The nature of employee retirement plans has changed dramatically over the past fifteen years as employers have been replacing traditional defined benefit retirement plans with defined contribution plans like the 401(k) plan. This dissertation is focused on the impact that 401(k) plan have on household asset accumulation. The first essay looks at how much asset accumulation can be attributed to 401(k) plans as opposed to other factors such as demographics and saver type characteristics. Overall, the conclusions are consistent with recent research that says these plans induce a reshuffling of assets rather than being funded through a reduction in consumption. Controlling for cohort effects reduces the amount of wealth attributable to 401(k) eligibility to a negligible (and statistically insignificant) amount. The second essay considers the impact that borrowing against the assets in 401(k) plan might have on household asset accumulation. Most personal finance advice warns against borrowing against a retirement plan because of the potential negative impact on retirement wealth. This is especially true for borrowers who are also undisciplined savers and do not or cannot maintain their retirement plan contributions during loan period or who separate from their employers before the loan is repaid. For good savers a retirement plan loan only has a modest impact on retirement wealth. Only modest make-up contributions would need to be made to mitigate the impact of a retirement plan loan. It seems that many borrowers may be using retirement loans because they are in financial difficulty. It also appears that borrowers are trying to maintain their retirement savings, but their asset accumulation within broader measures of wealth is below that of households that do not have outstanding 401(k) loans.

Human resources have become the most important means of competition in today's market environment. It is one of the vital goals of the competing companies to attract and retain work force of high quality. The way to this goal leads through ensuring the employees' satisfaction. Within many companies' management the word satisfaction is confused with motivation and in some professional papers motivation is believed to be the synonym of stimulation. Therefore in the first part of this thesis I explore the theoretical relations between satisfaction, motivation and stimulation. In next parts I introduce the company where the satisfaction survey takes place and include the thorough analysis of the subject group. Based on the acquired theoretical knowledge I then evaluate the used methodology -- electronic questioning and the content of the survey questionnaire. In the last chapter I present the results of the survey conducted in two subsequent time periods. I analyze the results and evaluate the adopted action steps plus giving my own recommendations and suggestions for actions in the upcoming year.

>Magister Scientiae - MSc / The Cosmological Principle forms part of one of the most fundamental hypotheses of modern Cosmology. So it is very important to assess whether it holds true using observational data, or whether it consists of a mathematical simplification. We probe the statistical isotropy of the Universe using the existing radio continuum data, by means of a local variance estimator. In order to investigate this, we analyse the number count variance of the radio catalog by looking at patches of approximately 10, 15, 20 & 25 degrees in radii, and thus comparing it to mock catalogs which reproduce the matter density power spectrum, as well as the same sky coverage of the real data. We establish criteria for accepting patches that have more than 90%, 70% & 50% of their pixels not masked. We make use of the NRAO VLA Sky Survey (NVSS), whose operational frequency is 1.4 GHz. We perform statistical tests for detecting possible departures from statistical isotropy using galaxy number counts with flux limits of 20 < SNVSS < 1000 mJy. We also compare the real data to the mock catalogs of the radio data in order to assess the statistical significance of our results. We use the local variance estimator for testing the statistical isotropy of our data sample. We find that the statistical properties of our sample are in reasonable agreement with the standard cosmological model. The mean of the distribution for the data falls well within the 95% confidence interval of the average of the simulated mocks. For all the radii and acceptance criteria for the patches, we found no significant deviations beyond those allowed by the standard model. As expected there were no large discrepancies between our mocks and the data. The results are consistent with statistical isotropy.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / This study aimed to examine the structural changes affecting the duration of unemployment across households in South Africa. It made use of existing datasets from the Labour Force Survey produced by Statistics South Africa, covering a period of six years (2011-2016). Relations among demographic and household variables were explored to determine how they related to unemployment duration. On the basis of the relations identified, a predictive analysis of unemployment duration was attempted using two-level modelling. The results suggest a significant difference in the duration of unemployment, according to the individual socio-demographic characteristics and the household moderating variables. More specifically, the greatest share percentage of both men and women experiencing long-term unemployment were found within the age group 25-34 years. The study also found that the percentage share of Non-White population groups experiencing longer duration of unemployment was more than for the White population group. Another variable found to have great influence on the duration of unemployment was the individual’s previous work experience. Going beyond the individual’s socio-demographic characteristics to consider household variables. It was found that unemployed workers living in households headed by a female are more vulnerable to longer unemployment duration. The study found individuals living in smaller households displaying longer unemployment duration. Also, it was found that individuals living in less endowed households (households where no one or few people were in gainful employment) were more vulnerable to experiencing longer unemployment spells. The study concluded with some recommendations for employment policy and follow-up research.

Syftet med rapporten är att undersöka hur kopplingen mellan resultatet från en medarbetarundersökning och övriga styrmedel ser ut i en organisation. Detta undersöktes genom två forskningsfrågor som berörde hur denna koppling ser ut samt vilka faktorer som kan påverka dess prioritet. Rapporten har använt sig av en induktiv ansats där en kvalitativ analys använts för att få en fördjupad bild av ledares perspektiv på området. Resultatet visar att en medarbetarundersökning är ett av de viktigaste styrmedlen i organisationen. Resultatet från undersökningen kopplas till övriga styrmedel genom en organisatorisk balans där de viktigaste styrmedlen inklusive medarbetarundersökningen är beroende av varandra. Syftet att göra medarbetarundersökningen för det studerade företaget är således att få välmående och produktiva medarbetare vilket därigenom företaget uppnår sina mål. Faktorer som påverkar prioriteringen av undersökningen är framförallt hur uppföljningsarbetet går till och det intervall undersökningen utförs på. Varje avdelningsunik situation påverkar också hur en ledare väljer att prioritera medarbetarundersökningen som styrmedel. / The aim of the report is to investigate how the results from employee survey is linked to other management control instruments in an organization. This was investigated through two research questions that concerned how this link looks and what factors may affect its priority. The report has used an inductive approach where a qualitative analysis was used to get an in-depth picture of the leaders’ perspective in the field. The result shows that an employee survey is one of the most important management control instruments in the organization. The results of the survey are linked to other instruments through an organizational balance where the most important instruments, including the employee survey, are interdependent. The aim of conducting the employee survey for the studied company is thus to get prosperous and productive employees, thus making the company achieve its goals. Factors that influence the prioritization of the survey are mainly how the follow-up work is done and the interval in which the surveys are performed. The departmental situation also affects how a leader chooses to prioritize the employee survey as a management control instrument.

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ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: Cancer is one of the most common diseases in the developed world and both genetic and environmental factors play a role in the development of cancer. About 5-10% of all cancers are due to predisposing genes. Some of the more common inherited cancer syndromes are hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) and two colorectal cancer syndromes, familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC). Recognition of cancer susceptibility can allow “at risk” individuals and families to participate in cancer risk assessment, genetic testing, and various cancer prevention strategies. As the public is becoming more aware of inherited cancers, it is expected that there will be an increasing demand for genetic services and testing. For this reason more GP involvement is required to assess patients and families at risk and refer them appropriately. Since the Clinical and Counselling Section, Division of Human Genetics, National Health Laboratory Service and University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg is establishing a cancer genetics service it woud be of great value to assess the GPs’ practice, knowledge and attitudes with regards to cancer genetics and this was therefore the aim of this study. METHODOLOGY: A quantitative, exploratory research design was chosen and GPs in the Johannesburg area were selected as subjects. After the completion of a pilot study a research package was mailed to 196 GPs. This package was sent out twice and both times the GPs were asked to respond within 3-4 weeks. The final sample consisted of 61 GPs and the data were analysed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Of the 61 participants more male GPs (42, 69%) than female GPs (19, 31%) responded and there were about an equal number of GPs practicing alone (29, 48) and in a multiple practice (32, 52%). Twenty two (33%) of the GPs had never had personal experience of cancer. Practices: The GPs made use of several cancer screening procedures but obtained limited information on cancer history from their patients particularly from second degree relatives and about age of onset. Very few subjects (15, 25%) reported that they assess patients’ risk for inherited cancer susceptibility and only 22 (36%) reported that they refer patients to other facilities for risk assessment and genetic testing. Knowledge: Only 32 (52%) of the GPs were aware of genetic testing facilities and 54 (86%) reported never having received advertising material to promote genetic testing for cancer susceptibility services. They also are not aware of genetic counselling facilities but do feel patients should have genetic counselling by a genetic counselor, clinical geneticist or oncologist before genetic testing. Even though genetic testing for inherited cancer susceptibility is only available at some academic institutions, mostly on a research basis, the GPs seem to be unaware of the availability of genetic testing in South Africa for colorectal cancer genes (8, 13% and 9, 15%) but 28 (46%) knew about breast cancer genes. They were not aware of the autosomal dominant inheritance of hereditary breast cancer and the percentage of individuals with breast cancer who carry the BRCA1/2 gene nor did they know the penetrance of HNPCC genes. Attitudes: The subjects’ attitudes to genetic testing for inherited cancer susceptibility were positive although they reported that they were unaware of several general factors regarding cancer genetic testing. The GPs had limited knowledge about inherited cancers and do not take an active part in cancer genetic management. However, 53 (87%) of the GPs reported interest in learning about these services and expected to play a role in cancer genetics in the future. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study suggest that there is a need to educate GPs about the basic cancer genetic concepts so that they can identify patients at risk for an inherited cancer syndrome. They need to be informed about the genetic tests currently available for the inherited cancer syndromes, and about genetic counselling and testing facilities.

Objetivo. O principal objetivo deste estudo foi desenvolver um questionário de freqüência alimentar- QF AA para calcular o consumo de energia, carboidrato, proteína, lipídio total, lipídio insaturado, fibra, colesterol, retinol, vitamina C, cálcio e ferro de adolescentes freqüentadores de uma escola pública localizada na região oeste da cidade de São Paulo. A validade relativa do QF AA foi testada por meio da comparação entre os valores estimados pelo método de referência (média de 3 dias de R24h) e os calculados pelo QFAA. Metodologia. Depois de identificados os principais alimentos fontes dos nutrientes analisados, o QF AA foi testado em prova piloto. A versão final foi constituída por 76 itens alimentares, agrupados segundo o perfil de cada alimento. O estudo de validade foi realizado durante um período de 6 meses (junho a novembro de 1999) junto a 79 alunos voluntários de ambos os sexos, os quais responderam 4 R24h com intervalo de 45 dias e 1 QFAA ao final do estudo. Os dados foram calculados pelo Virtual Nutri e analisados utilizando-se coeficiente de correlação de Pearson, ajustados pela caloria e corrigidos pela variância intrapessoal. Resultados. Observou-se uma alta variabilidade no consumo da dieta dos adolescentes, mostrando razões de variância extremamente altas para o colesterol, retinol e vitamina C. Os coeficientes de correlação de Pearson, depois do ajuste e da correção pela variância, variaram entre - O,1O a 0,72 para os indivíduos de sexo feminino e de O,16 a 0,91 para os de sexo masculino. A média do coeficiente de correlação para todo o grupo foi de 0,52. Conclusões. Nossos resultados indicam que o QFAA mostrou aceitável desempenho para classificar os indivíduos segundo seu consumo habitual para a maioria dos nutrientes, com exceção do retinol e do ferro. / Purpose. The main purpose of this study was to develop a Food-Frequency Questionnaire - FFQ to calculate the consumption of energy, carbohydrate, protein, total lipid, unsaturated lipid, flber, cholesterol, retinol, vitamin C, calcium and iron by adolescents attending a public school located in the western region of the city of São Paulo. The relative validity of the FFQ was tested in a comparison between values estimated by the reference method (average, three days of R24h) and those calculated by the FFQ. Methodology. After identifying the major food sources of the nutrients analyzed, the FFQ was tested in a pilot test. The final version was comprised by seventy-six food items, grouped according to each of their proflles. The validity study was performed over a six-month period (]une through November, 1999) on seventy-nine volunteer students of both sexes, which responded four R24h with a 45-day interval and one FFQ at the end of the study. Data was computed by the Virtual Nutri and analyzed by using Pearson\'s correlation coefflcient, energy - adjustment and corrected for within-subject variance. Results. High variability was observed in adolescent diet consumption, showing extremely high variance ratios for cholesterol, retinol and vitamin C. Pearson\'s correlation coefficients, after adjustment and correction for variance, range between - O.1O to O.72 for females and from O.16 to O.91 for males. The average correlation coefficient for the entire group was 0.52. Conclusions. Our results indicate that the FFQ has shown an acceptable performance to classify individuais according to their habitual consumption for the majority of nutrients, with the exception of retinol and iron.

O presente estudo teve por objetivo descrever a relação entre o consumo de cálcio, proteína e energia pela dieta e a densidade mineral óssea do colo do fêmur em homens adultos e idosos de diferentes grupos raciais, aplicando estratégias de correções de medidas de consumo alimentar. É um estudo observacional, transversal, abrangendo 306 homens voluntários, com 50 anos e mais de idade. A DMO do colo do fêmur foi avaliada pelo exame de densitometria óssea por emissão dupla de raios X e o consumo de cálcio, proteína e energia pelo método de registro alimentar de três dias. As medidas de consumo de cálcio e proteína foram ajustadas pela ingestão energética utilizando-se análise de regressão linear. Os coeficientes de correlação e regressão foram corrigidos pela variabilidade intra e interpessoal de consumo, utilizando-se análise de variância. A média da DMO do colo do fêmur foi de 0,916 g/ cm2 (DP = 0,144). A média de consumo de cálcio bruto foi de 685,3 mg/dia (DP = 320,1 mg). O ajuste do consumo dos nutrientes pela energia ingerida não alterou as suas médias, mas reduziu o desvio padrão em 15 por cento para cálcio e 35 por cento para proteína. Verificou-se que o ajuste do consumo dos nutrientes pela energia ingerida reduziu a correlação com a DMO do colo do fêmur tanto para cálcio (-51,2 por cento ), como para proteína (-33,1 por cento ). E por sua vez, a correção pela variabilidade intrapessoal e interpessoal do consumo ajustado, resultou em aumento da força de correlação com a DMO em 25,9 por cento para consumo de cálcio, 15,7 por cento para consumo de proteína e 15,4 por cento para consumo de energia. Os consumos dos nutrientes não foram associados à DMO do colo do fêmur tanto na análise univariada como na múltipla, exceção para os indivíduos da raça negra que apresentaram correlação positiva e significativa da DMO com o consumo de cálcio, mas não independente do IMC. Os principais fatores associados à DMO do colo do fêmur foram idade, altura e índice de massa corporal. Atividade física de lazer foi associada positivamente a DMO da população branca, mas não da negra. Conclui-se que os ajustes e as correções feitas nas medidas de consumo de cálcio, proteína e energia foram importantes para obter-se melhor estimativa da real correlação entre as variáveis de consumo alimentar com a DMO do colo do fêmur. / The objective of this study was to describe the relationship between dietetic calcium, protein and energy intake and bone mineral density of the femoral neck (FNBMD) in adult and elderly men of different racial groups, applying strategies of corrections in measures of food consumption. It is a cross-sectional study including 306 voluntary men, aged 50 years and more. FNBMD was measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and the dietetic calcium, protein and energy intake were recorded using the food record method for three days. The measures of calcium and protein intakes were adjusted for the energy intake by using regression analysis. The correlation and regression were corrected by the between and within-subject variation in nutrient intake, using variance analysis. FNBMD mean was 0.916 g/cm2 (DP = 0.144 g/cm2). Calcium intake mean was 685.3 mg/day (DP = 320.1 mg/day). The energy adjustment of the consumption of the nutrients didn\'t change the means, but it reduced the standard deviation in 15 per cent for calcium and 35 per cent for protein. It was verified that the energy adjustment of the consumption of the nutrients reduced the correlation between FNBMD and calcium intake (-51.2 per cent ), as well as between FNBMD and protein intake (-33.1 per cent ). The correction for the between and within-subject variation in adjusted consumption, resulted in increase of correlation with BMD in 25.9 per cent for calcium intake, 15.7 per cent for protein intake and 15.4 per cent for energy intake. The consumptions of the nutrients were not associated with FNBMD in the univariate or multiple analysis, except for the black race individual who presented positive and significant correlation of FNBMD with the calcium intake. The main factors associated with FNBMD were age, height and body mass index. Physical activity of lazer was associated with FNBMD in the white population, but not in the black ones. The adjustment and the corrections done in the measures of calcium, protein and energy intake were important to get a better estimate of the real correlation among the variables of food consumption with FNBMD

A associação da atividade física a condições de saúde e qualidade de vida, tem sido um alerta para mudanças dos hábitos de vida da população. Nas últimas décadas foram intensificadas políticas e programas para estimular um comportamento fisicamente mais ativo. Para descrever mudanças no padrão de atividade física da população adulta do município de São Paulo, este estudo transversal de base populacional foi composto por dados provenientes de Inquérito domiciliar realizado no município de São Paulo nos anos de 2003 e 2008. Foram analisadas as prevalências de indivíduos fisicamente ativos segundo os domínios da atividade física na população adulta de 20 a 59 anos, bem como sua relação com fatores socioeconômicos e demográficos. Foi observado aumento da prevalência de indivíduos fisicamente ativos no período estudado, segundo sexo, situação conjugal, faixa etária, escolaridade e renda, bem como segundo os domínios de atividade física. Houve ainda modificações entre os grupos das variáveis independentes, de acordo com o ano do inquérito. / The association of physical activity to health and quality of life, has been an alert to changes in lifestyle of the people. In recent decades policies and programs to encourage a physically active behavior were intensified. To describe changes in physical activity patterns of the adult population in São Paulo, this cross-sectional population-based study comprised data from a household survey conducted in the city of São Paulo in 2003 and 2008. Prevalence of subjects were analyzed physically active according to the domains of physical activity in adults aged 20 to 59 years, as well as its relationship with socioeconomic and demographic factors. Increased prevalence of physically active individuals during the study period was observed according to sex, marital status, age, education and income, as well as according to domains of physical activity. There were also changes between groups of independent variables, according to the survey year.