This research explores the relationship between the cognitive variables perceived risks, perceived barriers, perceived self-efficacy, and perceived hazard experience with farmer support for adaptation and the agreement between farmer perceptions with observed climate conditions of drought and excess precipitation. Climate conditions were evaluated using monthly Standardized Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) values from 1950 to 2014. The remaining variables were measured using a closed ended survey of corn and soybean farmers (N =276) in the Iowa-Cedar Watershed. The relationships were evaluated using Spearman’s Rank Order Correlation (), frequency distributions, and probability analysis. Perceived barriers were found to be a significant predictor of support for adaptation. Transformational adaptations were less supported by farmers than incremental adaptations. Farmers expressed more concern for finances than any other risks or barrier. The majority of farmers reported low to moderate risks to drought and precipitation with high efficacy to cope to future impacts. Lastly, climate conditions indicate that there were more frequent and extreme precipitation events than drought events and that farmer perceptions of climate are consistent with observed climate conditions. However, while climate change projections indicate increased weather extremes in the future, farmers perceive no change in risks. It is unclear whether or not farmers are actually equipped to handle future threats to their crops. Future research should address this problem by conducting a longitudinal study to observe farmers’ perception prior to and after experiencing extreme events.

Entrepreneurs play a vital role in the modern day economy. Knowing what causes an individual to become an entrepreneur has fostered much attention in academic literature, but not enough of the research has looked into individual level variables that could cause an individual to have an entrepreneurial intention. This study addresses this need in research by utilizing the Theory of Planned Behavior to investigate entrepreneurial intention. Not all entrepreneurs are alike. Some entrepreneurs are motivated by financial gains while others are motivated by social concerns. The individual characteristics of entrepreneurs may not be identical, but it is believed that there are similarities. This current study uses a self-report survey approach to examine the potential impact that barriers to entry into entrepreneurship will have upon an individual’s commercial and social entrepreneurial intention. This study will also examine the moderating effect of gender identity, grit, and the Dark Triad of personality upon the previously established relationship of the three TPB antecedents to intention and commercial and social entrepreneurial intention.

The purpose of this study was to test the effects of racial microaggressions on minority status stress and perceived academic and career barriers, as moderated by social support among African American college students. It was hypothesized that social support would significantly moderate the effect of microaggressions on perceived academic and career barriers and minority status stress, such that higher levels of social support would be related to lower levels of perceived barriers and minority student stress. Participants were recruited from a mid-size Midwestern university from Introductory Psychology 102 courses, university-based student organizations, and the Africana Studies Department. Experiences with microaggressions were assessed using Nadal’s Racial and Ethnic Microaggression Scale (REMS; Nadal, 2011), perception of academic and career barriers were measured using the Perception of Barriers Scale (POBS; Luzzo & McWhirter, 2001), social support was measured using the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List (ISEL; Cohen & Hoberman, 1983), and minority status stress was measured using the Minority Student Stress Scale (MSS; Smedley, Myers, & Harrell, 1993). A demographics questionnaire was administered as well. A moderated multiple-regression analysis was conducted to test the study hypotheses. Our study hypotheses that perceived social support would moderate the relationship between microaggressions and minority status stress and perceptions of barriers was not supported. However, main effects were found for microaggressions and social support on minority status stress, as well as main effects for social support on perceptions of barriers. Future research and implications are discussed.

In Botswana, nurses play a major role in the provision of healthcare. Most of the time it is the professional nurses who frequently discover patients with cardiac arrests and it is necessary for them to be trained to perform CPR as efficiently as possible. The aim of this study is to describe and explore the perceptions, barriers and needs as experienced by nurses in Botswana during the provision of CPR. For this study, the researcher utilised both quantitative and qualitative research designs in four phases. Phase one assessed and audited the existing available facilities in the provision of CPR. Phase two investigated the existing knowledge and skills of registered nurses in the performance of CPR. Focus groups discussions and semi-structured interviews were held during phase three to identify the perceived barriers, needs in the performance of CPR. In phase four, the researcher made recommendation to improve the provision of CPR in relation to system, nurse and patient. Convenience sampling and purposive sampling were used in this study respectively. The auditing of the equipment in the two referral hospitals showed that the availability of equipment was below 50%. The CPR knowledge and skills demonstrated by the nurses in the pre-test were inadequate. Following CPR training with the help of a manikin, the knowledge and skills among registered nurses improved substantially. The focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews among registered nurses and senior nurse mangers revealed that there was a lack of organisational support and resources, lack of knowledge and skills among registered nurses, inadequate policies and protocols are the major contributory factors affecting the registered nurses performance in the provision of CPR. In order to enhance the performance of the registered nurses while providing CPR, the researcher recommends the two referral hospitals to • have adequate provision of equipment • introduce regular BLS training program for registered nurses • have clearly defined policies regarding the nurses’ role on end-of-life care / Health Studies

Many innovations fail on the market. Non-adoption and slow diffusion represent a high risk for companies in technology-intensive industries when looking to innovate, develop, market and launch a new technology. Its diffusion in the market is a major challenge for marketing. The consequence of a failed market introduction can be financial and reputational loss. Diffusion of innovation research shows a short-coming of researching barriers and challenges which prevent new technologies from being successful. This research sheds some light in the diversity, importance and existence of barriers for the diffusion of innovation. The originality of this investigation is a mixed-methods approach to explore barriers and challenges for the diffusion of innovation. An exploratory qualitative research is performed on the unique case of digital radio diffusion in Germany. Barriers evolve by this method in addition to barriers, which so far are described in a theoretical framework. These barriers are researched empirically via an international survey with close to one thousand participants representing experienced practitioners in marketing and sales positions from different industries. Various research findings are presented. The evolving barriers are researched and show circumstances of today, such as the dominance of internet, environmental awareness or the importance of inter-industrial collaboration. Additionally, diffusion barriers from a theoretical framework are tested with empirical data. Findings are presented as evidence for diffusion barriers and their importance for the specific example of digital radio is explained. Furthermore, barriers are also generalized for different technology-intensive industries. The existence of barriers is confirmed by empirical data and patterns of variations are outlined. Validity is achieved via triangulation of methodologies and supporting literature. The findings are presented to extend the theoretical framework and to close a gap in diffusion of innovation theory. The research contributes in very different ways to existing knowledge. Apart from the theoretical contributions, methodological and practical contributions are also made. With quantitative research, the sampling strategy for an online questionnaire considers the benefits of professional social networks on a global level to contribute empirical data to a theoretical framework. The practical contribution is directed to industry stakeholders and practitioners such as in marketing. The research findings result in a framework of barriers and supporting illustrations for technology-intensive industries. Practitioners can benefit from the illustrations for strategic decision-making in business development, product and general management, marketing and sales.

Background Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) brings with it diagnostic symptoms that can be debilitating and persist for years. Left untreated, PTSD can have far-reaching and damaging consequences – for the individual, families, communities, and society at large. While early detection and intervention is recognized as key to the effective treatment of PTSD, many who suffer from PTSD do not seek essential health services. The aim of this study was to answer the research question: based on existing literature, what are the barriers and facilitators to help-seeking for individuals with PTSD? Methods A systematic review, modeled on the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for systematic reviews, examined studies cited in PsycINFO, Medline, Embase, CINAHL and PILOTS published from January 2000 to November 2015. Eligible studies measured barriers and facilitators to help-seeking for adults with PTSD. Two reviewers independently screened citations and double data extraction was exercised. Results Of 1,759 potentially relevant citations, sixteen studies were included, published between 2003 and 2015 and based in five countries, predominantly within the United States (n=12). Thirteen studies focused on military as a target population. Eight principal barrier themes and seven principal facilitator themes were identified, under which supportive subthemes were categorized. Conclusions In identifying prominent barriers and facilitators to help-seeking for individuals with PTSD, this review highlights opportunities to inform policies and programs that educate and promote PTSD knowledge and recognition, reduce public and personal stigma, improve access and availability of care, and encourage social support for patients and families living with PTSD.

Submitted by Fabiany Feitosa (fabiany.sousa@ufba.br) on 2016-04-01T22:09:56Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Pinho, Lorena de Andrade.pdf: 3719389 bytes, checksum: ad03064515bbd347563bb38609647464 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Maria Angela Dortas (dortas@ufba.br) on 2016-07-05T17:08:03Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Pinho, Lorena de Andrade.pdf: 3719389 bytes, checksum: ad03064515bbd347563bb38609647464 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-07-05T17:08:03Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Pinho, Lorena de Andrade.pdf: 3719389 bytes, checksum: ad03064515bbd347563bb38609647464 (MD5) / O biodiesel foi introduzido na matriz energética brasileira em 2005, por meio do Programa Nacional de Produção e Uso de Biodiesel (PNPB), tendo como principais objetivos a implantação de um programa ambientalmente sustentável, promovendo inclusão social, com garantia de preços competitivos, qualidade e suprimento, bem como a produção de biodiesel a partir de diferentes fontes oleaginosas e em regiões diversas. Após dez anos, o mercado de biodiesel esta consolidado, todavia, muitas das diretrizes do PNPB não foram alcançadas, principalmente em relação à utilização de diferentes oleaginosas, tendo em vista que o óleo de soja representa mais de 70% da matéria-prima usada na produção de biodiesel. O objetivo geral desta tese foi identificar as principais barreiras que impediram uma maior diversificação de matérias-primas de origem vegetal na produção do biodiesel no Brasil de 2005 a 2014. Para atender a esse propósito foram realizadas pesquisas com três grupos distintos. A primeira fonte pesquisada foram as usinas de biodiesel autorizadas para comercialização pela Agência Nacional do Petróleo, Gás Natural e Biocombustíveis (ANP), com a qual contamos com uma amostra de 33,9%. A segunda fonte foram os grupos de pesquisa cadastrados no Diretório dos Grupos de Pesquisa no Brasil, disponível na base de dados no Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), os quais estudam o biodiesel, representando uma amostra de 32,1%. O terceiro grupo foi composto por 15 agentes especializados no tema e que atuam em áreas distintas, tendo sido realizadas com estes entrevistas semiestruturadas. Para os dois primeiros grupos, foram aplicados questionários. As conclusões alcançadas pelo estudo apontam que a pouca diversificação de matérias-primas de origem vegetal usadas para a produção do biodiesel pode ser em virtude de barreiras técnicas, econômicas e institucionais. Tais barreiras vão desde um sistema ineficiente de produção, pouca disponibilidade de tecnologia no campo, altos custos de produção e problemas com a logística até políticas públicas e regulação não efetivas. Esses fatores contribuem mutuamente para a imposição de barreiras. Em paralelo, o mercado da soja encontra-se em uma conjuntura altamente favorável, contudo, esse ambiente não foi criado para atender ao mercado de biodiesel e, sim, para o mercado de grão e de farelo. Outras espécies promissoras, como o pinhão manso e a macaúba, ainda carecem de anos de estudos para estabelecer um ciclo produtivo satisfatório e dependem de aspectos legais para se tornarem plantas agrícolas. Não obstante, para que tenhamos outras opções de oleaginosas, que ocorra uma inclusão social e que aumente a participação de outras regiões do país, é preciso diversificar. Para isso,é preciso que as barreiras sejam suplantadas, tornando-se imprescindível que as demais oleaginosas possuam preços competitivos, menores custos de implantação de lavoura e de produção, relativo grau de mecanização, produção em escala, boa logística, dentre outros fatore / Biodiesel was introduced in the Brazilian energy matrix in 2005, through the National Program for the Production and use of Biodiesel (NPPB), having as main objectives the establishment of a sustainable program, promoting social inclusion, with guarantee of competitive prices, quality and supply, as well as the production of biodiesel from different oilseed sources and several regions. After ten years, the biodiesel market is consolidated; however, many of the guidelines of the NPPB were not reached, especially in relation to the use of different nuts, in view of the soybean oil representing more than 70% of the raw material used in the production of biodiesel. The general objective of this thesis was to identify the main factors that prevented a greater diversification of raw materials of vegetable origin in biodiesel production in Brazil from 2005 to 2014. To meet this purpose researches with three distinct groups were conducted. The first source searched were the biodiesel plants authorized for marketing by the National Petroleum Agency. Natural gas and biofuels (NPA), with which we have a sample of 33.9%. The second source was the research groups registered in the Directory of Research Groups in Brazil, available on a database on the National Council of Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), which are studying biodiesel, representing a sample of 32.1%. The third group was composed of 15 agents specialized in the theme and which act in different areas, having been performed with them semi-structured interviews. For the first two groups, questionnaires were applied. The conclusions reached by the study point out that the little diversification of raw materials of vegetable origin used for biodiesel production can be due to technical, economic and institutional barriers. Such barriers range from an inefficient system of production, low availability of technology in the field, high production costs and problems with the logistics to effective public policies. These factors contribute each other to impose barriers. In parallel, the soybean market is in a highly favorable climate; however, that environment was not created to meet the biodiesel market but, to the market of grain and bran. Other promising species, such as Jatropha and macaúba, still require years of study to establish a satisfactory productive cycle and depend on legal aspects to become agricultural plants. Nevertheless, in order to have other oilseed options, It is a must that social inclusion occur and that the participation of other regions of the country be increased, we need to diversify. For that, it is needed that barriers be overcome; it becomes essential that the other oilseeds have competitive prices, lower costs of deployment of farming and of production, relative degree of mechanization, production scale, good logistics, among other factors.

Flaring of associated gas, found during petroleum exploration and production in Nigeria, results in substantial environmental degradation, which endangers sustainable development and exposes the population to health hazards. In addition, it results in significant economic losses, especially from the opportunity cost of the disposed natural gas (NG). As part of the many initiatives to abate flaring and harness NG resources, the Nigerian government proposed the use of compressed natural gas (CNG) as an automotive fuel in 1997, but progress has been slow. This study investigates the barriers to use of CNG as an automotive fuel in Nigeria and how these can be overcome. It identified, validated, prioritized and built consensus on 29 barriers and 25 policy recommendations, using a combination of case study of selected countries, semi-structured interviews and a Delphi survey among participants who are key stakeholders in the energy and transportation sectors. Major hindrances identified include the absence of market coordination; lack of transparency and accountability; inexperience of the population with gas usage; lack of public awareness on the benefits of NG; artificial distortion of the economic benefits of CNG due to the subsidy on gasoline; focus on export market development to the detriment of the domestic market; absence of regulatory standards; poor infrastructure; and an old and dilapidated national vehicle fleet. There was no convergence on the impact of insecurity of human and material resources caused by militancy and pipeline vandalism in the oil producing areas, despite widespread views of the negative effect on the oil and gas industry generally. Based on the consensus built among study participants, the study recommends 12 policy interventions, which might stimulate growth in the use of CNG as automotive fuel; these comprise specific energy market reforms, fiscal and operational incentives, transportation sector reforms and the creation/building of public awareness.

Background: Physically active lifestyles are important for health and quality of life across all stages of development. Exercise interventions have recently been incorporated as an effective strategy for adult cardiomyopathy patients, but have yet to be examined in children with cardiomyopathy. The overall goal of this pilot study was to provide preliminary data on whether there is a need to develop exercise interventions among children with cardiomyopathy. This study sought to characterize the moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) level, submaximal exercise capacity and physical activity barriers among children with cardiomyopathy. Methods: This study employed a mixed-methods approach. Children were eligible if they were between the ages of 5 to 17 years, had a medical diagnosis of cardiomyopathy (i.e. hypertrophic, dilated, or cancer induced), atrial septal defect, or had been identified as carrying a genetic risk for cardiomyopathy. Participants were excluded if they had physical activity contraindications, had a non-cardiac medical condition or disability known to influence physical activity, or if they underwent cardiac surgery within the preceding 6 months. MVPA was assessed using 7-day omnidirectional accelerometry. Submaximal exercise capacity was determined by intermittent treadmill protocol targeting 40% to 80% of predicted maximum heart rate. Physical activity barriers were identified through semi-structured interviews, which were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim for thematic analysis using Braun & Clark’s approach. Results: Pediatric cardiomyopathy patients (n=5) were compared to children who are genotypepositive but phenotype-negative for cardiomyopathy (n=5), children with simple congenital heart defects (CHD, n=8) and published data for Canadian children (n=1,300). Daily MVPA (48.2 ± 19.0 minutes) was variable but did not differ significantly between groups (η2=0.025, p=0.82) or from published data on Canadian children (t(17) = -1.52 p=0.15). Submaximal exercise testing revealed that children with cardiomyopathy may be able to participate in activities at moderate intensities (i.e. 4.5 ± 3.1 METs) at 150 beats per minute (bpm). Children with cardiomyopathy reported primarily disease-centred barriers to participation, including physical activity restriction and physical influences from the disease which were not reported by children who carry a genetic risk for cardiomyopathy. Conclusion: These novel data within this population group suggest that pediatric cardiomyopathy patients may have sufficient submaximal exercise capacity to participate in moderate physical activity, despite reporting disease centered barriers to physical activity. A diagnosis of cardiomyopathy may not preclude these children from achieving and healthy, active lifestyle, but their current level of participation is less than recommended for optimal health and cardiac function.

abstract: While women in higher income countries can expect to survive a diagnosis of breast cancer, women in lower- and middle-income countries such as Bangladesh have mortality rates near 50%, suggesting that there are significant barriers to care seeking for breast problems. Given limited literature on barriers to care among native, rural South Asian populations, this study thus sought to understand 1) the impacts of breast problems on women and their families, including the extent of abuse among women with breast problems, and 2) the barriers and facilitators of care for women with breast problems in rural Bangladesh. Sixty-three study participants (43 women and 20 men) were interviewed about their experiences. Interviewers elicited barriers to care, facilitators of care, and questions about the attitudes and behaviors of family and community members were in structured interviews. The study found that breast problems and their treatment put significant resource and emotional strains on the family. Furthermore, over a third of women in this study reported abuse of some kind, with emotional abuse, neglect, and abandonment being the most frequently reported. The study reinforced barriers to care identified in the literature for South Asian populations, but only a quarter of participants reported stigma of any kind. Lack of knowledge about breast cancer and inability to pay for care were the most frequently reported barriers, followed by access to care and fear of treatment. Facilitators of care among women who received a biopsy point to the importance of support by the husband and husband’s family, as well as the ability to identify economic support for and knowledge about care. This study contributes to the understanding of two overarching themes: structural violence and the value of women, as well as how these themes influence poor outcomes for women with breast cancer in rural Bangladesh. Suggestions for future studies and short and long-term interventions to address study findings are offered. / Dissertation/Thesis / Appendix E: Study Approval / Appendix B: Barriers to Care Table / Appendix H: Codebook / Appendix C: Study Instruments 1 / Appendix C: Study Instruments 2 / Doctoral Dissertation Anthropology 2016