Yes / Adolescent sexual and reproductive health (SRH) remains a challenge globally. High school youths without comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) are more likely to engage in high risk sexual behaviors than their peers in schools with CSE. Fiji continues to have very poor adolescents SRH indicators. This study aimed to gauge the perceptions of students towards the delivery of SRH education in schools in Fiji. A qualitative study design was used to collect data from students in year 11-13 in public secondary schools in Suva, Fiji in 2018. Schools with equal ethnic mix were selected. A semi-structured open-ended questionnaire was used to guide Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). A male research facilitator conducted FGD with males while a female research facilitator facilitated that amongst the females. Data collected was analyzed thematically. Seven FGDs were conducted. A total of 46 students (29 males) participated with the age range from 17-19 years old. Eight themes emerged: current SRH education; students' knowledge on adverse consequences of SRH; sources of SRH information; need for sex education; provision of SRH education in schools; characteristics of teachers of SRH education; age-appropriate incremental sex education; and ideal version of SRH. The study shows that Fijian students desired a lot more from sex education than what is currently offered for sexual decision-making. There is a need for mandatory and comprehensive sex education for young people.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-25T20:20:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 tese_final.pdf: 2815536 bytes, checksum: 3de3b2f497137c075824b31f2505d95a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005-11-04 / The practice of cultural marketing has been presented as an alternative for the society into a context of which the retraction of the State occurred as a great supplier of social demands. It is important to establish a distinction between the company, which really practices it as an exercise of social responsibility and that, which takes advantage of more than one marketing action, aiming to create a value for the institutional trademark. In this study, it was observed that it is not enough to invest in cultural actions when the other activities of the company have many harmful effects to the society, resulting in the invalidation of the benefits generated by this pseudopractice. Thus, the approach of companies with cultural activities may not be disassociated of concepts of social responsibility and organizational ethic. The comprehensive practice of the cultural marketing may have a positive influence on the three following aspects: social, economic and marketing. Therefore, to invest in cultural marketing must be part of a long-term strategy of less immediatist action companies with concerns beyond the profit of this practice or with interests related to fiscal investment incentives given by the government to those who invest in cultural activities. In accordance with this study, the society (mainly, the consumers inserted on it) has a fundamental role to lead the practice of social responsibility based on the investment of cultural actions. In our research another factor could be observed as the union of efforts of the three sectors of the society represented by the state, enterprises and civil society aiming to emphasize the impact of the developed actions. Finally, it was observed that the cultural marketing does not guarantee that the society could differentiate the company aiming social actions from those using the concept of marketing practices / A prática do marketing cultural tem se apresentado como alternativa para a sociedade em um contexto de retração do papel do Estado, como grande provedor das demandas sociais. É importante estabelecer a distinção da empresa que realmente a pratica como exercício de responsabilidade social de quem se aproveita apenas para mais uma ação mercadológica com o objetivo de criar valor à marca institucional. No estudo, percebeu-se que não basta investir em ações culturais se as demais atividades da empresa têm efeitos tão prejudiciais à sociedade que acabam anulando os benefícios gerados por essa pseudoprática. Assim, a aproximação das empresas das atividades culturais não pode estar desassociada dos conceitos de responsabilidade social e ética organizacional. Praticar o marketing cultural de forma ampla influenciará positivamente no tocante a três aspectos: social, econômico e mercadológico. Sendo assim, investir em marketing cultural deve ser parte de uma estratégia de longo prazo de empresas menos imediatistas, com preocupações que estão, para além do lucro do exercício ou por interesses relacionados aos incentivos fiscais concedidos pelo governo, para quem investe em atividades culturais. Conforme o estudo, a sociedade (sobretudo, os consumidores nela inseridos) exercem uma função fundamental para levar a prática de responsabilidade social pautada no investimento em ações culturais. Na pesquisa, outro fator identificado foi a união de esforços dos três setores da sociedade representados pelo Estado, empresas e sociedade civil com o objetivo de maximizar o impacto das ações desenvolvidas. Finalmente, observa-se que a forma do marketing cultural não garante que a sociedade diferencie quem investe com objetivos sociais de quem apenas faz uso do conceito para práticas mercadológicas

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-26T14:53:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 tese_final.pdf: 2815536 bytes, checksum: 3de3b2f497137c075824b31f2505d95a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005-11-04 / The practice of cultural marketing has been presented as an alternative for the society into a context of which the retraction of the State occurred as a great supplier of social demands. It is important to establish a distinction between the company, which really practices it as an exercise of social responsibility and that, which takes advantage of more than one marketing action, aiming to create a value for the institutional trademark. In this study, it was observed that it is not enough to invest in cultural actions when the other activities of the company have many harmful effects to the society, resulting in the invalidation of the benefits generated by this pseudopractice. Thus, the approach of companies with cultural activities may not be disassociated of concepts of social responsibility and organizational ethic. The comprehensive practice of the cultural marketing may have a positive influence on the three following aspects: social, economic and marketing. Therefore, to invest in cultural marketing must be part of a long-term strategy of less immediatist action companies with concerns beyond the profit of this practice or with interests related to fiscal investment incentives given by the government to those who invest in cultural activities. In accordance with this study, the society (mainly, the consumers inserted on it) has a fundamental role to lead the practice of social responsibility based on the investment of cultural actions. In our research another factor could be observed as the union of efforts of the three sectors of the society represented by the state, enterprises and civil society aiming to emphasize the impact of the developed actions. Finally, it was observed that the cultural marketing does not guarantee that the society could differentiate the company aiming social actions from those using the concept of marketing practices / A prática do marketing cultural tem se apresentado como alternativa para a sociedade em um contexto de retração do papel do Estado, como grande provedor das demandas sociais. É importante estabelecer a distinção da empresa que realmente a pratica como exercício de responsabilidade social de quem se aproveita apenas para mais uma ação mercadológica com o objetivo de criar valor à marca institucional. No estudo, percebeu-se que não basta investir em ações culturais se as demais atividades da empresa têm efeitos tão prejudiciais à sociedade que acabam anulando os benefícios gerados por essa pseudoprática. Assim, a aproximação das empresas das atividades culturais não pode estar desassociada dos conceitos de responsabilidade social e ética organizacional. Praticar o marketing cultural de forma ampla influenciará positivamente no tocante a três aspectos: social, econômico e mercadológico. Sendo assim, investir em marketing cultural deve ser parte de uma estratégia de longo prazo de empresas menos imediatistas, com preocupações que estão, para além do lucro do exercício ou por interesses relacionados aos incentivos fiscais concedidos pelo governo, para quem investe em atividades culturais. Conforme o estudo, a sociedade (sobretudo, os consumidores nela inseridos) exercem uma função fundamental para levar a prática de responsabilidade social pautada no investimento em ações culturais. Na pesquisa, outro fator identificado foi a união de esforços dos três setores da sociedade representados pelo Estado, empresas e sociedade civil com o objetivo de maximizar o impacto das ações desenvolvidas. Finalmente, observa-se que a forma do marketing cultural não garante que a sociedade diferencie quem investe com objetivos sociais de quem apenas faz uso do conceito para práticas mercadológicas

Finite impulse response (FIR) digital filters are frequently used in many digital signal processing and communication applications, such as IS-95 CDMA, Digital Mobile Phone Systems (D-AMPS), etc. FIR filter achieves the frequency response of system requirement using a series of multiplications and additions. Previous papers on FIR hardware implementations usually focus on reducing area and delay of the multiple constant multiplications (MCM) through common sub-expression elimination (CSE) in the transpose FIR filter structure. In this thesis, we first perform optimization for the quantization of FIR filter coefficients that satisfy the target frequency response. Then suitable encoding methods are adopted to reduce the height of the partial products of the MCM in the direct FIR filter structure. Finally, by jointly considering the errors in the truncated multiplications and additions, we can design the hardware-efficient FIR filter that meets the bit accuracy requirement. Experimental results show that although CSE in the transpose FIR structure can reduce more area in MCM, the direct form takes smaller area in registers. Compared with previous approaches, the proposed FIR implementations with direct form has the minimum area cost.

Depression is a psychiatric disorder associated with severe impairment in physical, social and role functioning, and with higher health care utilization. Experiencing an event that causes physical or psychological stress may substantially increase a person's chances of developing depression. Coping has been defined as a response aimed at diminishing the physical, emotional and psychological burden that is associated with stressful life events. Coping is considered one of the core concepts in health psychology and is strongly associated with the regulation of emotions throughout the stress period and thus it is important that it is understood, especially in the South African context of future morbidity. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is a relationship between coping self–efficacy strategies and depression in an African context. Participants consisted of a convenience sample of 2 198 participants from both rural and urban areas. The rural group consisted of 182 adolescent Further Education and Training (FET) students between the ages of 16 and 21 years, and the urban group consisted of another 2 016 adolescent FET students between the ages of 16 and 21 years. Participants from both groups completed measurements on coping and depression. Two self–report measures were used: the Coping Self–Efficacy Scale (CSE) to determine a person's confidence or perceived self–efficacy in performing coping behaviors when facing life challenges or threats and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ9) to measure depression severity. Descriptive analysis results indicated that a relationship existed between coping selfefficacy strategies and depression and that levels of depression were very similar for both rural (9.23) and urban (9.25) groups. Coping strategies were very different in rural and urban areas; rural participants only used problem–focused coping and stop unpleasant thoughts and emotions, while urban participants used all three coping self–efficacy strategies: problemfocused coping, stopping unpleasant thoughts and emotions and support from friends and family. Rural participants did not use support from friends and family as a coping selfefficacy strategy; possibly due to the different relationships people living in rural areas have with one another, as opposed to the relationships of people living in urban areas. Rural people may not deem it socially acceptable to ask friends or family members or help when struggling with various stressors. Alternatively, rural areas may be more depleted of personal resources due to the strong urbanization process going on. It was concluded that there is an important relationship between coping strategies and level of depression, and in this study this relationship was found to be different in some ways for rural and urban groups. The results of this study have great implications for further research and clinical practice. / Thesis (M.A. (Research Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Depression is a psychiatric disorder associated with severe impairment in physical, social and role functioning, and with higher health care utilization. Experiencing an event that causes physical or psychological stress may substantially increase a person's chances of developing depression. Coping has been defined as a response aimed at diminishing the physical, emotional and psychological burden that is associated with stressful life events. Coping is considered one of the core concepts in health psychology and is strongly associated with the regulation of emotions throughout the stress period and thus it is important that it is understood, especially in the South African context of future morbidity. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is a relationship between coping self–efficacy strategies and depression in an African context. Participants consisted of a convenience sample of 2 198 participants from both rural and urban areas. The rural group consisted of 182 adolescent Further Education and Training (FET) students between the ages of 16 and 21 years, and the urban group consisted of another 2 016 adolescent FET students between the ages of 16 and 21 years. Participants from both groups completed measurements on coping and depression. Two self–report measures were used: the Coping Self–Efficacy Scale (CSE) to determine a person's confidence or perceived self–efficacy in performing coping behaviors when facing life challenges or threats and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ9) to measure depression severity. Descriptive analysis results indicated that a relationship existed between coping selfefficacy strategies and depression and that levels of depression were very similar for both rural (9.23) and urban (9.25) groups. Coping strategies were very different in rural and urban areas; rural participants only used problem–focused coping and stop unpleasant thoughts and emotions, while urban participants used all three coping self–efficacy strategies: problemfocused coping, stopping unpleasant thoughts and emotions and support from friends and family. Rural participants did not use support from friends and family as a coping selfefficacy strategy; possibly due to the different relationships people living in rural areas have with one another, as opposed to the relationships of people living in urban areas. Rural people may not deem it socially acceptable to ask friends or family members or help when struggling with various stressors. Alternatively, rural areas may be more depleted of personal resources due to the strong urbanization process going on. It was concluded that there is an important relationship between coping strategies and level of depression, and in this study this relationship was found to be different in some ways for rural and urban groups. The results of this study have great implications for further research and clinical practice. / Thesis (M.A. (Research Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

This study focuses on srraregies used by mothers of middle and low SES ro cope with the present socioeconomic crisis. Using a brief quesrionnaire and rhe F-Copes Scale, 20 morhers from each socioeconomic leve! were interviewed. Resulrs showed rhar borh gro\lpS were affected economically and rook measures ro reduce rheir expenses in basic needs such as food, clorhing and recreation. Morhers coming from rhe middle SES used estategies ro reestructure che situation and make ir more bearable, while mothers from low SES were more passive and relied on rheir extended families. No differences were found in rheir search for spiritual and social support. / Con el fin de explorar las estrategias utilizadas por madres de CSE media y baja para afrontar la crisis económica actual se entrevistaron a 20 madres de cada estrato económico y se les administraron trespequeñas encuestas y la Escala F-Copes "Escala de Evaluación Personal del Funcionamiento Familiar en Situaciones de Crisis". Los resultados evidenciaron que ambos grupos económicos se vieron seriamente afectados económicamente debiendo reducir sus gastos en actividades virales tales como alimentación, vestuario y recreación. Las madres de CSE media recurrieron más a una estrategia de reestructuración del problema para hacerlo más manejable y las madres de CSE baja a la movilización familiar para obtener ayuda y a la evaluación pasiva. No difieren ambos grupos en la búsqueda de apoyo espiritual y social.

This master's thesis describes basics principles of QRS complex detection. It is focused on QRS detection using zero crossing counts method. There are described princips and program realization of this method. The other part is focused on genetic optimalization algorithm. There are presented obtained optimalization results on standard CSE and MIT-BIH database. The quality of the detector is compared with other authors. The optimalized QRS detector achieves comparable results with other authors. The part of the thesis is graphical user interface which supply view on modified ECG signal and detection results.

No description available.

No description available.