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ABSTRACT This paper examines the relationship between microfinance institutions and the poor in Beira-Mozambique and the benefits accruing from the established relationships. The study focuses on access to credit and the promotion of entrepreneurship among the target group. The study concludes that the institutions and the target group, especially active clients, treasure close long-term relationships and strive to build and sustain such relationships. However, the relationships have thus far had only a limited, albeit promising, impact on the sustainability of the institutions, access to credit and the promotion of entrepreneurship among the target group. Another major finding is that clients already in the credit relationship do not have serious problems accessing credit upon successful repayment of previous loans. However, those seeking to enter credit relationships face strict entry requirements. In short entering credit relationships is more difficult than staying in them.

Orientador: Angelo José Magro / Resumo: A Hepatite C é uma doença hepática de etiologia viral cujo agente é o Vírus da Hepatite C (VHC). A infecção pelo vírus, na grande maioria dos casos evolui para a cronicidade, sendo, portanto, um problema de saúde pública devido ao seu grande potencial de evolução para cirrose e hepatocarcinoma. Portanto, atualmente é fundamental a utilização de testes moleculares como diagnóstico complementar e para o acompanhamento da doença no paciente infectado, assim como para a detecção cada vez mais precoce da infecção pelo VHC. Neste sentido, testes para a detecção de ácidos nucléicos podem ser utilizados para a detecção qualitativa e quantitativa do RNA-VHC no sangue dos pacientes, de modo a avaliar a dinâmica da infecção e definir a conduta terapêutica. Desta forma, o Ministério da Saúde adotou no Brasil uma metodologia baseada na Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase em Tempo Real (RT-qPCR) precedida de etapa de transcrição reversa para a detecção do material genético viral em amostras de plasma dos infectados. A presença do VHC está documentada em outros compartimentos biológicos como células mononucleares do sangue periférico (PBMC) e plaquetas, o que sugere que o protocolo atualmente adotado no Brasil pode superestimar o número de partículas virais ativas, visto que o plasma preparado para a realização desta análise contém uma grande quantidade de plaquetas em relação à contagem total dos indivíduos. Desta forma, a finalidade da execução deste projeto foi comparar a carga viral do VHC e... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Hepatitis C is a liver disease of viral etiology whose agent is Hepatitis C Virus (HCV). This virus infection, in the vast majority of cases, progresses to chronicity and is therefore a public health problem due to its great potential for progression to cirrhosis and hepatocarcinoma. Therefore, the use of molecular tests as a complementary diagnosis and disease control, as well as for early detection of HCV infection, is currently essential. In this sense, tests for the detection of nucleic acids can be used for the qualitative and quantitative detection of HCV RNA in the blood of the patients, in order to evaluate the dynamics of the infection and define the therapeutics. Thus the Brazilian Ministry of Health adopted a methodology based on the Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) preceded by a reverse transcription step for the detection of the viral genetic material in plasma samples of infected individuals. The presence of HCV is well documented in other biological compartments such as peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and platelets, suggesting that the protocol currently adopted in Brazil may overestimate the number of active viral particles, since the plasma samples prepared for this analysis contains a large amount of platelets. Thus, the purpose of this project was to compare the HCV viral load in chronically infected patients, taking into account the protocol currently used by the SUS and another one modified, where the plasma samples are practically ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

O objetivo deste trabalho é estudar algumas classes de anéis. Para isso, introduzimos o conceito de módulo pobre e provamos algumas propriedades básicas destes módulos. Além disso, estudamos quais hipóteses sobre um anel R fazem com que alguma família da classe dos R-módulos seja uma família destituída (famílias tais que todo R-módulo é pobre), uma família sem classe média (famílias tais que todo R-módulo ou é pobre ou é injetivo) ou uma família que é uma utopia (famílias tais que todo R-módulo não é pobre). / The goal of this dissertation is to study certain classes of rings. To this end, we introduce the definition of a poor module and prove some basic properties of these modules. Furthermore, we study which hypotheses on a ring R turn some classes of R-modules into a destitute family (families such that every R-module is poor), a family with no middle class (families such that every R-module is either poor or injective) or a family that is an utopia (families such that every R-module is not poor)

O objetivo dessa reflexão é realizar a análise acerca da inserção de um novo agente no campo judaico, suas relações dentro desse campo e também com a metrópole. Um ex- pastor da Assembleia de Deus e fiéis de instituições pentecostais e neopentecostais passam a se identificar como bnei anussim, isto é, afirmam-se descendentes dos judeus forçados a se converter na Inquisição. Após as tentativas fracassadas de reconhecimento da identidade judaica perante as autoridades rabínicas, criam a sinagoga Beith Israel, no bairro de São Mateus, periferia de São Paulo. Lá, praticam o judaísmo, conforme seus próprios esquemas de percepção, ortodoxo. O universo empírico compreende a sinagoga dos ditos anussim, lideranças religiosas judaicas, especialistas religiosos do campo religioso de São Mateus e moradores do bairro. A metodologia consistiu na análise das interações existentes entre os agentes e suas produções discursivas, além da realização de etnografias para coletar dados qualitativos. A dinâmica existente entre a prática judaica dos autodenominados anussim e a lógica específica do bairro é essencial para compreender o fenômeno religioso em questão, pois os dois fatores mantém uma relação dialética. / The aim of this study is the analysis of a new agents entry at the judaic field and his relations inside this field and with the city. An ex-priest from Assemblies of God and others starts to identify himself as bnei anussim, in other words, descendents of jews who were forced to convert to christianity during the Inquisition. They try to be recognized by jewish authorities, but the attempt fails. After that, they created their own synagogue Beith Israel, at Sao Mateus neighborhood, a poor suburb area in Sao Paulo. There, they practice Orthodox Judaism, according to their own way of perception. The empiric universe consists in the anussims synagogue, jewish religious authorities, religious specialists of the religious field of Sao Mateus and habitants of the neighborhood. The methodology consisted in the analysis of the interaction between the agents and their discursive productions. Besides, the ethnographic research was used to gather qualitative data. The dynamic among the jewish practices and the neighborhoods logic is essential to comprehend the religious phenomenon, because these two factors are understood in terms of a dialectical relationship.

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Thesis (MPA.) -- University of Limpopo, 2017 / Absenteeism remains a challenge in government entities, especially if it is measured in monetary terms. Government loses a number of hours through employees who are officially or unofficially away from work. The high absenteeism is created by a number of factors, amongst which leave policy gaps and poor management systems can cited. Therefore this study expected to investigate the management of absenteeism in Limpopo Provincial Legislature. A qualitative research approach was used to collect data through semi-structured interviews. One of the major findings in the study is that there is a lack of communication between line-managers and human resources section. Departments still work in silos and hence some employees exploit their leave benefits. The study recommends that communication strategies in the Limpopo Provincial Legislature should be effectively implemented and policy gaps in relation to leave benefits should be reviewed.

Thesis (M. INF.) --University of Limpopo, 2018 / The purpose of this research is to investigate the information needs of rural communities in Bushbuckridge. Investing information of communities is vital because information plays an important role in enabling communities to meet their development needs, such as employment, education, health, safety, food security, and leisure. Libraries are therefore instrumental in helping library users to meet these needs. The study utilised triangulated (quantitative) and (qualitative) research methods. Participants in this study included 100 library users, four librarians and one library manager drawn from four local libraries through a combination of random (probability) and purposive (non-probability) sampling. The quantitative part of the study i.e. survey measured the perceptions of users on library services through questionnaires, while unstructured interviews elicited the experiences of librarians in addressing the information needs of library users in the four libraries of Bushbuckridge. Findings from the survey revealed, inter alia, that: most (65%) users had access to library services, although high travelling costs were a major barrier for those living in remote villages; a large number of users (60%) still depended on librarians to help them find information, while a growing number of users (33% had begun using computers and the internet to meet their information needs; the most important reasons for using the library were: assignments, study and careers, and, the majority of users in all four libraries were generally satisfied with the quality of the services rendered, although significant improvements were required in the supply of materials and water. Findings from interviews with librarians demonstrated that significant steps had been taken to address information needs of users across the four libraries. Common examples include: books and materials; computers and internet services; study groups; user training, and outreach programmes – although these were hampered by shortage of staff and vehicles. Cross-cutting problems included delays in purchasing of library materials; shortage of water and low perceptions about the benefits of library services in the community. In light of these results, it was concluded that information needs of library users had been partially met, with greater room for improvement in areas like human resources, information technology, transport and procurement systems and processes. The research findings have demonstrated that if provided well, library information services may help reduce the challenges of illiteracy, poverty and unemployment in this area. In light of these findings, the study recommended, inter alia, that the skills of library staff along with procurement systems and processes be upgraded in order to satisfy the information needs of library users in the study area. The study further recommended that outreach programmes be scaled up to increase awareness in the community about the role and benefits of library services in facilitating community development, particularly in Bushbuckridge where challenges of illiteracy, poverty and unemployment continue unabated.

The purpose of this project was to explore the coping patterns of people denied public assistance. The primary focus was on resources available and used by those denied to assist them in the situation that led them to apply for public assistance in the first place. A review of the literature revealed that very little is known concerning those denied public assistance. This project is one of the first to study the problem of how those denied manage after denial. The data for this project was gathered by the use of an interview schedule administered in personal interviews with those in the sample. The data was then analyzed using frequency distributions and percentage compositions. When appropriate, chi square statistics were computed. The major finding of this exploratory study is that those denied public assistance have-very few resources available to them to assist them in their coping patterns. Frequently those denied become eligible very soon after initial denial. Very few seek help elsewhere after denial although most of those who do receive helpful assistance. Implications are that more referrals by the intake staff at the public welfare agency would lead to more of those denied receiving helpful assistance elsewhere. Because this project is one of the first to study those denied public assistance, the findings are limited by the fact that there are no previous research findings available for comparison. Another limitation is that only one quarter of the original sample could be contacted. Because of these limitations, more research in the area is indicated. Suggestions are made for future research.

Manufacturing firms can incur losses of up to 100% due to costs of poor quality (COPQ) in the form of internal and external product failures, rework, and scrap. The purpose of this single case study was to explore what quality improvement strategies senior manufacturing production managers used to reduce COPQ and increase profit. The participants selected were 3 production managers in 1 small-sized manufacturing company in the southeastern region of the United States with successful strategies to lower COPQ. The conceptual framework of this study was based on total quality management theory. Data collection was through face-to-face interviews and from a review of company documents. Yin's 5-step process was used to analyze the data. Three key themes emerged during data analysis: continuous improvement, quality assurance, and institutionalizing training. Manufacturing managers can use these strategies to lower COPQ and increase profits. The findings can contribute to social change by increasing individuals' sense of dignity and self-worth through the manufacturing firm leaders' ability to increase employment rates.