Für die zukünftige Förderperiode der EU (2014 – 2020) plant Sachsen eine neue Fördermaßnahme zur Erhaltung wertvoller Wiesen und Weiden, die »ergebnisorientierte Honorierung artenreichen Grünlandes«. Die Broschüre stellt die Maßnahme vor und erläutert die Methode zur Beurteilung eines Grünlandschlages. Im Hauptteil werden alle Kennarten bzw. Kennartengruppen anhand von Zeichnungen, Fotos und Beschreibungen vorgestellt, die für die Förderfähigkeit artenreichen Grünlandes in Sachsen wichtig sind.

This diploma thesis was devoted to the topic: the issue of the employment of persons with epilepsy. The theoretical part was focused on the description of epilepsy as a disease. However, most of the work was devoted to social work. These were areas such as employment and financial support for individuals with epilepsy. The research part focused mainly on the factors influencing the employed persons with epilepsy between the ages of 18 and 65 years. This information was obtained through a questionnaire survey.

A prevalência de obesidade infantil vem crescendo em todo o mundo e está associada com aumento da morbimortalidade por doenças cardiovasculares na vida adulta. A obesidade na infância, somada às alterações no metabolismo glicêmico e lipídico e ao aumento do estresse oxidativo e estado inflamatório contribuem para o aumento da espessura do complexo médio-intimal da carótida (carotid artery intima-medial thickness - cIMT) em tenra idade, possibilitando o desenvolvimento precoce do processo aterosclerótico. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar e comparar a cIMT, os indicadores do metabolismo glicídico e lipídico, o estado oxidativo e antioxidante, a composição corporal e o consumo alimentar em crianças pré-púberes obesas e eutróficas e determinar as inter-relações entre as variáveis. Foram medidos massa corporal total (MCT), estatura (E), circunferência da cintura (CC); glicemia, insulina, colesterol total (CT), lipoproteína de baixa densidade (LDL-colesterol), lipoproteína de alta densidade (HDL-colesterol), ácido úrico, proteína C-reativa ultra-sensível (PCR-us) e capacidade antioxidante (DPPH) sanguíneos; cIMT (USG, General Eletric); consumo alimentar (3 recordatórios de 24 h) para análise de macronutrientes e ácidos graxos. Foram, ainda, calculados o índice de massa corporal por idade (IMC/I) e HOMA-IR. O grupo de crianças obesas (n = 30) apresentava IMC/I acima do p97 (WHO, 2007) cujos dados foram comparados com os de um grupo controle (n = 25), composto por crianças eutróficas, da mesma faixa etária. As análises estatísticas acompanharam as características da amostra para dados não-paramétricos, com graus de significância de p < 0,05. A idade das crianças, em média, foi de 7,8 1,3 anos. A comparação dos indicadores entre os grupos mostrou valores significativamente maiores de MCT, IMC/I, CC, consumo calórico e de carboidratos, CT, LDL-colesterol, insulina, HOMA-IR, ácido úrico, PCR-us e cIMT no grupo de crianças obesas. Foram encontradas associações positivas da cIMT com MCT, IMC/I e CC. Essa última associou-se positivamente com ácido úrico, insulina e HOMA-IR. A PCR-us mostrou associação positiva com MCT, IMC/I, CC, ácido úrico, insulina e HOMA-IR. Os resultados analisados nos permitem concluir que as crianças obesas apresentaram maior massa adiposa abdominal, maior consumo energético, proveniente de carboidratos e valores maiores dos fatores de risco para doenças cardiovasculares do que seus pares eutróficos. Nossos resultados analisados em conjunto, mostram que a obesidade infantil acarreta danos cardiometabólicos que poderão causar prejuízos a saúde na vida adulta. O processo de aterosclerose precoce sofre influência da massa de gordura total e abdominal, a qual está diretamente relacionada à resistência à insulina, ao estado inflamatório e antioxidante. O conhecimento dos fatores de risco desta população deverá embasar estratégias de tratamento com o objetivo de reduzir a morbimortalidade por doenças cardiovasculares na idade adulta. / The prevalence of childhood obesity is increasing worldwide and is associated with greater morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease in adulthood. Childhood obesity, changes in glucose and lipid metabolism and increased oxidative stress and inflammatory state contribute to the increased carotid artery intima-medial thickness (cIMT) in young children, elevating the risk of atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to measure and compare cIMT, data of glucose and lipid metabolism, oxidative and antioxidant status, body composition and food intake in pré-pubertal normal-weight and obese children. We measured total body mass (TBM), height (H), waist circumference (WC); glucose, insulin, total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein (LDL-cholesterol), high density lipoprotein (HDL-cholesterol), uric acid, ultra-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and antioxidant capacity (DPPH); cIMT (USG, General Electric ), dietary intake (three 24 h recalls) for analysis of macronutrients and fatty acids. Also, we calculated the body mass index (BMI) for age and HOMA-IR. Obese children (n = 30) had a BMI above the p97 (WHO, 2007) and data were compared with a control group (n = 25) composed of normal-weight children of similar age. Statistical analysis followed the characteristics of the sample for non-parametric data, and considered significant results when p <0.05. The mean age of children was 7.8 1.3 years. A comparison between groups showed significantly higher values of TBM, BMI, WC, energy and carbohydrates intake, TC, LDL-cholesterol, insulin, HOMA-IR, uric acid, hs-CRP and cIMT in obesity group. Positive associations were found of cIMT with TBM, BMI and WC. The WC was positively associated with uric acid, insulin and HOMA-IR. hs-CRP was positively associated with TBM, BMI, WC, uric acid, insulin and HOMA-IR. In conclusion, obese children had higher abdominal fat mass, increased energy and carbohydrate intake, and more cardiovascular disease risk factors than normal-weight children. Our results, showed that childhood obesity leads to cardiometabolic damage that may cause morbidity later in life. The process of early atherosclerosis is influenced by the total and abdominal fat mass, which is directly related to insulin resistance, to inflammatory and antioxidant status. The knowledge of risk factors in this population should be a basis for treatment strategies to reduce morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease later in adulthood.

A prevalência de obesidade infantil vem crescendo em todo o mundo e está associada com aumento da morbimortalidade por doenças cardiovasculares na vida adulta. A obesidade na infância, somada às alterações no metabolismo glicêmico e lipídico e ao aumento do estresse oxidativo e estado inflamatório contribuem para o aumento da espessura do complexo médio-intimal da carótida (carotid artery intima-medial thickness - cIMT) em tenra idade, possibilitando o desenvolvimento precoce do processo aterosclerótico. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar e comparar a cIMT, os indicadores do metabolismo glicídico e lipídico, o estado oxidativo e antioxidante, a composição corporal e o consumo alimentar em crianças pré-púberes obesas e eutróficas e determinar as inter-relações entre as variáveis. Foram medidos massa corporal total (MCT), estatura (E), circunferência da cintura (CC); glicemia, insulina, colesterol total (CT), lipoproteína de baixa densidade (LDL-colesterol), lipoproteína de alta densidade (HDL-colesterol), ácido úrico, proteína C-reativa ultra-sensível (PCR-us) e capacidade antioxidante (DPPH) sanguíneos; cIMT (USG, General Eletric); consumo alimentar (3 recordatórios de 24 h) para análise de macronutrientes e ácidos graxos. Foram, ainda, calculados o índice de massa corporal por idade (IMC/I) e HOMA-IR. O grupo de crianças obesas (n = 30) apresentava IMC/I acima do p97 (WHO, 2007) cujos dados foram comparados com os de um grupo controle (n = 25), composto por crianças eutróficas, da mesma faixa etária. As análises estatísticas acompanharam as características da amostra para dados não-paramétricos, com graus de significância de p < 0,05. A idade das crianças, em média, foi de 7,8 1,3 anos. A comparação dos indicadores entre os grupos mostrou valores significativamente maiores de MCT, IMC/I, CC, consumo calórico e de carboidratos, CT, LDL-colesterol, insulina, HOMA-IR, ácido úrico, PCR-us e cIMT no grupo de crianças obesas. Foram encontradas associações positivas da cIMT com MCT, IMC/I e CC. Essa última associou-se positivamente com ácido úrico, insulina e HOMA-IR. A PCR-us mostrou associação positiva com MCT, IMC/I, CC, ácido úrico, insulina e HOMA-IR. Os resultados analisados nos permitem concluir que as crianças obesas apresentaram maior massa adiposa abdominal, maior consumo energético, proveniente de carboidratos e valores maiores dos fatores de risco para doenças cardiovasculares do que seus pares eutróficos. Nossos resultados analisados em conjunto, mostram que a obesidade infantil acarreta danos cardiometabólicos que poderão causar prejuízos a saúde na vida adulta. O processo de aterosclerose precoce sofre influência da massa de gordura total e abdominal, a qual está diretamente relacionada à resistência à insulina, ao estado inflamatório e antioxidante. O conhecimento dos fatores de risco desta população deverá embasar estratégias de tratamento com o objetivo de reduzir a morbimortalidade por doenças cardiovasculares na idade adulta. / The prevalence of childhood obesity is increasing worldwide and is associated with greater morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease in adulthood. Childhood obesity, changes in glucose and lipid metabolism and increased oxidative stress and inflammatory state contribute to the increased carotid artery intima-medial thickness (cIMT) in young children, elevating the risk of atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to measure and compare cIMT, data of glucose and lipid metabolism, oxidative and antioxidant status, body composition and food intake in pré-pubertal normal-weight and obese children. We measured total body mass (TBM), height (H), waist circumference (WC); glucose, insulin, total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein (LDL-cholesterol), high density lipoprotein (HDL-cholesterol), uric acid, ultra-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and antioxidant capacity (DPPH); cIMT (USG, General Electric ), dietary intake (three 24 h recalls) for analysis of macronutrients and fatty acids. Also, we calculated the body mass index (BMI) for age and HOMA-IR. Obese children (n = 30) had a BMI above the p97 (WHO, 2007) and data were compared with a control group (n = 25) composed of normal-weight children of similar age. Statistical analysis followed the characteristics of the sample for non-parametric data, and considered significant results when p <0.05. The mean age of children was 7.8 1.3 years. A comparison between groups showed significantly higher values of TBM, BMI, WC, energy and carbohydrates intake, TC, LDL-cholesterol, insulin, HOMA-IR, uric acid, hs-CRP and cIMT in obesity group. Positive associations were found of cIMT with TBM, BMI and WC. The WC was positively associated with uric acid, insulin and HOMA-IR. hs-CRP was positively associated with TBM, BMI, WC, uric acid, insulin and HOMA-IR. In conclusion, obese children had higher abdominal fat mass, increased energy and carbohydrate intake, and more cardiovascular disease risk factors than normal-weight children. Our results, showed that childhood obesity leads to cardiometabolic damage that may cause morbidity later in life. The process of early atherosclerosis is influenced by the total and abdominal fat mass, which is directly related to insulin resistance, to inflammatory and antioxidant status. The knowledge of risk factors in this population should be a basis for treatment strategies to reduce morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease later in adulthood.

Magister Economicae - MEcon / The study looked particularly at the operations of national carriers and governments' efforts to sustain the airlines' operations. Evidence has shown that many countries struggle to maintain operations of their flag carriers, but few countries are willing to completely leave the airlines in the hands of the private sector because of national pride. On the other hand, many of those airlines that get into private hands fail and end up being closed down or go back into state hands. These airlines are also perceived to be development tools, in particular for tourism development which is a predominant economic activity in many developing countries. For this reason, many states do not favour privatisation, even though the perception is that the airline industry is better handled by private businesses. The main conclusion of the study for Botswana is therefore that neither full state ownership nor full privatisation is the solution to addressing the problem of ailing flag carriers. There is no single solution, but a combination of several. A broader global view of national airline operations clearly shows that approaches adopted by many successful national airlines, in both developed and developing countries, is some form of partial privatisation. / South Africa

This study investigates the source of financing in Austrian tech startups and aims to identify the main factors that affect the decision making of these firms. In doing so, we aim to contribute to the relatively limited field of research conducted in Europe. In order to achieve the purpose of this study, we implemented a multiple case study method as the research design. For the purpose of this study, a literature review was used that generated a theoretical framework. This framework focuses on capital structure with the main emphasis being on the pecking order theory. Additionally, government financial support is included as a  secondary priority. Together with the theoretical framework, our empirical findings i.e. data from the interviews with six companies, one email response, and two additional secondary data from an Austrian startup publication comprised the basis for our analysis.   Our findings from the sample companies used in this study show that Austrian tech startups use internal funding as an initial source of financing their new venture. When it comes to the order of funding, our findings show that most of the startups used in this study utilized equity as a second source of financing after internal funding and before debt. However, when it comes to the preference of the founders, half preferred a financing order that is inline with the pecking order theory while the remaining half preferred otherwise choosing equity to debt.   From this, three conclusions can be drawn. First, the limited funding options available affect the decision making and preference of the tech startups. Second, founders value the nonfinancial added value they can get from investors both when implementing and preferring a financing option. Third, the future growth potential and the long term strategy of the startups and their founders play a crucial role in the funding option they prefer to finance their venture.   Additionally, when it comes to capital structure, we see that most Austrian tech startups used in this study do not have a set policy. When it comes to Government financial support (GFS), we see that financial support from the government plays a significant role in Austrian tech startup financing.

Für die zukünftige Förderperiode der EU (2014 – 2020) plant Sachsen eine neue Fördermaßnahme zur Erhaltung wertvoller Wiesen und Weiden, die »ergebnisorientierte Honorierung artenreichen Grünlandes«. Die Broschüre stellt die Maßnahme vor und erläutert die Methode zur Beurteilung eines Grünlandschlages. Im Hauptteil werden alle Kennarten bzw. Kennartengruppen anhand von Zeichnungen, Fotos und Beschreibungen vorgestellt, die für die Förderfähigkeit artenreichen Grünlandes in Sachsen wichtig sind.

Diabetes is a public health concern among older adults in the United States due to the increasing prevalence of diabetes among this age group and the associated long-term and financial impacts. Self-management is a key strategy in the control of diabetes. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the association between social support and glycohemoglobin level. The social cognitive theory was the conceptual framework for this study. The research questions were designed to determine whether social support played a role in diabetes management. Data were collected using a cross-sectional survey of secondary data from the 2007-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The participants represented a national sample of adults aged 65 years and older. The dependent variable was the glycohemoglobin level, and the independent variables were emotional and financial support, sources of social support, and sociodemographic factors. Statistical analyses, consisting of univariate analyses, were conducted to characterize the sample, and simple and multiple linear regression analysis were conducted for hypotheses testing. After controlling for the confounders, the multiple regression analyses revealed a statistically significant association between emotional and financial support, sources of social support, the frequency of religious activities, and the size of the social network and glycohemoglobin level. Spousal support, frequency of religious activities, and the size of the social network were positively associated with glycohemoglobin level. The study findings might contribute to positive social change through the integration of social support into clinical practices by using family-centered and church-based approaches to improve diabetes management among older adults.

There is evidence that industrialization and urbanization has led to an increase of immigration to urban areas for employment and has led to a change of family structure and connection between parents and adult children in Chinese societies. However, little research has compared different Chinese societies, as well as rural and non-rural regions. This study compared the adult children’s current level of filial piety, between non-rural and rural regions, and between males and females using data from an international study of countries in East Asia. Overall, China reported higher level of filial piety as compared to Taiwan. Moreover, for the regional differences, the China rural group also showed higher levels of filial piety than the China non-rural group. The gender differences between these two regions further explain this phenomenon. Both male and female non-rural groups and the female rural group reported similar amount of caregiving. However, the male rural China group reported significantly lower levels of caregiving than the female rural China group as well as both male and female non-rural groups. These results help fill the literature gap in contemporary filial piety between societies in East Asia.

Colleges and universities in the United States could end operations in record numbers largely from financial shortfalls. The Urban Institute reported that nonprofit organizations lost $3.4 billion in reneged pledges from 2013 to 2014 from donor dissatisfaction, creating a problem because financial losses can occur from a lack of understanding on how media marketing efforts affect fundraising. The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to identify traditional and social media marketing strategies that some nonprofit college and university leaders use to increase alumni financial support. Interviews took place with 7 college or university leaders at 3 private, nonprofit colleges or universities in the southeastern United States. The 7 leaders consisted of 3 vice presidents, 2 provosts, and 2 presidents. The conceptual framework differentiated media into categories, 2 of which were owned media and earned media. As the primary data collection instrument, collection of marketing literature for each school and 7 semistructured interviews occurred. In the data analysis process, transcription of interview data and coding using the modified van Kaam method took place discovering themes. The 4 themes discovered included social media effectiveness, evolution of traditional marketing blending with social media marketing, social media marketing efficiency, and the multiplier effect of social media. Implications for social change included increasing the scholarship ability of schools, creating an affordable environment for students to receive postsecondary education. Additional benefits included enhanced economies for communities where a college or university resides and an improved level of education per capita in the areas surrounding a college or university.