Els contaminants emergents són un ampli grup de compostos orgànics detectats en diversos compartiments ambientals. Tot i que la seva concentració normalment està compresa entre els ng/L fins a pocs µg/L (força inferior que els contaminants orgànics convencionals), poden representar una amenaça per a la salut humana i el medi ambient. D’entre tots els contaminants emergents, els principis actius dels fàrmacs (PhACs) i els compostos disruptors endocrins (EDCs) generen una especial preocupació. Per altra banda, està àmpliament acceptat que la seva principal font d’entrada al medi ambient són els efluents de les plantes depuradores, on els tractaments convencionals de llots actius no són capaços de degradar-ne la majoria. Per tant, s’han de buscar tractaments alternatius. Una d’aquestes alternatives podria ser l’ús de fongs ligninolítics, aprofitant el seu sistema enzimàtic que els hi confereix l’habilitat de degradar un rang molt ampli de contaminants. Aquesta tesi avalua diferents aspectes relacionats amb la degradació de contaminants emergents per part de fongs. El fong de podridura blanca Trametes versicolor, àmpliament estudiat, és el que s’ha triat per a dur a terme els experiments d’aquesta tesi. Primer de tot s’ha estudiat la degradació individual de determinats contaminants. Tenint en compte que la degradació dels EDCs ha estat menys estudiada que la dels PhACs, es van seleccionar sis EDCs pertanyents als grups dels filtres UV (benzofenona-3 (BP3), benzofenona-1 (BP1) i 3-(4-metilbenzilidè) càmfor (4-MBC)) i dels benzotriazols (1H-benzotriazol (BTZ) i toliltriazol, una mescla de 4-metilbenzotriazol (4-MBTZ) i 5-metilbenzotriazol (5-MBTZ)). S’ha fet, doncs, un seguiment de la seva degradació per part de T. versicolor, la toxicitat aguda i les activitats estrogènica i de tipus dioxina, s’han identificat els metabòlits generats pel fong i s’han suggerit els primers passos de la via de degradació. A més a més, el destí de determinats contaminants (la BP3 i l’analgèsic i antiinflamatori diclofenac) durant la seva degradació per part del fong ha estat avaluada a través de compostos marcats amb l’isòtop estable 13C. La combinació d’anàlisis de la composició isotòpica del C del CO2 i de la biomassa total i el sondeig d’isòtops estables en aminoàcids (aa-SIP) han permès la discriminació entre simple transformació, mineralització oxidativa o incorporació del carboni a la biomassa. Pel que fa als dos compostos estudiats, els dos s’han mineralitzat però s’ha vist que només la BP3 s’utilitza com a font de carboni i és incorporada a la biomassa del fong. Per una altra banda, es van tractar dos efluents reals (l’aigua residual d’un hospital veterinari i el concentrat d’osmosi inversa d’una planta pilot de tractament d’aigües residuals urbanes) en un bioreactor de fongs fluïditzat per polsos d’aire i operat sota diferents condicions operacionals (estèril/no estèril i discontinu/continu) en vistes a una possible implementació futura. Amb aquesta intenció, aquesta tesi apunta a la importància de l’addició externa de nutrients i al control de l’aeració, els quals haurien de ser optimitzats per a obtenir una eliminació eficient de contaminants per part del fong inoculat. En aquesta tesi també es remarca la importància dels processos de conjugació i desconjugació. Per una banda, són una una restricció en l’avaluació de la degradació en efluents reals a causa de la seva absència en els mètodes analítics i, per l’altra, els conjugats representen uns metabòlits intermedis importants durant la degradació per part del fong dels contaminants seleccionats . També es van realitzar anàlisis de biologia molecular (anàlisi dels àcids grassos dels fosfolípids (PLFA), PCR quantitativa (qPCR) i gel d’electroforesis en gradient desnaturalitzant (DGGE)) amb l’objectiu de trobar alguna correlació entre l’operació dels bioreactors i el comportament del fong inoculat i els altres microorganismes que es desenvolupen en els bioreactors no estèrils. Els resultats suggereixen que els paràmetres de seguiment clàssics (com poden ser l’activitat lacasa) podrien no ser uns bons indicadors de la supervivència i predominança del fong inoculat. / Emerging contaminants are a wide group of organic compounds detected in many environmental compartments. Even though their environmental concentration is usually in the range of ng L-1 to low µg L-1 (much lower than conventional organic pollutants), they still represent a threat to human health and the environment. Among emerging contaminants, pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) and endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) are of special concern. It is widely accepted that the main source to the environment are the effluents of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), where conventional activated sludge treatments are not able to degrade most of them. Therefore, alternative treatments should be found. One of those alternatives might be the use of ligninolytic fungi by taking advantage of their enzymatic system, that conferes them the ability to degrade a broad range of contaminants. The present thesis assesses different factors related to the fungal degradation of emerging contaminants. The widely studied white-rot fungus Trametes versicolor has been chosen to carry out all the experiments of this thesis. First of all, individual degradation of selected contaminants was studied. Taking into account that EDCs degradation has been less studied than PhACs, six EDCs belonging to the groups of UV filters (benzophenone-3 (BP3), benzophenone-1 (BP1) and 3-(4-methylbenzylidene) camphor (4-MBC)) and benzotriazoles (1H-benzotriazole (BTZ) and tolyltriazole, a mixture of 4-methylbenzotriazole (4-MBTZ) and 5-methylbenzotriazole (5-MBTZ)) were selected. Their degradation by T. versicolor, acute toxicity, estrogenic and dioxin-like activities were monitored, the fungal metabolites were identified and the first steps of the degradation pathway were suggested. Moreover, the fate during fungal degradation of certain contaminants (BP3 and the analgesic and anti-inflammatory diclofenac) was assessed by means of compounds labelled with the stable isotope 13C. Combination of analyses of carbon isotopic composition of CO2, bulk biomass and amino acids-stable isotope probing (aa-SIP) allowed the distinction between simple transformation, oxidative mineralization or carbon incorporation into the biomass. Regarding the two studied compounds, both of them were mineralized, but only BP3 was found to be used as carbon source and incorporated in the fungal biomass. On the other hand, two real effluents (veterinary hospital wastewater and a reverse osmosis concentrate from a pilot plant treating urban wastewater) were treated in fungal air-pulsed fluidized bioreactors under different operational conditions (sterile/non-sterile and batch/continuous) in view of a possible future implementation. With respect to that, the present thesis points out the importance of an external addition of nutrients and the control of aeration, which should be further optimized for an efficient removal of contaminants by the inoculated fungus. The importance of conjugation and deconjugation processes is also highlighted in this thesis. They are a restriction in the assessment of emerging contaminants degradation in real effluents due to the absence of conjugates in the analytical methods and, at the same time, conjugates are important intermediate metabolites in the fungal degradation of the selected contaminants. Molecular biology analyses (phospholipid fatty acids analysis (PLFA), real-time PCR (qPCR) and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE)) were performed as well with the aim of finding some correlation between the operation of the bioreactors and the performance of the inoculated fungus and the other microorganisms that could develop in the non-sterile bioreactors. Results suggest that the classical parameters monitored (i.e. laccase activity) might not be good indicators of inoculated fungus survival and predominance.

No description available.

Introduction: Burnout is a familiar term for today’s health care professionals with emotional, psychological, physical, and social consequences for those who experience it. It leads to job dissatisfaction, low organizational commitment, absenteeism, as well as inter personal conflict in teams and patient care. Objectives: This mixed methods study has 3 objectives: 1. To determine the levels of burnout being experienced by a sample of occupational therapists practicing in Ontario. 2. To describe the practice issues faced by participants in their day-to-day work and 3. To describe the coping strategies participants employ to maintain their practice. Methods: A concurrent embedded mixed methods research design was used. The mixed methods design collected quantitative and qualitative data. In the first phase, 63 participants completed a survey, which collected demographic information, responses on Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey and Areas of Worklife Survey, and their use of coping strategies. In the second phase, focus groups and interviews with 7 occupational therapists were conducted to learn about practice issues, and coping strategies used to address the identified demands. Results: 34.8% of the participants reported high levels of emotional exhaustion, 43.5% of the participants reported high levels of cynicism and 24.6 % report low professional efficacy. Unmanageable workload predicted 29.9% of the variance in emotional exhaustion. Rewards predict 15.5% of the variance in professional efficacy. Demands on time, lack of autonomy, lack of respect and conflict were identified as practice issues participants grapple with on a daily basis. Spending time with spouse/partner/family, maintaining balance between professional and personal lives, maintaining sense of control over work responsibilities and maintaining sense of humor were rated highly by participants as coping strategies they utilize to maintain their practice. Maintaining self awareness / self monitoring, focusing on satisfying aspects of work, importance of workplace/home community and boundaries emerged as additional coping strategies from the focus groups and interviews. Conclusion: This study contributes to understanding the practice challenges for occupational therapists in the contemporary healthcare arena. It provides valuable insights into factors that contribute to therapist burnout and strategies they employ to maintain competent practice. / Thesis (Master, Rehabilitation Science) -- Queen's University, 2010-09-22 12:12:20.009

University of Stellenbosch Business School / Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTACT: The purpose of this research is to gain insight into the personalities of marketers and to identify a benchmark personality profile for a marketer in professional service industries. In order to accomplish this, the personality traits required when performing the general marketing role, as well as the personality tests to measure the identified traits, were investigated. A best-fit profile was then selected by matching these traits. The variations in the marketing role between the professional services and the goods industry were then investigated in order to adapt the profile for the specific traits required by professional service industries. The Myers Briggs Type Indicator and 16 Personality Factor scales were identified as the main tests and selected to measure the desired traits for the profile. Additional tests were identified to test for high levels of creativity, high levels of tolerance for ambiguity, strong internal locus of control, high need for achievement, high levels of emotional intelligence and entrepreneurial spirit. When comparing the traits required by the boundary spanning, entrepreneurial role of marketers inside organisations, with the descriptions of each of the 16 Myers Briggs types, the Extrovert, Instinctive, Thinking, Perceiving (ENTP) type was identified as the best-fit profile. A corresponding 16PF profile was constructed and compared using correlations between the two scales. No clashing personality traits could be identified when investigating the mainly relational marketing role requirements of the professional services industries. Replacement of the ENTP type was therefore not justified. Additional traits related to ‘loyalty’ and ‘trust’ were added as further advantages and an investigation into the Myers Briggs type theory identified ways of evaluating it. The subsequent theoretical profile and descriptions were then sent to experienced and practised marketers in the professional services industry, asking them to provide feedback regarding the personality traits of the theoretical profile and the methods followed. Feedback was provided by means of a Likert scale multiple-choice survey that was hosted online as well as private email conversations. The feedback was mostly positive and responses corresponded with the theoretical model with the exception of two specific personality traits of the 16PF in question that opposed the model. Personality tests can serve as a starting point for constructive discussions of individual behaviour and performance of current employees. These tests can be used for coaching, career counselling, conflict resolution, team and organisational development and to predict employee-role "fit". The tests and results can help provide a framework for assessing the ways that different individual personalities contribute to the behaviours that impact performance in the workplace.

Apartheid education practices have left an indelible mark on Black students in South Africa even after 16 years of democratic rule. For many years tertiary educational institutions have striven to improve throughput and retention rates of Black students who have met the entry requirements for higher education yet seem unable to succeed because of the disadvantaged backgrounds from which they come. Many programmes have been initiated at institutions of higher education throughout South Africa to address this problem; the Humanities Access Programme at the University of KwaZulu-Natal is one of these. This study has investigated the impact of the Humanities Access Programme on the institution, by considering throughput and retention rates, and on the student, through their perceptions of the programme and, by combining the results of these two investigations, has tried to suggest an explanation for the results emerging from the data. A mixed methods research approach was used in this study. Quantitative data was collected to conduct a cohort study of student retention and throughput for students in the programme from 2001 to 2004 and qualitative data from semi-structured interviews with students from this cohort was used to obtain student perceptions. Using Tinto’s Student Integration Model tentative explanations of the throughput and retention results were formulated from the students’ perceptions. This study concluded that students from the Humanities Access Programme outperformed their mainstream counterparts and that students perceived the programme in a positive light and felt that the programme contributed to their success. The social and academic integration to university life that the programme provided appears to be a major contributing factor in these students’ success. / Thesis (M.Ed.) - University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2010.

No description available.

This research study deals mainly with the educator professionalisation in the post democratic South Africa, paying attention to the role of a professional council in promoting educator professionalism. The status and image of teaching in this country seem to have been viewed From the racial and cultural differences of communities previously. The democratic dispensation brought an end to this unfair racial and cultural discrimination in the education system through the establishment of a non-racial professional council for educators (i.e. SACE). The research aims are to determine: - The characteristics of a professions and those needed for educator professionalism; and - the role of the a professional council in promoting educator professionalisation. In order to attain the above-mentioned research aims, a literature review and an empirical investigation were undertaken. The literature study was used to clarify concepts such as occupation, semi-profession, profession, professionalisation and professional status. Secondly, characteristics or common features associated with traditional models of professions (ie. accounting, law and medicine) were discussed from a theoretical point of view. Lastly, the literature study highlighted the establishment of professional councils for educators in other parts of the world, including South Africa. The different forms of legislation and policy documents applicable in education were discussed. In order to determine the extent to which teaching adheres to or fulfils the characteristics associated with a profession, teaching was tested against these characteristics. The history of the establishment of SACE was briefly discussed and the objectives or role of this organisation in educator professionalisation concluded this chapter. The empirical research was conducted by using the questionnaire as a measuring instrument. The advantages and disadvantages of the questionnaire as measuring instrument were highlighted. The target population comprises of 239 educators from a total population of 2070 educators in Lejweleputswa and Northern Free State Education Districts -Free State Province. The data collected in the investigation was processed through the SAS computer package to establish frequencies and percentages of responses mean scores ranking, t-test procedures and the effect sizes. The results were then presented tables, analysed and interpreted in accordance with the literature study. The literature study revealed that like all other occupations, teaching aspires to attain recognition and status as a profession. It was also revealed that teaching partially satisfy characteristics associated with professions. The empirical study revealed that the employment of un- or under qualified educators is still prevalent in South African schools. In the last chapter, Chapter 5, conclusions from the literature review and empirical investigation were drawn. The recommendations with regard to the role of SACE in educator professionalisation were provided. Finally based on the research, future research studies in SACE and educator professionalism were recommended. / Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

No description available.

A prolonged period of Conservative government in Britain (1979-1997) has resulted in profound changes in the nature of social welfare, including education. One of the characteristics of this period has been a decrease in the status and autonomy accorded to professions; and a change in the relationship between 'the providers' and 'the consumers' of services. More specifically, the years from 1989 to the mid nineties have been marked by rapid legislative and organisational change in the personal social services. They have also seen significant change in the institutional policies and culture of higher education. Changes in both these sectors have impacted on the arrangements for the education of social workers, responsibility for which is shared between the professional accrediting body, employing agencies and higher education institutions. The starting point for this research was a recognition that, in line with other moves promoting deprofessionalisation and instrumentalism, qualifying training might be relocated outside the higher education system. An initial question, 'can social work survive in higher education?', prompted an exploration of the external influences and internal characteristics which have resulted in this sense of vulnerability. The research utilised interdisciplinary perspectives, grounded in a policy framework, and an inductive approach to collection of empirical data, to examine the view that social work education is open to conflicting policies and values from higher education and the professional field. The possibility that the subject would share similarities with other forms of professional education was also examined. The thesis therefore presents a case study of the epistemology and relationships of a particular form of professional education. Consideration of the literature pertaining to the three contextual factors, social work, higher education and professional education, and of the empirical data derived from social work educators support the concluding argument. This posits that biography, culture and structure interact to produce a discipline with inherent tensions, partly due to its position on a boundary between two systems and partly reflecting the nature of the subject. While its location within higher education is deemed appropriate by social work educators, decisions about its location and form are largely exercised by other interest groups: its survival and development therefore require constant negotiation.

This thesis considers, from a sociological viewpoint, the intellectual movement in Victorian Britain known as scientific naturalism. It argues that the naturalist cosmology needs to be seen as part of the strategy of certain social groups; in particular, naturalism expressed the interests of the newly emerging scientific profession in nineteenth century Britain. The professionalisation of science was part of a larger social development: the appearance of a 'new' professional middle-class. The thesis considers how other new professionals, especially those connected with medicine, deployed naturalistic formulations in their own attempts to secure social recognition and resources. An attempt is made to place naturalism in a broader historical perspective as well as to describe the intellectual background from which it emerged. There are six chapters. The first describes social conditions relevant to an understanding of naturalism; the next four discuss the leading themes of the naturalist world-view; the last considers the wider significance of naturalistic approaches to man and society at the turn of the nineteenth century.