Η παρούσα ερευνητική εργασία εστιάζει στο κοινωνικό φαινόμενο του σχολικού εκφοβισμού καθώς και στη διάσταση του ως ζήτημα που άπτεται των θεμελιωδών δικαιωμάτων του παιδιού, όπως προκύπτει από τις μορφές και τις συνέπειες αυτού. Σκοπός της ήταν η διερεύνηση των βιωμένων εμπειριών εκφοβισμού μεταξύ μαθητών που έχουν ζήσει οι εκπαιδευτικοί δευτεροβάθμιας εκπαίδευσης του Ν. Αχαΐας. Η μελέτη στηρίχθηκε σε μία ποιοτική προσέγγιση με χρήση της ημιδομημένης συνέντευξης ως ερευνητικής μεθόδου, μέσω της οποίας επιχειρήσαμε να ανακαλύψουμε τον τρόπο με τον οποίο οι ίδιοι οι εκπαιδευτικοί συγκροτούν τις αφηγήσεις τους για τα περιστατικά εκφοβισμού που έχουν βιώσει. Η ποιοτική ανάλυση των δεδομένων, που προέκυψαν από τις αφηγήσεις των εκπαιδευτικών, καταδεικνύει το γεγονός ότι αν και οι ομιλητές επιστρατεύουν τους κοινωνικοποιητικούς μηχανισμούς της οικογένειας, του σχολείου και της παρέας ως ταξινομητικά σχήματα οργάνωσης του φαινομένου, οι βιογραφίες τους αποτελούν τον πόρο από τον οποίο αντλούν για να οργανώσουν την αντιμετώπισή του. / The present work focuses on the social phenomenon of bullying and also on its aspect as a matter of fundamental rights of the child, as it appears from the forms and consequences. The aim of the research was to explore the lived experiences of bullying among students, who have proved the secondary school teachers of Achaia. The study was based on a qualitative approach using semi-structured interview as a research method, through which we attempted to investigate the way teachers compose their narratives through their stories about bullying they have experienced. The qualitative analysis of data that derived from the narratives of teachers shows that although the speakers employ their socialization mechanisms of family, school and peers as classifier organization schemes phenomenon, their biographies constitute the resource that derives from to organize the intervention at the bullying phenomenon.

The study was designed to assess L. multiflorum subsp. multiflorum, L. multiflorum subsp. italicum and L. x hybridum species and varieties of different ploidy from the agro-biological and breeding viewpoint under Lithuania’s conditions. It has been established that morpho–anatomical assessment and DNA electrophoregram analysis are suitable for the identification of L. multiflorum subsp. multiflorum. It is the first time in Lithuania we have done comparative research on genetic collections of short-lived ryegrass species (L. multiflorum subsp. multiflorum, L. multiflorum subsp. italicum and L. x hybridum) agro-morphological traits, biological characteristics and feeding value. Dry matter yield stability of L. multiflorum subsp. multiflorum varieties has been established in different agro-climatic conditions according to the “genotype x environment” model. Comparison and assessment of L. multiflorum subsp. multiflorum cultivation possibilities in mixtures with legumes (Vicia sativa, Trifolium resupinatum) in conventional and organic production systems have been done. / Tyrimo tikslas buvo įvertinti L. multiflorum subsp. multiflorum, L. multiflorum subsp. italicum ir L. x hybridum rūšis bei skirtingo ploidiškumo veisles agrobiologiniu ir selekciniu požiūriu Lietuvos sąlygomis. Nustatyta, kad anatominė–morfologinė ir DNR elektroforegramų analizės tinka identifikuoti L. multiflorum subsp. multiflorum. Pirmą kartą Lietuvoje atlikti trumpaamžių svidrių rūšių (L. multiflorum subsp. multiflorum, L. multiflorum subsp. italicum ir L. x hybridum) genetinių kolekcijų palyginamieji agromorfologinių požymių, biologinių savybių ir pašarinės vertės tyrimai. Nustatytas L. multiflorum subsp. multiflorum veislių SM derliaus stabilumas skirtingose agroklimatinėse sąlygose pagal modelį „genotipas – aplinka“. Palygintos ir įvertintos L. multiflorum subsp. multiflorum auginimo galimybės mišiniuose su pupiniais augalais tradicinėje ir ekologinėje žemdirbystės sistemose.

Self-care is the key to living a long and healthy life for people with diabetes. Yet numerous studies show that self-care is far from optimal. This has resulted in attempts to understand the progress underlying self-care behavior in the efforts of mediating more effectively. While there are an abundance of studies focusing on African-American women and diabetes management, there is a considerable gap in health education literature regarding the self-care management experiences of African-American men living with type 2 diabetes. The management and impact of type 2 diabetes on the sense of self, lifestyle, and significant others of the African-American man are not clearly comprehended. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to explore the knowledge, beliefs, and self-care management practices of African American men living with type 2 diabetes. This was an exploratory study utilizing qualitative methodology to understand the knowledge, beliefs, and existing self-care management practices of up to 50 African-American men, ages 18-70, living with type 2 diabetes. Participants had one-on-one semi structured interviews with the primary investigator. The instruments that were used consisted of two parts: one was a self-administered paper/pencil questionnaire to collect socio-demographic information. The second was a semi-structured interview. The study significance was to identify and understand the barriers to type 2 diabetes management and how they had an adverse influence on self-care. A combination of high barriers, poor daily self-care, management, and knowledge possibly put those with type 2 diabetes at an elevated risk for subordinate self-care management. Barriers had a role in reality and diabetes researchers and educators are charged with recognizing the complications of what individuals with type 2 diabetes need to do improve and enhance their health. The study findings revealed that the participants labored with managing their diabetes and some counted on their own potential or performance, as well as the encouragement of their family, extended family, neighbors, and friends. Also, many of the participants had a unified theme in that regarding self-care management, having type 2 diabetes affected those in their surrounding environment, not just the person living with the illness. In conclusion, the study findings suggest that future diabetes research and education among African-American men should give attention to male masculinity and the powerful influence it has on utilizing preventive health services. The limited amount of African-American men included in empirical type 2 diabetes research could help explain the under addressed barriers and complexities to positive self-care management.

According to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada, there is approximately 1 in every 200 individuals who is living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Many of those living with IBD also need to have an ostomy. The literature on the effects IBD and an ostomy has on adolescents and young adults lacks consensus. Therefore, the purpose of this phenomenological study was to try to understand the lived experiences of adolescents and young adults (N=6) living with IBD and an ostomy. Sociodemographic information was collected, and the participants were interviewed in person using a semi-structured interview guide. The work of van Manen (1990) was used as a guide for data collection, analysis and interpretation of this study. Analysis revealed the essence of the adolescents’ and young adults’ lived experience as being “Concealing and Revealing the Self”. Three themes communicate the essence of their lived experience: (a) Uneasy feelings, (b) “It’s hard…”, and (c) A renewed sense of self. The needs of the adolescents and young adults, along with their recommendations to health care providers, are addressed. The study findings inform nurses in the areas of practice, education and research. Practice recommendations include being cognizant that these individuals need holistic care that addresses their psychological, psychosocial and physical needs. This study forms the basis for future research to explore some of the themes in greater detail, as well as a recommendation for a longitudinal study.

Introduction The embrace of PET by medical clinicians has been reluctant (ΔT ≈ 20 yr) primarily due to the scale of the infrastructure that is needed. The capital cost of a cyclotron (≈ 106 USD) is now dwarfed by the demand for compliance to recent regulatory standards. This is a recurring expense, not only imposing an order-of-magnitude increase in staffing and operating costs, but damping the enthusiasm of researchers recalling the brisk pace of research in earlier days. Now an academic site, with little interest or opportunity to scale up production for wider distribution, is burdened by the new regulatory terrain of good manufacturing practice (GMP), mandated for translational studies that will reach only a few subjects. With our production resources held within a basic science department, the Medical Physics cyclotron facility at the University of Wisconsin has sought a sustainable pathway. We now anchor the operating budget by providing high-value, long-lived radionuclides to off-site users, to buffer the fluctuations of local demand for conventional PET synthons. Material and Methods: The tools of the trade The radioisotopes discussed here belong to the 3-d and 4-d sub shell, but are now moving into the rare-earths, with applications ranging from - targeted molecular imaging agents, - internal radionuclide therapy using to Auger electron-emitters, - to basic physics experiments using 163Ho (t1/2 ≈ 4500 yr) to determine the mass of the neutrino. Rather than focusing on the dozens of radionuclides produced, a number of tools deserve mention, as they support a variety of targets, reactions and products. These will be listed in order (A-G) from cyclotron to extraction to analysis. A. Two cyclotrons are used, a legacy RDS 112 (#1; 1985) and a GE PETtrace (2009). Neutron and gamma detectors are monitored during the long irradia-tions, signaling any subtle changes in the running conditions. (1). The PET-trace is fitted with a quick-change variable degrader target (2), as well as a beam-line with a 5-port (0 o, ±15 o, ±30 o) vertical switching magnet (3). The downward directed beam ports provide support for solid targets (e.g. Ga, S, Se, Te) that melt at low temperature. The irradiation of gas targets employs a generalized manifold to handle inert gases such as 36Ar for the production of 34mCl, as well as natural Kr and Xe for making Rb and Cs isotopes to act as fission product surrogates. These products are captured on a stainless steel target chamber liner, and rinsed off with warm water. The alkali metals are convenient tracers to study the ion exchange trapping process, pivotal in future 99Mo production from solution reactors (4). B. The preparation of malleable solid targets employs a 10-ton hydraulic bench press, and a jeweler’s mill to roll out foils from pellets, pressed between Nb foils to avoid contamination. C. Binary alloys are smelted in a programmable 1600o tube furnace under argon flow (eg. NiGa4). Alternatively, an induction furnace now permits highly localized heating of the binary metal charge, while allowing mechanical agitation during the smelting process. D. Electroplating onto gold discs is used for various enriched target material or the alloys above where quantitative recovery is essential, or where heat transfer from high beam current is demanding. E. The separation chemistry, prior to che-lation to targeted molecular imaging agents, is performed in LabView-driven, home-built “black boxes” resident in mini-cells (Radiation Shielding Inc.). F. Analysis of the targets after irradiation makes use of HPGe spectroscopy for gammas and characteristic X-rays of decay (e.g. rare earths). The elemental constitution of target alloys is deter-mined prior to irradiation by X-ray fluorescence analysis, excited by 109Cd and 241Am sources. G. Finally, broad-band elemental analysis at the ppb level now makes use of a microwave plasma atomic emission spectrometer (Agilent 4200), to be de-scribed elsewhere in this meeting. Results and Conclusions The tools above (A-G) are employed in the pro-duction of the expanded list of radionuclides offered by our cyclotron group to both local and off-site colleagues. The list below is ordered in terms of decreasing use, from regular production for national distribution (64Cu, 89Zr), to weekly inhouse use (44Sc, 66,68Ga, 68,69,71Ge, 72As, 61Cu, 86Y), to infrequent production for multi-site collaborations (163Ho, 95mTc, 206Bi): Radionuclide Target Employs 64Cu 64Ni/Au A, D, G 89Zr natY A, E, G 44Sc natCa A, B, E, F, G 66, 68Ga Zn/Ag A, B, D, E, F, G 68, 69, 71Ge Ga, GaO2 A, B, C, E,F 72As GeO2 A, B, E, F 52Mn natCr A, E, F, G 76, 81mBr SeO A, E, F 34mCl, Rb, Cs noble gas A, E, F 95mTc,163Ho Mo, Dy A, E, F TABLE 1. Target materials and processes. The production of long-lived radionuclides lends itself to crowd-sourcing, with distributed irradia-tion at virtually any site with a suitable accelera-tor and a relaxed beam schedule. A number of unique challenges do arise that don’t appear in the usual production of conventional cyclotron products such as 11C or 18F. Contamination by stable metals, inadvertently introduced by target pressing or beam-induced sputtering from degraders, can cause serious interference downstream limiting effective specific activity. Long-lived manganese isotopes are ubiquitous. And some very high value products are simply not within the reach of small cyclotrons, such as 52Fe and 67Cu, being too far off the line of beta stability. In conclusion, the research leading to a doctoral degree necessarily must focus on the physics and chemistry of novel radionuclides and tracers. On the other hand, clinical and translational research needs established imaging agents, with little room for innovation within the regulatory constraints. Our experience at Wisconsin has led us to a balancing act, with our routine production of clinical doses countered with our research program to provide high-value radionu-clides for our collaborative work with our basic science colleagues.

Bakgrund: Enligt Socialstyrelsen drabbar ofrivillig barnlöshet omkring 10-15 % av alla par i Sverige. Vanliga orsaker till infertilitet kan vara skador på äggledarna eller för lågt antal spermier.  Kvinnor och män kan reagera olika på beskedet kring infertilitet. Det är viktigt som sjuksköterska att ha förståelse för hur kvinnor och män upplever problemet. Syfte: Att belysa kvinnor och mäns upplevelser av ofrivillig barnlöshet. Metod: I litteraturstudien har nio kvalitativa artiklar granskats och analyserats. Artiklarna valdes ut ifrån databaserna CINAHL och PubMed. Resultat: Resultatet delades in i sju kategorier: meningen med livet, att längta efter barn, att känna utanförskap, att känna förändringar i förhållandet, att stötta och känna stöd och att gå vidare i livet utan barn. Slutsats: Litteraturstudiens resultat visade på både likheter och skillnader bland kvinnor och mäns upplevelser av infertilitet. Längtan efter föräldraskap, en social press att skaffa barn och känslan av utanförskap var vanligt. Det är viktigt som sjuksköterska att ha förståelse och kunskap om individers upplevelser och att de kan skilja sig åt. Det finns ett behov av fortsatt forskning inom ämnet. / Background: According to Socialstyrelsen 10-15 % of all couples in Sweden is affected by involuntary childlessness. Common causes of infertility can be injuries on the fallopian tube or a low sperm count. Women and men can react differently to the information about the infertility. As a nurse it is important to have an understanding about how women and men perceive this problem. Aim: To illustrate the lived experience of involuntary childlessness among women and men. Method: In this literature study nine qualitative studies have been compiled and analyzed. The articles were chosen from CINAHL and PubMed data bases. Result: The result was sorted in seven categories: the meaning of life, to be longing for children, to feel exclusion, to feel changes in the relationship, to support and to feel supported and to carry on life without children. Conclusion: The result of the literature study indicated similarities and differences in the lived experience of infertility among women and men. Desire for parenthood, a social pressure to conceive a child and feelings of alienation was commonly mentioned. As a nurse, it is important to have an understanding and knowledge about how the experience of infertility can differ among individuals. Further research on the subject is needed.

This thesis examines the religious experiences of American-born converts to Islam. The social nature of religion has been long ignored in research on the lives of religious people. A review of research on Muslim identities reveals an emphasis on immigrants, women, and youth in the British context. However, there is little to no research on the unique constituency of converts to Islam and the importance of social aspects of faith for establishing a sustainable and transformative practice of Islam. This research closes this gap through a case study of the religious experiences of American-born converts to Islam. Through in-depth interviews with converts and community leaders, and sustained engagement with the Cincinnati Muslim community, I examine the extent to which social interaction (understood as both site and process) shapes convert identities and their understanding of religious belief and practice. My research suggests that religion not only occupies a variety of everyday lived spaces for converts, but that Islam can be understood as a way of being in the world. Since understanding of religious belief and practice is multifaceted and diverse, I explore the influence of social interaction and community on converts’ spiritual modalities. I argue that spaces not deemed officially sacred (e.g. places of worship or pilgrimage sites) are just as influential in shaping the religious identities of converts, and help converts develop a religious way of being that is self-transformative and sustainable in the American context.

Bakgrund: Barn och ungdomar i skolan som är missnöjda med sina kroppar tenderar att börja experimentera med mat och träningsvanor vilket kan leda till en ohälsosam kroppsuppfattning. Sociala medier tillsammans med andra media spelar en stor roll i hur de påverkar framförallt kvinnor. En utmaning för skolsköterskan är att lyckas identifiera och stötta dessa elever i ett tidigt stadium. Syfte: Syftet med denna studie är att beskriva hur skolsköterskor upptäcker och bemöter elever med ätstörningar. Metod: Intervjuer med åtta skolsköterskor utfördes efter så kallad snöbollsrekrytering och analyserades med hjälp av en kvalitativ innebördsanalys. Resultat: Skolsköterskan erfarenheter av att upptäcka och bemöta elever med ätstörningsproblematik visar att det krävs kompetens, samarbete sinsemellan skolpersonal och elevernas föräldrar samt att det är av största vikt för skolsköterskan att bilda en trygg relation med elever. Konklusion: Kontinuerligt utbyte av erfarenheter samt yrkesmässig handledning kring elever med ätstörningar skulle stärka skolsköterskor i deras profession. / Background: Children and adolescents in school who are dissatisfied with their bodies tend to start experimenting with food and their exercising behaviour which can lead to an unhealthy body image. Social media and other media also play a big role in how they affect women, above all. The challenge for school nurses is to identify and support these students. Aim: The aim of this study is to describe school nurses’ experiences from detecting and encountering students with eating disorders. Method: Interviews with eight school nurses were performed after snowball sampling and analysed using a meaning analysis of the context. Result:School nurses experience of detecting and encountering students with eating disorders shows that it demands competence, cooperation between mentors and the students parents together with an ability to show an open attitude and that it is important to build a trustworthy relationship with the students. Conclusion: Continuous exchange of experiences as well as professional guidance surrounding students with eating disorders would strengthen school nurses in their profession.

Early adolescent girls in a private school setting are in a vulnerable state on account of their gender, transitional developmental phase and a combined array of modern-day expectations and challenges. With many private schools expecting a 100% pass rate from their students, issues of competitiveness and achievement pressure may become prevalent. Research has shown that early adolescent girls are more susceptible to psychosocial problems than boys as well as girls of other ages, putting them more at risk of the effects of performance pressure, academic stress, depression and anxiety. Early adolescent girls’ vulnerability due to the impact that puberty has on their self-esteem as well as the fact that they are easily influenced by the opinions of others, causing them to be highly sensitive to the approval of others, may be compounded by pressures of the private school. The purpose and aim of this study was therefore to explore and describe the lived experiences of early adolescent girls in a private school setting so as to gain a deeper understanding of such experiences. In following this it was hoped that the study would offer the girls a ‘voice’ as well as create awareness of how they can be better supported in terms of their psychosocial development and well-being. The study was not viewed from one specific theoretical perspective but rather took into consideration various theories of development while undertaking the literature review, in order to gain a broader orientation of the subject at hand. The current literature with regard to the key concepts of the study formed part of the overview of the study. A qualitative approach was followed so as to understand the unique, true meaning of the girls’ experiences. A case study design allowed for a holistic, in-depth study of the social phenomenon at hand. The participants were ten early adolescent girls in Grade 7 in a private school in Northern Johannesburg who volunteered to take part in the study with the informed consent of their parents. The data obtained were viewed in line with an interpretive descriptive paradigm, which allowed the phenomenon to be studied through a ‘subjective lens’ while allowing for the formation of various realities. A deeper understanding of such realities in terms of the girls’ interpretations of their lived experiences was obtained through the data collection methods of semi-structured in-depth interviews, collages, confidential letters, journal Psychosocial experiences of early adolescent girls in a private school setting entries, field notes and researcher reflective notes. In combination with the researcher’s interpretation, this led to a richer, co-constructed, description of the girls’ experiences. The interpretive description allowed for the emergence of thematic patterns which revealed the findings of the study. The findings confirm that the girls are experiencing pressure to attain and maintain the high standard of the school. The findings further confirm that such pressures are increased by the early adolescent girls’ vulnerable developmental phase which places them in need of greater positive support from teachers, peers and parents to maintain healthy psychosocial development. The findings show that perceived rejection from peers and teachers has a negative effect on the girls’ self-concept. The findings further reveal that in considering the girls’ well-being they should be given a voice and be respected in their authentic uniqueness. Recommendations were made for the school to investigate the establishment of ‘mindfulness workshops’ to be run at the school, with the outcome that parents, teachers and students further develop skills in ways of supporting the girls’ healthy psychosocial development. / Thesis (MA (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

Education can be viewed as a challenging profession, even more so for educators teaching learners with severe intellectual challenges (SIC). The diagnostic criteria of learners with SIC are a significant sub-average ability in intellectual functioning and concurrent deficiencies in adaptive behaviour such as social and daily living skills. The majority of learners with SIC display disruptive and challenging behaviour such as aggression, hyperactivity, talking inappropriately, and inappropriate sexual behaviour. Educators teaching learners with SIC are confronted, daily, with a wide range of challenges such as an excessive workload, minimal progress, and challenging behaviour displayed by the learners with SIC. The intensity of the physical and emotional challenges experienced by the educators, consequently, results in negative outcomes such as stress, burnout, high staff absences, and premature resignations. Earlier studies conducted in this field of specialisation found that educators, overall, were not very keen to teach learners with SIC. South African research conducted within this field of specialisation determined that, despite similar negative challenges, the educators did not necessarily share the pessimistic view towards this teaching environment as experienced in other countries. Local studies indicated that some educators experienced less stress and better physical health than others. The aim of the research was to gain an understanding of the nature of, and possible contextual influences on, those experiences that contributed to some educators experiencing job satisfaction and working effectively, while others did not, to ultimately present possible guiding principles to develop support systems for educators teaching learners with SIC. This qualitative study was planned from a descriptive and explorative case study design by making use of the phenomenological method of inquiry. Ethical permission to conduct the study was obtained from the North- West University. The research group consisted of six educators who perceived themselves as effective in this strenuous teaching environment, working at two selected schools for learners with SIC in the Tshwane South District, Gauteng. Data were obtained by making use of semi-structured interviews, open-ended sentences, and follow-up interviews. Data analysis and interpretation were guided by Creswell‘s application of Tesch‘s method by an in-depth analysis, identifying possible themes and topics. The various categories were identified and described. A literature control was executed in order to interpret and evaluate the data. The final step involved recounting the findings in the format of a written article. Based on the research findings, it was concluded that the participants, despite the various challenges, experienced high levels of job satisfaction and motivation. However, the study also confirmed that specific challenges such as the behaviour that learners with SIC display and a lack of acknowledgement could have a detrimental effect on motivational levels. The literature indicated that low motivational levels have a negative impact on job satisfaction and effectiveness. The emotional wellbeing of educators was recognized to be an important determining factor towards their effectiveness and ability to cope. The need for the development of appropriate support systems to enhance the educators‘ emotional wellbeing was confirmed. / Thesis (MA (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.