The demand for mixed alcohols has grown since ether compounds were banned as gasoline octane improvers in North America. Molybdenum-based catalysts in sulfide form are an attractive catalyst system for the conversion of synthesis gas to alcohols, due to their excellent resistance to sulfur poisoning and high activity for the water-gas shift reaction. The higher alcohols activity over these catalysts is low, due to the formation of hydrocarbons and CO2. Although a number of catalysts have been developed for this purpose, not any are used commercially at this time. The main objective of this Ph.D. research is to develop a catalyst system that is capable of selectively producing higher alcohols, particularly ethyl alcohols from synthesis gas. In the present series of studies, the investigation of an alkali-promoted trimetallic Co-Rh-Mo catalyst system has led to improvements in product stream composition. The effect of different loadings of active metal (Mo), alkali (K) promoter, and metal promoters (Co and Rh) on higher alcohol synthesis from synthesis gas were investigated using commercially available multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as the catalyst support. The role of support on higher alcohols synthesis was also studied using different supports, such as ã-Al2O3, activated carbons with different textural characteristics, and MWCNTs. The catalysts were prepared using the incipient wetness impregnation method and extensively characterized in both oxide and sulfide phases using different techniques. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results revealed that the metal particles were uniformly distributed inside and outside of the carbon nanotubes, and that metal dispersions were higher on the alkali-promoted trimetallic catalyst supported on MWCNTs. The existence of promoted and un-promoted MoS2 sites was confirmed by diffuse reflectance infrared fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) studies of adsorbed CO over sulfided catalysts. Temperature programmed reduction (TPR) tests showed that the addition of metal promoters improved the reduction behaviour of the catalysts. XRD patterns showed that alkali-promoted catalysts were less crystalline compared to that of the catalyst not promoted with K. The formation of Co (Rh)-Mo-S species was evident in the XANES spectra of bimetallic and trimetallic alkali-promoted MoS2 catalysts. The activity and selectivity of the catalysts were assessed in a fixed-bed micro-reactor using temperature, pressure, and gas hourly space velocity in the ranges of 275 to 350°C, 800 to 1400 psig (5.529.65 Mpa), and 2.4 to 4.2 m3 (STP)/(kg of cat.)/h, respectively. The Ni-promoted catalyst showed higher activity towards the formation of hydrocarbons over that of alcohols. The total alcohols space time yield (STY) and higher alcohols selectivities are significantly higher over the activated carbon-supported catalysts compared to those supported on alumina. With increased content of K, the formation of alcohols increased and hydrocarbons formation rate was suppressed. The total alcohols STY increased with increased Co content over the Co-promoted MoS2-K/MWCNTs catalysts, whereas, the maximum ethyl alcohol and higher alcohols selectivities were observed on the catalyst promoted with 4.5 wt % Co. Over the Rh-promoted MoS2-K/MWCNTs catalysts, the maximum total alcohol yield, ethanol selectivity, and higher alcohols selectivity were observed on the catalyst with 1.5 wt % Rh. The MWCNT-supported alkali-promoted trimetallic catalyst with 9 wt % K, 4.5 wt % Co, 1.5 wt % Rh, and 15 wt % Mo showed the maximum higher alcohols STY and selectivity compared to other catalysts investigated. The textural properties of the support, such as average pore diameter, pore volume and surface area, could significantly influence the extent of reduction, morphology, adsorption and has direct influence on the synthesis of mixed alcohols from synthesis gas. The optimum higher alcohols STY and selectivity were obtained over the Co-Rh-Mo-K/MWCNT catalyst at 330°C, 1320 psi (9.1 Mpa), 3.8 m3 (STP)/(kg of cat./h) using a H2 to CO molar ratio value of 1.25. To predict the reaction rate for higher alcohols synthesis, the power law model was used for the reaction between CO and H2 on the catalyst surface and the data of this study are well fitted by the model. The activation energies of ethanol and higher alcohols obtained over Co-Rh-Mo-K/MWCNTs were low compared to those values reported in the literature. The sulfided alkali-promoted trimetallic Co-Rh-Mo catalyst supported on MWCNTs was stable over a period of 720 h of continuous reaction.

The demand for mixed alcohols has grown since ether compounds were banned as gasoline octane improvers in North America. Molybdenum-based catalysts in sulfide form are an attractive catalyst system for the conversion of synthesis gas to alcohols, due to their excellent resistance to sulfur poisoning and high activity for the water-gas shift reaction. The higher alcohols activity over these catalysts is low, due to the formation of hydrocarbons and CO2. Although a number of catalysts have been developed for this purpose, not any are used commercially at this time. The main objective of this Ph.D. research is to develop a catalyst system that is capable of selectively producing higher alcohols, particularly ethyl alcohols from synthesis gas. In the present series of studies, the investigation of an alkali-promoted trimetallic Co-Rh-Mo catalyst system has led to improvements in product stream composition. The effect of different loadings of active metal (Mo), alkali (K) promoter, and metal promoters (Co and Rh) on higher alcohol synthesis from synthesis gas were investigated using commercially available multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as the catalyst support. The role of support on higher alcohols synthesis was also studied using different supports, such as ã-Al2O3, activated carbons with different textural characteristics, and MWCNTs. The catalysts were prepared using the incipient wetness impregnation method and extensively characterized in both oxide and sulfide phases using different techniques. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results revealed that the metal particles were uniformly distributed inside and outside of the carbon nanotubes, and that metal dispersions were higher on the alkali-promoted trimetallic catalyst supported on MWCNTs. The existence of promoted and un-promoted MoS2 sites was confirmed by diffuse reflectance infrared fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) studies of adsorbed CO over sulfided catalysts. Temperature programmed reduction (TPR) tests showed that the addition of metal promoters improved the reduction behaviour of the catalysts. XRD patterns showed that alkali-promoted catalysts were less crystalline compared to that of the catalyst not promoted with K. The formation of Co (Rh)-Mo-S species was evident in the XANES spectra of bimetallic and trimetallic alkali-promoted MoS2 catalysts. The activity and selectivity of the catalysts were assessed in a fixed-bed micro-reactor using temperature, pressure, and gas hourly space velocity in the ranges of 275 to 350°C, 800 to 1400 psig (5.529.65 Mpa), and 2.4 to 4.2 m3 (STP)/(kg of cat.)/h, respectively. The Ni-promoted catalyst showed higher activity towards the formation of hydrocarbons over that of alcohols. The total alcohols space time yield (STY) and higher alcohols selectivities are significantly higher over the activated carbon-supported catalysts compared to those supported on alumina. With increased content of K, the formation of alcohols increased and hydrocarbons formation rate was suppressed. The total alcohols STY increased with increased Co content over the Co-promoted MoS2-K/MWCNTs catalysts, whereas, the maximum ethyl alcohol and higher alcohols selectivities were observed on the catalyst promoted with 4.5 wt % Co. Over the Rh-promoted MoS2-K/MWCNTs catalysts, the maximum total alcohol yield, ethanol selectivity, and higher alcohols selectivity were observed on the catalyst with 1.5 wt % Rh. The MWCNT-supported alkali-promoted trimetallic catalyst with 9 wt % K, 4.5 wt % Co, 1.5 wt % Rh, and 15 wt % Mo showed the maximum higher alcohols STY and selectivity compared to other catalysts investigated. The textural properties of the support, such as average pore diameter, pore volume and surface area, could significantly influence the extent of reduction, morphology, adsorption and has direct influence on the synthesis of mixed alcohols from synthesis gas. The optimum higher alcohols STY and selectivity were obtained over the Co-Rh-Mo-K/MWCNT catalyst at 330°C, 1320 psi (9.1 Mpa), 3.8 m3 (STP)/(kg of cat./h) using a H2 to CO molar ratio value of 1.25. To predict the reaction rate for higher alcohols synthesis, the power law model was used for the reaction between CO and H2 on the catalyst surface and the data of this study are well fitted by the model. The activation energies of ethanol and higher alcohols obtained over Co-Rh-Mo-K/MWCNTs were low compared to those values reported in the literature. The sulfided alkali-promoted trimetallic Co-Rh-Mo catalyst supported on MWCNTs was stable over a period of 720 h of continuous reaction.

This study is exploring on the taxman¡¦s conception on the relationship between the perception on fairness of job promotion, political awareness of the job promotion and the promise of the organization when the organization conducts job promotion. The study is to achieve the purpose of providing a reference for the development and organizing of the human resources for the civil servant department. This study is based on analysis of documents and questionnaires from taxman of Kaoshiung Notional Tax Administration. Research changing facts include: Personal background, the perception on fairness of job promotion, political awareness of the job promotion and the promise of the organization. The number of questionnaire handed out is 541, and the number of questionnaire received is 448. After eliminating of 59 invalided questionnaires, the total number of the valid questionnaire is 389. Receiving rate is 72.46%. The questionnaire data is calculated and analyzed by statistic software of SPPSS.1 Chinese version and AMOS 5.0 version. The important findings are the following: 1¡BThe taxman¡¦s average rate on the perception on fairness of job promotion, political awareness of job promotion and the promise of the organization is above average level. 2¡BThe changing fact of Taxman¡¦s personnel background will affect their opinions on the perception on fairness of job promotion, political awareness of job promotion and the promise of the organization. 3¡BThe political awareness of job promotion has prominent negative influence on the perception on fairness of job promotion. 4¡BThe organizational fair conception has prominent positive influence on the promise of the organization. 5¡BThe political awareness of the job promotion has prominent negative influence on the promise of the organization.

Thesis (Ph. D. in Sociology)--Vanderbilt University, May 2010. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.

Māori are the indigenous people of New Zealand. As a population group Māori have on average the poorest health status of any ethnic group in New Zealand (Ministry of Health, 2007). Much of this disproportionate ill-health is linked to manageable and/or preventable conditions. Given this, there is much scope for effective Māori health promotion in particular, as the Māori population is relatively young. The primary objective of the case study research was to determine the organisational pre-requisites necessary to fund, implement and sustain Māori health promotion within a primary care setting. Secondary aims were to; identify how health promotion is perceived within a ‘Māori’ primary health care setting, identify existing health promotion practice, and test the feasibility of implementing a current Māori health promotion framework. The case study research was informed by 19 key informant interviews and two focus group sessions. A literature review including an organisational document review was also undertaken. Findings indicated that many of the pre-requisites necessary for effective Māori health promotion implementation sat outside the scope of the organisation and needed to come from a variety of sources including the Ministry of Health, District Health Board’s (DHB’s), community organisations and health providers, whānau (family), hapū (sub tribe) and iwi (tribe), including support from other sectors. The research also found a number of underlying issues that impacted greatly on the health of the Māori population within the PHO. These issues need to be addressed at a number of levels and given high New Zealand priority. In testing the feasibility of a current Māori health promotion model (Kia Uruuru Mai a Hauora) it was considered by participants to fit well with the goals, principles and values of the case study site and within primary health care in general, complementing critical health care service delivery components that already exist. The study’s conclusion found that there was much scope for Māori health promotion that was fully supported, recognised, and adequately and appropriately resourced by the New Zealand Government, Ministry of Health and DHB’s in order to provide long term cost effective and sustainable health benefits.

<p>  </p> <p>Lack of physical activity is considered a public health crisis, with only 21% of women meeting current physical activity guidelines. Inactivity places individuals at higher risk for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, depression, cancer, and premature death. Affect, or one’s mood and emotions, is often related to both health outcomes and health behaviors. Positive affect is associated with a lower risk of mortality, healthy eating habits, and decreased alcohol consumption, while negative affect is associated with premature mortality, lower medication adherence, and riskier sexual behaviors. Fredrickson’s broaden and build theory of positive emotions (BABT) supports the relationship of how positive emotions can lead to enhanced health. This dissertation aims to examine the relationship between positive affect of married women, positive affect of their husbands and wives’ physical activity, guided by the BABT. </p> <p><br></p> <p>The three hypotheses for this investigation are: A) on days when wives have indicated higher positive affect, they will have higher levels of same day moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), B) on days when wives have higher positive affect, they will have higher levels of next day MVPA, and C) husbands’ positive affect will be associated with wives’ same day MVPA beyond the impact of wives’ own daily positive affect. To examine these relationships, a secondary data analysis of the Health and Relationships Project (HARP) data set using population average models was done. The HARP is a 10 day, online, daily diary study (including a baseline questionnaire) of couples that aimed to examine how individuals in long-term relationships manage situations/contexts that impact their health. </p> <p><br></p> <p>Independent variables assessing daily positive affect of calm and happy were used. The dependent variable of daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was created as a sum of minutes of reported moderate and vigorous activity over the last 24 hours. Covariates in the model included age, baseline moderate activity frequency, baseline vigorous activity frequency, education level, marital quality, and race/ethnicity. This analysis included 115 heterosexual couples. There is partial support for the hypotheses. Results for hypothesis A showed only happiness (β = 0.15; <em>p</em> < 0.01) to be associated with same day MVPA. For hypothesis B neither happiness (β = 0.11; <em>p</em> = 0.06) nor calmness (β = 0.01; <em>p</em> =0.90) were significantly associated with wives’ next day MVPA. Findings for the two-partner model (hypothesis C) showed husbands’ affect did not significantly contribute to wives’ MVPA, while wives’ positive affect remained significantly associated with their own same day MVPA (happy β = 0.15; <em>p</em> < 0.01).</p> <p><br></p> <p>Wives’ positive affect being significantly associated with same day MVPA supports the tenets of Fredrickson’s BABT and previous work surrounding affect and health behaviors.  While husbands’ positive affect was not significant in this analysis, husbands could be contributing to their wives’ MVPA in other ways such as increasing her overall happiness level or increasing her marital satisfaction. Additionally, other indicators of social support (e.g., close friends or other family members) could be impacting wives’ MVPA behaviors and should be considered in future studies. The results from this study support further investigation of the affect-physical activity relationship.</p>

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) represents a large portion of the burden of illness for industrial nations, and biomedical research has implicated lifestyle choices and socioeconomic conditions as primary determinants of CVD. There has been a resultant shift from curative to preventive and population health promoting strategies to reduce this burden of illness. The present research is part of a larger research program, the Canadian Heart Health Initiative-Ontario Project (CHHIOP), a two-stage (quantitative and qualitative) longitudinal study designed to investigate and strengthen community-based heart health activities in both the formal and informal public health systems. This study builds upon CHHIOP's qualitative findings to examine how community relationships and community development approaches play out in local contexts to shape the reality of (heart) health promotion practice. Although community development is a central concept in heart health policy there has been no analysis of its understanding, support or use among community health stakeholders. In order to address these questions thirty key informant interviews were conducted with community heart health stakeholders from eight of the 42 health unit areas across Ontario. The findings reveal that three patterns of community heart health practice appeared across the communities, illustrating a continuum of collaboration. These patterns are typfied by different community atmospheres for collaboration, the divergent nature of agency inter-relations, and distinct composites in the use of community (development) approaches. Central themes across communities illustrated the importance of local community contexts, the lack of a common understanding of community development, and the emergence of a shift in health agencies' ways of doing business. Local perspectives and the dynamics of intra-community relations were allowed to emerge and highlight the need for place-sensitive implementation of health promotion strategies at the community level. / Thesis / Master of Arts (MA)

Research problem: The research revolved around the problem: What extrinsic barriers play a role in the promotion of the female educator and to what extent are these barriers experienced? Research objectives: Arising from the problem, the aim of the research firstly was to determine from the literature what the nature of extrinsic promotion barriers were within and outside the school. Secondly, to establish empirically the extent to which extrinsic barriers influenced the career promotion of female educators in secondary schools. Thirdly, to determine what the relation was between biographic variables and different extrinsic promotion barriers. Research Design: * Literature study - In the literature overview in Chapters 2 and 3 the different extrinsic promotion barriers to female educators were investigated. It transpired that the following aspects/factors in the literature occur as extrinsic promotion barriers, namely networks, mentorships, appointment procedures, organisation climate and the female educator’s career profile. These identified aspects/factors formed the basis for the compilation of a structured questionnaire. * Empirical investigation - A quantitative research approach in the post-positivistic paradigm was followed in this research. The data collection instrument was a structured questionnaire consisting of five constructs divided into 50 questions/items. The questionnaire was distributed to female educators on post level 2 and higher (n=365) of which a feedback response of (n=305; 83.6%) was obtained. This questionnaire was used to determine to what extent extrinsic barriers influence the career promotion of the female educator and to establish the relation between certain biographical variables and the different extrinsic promotion barriers. Cronbach Alpha coefficients, means, standard deviations (SD), rankings and frequencies, percentages of the responses to the questionnaire, hierarchic linear models and practical significance (d-values) were calculated. During the discussion of the results, descriptive statistics were used. Main findings: It was evident from the research that the respondents did not experience to a medium and to a large extent any aspect regarding networks, mentorship, appointment procedures, organizational culture and the educators’ career profile as extrinsic promotion barriers. Recommendations: Finally, recommendations were firstly made to the Department of Basic Education, secondly to the female educator and thirdly for further studies focussing on extrinsic promotion barriers to the female educator. Recommendations to the Department of Basic Education: * The DoBE has to provide and distribute policy documents about gender equility to members of the SGB and especialy female teachers. * The DoBE need to train the persons involved in the appointment process (SGB members and educating staff) to understand the policy documents and juridical framework of the appointment process and to apply it correctly. Such training could be considered as a prerequisite to be elected to the SGB. Recommendation to the female educator: * Female educators who hold promotion posts, and those that aspire for promotion posts, must be afforded the opportunity to indicate what they wish to be trained in. Recommendations for further research: * That research of a qualitative nature by means of interviews and focus group discussions should be undertaken on extrinsic promotion barriers found in this study and possible other extrinsic promotion barriers. Such research could be expanded by doing a mixed-methods investigation in two or three provinces. * It became evident from this research that the majority of female educators are heads of department (post level 2) and the minority of female educators fill posts on higher post levels (3 and 4). Research needs to be done on what extrinsic promotion barriers are obstructing female educators from being promoted to principal posts and vice-principal posts. / MEd (Education Management), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

African American men have the highest prostate cancer occurrence and deaths of any population, yet many are unaware of screening opportunities or prognoses if diagnosed with the disease. The focus of this study was to learn whether a web-based prostate health education decision aid would increase prostate cancer knowledge, declared intention to be screened, and the likelihood of scheduling a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. The transtheoretical model of behavior change served as the theoretical framework for the study to assess readiness to adopt new behaviors. A total of 128 African American men between the ages of 40--65 without a history of prostate cancer participated in the study and were divided into 2 nonequivalent groups. The control group had 48 participants, and the intervention group had 80. After reviewing the web-based intervention, participants completed a demographic questionnaire, The Prostate Knowledge Questionnaire, and an Intent-to-Screen Tool. Mean differences in knowledge change were compared while adjusting for covariates using least squares regression. There was no significant improvement in the Prostate Knowledge Change score between the experimental and control groups. Therefore, the alternate hypothesis cannot be accepted. The social change implications suggest that the web-based decision aid studied in this project may not be the best tool to increase knowledge about prostate cancer screening. Therefore, more research is needed regarding ways to reach and inform African American men about the pros and cons of prostate cancer screening to foster informed decision making.

<p>Either it is because of some significant active trends in the business world, or the attractive cut of cost and increase in profit, companies now days are focusing on sales promotion activities. But in reality, most of companies that are introducing new products are not getting what they intend to get. They are facing loses. One of the reasons is lack of understanding which specific sales promotion is preferable at that stage.</p><p>As the authors described on the background of the study, a lot of studies have been done to indicate preferable sales promotional tools for consumer’s goods. Even though those studies have found significant results, there is still a gap which needs further investigation. According to those studies, the result that indicates the more preferable sales promotional tool have to be tested under different discount magnitude range and variety of products.</p><p>Based on the above gap the study has been undertaken with the purpose of comparing two dominant sales promotional tools: price and non-price sales promotion. This comparison has been done on three new different consumer goods that have different characteristics. The authors believe that this will contribute to fill the gap on the findings of previous researches on the area of sales promotion.</p><p>To fulfill the purpose of the study, descriptive and comparative type of study has been conducted by using controlled field experiment. Data has been collected by using structured questionnaire from three undergraduate classes of Umea University, Umea, which are (i.e., classes) selected using judgmental sampling. Collected data has been analyzed using SPSS-descriptive statistics.</p><p>The result reveals that, consumers of newly introduced consumer good will use the price of the product as a cue for a quality and prefer to have cash discount rather than gift offers. More ever, marketing stimuli (i.e. sales promotion) can have impact on the occurrence of the impulse buying behavior. Therefore, companies that are introducing a new consumer product and using price sales promotion as a strategy are more likely to attract new consumers and create impulse buying behavior, which result in an increase in sales.</p>