Welfare reform has been an issue in America for many years. The need to make positive changes to the welfare system escalated to the point that federal legislation was passed in 1996. This legislation mandated that each state establish welfare-to-work programs and require that welfare recipients begin to work or face loss of benefits after two years. Virginia responded to this mandate through its Virginia Initiative for Employment Not Welfare (VIEW), which requires welfare recipients to seek work opportunities. The purpose of this study was to examine employers' perceptions of factors contributing to their participation in VIEW and factors they felt affected welfare recipients' entry into the workforce. The theoretical framework of this study is based on two theories of organizational change: are the innovations and diffusion of innovations models. Interviews were conducted with twelve people who were in decision making roles in businesses that participated in VIEW. The following research questions were used to guide this study: 1. What factors encourage employers to participate in Virginia's Initiative for Employment Not Welfare (VIEW)? Interviews with employers were recorded, transcribed, and coded using the Nud.ist qualitative research software program. Twelve factors were identified: mass media, social services agencies, the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC), other information sources, employability skills, qualifications, work experience, education and training, child care, lack of funds for transportation and appropriate clothing, welfare policies, and a support system or monitoring plan. The first four factors affected employers' decisions to be a part of VIEW; the others were factors they felt affected workforce entry. This study confirms portions of the review of literature relative to research regarding factors that affect the entry of welfare recipients into the workforce. Two major conclusions emerged from the findings: the majority of employers interviewed suggested that welfare policies and child care significantly affected the employment of welfare recipients. Further study is needed to determine what changes are needed in welfare policies and preparation for those entering the workforce. Research should involve both welfare recipients, employers, social services personnel, and job training providers. / Ph. D.

Improper grants payments stemming from weaknesses in business processes have been a focus of the U.S. president, Congress, and federal and state governments since 2009. Researchers have demonstrated that the internal control weakness at the federal, state, and local government level has contributed to the problem of compliance. The Office of Management and Budget issued federal rules effective in December 2014 to address the problem of federal award compliance. Despite these measures, there is a gap in the literature on strategies for recipients of federal grants to meet compliance requirements. The purpose of the qualitative descriptive study was to explore how recipients can satisfy compliance requirements across the full life cycle of their grants. Systems thinking and compliance theories were selected to analyze data. Participants were 20 certified grants management specialists. The research questions included inquiry on the strategies for federal award compliance. Described were participants' strategies to improve business processes for grant compliance. Emergent thematic findings included staff and leadership training- as participants' main strategy for complying with uniform requirements, while written policies and procedures and use of grant management software- emerged as secondary strategies. Grant managers may benefit from learning about the strategies described in this study by implementing business process improvements in their organizations. Compliant recipients of grants may have a positive effect on social change with more grant funds becoming available to states, local governments, higher education, and nonprofit organizations for the public good.

No description available.

This dissertation examines the allocation of funds over the entire tenure of the HOPE VI, a public housing competitive grant, to determine if the program adhered to its program goals. This study focuses on the application and selection phases of HOPE VI. Moreover, this study looks to the scholarship on redistributive politics to gain an understanding of any deviations from projected program results. Within the context of an institutional policy analysis approach, this dissertation explores the consequences of using competitive grants as a policy tool for the HOPE VI program and postulates on its effects on program outcomes. An empirical analysis of the grant applicants and grant recipients finds that overall, large developments had a better rate in receiving grants and received more grants on their initial attempt. However, small public housing developments, which were not the focus of the HOPE VI program, submitted four times as many applications with a success rate of fifty-two percent. Overtime, cities with smaller populations are awarded more grants. / Ph. D.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Florida State University, 2005. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 97-103). Also available online via the Florida State University website (http://etd.lib.fsu.edu/).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Florida State University, 2005. / Advisor: Dr.Gregory Thompson, Florida State University, College of Social Sciences, Dept. of Urban & Regional Planning. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed Sept. 19, 2005) Document formatted into pages; contains viii, 104 pages. Includes bibliographical references.

Most social assistance programmes have exit strategies in place which require beneficiaries to end their participation in the programme either on an involuntary or voluntary basis. This can occur when the socioeconomic circumstances of the recipients have improved so they accomplish programme objectives and no longer need programme benefits (World Bank, 2000). Despite this ideal of being able to exit the grant system it seems that the withdrawal of the foster care grant can erode quality of life, particularly in circumstances where the foster parents do not have exit plans put in place. The aim of the study was to explore the exit plans of the recipients of the foster care grant in Soweto and the challenges they face in coming up with these plans. The study adopted a qualitative approach and it was exploratory in nature. Ten foster parents and four key informants from the Department of Social Development were selected using purposive sampling. Data were collected using two separate semi-structured interview schedules for participants and key informants. The data gathered was then analysed using thematic content analysis. The results of the study revealed that there was little knowledge and understanding about the foster care grant and what it seeks to do. The study also revealed that there were no exit plans put in place by foster parents. These results of the study found that the participants had very little knowledge of what an exit strategy was and they did not have set exit plans to exit the grant. Other findings indicated that there was no support for participants from their social workers in terms of the sharing of information and the development of exit plans. This study will thus contribute to the discourse on social assistance in general and foster care grants in particular. Furthermore, it will help to sensitise social workers on the need for exit plans for the recipients of foster grants.

As receptoras de embriões bovinos devem possuir um ambiente uterino adequado para o desenvolvimento do embrião, estabelecimento da gestação e nascimento de um bezerro saudável. Apesar dos avanços tecnológicos, a perda embrionária ainda permanece elevada, resultando em taxas de prenhez reduzidas após a transferência de embriões (TE). A progesterona (P4) apresenta papel importante nos processos de estabelecimento e manutenção de gestação em fêmeas bovinas. Diversos estudos evidenciaram que o tratamento com P4 injetável de longa ação (P4LA) após a inseminação artificial em tempo fixo (IATF) pode favorecer o estabelecimento da gestação e aumentar as taxas de concepção. Assim, o objetivo do presente estudo foi verificar se o tratamento com P4LA após a ovulação sincronizada em receptoras de embriões produzidos in vitro (PIV) resultará em aumento na concentração de P4 e na taxa de prenhez, sem comprometer o desenvolvimento do corpo lúteo (CL). Para isso, o presente estudo foi dividido em dois experimentos. O Experimento 1 foi realizado no Brasil com 41 vacas Bos indicus (Nelore) tratadas com um dispositivo intravaginal de P4 e 2 mg de benzoato de estradiol (BE) i.m. no D-10. No D-2, o dispositivo foi removido e as vacas receberam 300 UI de gonadotrofina coriônica equina (eCG) e 0,530 mg de cloprostenol sódico (PGF). No D-1, foi administrado 1 mg de BE para a indução da ovulação. Das 41 vacas, 36 (87,8%) ovularam e foram aleatoriamente distribuídas em três grupos experimentais: Controle (n = 13), sem tratamento adicional; P4D4 (n = 11), administração de 150 mg de P4LA i.m no D4; e P4D7 (n = 12), administração de 150 mg de P4LA i.m. no D7. Foram realizadas avaliações ultrassonográficas Color Doppler para verificar a perfusão do CL e colheitas de sangue para análise da concentração de P4 do D4 ao D7 a cada 24 h e do D7 ao D25 a cada 48 h. Verificou-se interação tratamento*tempo (P = 0,004) para concentração plasmática de P4, com aumento transitório na concentração de P4 24h após a administração de P4LA no D4 e D7. Entretanto, não ocorreu interação tratamento*tempo para o diâmetro do CL (P = 0,59) e tampouco efeito dos tratamentos no fluxo sanguíneo central (FSC; P = 0,97) e periférico (FSP) do CL (P = 0,97). No experimento 2, o mesmo protocolo de sincronização descrito no experimento 1 foi empregado em 787 receptoras mestiças sincronizadas para TE na República Dominicana. Destas, 69,9% apresentaram CL > 14 mm no D4 e foram distribuídas aleatoriamente nos 3 grupos experimentais: Controle (n = 168), P4D4 (n = 201) e P4D7 (n = 181). A TE de embrião PIV foi realizada no D7 e o diagnóstico de gestação foi realizado por ultrassonografia no D30 e D60. A taxa de concepção aos 30 dias [Controle: 41,4% (70/168); P4D4: 42,3% (89/201); P4D7: 41,2% (80/181); P = 0,41], aos 60 dias [Controle: 36,3% (61/168); P4D4: 39,8% (80/201); P4D7: 38,1% (69/181); P = 0,49] e a perda gestacional [Controle: 5,4% (9/168); P4D4: 4,5% (9/201); P4D7: 6,1% (11/181); P = 0,73] não diferiram entre os tratamentos. Em conclusão, apesar do aumento da concentração plasmática de P4 após os tratamentos com P4LA no D4 ou D7, não foi observado efeito positivo desses tratamentos na taxa de prenhez e na perda gestacional de receptoras de embriões bovinos. Além disso, os tratamentos com P4LA não comprometeram o desenvolvimento do CL. / The recipients of bovine embryos must have a suitable uterine environment for embryo development, establishment of gestation and birth of a healthy calf. Despite technological advances, embryo loss remains high, resulting in reduced pregnancy rates after embryo transfer (ET). Progesterone (P4) plays an important role in the processes of establishing and maintaining gestation in bovine females. Several studies have shown that treatment with long-acting injectable progesterone (P4LA) after timed artificial insemination (TAI) can help the establishment of pregnancy and increase conception rates. Thus, the aim of the present study was to verify whether treatment with P4LA after synchronized ovulation in recipients of in vitro produced (IVP) embryos would increase P4 plasmatic concentration and pregnancy rate, without interfering with the development of corpus luteum (CL). The study was divided in two experiments. Experiment 1 was conduced in Brazil with 41 Bos indicus cows (Nelore) synchronized with a P4 intravaginal device and 2 mg of estradiol benzoate (EB) i.m. on D-10. On D-2, the device was removed and cows received 300 IU of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) and 0.530 mg of sodium Cloprostenol (PGF) i.m. On D-1, 1 mg of EB was administered to induce ovulation. From the 41 cows, 36 (87.8%) ovulated and were randomly distributed in three experimental groups: Control (n = 13), without any additional treatment; P4D4 (n = 11) administration of 150 mg of P4LA i.m on D4; and P4D7 (n = 12), administration of 150 mg of P4LA i.m. on D7. The CL blood flow was evaluated using Color Doppler ultrasonography and blood sampling was collected for analysis of P4 concentration from D4 to D7 every 24 h and from D7 to D25 every 48 h. Interaction Treatment*Time (P = 0.004) was found for plasma P4 concentration, with a transient increase of P4 concentration 24h after treatments with P4LA on D4 and D7. However, there was neither an interaction Treatment*Time for CL diameter (P = 0.59), nor an effect of CL central (P = 0.97) and peripheral blood flow (P = 0.97). In experiment 2, the same synchronization protocol described in experiment 1 was used in 787 recipients synchronized for ET in Dominican Republic. From those, 69.9% had CL > 14 mm on D4 and were randomly assigned to the following experimental groups: Control (n = 168), P4D4 (n = 201), and P4D7 (n = 181). The IVP embryos were transferred on D7 and the gestation diagnosis was performed on D30 and D60 by ultrasonography. The conception rate at 30 days [Control: 41.4% (70/168); P4D4: 42.3% (89/201); P4D7: 41.2% (80/181); P = 0.41] at 60 days [Control: 36.3% (61/168); P4D4: 39.8% (80/201); P4D7: 38.1% (69/181); P = 0.49] and gestational loss [Control: 5.4% (9/168); P4D4: 4.5% (9/201); P4D7: 6.1% (11/181); P = 0.73] did not differ between treatments. In conclusion, despite the increase in plasma P4 concentration after treatment with P4LA on D4 and D7, no positive effect of using P4LA was observed on conception rate and gestational loss of bovine embryo recipients. In addition, P4LA treatments did not compromise the development of CL.

As receptoras de embriões bovinos devem possuir um ambiente uterino adequado para o desenvolvimento do embrião, estabelecimento da gestação e nascimento de um bezerro saudável. Apesar dos avanços tecnológicos, a perda embrionária ainda permanece elevada, resultando em taxas de prenhez reduzidas após a transferência de embriões (TE). A progesterona (P4) apresenta papel importante nos processos de estabelecimento e manutenção de gestação em fêmeas bovinas. Diversos estudos evidenciaram que o tratamento com P4 injetável de longa ação (P4LA) após a inseminação artificial em tempo fixo (IATF) pode favorecer o estabelecimento da gestação e aumentar as taxas de concepção. Assim, o objetivo do presente estudo foi verificar se o tratamento com P4LA após a ovulação sincronizada em receptoras de embriões produzidos in vitro (PIV) resultará em aumento na concentração de P4 e na taxa de prenhez, sem comprometer o desenvolvimento do corpo lúteo (CL). Para isso, o presente estudo foi dividido em dois experimentos. O Experimento 1 foi realizado no Brasil com 41 vacas Bos indicus (Nelore) tratadas com um dispositivo intravaginal de P4 e 2 mg de benzoato de estradiol (BE) i.m. no D-10. No D-2, o dispositivo foi removido e as vacas receberam 300 UI de gonadotrofina coriônica equina (eCG) e 0,530 mg de cloprostenol sódico (PGF). No D-1, foi administrado 1 mg de BE para a indução da ovulação. Das 41 vacas, 36 (87,8%) ovularam e foram aleatoriamente distribuídas em três grupos experimentais: Controle (n = 13), sem tratamento adicional; P4D4 (n = 11), administração de 150 mg de P4LA i.m no D4; e P4D7 (n = 12), administração de 150 mg de P4LA i.m. no D7. Foram realizadas avaliações ultrassonográficas Color Doppler para verificar a perfusão do CL e colheitas de sangue para análise da concentração de P4 do D4 ao D7 a cada 24 h e do D7 ao D25 a cada 48 h. Verificou-se interação tratamento*tempo (P = 0,004) para concentração plasmática de P4, com aumento transitório na concentração de P4 24h após a administração de P4LA no D4 e D7. Entretanto, não ocorreu interação tratamento*tempo para o diâmetro do CL (P = 0,59) e tampouco efeito dos tratamentos no fluxo sanguíneo central (FSC; P = 0,97) e periférico (FSP) do CL (P = 0,97). No experimento 2, o mesmo protocolo de sincronização descrito no experimento 1 foi empregado em 787 receptoras mestiças sincronizadas para TE na República Dominicana. Destas, 69,9% apresentaram CL > 14 mm no D4 e foram distribuídas aleatoriamente nos 3 grupos experimentais: Controle (n = 168), P4D4 (n = 201) e P4D7 (n = 181). A TE de embrião PIV foi realizada no D7 e o diagnóstico de gestação foi realizado por ultrassonografia no D30 e D60. A taxa de concepção aos 30 dias [Controle: 41,4% (70/168); P4D4: 42,3% (89/201); P4D7: 41,2% (80/181); P = 0,41], aos 60 dias [Controle: 36,3% (61/168); P4D4: 39,8% (80/201); P4D7: 38,1% (69/181); P = 0,49] e a perda gestacional [Controle: 5,4% (9/168); P4D4: 4,5% (9/201); P4D7: 6,1% (11/181); P = 0,73] não diferiram entre os tratamentos. Em conclusão, apesar do aumento da concentração plasmática de P4 após os tratamentos com P4LA no D4 ou D7, não foi observado efeito positivo desses tratamentos na taxa de prenhez e na perda gestacional de receptoras de embriões bovinos. Além disso, os tratamentos com P4LA não comprometeram o desenvolvimento do CL. / The recipients of bovine embryos must have a suitable uterine environment for embryo development, establishment of gestation and birth of a healthy calf. Despite technological advances, embryo loss remains high, resulting in reduced pregnancy rates after embryo transfer (ET). Progesterone (P4) plays an important role in the processes of establishing and maintaining gestation in bovine females. Several studies have shown that treatment with long-acting injectable progesterone (P4LA) after timed artificial insemination (TAI) can help the establishment of pregnancy and increase conception rates. Thus, the aim of the present study was to verify whether treatment with P4LA after synchronized ovulation in recipients of in vitro produced (IVP) embryos would increase P4 plasmatic concentration and pregnancy rate, without interfering with the development of corpus luteum (CL). The study was divided in two experiments. Experiment 1 was conduced in Brazil with 41 Bos indicus cows (Nelore) synchronized with a P4 intravaginal device and 2 mg of estradiol benzoate (EB) i.m. on D-10. On D-2, the device was removed and cows received 300 IU of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) and 0.530 mg of sodium Cloprostenol (PGF) i.m. On D-1, 1 mg of EB was administered to induce ovulation. From the 41 cows, 36 (87.8%) ovulated and were randomly distributed in three experimental groups: Control (n = 13), without any additional treatment; P4D4 (n = 11) administration of 150 mg of P4LA i.m on D4; and P4D7 (n = 12), administration of 150 mg of P4LA i.m. on D7. The CL blood flow was evaluated using Color Doppler ultrasonography and blood sampling was collected for analysis of P4 concentration from D4 to D7 every 24 h and from D7 to D25 every 48 h. Interaction Treatment*Time (P = 0.004) was found for plasma P4 concentration, with a transient increase of P4 concentration 24h after treatments with P4LA on D4 and D7. However, there was neither an interaction Treatment*Time for CL diameter (P = 0.59), nor an effect of CL central (P = 0.97) and peripheral blood flow (P = 0.97). In experiment 2, the same synchronization protocol described in experiment 1 was used in 787 recipients synchronized for ET in Dominican Republic. From those, 69.9% had CL > 14 mm on D4 and were randomly assigned to the following experimental groups: Control (n = 168), P4D4 (n = 201), and P4D7 (n = 181). The IVP embryos were transferred on D7 and the gestation diagnosis was performed on D30 and D60 by ultrasonography. The conception rate at 30 days [Control: 41.4% (70/168); P4D4: 42.3% (89/201); P4D7: 41.2% (80/181); P = 0.41] at 60 days [Control: 36.3% (61/168); P4D4: 39.8% (80/201); P4D7: 38.1% (69/181); P = 0.49] and gestational loss [Control: 5.4% (9/168); P4D4: 4.5% (9/201); P4D7: 6.1% (11/181); P = 0.73] did not differ between treatments. In conclusion, despite the increase in plasma P4 concentration after treatment with P4LA on D4 and D7, no positive effect of using P4LA was observed on conception rate and gestational loss of bovine embryo recipients. In addition, P4LA treatments did not compromise the development of CL.

En levertransplantation är ett livsförändrande ingrepp som innebär en chans till ett nytt liv för patienter med en livshotande diagnos. Ingreppet medför också stora omställningar för patienter i form av fysiska och psykiska svårigheter. Genom att få en större inblick i patienters livssituation kan sjuksköterskorna med den nyvunna kunskapen, ge en bättre anpassad vård till patienterna. Syftet med denna uppsats är att belysa patienternas upplevelser av sin livssituation efter en levertransplantation. Metoden som används är en litteratur baserad studie utifrån kvalitativa vetenskapliga artiklar, inriktat på patienters upplevelse kring levertransplantation. Åtta artiklar analyserades enligt Evans (2003) där två huvudteman samt åtta subteman kunde urskiljas. Patienterna upplevde en dramatisk förändring i sitt välbefinnande efter operationen och strävade efter att återgå till det liv de hade innan sjukdomen debuterade. Det fanns dock en ständigt överhängande rädsla för organavstötning som förde med sig ett stort lidande för patienterna. Stöd från närstående, andra patienter som delat samma erfarenhet samt vårdpersonal med erfarenhet och kunskap ansågs vara essentiellt för tillfrisknandet. Vårdgivarens kännedom om patienternas upplevelse i samband med en levertransplantation är av yttersta betydelse för patienterna. Kännedomen om att sjuksköterskan kan relatera till vad patienterna säger och hur de mår, främjar vårdrelationen och därmed omvårdnaden. / Program: Sjuksköterskeutbildning