In order to remain competitive, firms must be able to merge diverse, differentiated people into teams. In comparison to solo ventures, venture teams not only offer a broader base of physical and financial resources and varying points of view, but also positively influence the profitability, growth, and survivability potential of new ventures. Despite the growing importance and potential benefits offered by venture teams, relatively little is known about assembling and maintaining effective venture teams in the field of entrepreneurship. More specifically, information is needed to understand what composition and combination of demographic characteristics of team members would contribute to the effectiveness and success of a venture team. In this study the relationship between venture team demographic characteristics and team effectiveness (which is defined in terms of the interpersonal process of venture team members in their group activities) is investigated. The demographic characteristics examined include average age, age heterogeneity, average level of education, educational background heterogeneity, gender heterogeneity, and functional background heterogeneity. A field study, involving face-to-face and telephone interviews with the venture teams is used to gather data from40 computer related venture teams in a large midwest U.S. city. The venture teams are identified through the local Chambers of Commerce, peer referrals, and library research. Information is gathered on demographics and team interpersonal process effectiveness using a pre-validated instrument. Data are analyzed using regression analysis. The results indicate that average age negatively and significantly relates with team interpersonal process effectiveness. Furthermore, average level of education positively and significantly relates with team interpersonal process effectiveness. The other demographic variables, age heterogeneity, educational background heterogeneity, gender heterogeneity, and functional background heterogeneity do not produce significant relationships.

Background and Aim: Although inroads are currently being made into research in the area of organisational energy, an exhaustive search of the literature has indicated that research into measurement instruments which are applicable in the South African context is scant, with two empirical studies having been conducted in South Africa on organisational energy (Derman, Barkhuizen, & Stanz, 2011; Lamberti, 2010). As there is minimal research into organisational energy measures which are most appropriate for use in the South African context, this study explores the reliability and validity of the Productive Energy Measure (PEM) (Bruch, Cole & Vogel, 2005) in the South African context. This study also adds to the existing knowledge on the Energy Scapes Profile (ESP) (Tosey & Llewellyn, 2002) in the South Africa. Method: A cross-sectional survey research design is followed with data being collected from employees (N=303) from South African institutions. The ESP (Tosey & Llewellyn, 2002), and the PEM (Cole, Bruch & Vogel, 2011) are administered. Exploratory Factor Analysis, Confirmatory Factor Analysis, construct equivalence item bias analyses, Analysis of Variance, Multivariate Analysis of Variance and Regression Analysis are applied. Results:  Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of the ESP reveals that both a seven-factor and a one-factor model were inconclusive. Subsequent Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) reveals a one-factor structure. The theoretical sub-scales of the ESP show a high level of internal consistency.  The results of the CFA for the PEM clearly reveal a three-factor model. The three theoretical sub-scales show an excellent level of reliability. Statistically significant differences are found in the productive organisational energy levels of employees based on job level, home language, years in current job and the PEM dimensions.  Results of the regression analysis indicate that a statistically significant relationship exists between organisational energy and productive organisational energy. Practical Relevance: As far as could be determined, this is the first study to make use of the PEM in South Africa. The study attempts to identify which measure of organisational energy is most appropriate for use in the South African context, and makes a contribution to the body of knowledge surrounding organisational energy measurement instruments in the South African context. Furthermore, the study of measures of organisational energy which can be applied in the South African context provides assistance to those interested in measuring organisational energy in the workplace. / Dissertation (MCom)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Human Resource Management / Unrestricted

Thesis (DPhil (Environmental Health))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016. / Informal caregivers play an important role in the well-being of dependent members in a household. The burdens of these caregivers are multiple and pervasive and may contribute to mental health epidemiology as a result of worry, grief, anxiety and stress. The literature review revealed that studies in caregiving and its various facets began from a pragmatically applied interest rather than from theoretical and intellectual curiosity. The majority of the research on caregiver burden involves meta-analysis of qualitative studies with little quantitative research. Also, many of these studies are concentrated on caregivers of chronically ill patients, such as those suffering from dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and heart disease, without much attention to care burden resulting from caring for those who are not necessarily ill. Similar studies by other researchers did not consider the impact of the physical health of the care recipients or the environmental factors that are critical in the study of female caregiver burden in low-income settings. In addition, existing studies did not adequately evaluate the many potential factors that may vary and influence the lives of the caregivers, especially in a single, comprehensive model. This study attempted to provide a more complete picture of these relationships in low-income and culturally diverse settings. The study population consisted of black/African and coloured populations living in subsidised or low-cost housing settlements. In each of the two different cultural communities, 100 black/African and 100 coloured female caregivers were selected through a systematic random sampling procedure. In addition, data were also collected from caregivers in Tamale, Ghana to assess differences between the socio-demographic profiles of the caregivers in Cape Town, South Africa and Tamale, Ghana. The theoretical paradigm used in this study is the Stress Process Model by Pearlin et al., (1990). The study instrument assessed caregiver burden with both objective and subjective measures through the use of a fully structured questionnaire. The information that was collected according to the constructs of the Stress Process Model included personal and role strains and incorporated the physical health of the care recipients and environmental factors such as kitchen and toilet hygiene. Inclusion criteria for the respondents in both Cape Town and Tamale were the principal female caregivers who were present, willing, and able to give informed consent. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS Version 22) was used for the analyses. The Chi-square test was used to assess the relationships between environmental health, the socio-demographics of the female caregivers and the health status of the care recipients. The hierarchical regression analysis in the form of a General Linear Model was used to model caregiving burden. iv The results showed that the majority of the female caregivers were in the age group 40 – 49 years and in both Cape Town and Tamale, a large proportion was in the low-income group. Also, the majority of the informal caregivers in the two samples were in care tasks as a full-time job, providing more than 40 hours of care per week. Regarding the length of time in caregiving, a large proportion of the caregivers in both Cape Town and Tamale had been in the care role for more than three years preceding the survey, and almost all the caregivers in the Cape Town sample (98.4%) did not use any form of caregiving programme to ameliorate the negative effects of caregiving. Further, the results showed statistically significant relationships between the socio-demographic characteristics of female caregivers (age, education, population group and income status) and the diarrhoea status of the care recipients. Also, a significant relationship was shown between environmental health variables of the home (kitchen hygiene and toilet hygiene) and the physical health of the care recipients. The major predictors of female caregiver burden in the samples were the physical health of the care recipients and access to social grants. On the basis of the analyses, it was recommended that the government should recognise the importance of the physical health of the care recipients and increase the amounts of social grants to the caregivers since this could improve the circumstances of both the caregivers and the care recipients. In addition, this could aid in improving the standard of living of caregivers in these households. Future research in similar settings should disaggregate the data to compare the burden of caring for caregivers of physically strong care recipients with physically ill care recipients.

No description available.

No description available.

The core purposes of this study were twofold: (1) to ascertain whether mathematics teachers support reform oriented teaching practices, and (2) to discover whether there is correspondence between what classroom mathematics teachers say they should do when they teach mathematics and what they really do in the classroom. To carry out this investigation, elementary, middle and high school mathematics teachers responded to survey questions about their beliefs and practices and were observed. There are two major research questions that underlie this research and several secondary questions. The primary questions are: 1. Do in-service mathematics teachers support the major principles of reform oriented mathematics instruction? 2. To what extent do in-service mathematics teachers exhibit reform-oriented teaching in their classrooms? Among the secondary research questions are the following: 3. Does professional development support reform oriented teaching practices? 4. Do teachers' beliefs vary with respect to the grade level they teach? 5. Do teachers' beliefs vary with respect to their levels of education? The subjects were mathematics teachers from three grade levels, elementary, middle and high school selected from three school districts in northeastern United States. One hundred seventy-four mathematics teachers participated in the main study. Ten of the teachers who completed the Questionnaire voluntarily participated in in-class observations and post-observation interviews. The Reformed Teaching Observation Protocol (RTOP) was used for the observation. All 10 teachers were interviewed individually immediately either after the in-class observation took place or a day later. The most salient finding of the study was that while teachers express a strong belief in the major tenets of reform oriented mathematics teaching, their actual demonstration of this type of teaching is far less evident. Pearson correlation analysis demonstrated only marginal relationships between teachers' demographic characteristics and their beliefs. A multiple regression analysis found that only 6% of the variance in beliefs is accounted for by the demographic variables. One of the major conclusions of the research is that teachers feel compelled to teach in ways that are discrepant from their beliefs in order to prepare their students for the standardized tests, which are now a critical component of educational accountability. Educational implications, limitations of the study and suggestions for future research are discussed. / Educational Psychology

O espasmo hemifacial (EHF) é um distúrbio de movimento caracterizado por contrações tônico ou clônicas involuntárias, unilaterais, intermitentes e irregulares dos músculos inervados pelo nervo facial ipsilateral. Apesar de considerado como um transtorno benígno, promove influência significativa na qualidade de vida dos portadores através do comprometimento funcional físico e emocional que promove, englobando, desde o prejuízo na leitura e outras funções visuais, até o constrangimento social e distúrbios psiquiátricos associados, como depressão e ansiedade. Objetivo.: Descrever as características clínicas e demográficas, assim como a frequência de sintomas psiquiátricos de ansiedade generalizada, social e depressão, e a relação destes sintomas com a qualidade de vida nesta amostra de pacientes. Métodos.: 111 pacientes portadores de EHF primário foram avaliados. Foi aplicado questionário geral para coleta de dados demográficos e clínicos associados a evolução e tratamento do distúrbio de movimento com toxina botulínica. Os sintomas psiquiátricos foram avaliados através de escalas validadas para a população brasileira. A avaliação de qualidade de vida foi através de escala específica validada para avaliação funcional nos portadores de EHF. Resultados.: A idade média de início foi de 49±13,1 (intervalo: 12 -77) e tempo de evolução até o diagnóstico de 3±1,5 anos, com predomínio no sexo feminino (2,08:1). O lado esquerdo foi afetado em 61 (54,9%) pacientes e o músculo orbicular dos olhos foi o primeiro acometido na maioria dos casos (85,5%). Grande parte (n=87) referiu início insidioso e evolução gradual. Nervosismo, estresse e ansiedade são importantes contribuintes de piora do espasmo, relatado por mais de 82% (n=92) dos portadores de EHF, e momentos de relaxamento, tranquilidade, descanso e atividades de lazer foram responsáveis por aliviar o espasmo em 57 entrevistados. Mais de 90% (n=96) perceberam melhora importante do espasmo após aplicação de TXB, e 24,5% (n=26) relataram algum efeito adverso em última aplicação, sendo assimetria labial e ressecamento ocular os mais frequentes. Sobre os sintomas psiquiátricos, 41,7% (n=45) apresentavam pontuações que sugerem algum grau de depressão, até 56,4% (n=57) ansiedade generalizada e 34,2% (n=38) ansiedade ou fobia social. A leitura como domínio funcional físico e a vergonha, a tristeza e a preocupação com reação de outras pessoas foram os maiores prejuízos funcionais descritos nesses pacientes. Conclusão.: As características clínicas e demográficas nos pacientes com EHF se assemelham a outras evidências descritas na literatura, assim como uma maior frequência de sintomas de depressão, ansiedade generalizada e fobia social nesta população. Os sintomas psiquiátricos, mais do que a gravidade do espasmo, apresentaram uma maior correlação com a qualidade de vida nesta amostra de pacientes. / Hemifacial spasm (HFS) is a movement disorder characterized by involuntary, unilateral, intermittent, tonic or clonic contractions of muscles innervated by the ipsilateral facial nerve. Although considered as a benign disorder, it promotes a significant influence on the quality of life of the patients through the physical and emotional impairment it promotes, ranging from impairment in reading and other visual functions to social embarrassment, and associated psychiatric disorders, such as depression and anxiety. Objective.: To describe the clinical and demographic characteristics, as well as the frequency of psychiatric symptoms of generalized anxiety, social anxiety and depression, and the relation of these symptoms with quality of life in this sample of patients. Methods.: 111 patients with primary HFS were evaluated. A general questionnaire was used to collect demographic and clinical data associated with the evolution and treatment of the movement disorder with botulinum toxin (BTX). The psychiatric symptoms were evaluated through scales validated for the Brazilian population. The quality of life assessment was based on a specific validated scale for functional evaluation in patients with HFS. Results.: The mean age at onset was 49 ± 13.1 (range: 12-77) and time to diagnosis of 3 ± 1.5 years, with a predominance of females (2.08 :1). The left side was affected in 61 (54.9%) patients and the orbicularis oculi muscles were the first affected in the majority of cases (85.5%). A large part (n = 87) reported insidious onset and gradual evolution. Nervousness, stress, and anxiety are important contributors to worsening spasm, reported by more than 82% (n = 92) of HFS patients, and moments of relaxation, tranquility, rest, and leisure activities were responsible for relieving spasm in 57 interviewees. More than 90% (n = 96) reported significant improvement of spasm after BTX application, and 24.5% (n = 26) reported some adverse effects in the last application, with lip asymmetry and ocular dryness being the most frequent. On the psychiatric symptoms, 41,7% (n = 45) presented scores that suggest some degree of depression, up to 56.4% (n = 57) generalized anxiety and 34.2% (n = 38) anxiety or social phobia. Reading as a physical functional domain and shame, sadness and concern for other people\'s reactions were the major functional losses described in these patients

O espasmo hemifacial (EHF) é um distúrbio de movimento caracterizado por contrações tônico ou clônicas involuntárias, unilaterais, intermitentes e irregulares dos músculos inervados pelo nervo facial ipsilateral. Apesar de considerado como um transtorno benígno, promove influência significativa na qualidade de vida dos portadores através do comprometimento funcional físico e emocional que promove, englobando, desde o prejuízo na leitura e outras funções visuais, até o constrangimento social e distúrbios psiquiátricos associados, como depressão e ansiedade. Objetivo.: Descrever as características clínicas e demográficas, assim como a frequência de sintomas psiquiátricos de ansiedade generalizada, social e depressão, e a relação destes sintomas com a qualidade de vida nesta amostra de pacientes. Métodos.: 111 pacientes portadores de EHF primário foram avaliados. Foi aplicado questionário geral para coleta de dados demográficos e clínicos associados a evolução e tratamento do distúrbio de movimento com toxina botulínica. Os sintomas psiquiátricos foram avaliados através de escalas validadas para a população brasileira. A avaliação de qualidade de vida foi através de escala específica validada para avaliação funcional nos portadores de EHF. Resultados.: A idade média de início foi de 49±13,1 (intervalo: 12 -77) e tempo de evolução até o diagnóstico de 3±1,5 anos, com predomínio no sexo feminino (2,08:1). O lado esquerdo foi afetado em 61 (54,9%) pacientes e o músculo orbicular dos olhos foi o primeiro acometido na maioria dos casos (85,5%). Grande parte (n=87) referiu início insidioso e evolução gradual. Nervosismo, estresse e ansiedade são importantes contribuintes de piora do espasmo, relatado por mais de 82% (n=92) dos portadores de EHF, e momentos de relaxamento, tranquilidade, descanso e atividades de lazer foram responsáveis por aliviar o espasmo em 57 entrevistados. Mais de 90% (n=96) perceberam melhora importante do espasmo após aplicação de TXB, e 24,5% (n=26) relataram algum efeito adverso em última aplicação, sendo assimetria labial e ressecamento ocular os mais frequentes. Sobre os sintomas psiquiátricos, 41,7% (n=45) apresentavam pontuações que sugerem algum grau de depressão, até 56,4% (n=57) ansiedade generalizada e 34,2% (n=38) ansiedade ou fobia social. A leitura como domínio funcional físico e a vergonha, a tristeza e a preocupação com reação de outras pessoas foram os maiores prejuízos funcionais descritos nesses pacientes. Conclusão.: As características clínicas e demográficas nos pacientes com EHF se assemelham a outras evidências descritas na literatura, assim como uma maior frequência de sintomas de depressão, ansiedade generalizada e fobia social nesta população. Os sintomas psiquiátricos, mais do que a gravidade do espasmo, apresentaram uma maior correlação com a qualidade de vida nesta amostra de pacientes. / Hemifacial spasm (HFS) is a movement disorder characterized by involuntary, unilateral, intermittent, tonic or clonic contractions of muscles innervated by the ipsilateral facial nerve. Although considered as a benign disorder, it promotes a significant influence on the quality of life of the patients through the physical and emotional impairment it promotes, ranging from impairment in reading and other visual functions to social embarrassment, and associated psychiatric disorders, such as depression and anxiety. Objective.: To describe the clinical and demographic characteristics, as well as the frequency of psychiatric symptoms of generalized anxiety, social anxiety and depression, and the relation of these symptoms with quality of life in this sample of patients. Methods.: 111 patients with primary HFS were evaluated. A general questionnaire was used to collect demographic and clinical data associated with the evolution and treatment of the movement disorder with botulinum toxin (BTX). The psychiatric symptoms were evaluated through scales validated for the Brazilian population. The quality of life assessment was based on a specific validated scale for functional evaluation in patients with HFS. Results.: The mean age at onset was 49 ± 13.1 (range: 12-77) and time to diagnosis of 3 ± 1.5 years, with a predominance of females (2.08 :1). The left side was affected in 61 (54.9%) patients and the orbicularis oculi muscles were the first affected in the majority of cases (85.5%). A large part (n = 87) reported insidious onset and gradual evolution. Nervousness, stress, and anxiety are important contributors to worsening spasm, reported by more than 82% (n = 92) of HFS patients, and moments of relaxation, tranquility, rest, and leisure activities were responsible for relieving spasm in 57 interviewees. More than 90% (n = 96) reported significant improvement of spasm after BTX application, and 24.5% (n = 26) reported some adverse effects in the last application, with lip asymmetry and ocular dryness being the most frequent. On the psychiatric symptoms, 41,7% (n = 45) presented scores that suggest some degree of depression, up to 56.4% (n = 57) generalized anxiety and 34.2% (n = 38) anxiety or social phobia. Reading as a physical functional domain and shame, sadness and concern for other people\'s reactions were the major functional losses described in these patients

An in-depth-analysis was carried out on short, medium and long commuters using the National Household Travel Survey (NHTS) of 2001 and American Community Survey (ACS) of 2000 to determine the role of individual,household, trip and area related characteristics on commute length. The individuals with commute time less than or equal to 15 min were considered as short commuters and individuals with commute time greater than 15 min but less than 60 min were considered as medium commuters and the individuals with commute time 60 min or more were considered as long commuters. The commute time is considered as a link joining the residence and workplace locations. The availability of the desired mode used is considered as flexibility in moving the location of these points in the area. As the jobs get dispersed the lower income people face more and more transportation problems in linking the residence and workplace. There is a potential threat in their social, physical and economic isolation in the society. The individual, household, and area related characteristics are assumed to influence both the commute time and location of these points. The descriptive analysis using NHTS 2001 and ACS 2000 revealed that the characteristics of short and long commuters are different in nature. A commuter type choice model and commute length measurement models were used to estimate the influence of socio-demographic characteristics on the residential and workplace separation. Multinomial Logit Model (MNL) methodology was adopted to develop the commuter type choice model and Structural Equations Model methodology (SEM) was adopted with commute time and commute distance as endogenous variables to estimate the commute length on a continuous scale. The models confirmed the importance of demographic variables in explaining commuter length.

Traffic fatalities accounted for 1.24 million lives lost in 2013 worldwide, and almost 33 thousand of those fatalities were in the U.S. in 2013. The southeastern region of the nation stands out for continuously having higher fatality rates per mile driven than the national average. If one can establish compelling relationships between various factors and fatality rates, then policies and investments can be targeted to increase the safety on the network by focusing on policies that mitigate those factors. In this research effort risk-taking characteristics are explored. These factors have not been as comprehensively reviewed as conventional factors such as vehicle and facility conditions associated with safety. The hypothesis assumes if a person exhibits risk-taking behavior, that risk-taking behavior is not limited to only one aspect of risk, but is likely to occur in multiple facets of the person's life. Some of the risk-taking characteristics explored include credit score, safety belt use, smoking and tobacco use, drug use, mental health, educational attainment, obesity, and overall general health characteristics. All risk-taking characteristics with the exception of mental health were found to have statistically significant correlations with fatality rates alone. However, when a regression model was formed to estimate fatality rates by risk-taking characteristics, only four risk-taking characteristics - credit score, educational attainment, overall poor health, and seat belt use were found to be statistically significant at an integrated level with other demographic characteristics such as unemployment levels and population born is state of residency. By identifying at-risk population segments, education, counseling, enforcement, or other strategies may be deployed to help improve travel safety.