintenance activities of Kurdish and Turkish business owners in catering and retail sectors in North London by utilizing a new theoretical approach influenced by Charles Tilly’s (1978) collective resource mobilisation theory. The research objectives are: - to examine the reasons behind the formation of business start-ups for Kurdish and Turkish business owners in the catering and retail sectors; - to identify and investigate the ways in which the ‘forms of capital’ (Bourdieu, 1986) are acquired and mobilised for starting and maintaining these businesses. Methodologically, the research draws on extensive fieldwork with 65 participants. The thesis draws on qualitative research methods that enable the participants’ business start-up and maintenance experiences to be analysed in the context of the existing literature, and allows for the generation of a new theoretical approach to emerge based on their explanations. The thesis makes theoretical and empirical contributions to the field of study. Empirically, it sheds light onto two ‘invisible communities’ that are largely concentrated in the catering and retail sectors. The field study for this project presents an original contribution by examining business start-up and maintenance activities of the Turkish and Kurdish communities. Theoretically, the business start-up and maintenance activities of Kurdish and Turkish business owners are analysed through the lens of collective resource mobilisation theory. This has three components: interests, mobilisation of networks and opportunity structure. The three components provide an analytical framework for examining the interplay between agency and structural influences on the start-up and maintenance activities of Kurdish and Turkish business owners.

Foi objetivo desta pesquisa estudar a relaÃÃo do tempo de serviÃo e do comprometimento organizacional como indicadores de satisfaÃÃo em uma empresa familiar de Fortaleza. A relevÃncia desse estudo decorre da necessidade de se empreender novos temas que agreguem possibilidades de articulaÃÃo à temÃtica do comprometimento organizacional a partir do modelo multidimensional proposto por Rego (2003), a saber: comprometimento afetivo, futuro comum, escassez de alternativas, sacrifÃcios avultados, comprometimento normativo e ausÃncia psicolÃgica. A pesquisa foi realizada em uma empresa de grande porte do segmento metalÃrgico nos meses de julho e agosto de 2008. Participaram dessa pesquisa 272 colaboradores distribuÃdos entre os nÃveis operacionais, administrativos, coordenadores, gerentes e diretores. O delineamento do presente estudo se fundamenta quanto à abordagem do problema, quantitativa e qualitativa e, quanto ao mÃtodo, estudo de caso. Os dados analisados foram coletados a partir de um questionÃrio. O referencial teÃrico procura arrolar as instÃncias comprometimento organizacional, tempo de serviÃo, satisfaÃÃo no trabalho e gestÃo de empresa familiar como forma de empreender padrÃes de relaÃÃo e de influÃncia entre elas. Destacam-se como principais resultados obtidos o alto grau de comprometimento afetivo, normativo e futuro comum, bem como o baixo grau de comprometimento do tipo sacrifÃcios avultados, escassez de alternativas e ausÃncia psicolÃgica percebido entre todos os colaboradores da empresa pesquisada; concluiu-se que os colaboradores que sÃo considerados mais antigos, tendem a demonstrar um sensÃvel crescimento no comprometimento afetivo e significativo crescimento do normativo; e por fim verificou-se que os colaboradores que nÃo fazem parte da famÃlia apresentam maiores graus de comprometimento em todas as dimensÃes do comprometimento proposto por Rego (2003). / The objective of this paper is to study the relationship between seniority and organizational commitment as indicators of satisfaction in a family company in Fortaleza. Its relevance comes from the necessity of undertaking new themes that bring together possibilities of articulation to the theme of organizational commitment from the multidimensional pattern proposed by Rego (2003), namely: affective commitment, common future, alternatives shortage, substantial sacrifices, norm commitment, and psychological absence. The survey was conducted in a large company in the metallurgical segment in July and August 2008. Two hundred and seventy two employees from operational, administrative, coordinative, managerial and directorial levels participated in this study. Concerning the approach of the problem, the outline of this study has its base on quantitative and qualitative grounds, and its method is based on case study. The analyzed data was collected from a questionnaire. The theory used employs concepts as âorganizational commitmentâ, âseniorityâ, âsatisfactionâ, and âmanagement of family businessâ as a way to undertake patterns of relationships and influence among them. We highlight as main results the high level of affective commitment, normative commitment and communal future, as well as the low level of substantial sacrifice commitment, alternatives shortage and psychological absence perceived among all the employers of the company; weâve concluded that employees with seniority display a slight increase in affective commitment and significant increase in normative commitment; and, finally, we have verified that employees who are not part of the family demonstrate higher levels of commitment in all dimensions of commitment as proposed by Rego (2003).

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Adolescents with a type of conversion disorder called psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) experience many school, relationship, and health care struggles as they attempt to manage their mental health condition with PNES events that strikingly resemble epileptic seizures. Considered one of the top three neuropsychiatric problems, health care providers and school personnel remain ill-informed regarding how to care for adolescents with PNES. Because of the unique multidisciplinary approach needed to address adolescent PNES, school nurses are uniquely positioned to bridge health care and education systems. A review of literature examined the concept of school nurse selfmanagement support for PNES, existing school nurse-led mental health interventions, and the relationships between concepts for a conceptual framework guiding adolescent PNES research. This review of literature reveals an absence of adolescents’ perspective and school emphasis in PNES research. This study was designed to investigate adolescents’ experience attending school and self-managing PNES. This was accomplished through a qualitative content analysis of data generated from semi-structured interviews and magnitude coding of select quantifiable data. Data were obtained from 10 adolescents, 12 to 19 years of age, with current or recent in-person school attendance. The results indicate adolescents from the sample had school experiences that involved stress, bullying, accusations of faking seizures, and feelings of isolation or exclusion. Their mostly effective proactive selfmanagement activities included seeking protection, persevering in life despite PNES struggles, and progress monitoring through seizure tracking. Reactive activities of mixed effectiveness included coping responses to seizure warnings. School nurses, school personnel, family members, and peers served as both facilitators and barriers for PNES self-management. Adolescents also contributed information for three emerging themes— family-management, school-management, and illness representation. These findings reveal the difficulties of attending school and self-managing PNES and inform future PNES interventions to improve academic, mental health, and quality of life outcomes.

A large number of firms around the world are family firms. Many of these family firms are involved in internationalization strategies. Despite the breadth of knowledge on the internationalization of large family firms, not enough attention has been paid to some of the aspects of internationalization. Specifically, the literature is scarce with respect to understanding the mechanisms that may help or harm family firms in their internationalization strategies and the impact of these strategies on firm performance. In my dissertation, I use property rights theory to argue that family firms are able to minimize their negotiating and policing costs, allowing them to benefit from internationalization, but not in all environments. I add to the literature by further finding that family firms internationalize more in environments that have lower levels of legal and political, physical, and intellectual property rights. Also, I find that family firms experience higher performance in environments that have lower levels of property rights protection. Therefore, this dissertation creates various avenues for future research, and provides more evidence toward the superiority of family firms in some, but not all environments.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the way(s) in which family management of childhood asthma is affected by contextual influences as described in the Family Management Style Framework (FMSF) and to explore additional factors that affect family asthma management. Specific Aims: The specific aims of this study were 1) to describe the everyday experiences of childhood asthma management within families, 2) to explore the way(s) in which family management of childhood asthma is affected by contextual influences (social network, care providers & systems and resources) as described in the FMSF, and 3) to explore additional sociocultural factors (supported by the literature but not currently described in the FMSF) that affect asthma management in families. Framework: The Family Management Style Framework guided this study. Design: A qualitative descriptive design was used to gather data from a purposive sample of female primary caregivers. Demographic data were collected, and individual interviews were conducted using a flexible interview guide. Results: The findings support the contextual influences as described in the FMSF. An additional three contextual themes were identified: environment, emerging threats to health and work-life conditions. The themes are interrelated demonstrating the complexity of asthma management. Conclusion: Family management of asthma is challenging and complex. The findings move towards understanding the connection between family asthma management and the social determinants of health. Nurses can support families managing childhood asthma by considering each of the contextual influences when planning interventions and working on policy initiatives that support the health of children with asthma.

Significant shifts in social ideology and legislation have brought about considerable changes in work and family dynamics in the Western world, and the male as breadwinner-wife as homemaker model is no longer the norm. However, despite increasingly gender egalitarian ideals, the division of labor among dual-earner couples tends to adopt a "neo traditional" once children are born, where women devote more time to family labor and men spend more time in paid employment Although asymmetrical divisions of labor have clear workplace and societal consequences in terms of women's earnings, organizational advancement, and inequality, the effects on individual well-being are not well understood. The purpose of the present study was to apply the theoretical lens of person-environment fit to examine how misfit between dual-earner couples' pre-child division of labor preferences and post-child actual divisions of labor relate to affective (career, marital, and family satisfaction) and health-related (depression and physical health symptoms) well-being. Additionally, several conditions were posited to temper the strengths of these relationships (domain centrality, gender, voice in division of labor decision making, and satisfaction with the current division of labor). Participants were 126 dual-earner couples with small children, and hypotheses were testing using polynomial regression analyses. The results suggested that congruence between an individual's own pre-child desires for the division of paid labor and the actual post-child division of paid labor relates to his/her own career and marital satisfaction, depression, and physical health symptoms. Congruence in the family domain is also important, as desire-division of family labor fit related to affective sentiments toward family and one's spouse. With the exception of career satisfaction, these relationships were curvilinear, such that deviations in either direction from perfect fit related to poorer well-being. On the other hand, there was little evidence for spousal effects, as dual-earner well-being did not relate the congruence between division of labor abilities and spousal demands. Finally, evidence of moderation was only found in a few cases, and none were consistent with prediction, highlighting the need for future research on the contextual conditions of P-E fit in the dual-earner context.

過去研究指出，增加董事會的開會次數將提高董事會的監督效能。本研究以董事會之開會次數為應變數，納入總經理特性、董事會特性與財務特性，探討影響董事會監督強度之決定性因素。本研究發現，總經理任期、總經理持股比例、董事會規模及前期經營績效對董事會監督強度存在顯著負向關係，而總經理與董事長為同一人對董事會的監督強度呈顯著正相關。進一步將樣本依總經理是否屬於控制家族成員，將樣本分成兩組樣本後，本研究發現，總經理之控制家族色彩會削弱總經理任期與董事會監督強度關聯性，但也具有增強總經理與董事長為同一人、董事會規模與董事會監督強度關聯性的效果。 / Prior researches argue that board meeting time is an important resource in improving the effectiveness of a board (e.g., Vafeas, 1999; Ryan et al., 2007). We use a Poisson model with the number of board meetings as the dependent variable and examine the determinant factors of the intensiveness of board monitoring. We find that the intensiveness of board monitoring is driven by CEO characteristics, board characteristics, and prior performance. CEO tenure, CEO ownership, board size and prior performance are significantly inversely related to the intensiveness of board monitoring. CEO/chair duality positively influences the number of meetings (significant at the 0.1 level). We analyze separately the relations between CEO characteristics, board characteristics, prior performance and meeting frequency for non-family CEOs and CEOs who are numbers of the controlling family, and use interaction term between independent proxies and the controlling family dummy variable to test for the significance of these differences. We find that the relation between the number of board meetings and CEO tenure is weaker when the CEO is a member of the founding family. We also find that the relations between the intensity of board monitoring and CEO duality, board size are stronger when the CEO is a member of the founding family.