As aplicações comerciais e científicas das resinas epoxídicas dependem diretamente da combinação entre resina/endurecedor/acelerador, tornando-o um sistema reativo bastante complexo, cuja determinação dos seus parâmetros de cura é um problema multivariável de tempo, temperatura e concentração de reagentes. É necessário o conhecimento de suas etapas de cura e de seu mecanismo cinético para obtenção das melhores propriedades mecânicas, elétricas e térmicas, com a finalidade de conseguir uma resina epoxídica de alto desempenho. As técnicas analíticas comumente empregadas na determinação da cura de resinas epoxídicas como também de diversas outras resinas poliméricas são: a calorimetria exploratória diferencial (DSC) e a análise dinâmico-mecânica (DMA). Neste trabalho, dois sistemas reativos foram analisados: o primeiro, resultante da combinação de resina DGEBA com endurecedor à base de amina alifática; o segundo composto pela resina DGEBA reagida com endurecedor à base de anidrido e catalisado por amina terciária. É apresentada a metodologia empregada na determinação dos parâmetros cinéticos para os dois sistemas epóxi utilizando a análise por DSC isotérmica e não isotérmica, a técnica DMA isotérmica, e como complementos análises isotérmicas por análise reológica e análise dielétrica (DEA) para determinação dos tempos de gelificação e vitrificação que caracterizam cada um dos distintos estágios de cura. Enquanto o sistema epóxi-amina se caracteriza por uma cinética de reação rápida, o sistema epóxi-anidrido apresenta cinética de reação lenta, sendo necessária a adição do acelerador para acelerar a reação, que é otimizada em altas temperaturas. O modelo cinético de Sourour-Kamal e o método Isoconversional foram aplicados respectivamente aos dados experimentais isotérmicos e não-isotérmicos de DSC para obtenção de constantes de reação do sistema. Os resultados encontrados apresentaram excelente concordância com o descrito na teoria de que é possível detectar estágios de cura pelas técnicas de análise dielétrica e dinâmico-mecânica. Também é possível comprovar a eficácia do modelo de Sourour-Kamal, pois apresenta um excelente ajuste com os dados experimentais, enquanto o método Isoconversional, é eficiente na previsão do tempo de cura isotérmico de resinas epoxídicas a partir de dados experimentais não-isotérmicos. As energias de ativação encontradas para as resinas epóxi-amina e epóxi-anidrido tem correspondência com o descrito na literatura. Conclui-se que as técnicas analíticas utilizadas neste trabalho são complementares entre si. / The commercial and scientific applications of epoxy resins depend upon the combination between resin/curing agents/catalyst, turning it a reactive system relatively complex, whose cure parameters determination is a multivariable problem of time, temperature and reagents concentration. It is necessary the knowledge of its curing kinetics mechanism to obtain the best mechanical, electrical and thermal properties, aiming at get high performance epoxy resins. The analytical techniques mostly used in cure determination of epoxy resins as well as in other polymeric thermoset resins are the Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and the Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA). In this work, two reactive systems were analyzed: the first, based on DGEBA resin with aliphatic amine hardener; the second, composed by DGEBA resin cured by anhydride hardener and tertiary amine catalyst. It is presented the methodology used to determinate the kinetics parameters for the two epoxy systems utilizing isothermal and non-isothermal analysis by Differential Scanning Calorimetry; isothermal analysis by Dynamic Mechanical Analysis, and complementarly Rheological analysis and Dielectric Analysis for determining gelation and vitrification times which describe each one of distinct cure steps. The epoxy-amine system is characterized by a fast reaction kinetic, while the epoxy-anhydride system presents low reaction kinetic, being necessary the addiction of a catalyst for accelerating the reaction, which is improved at high temperatures. The kinetic model of Sourour-Kamal and the Isoconversional method were applied to obtain the kinetics parameters to the isothermal and non-isothermal DSC data, respectively. The experimental results presented good agreement with the theory, making possible to detect the cure stages by dielectric and dynamic mechanical analyses. It is also observed the efficiency of Sourour- Kamal model, because it presented an excellent fitting with the experimental data, while the Isoconversional method is efficient to predict the isothermal cure time by the non-isothermal experimental data. The calculated activation energies for both epoxy-amine and epoxyanhydride resins have agreed with the literature values. The DMA and DEA analytical techniques are complementary between themselves.

Obesity is a pandemic that directly affects chronic health problems and mortality. Researchers have shown that more than 54% of nurses are obese. The increasing rate of obesity among nurses and the long hours they work make healthy lifestyles, including daily physical activity, difficult. Tracking daily activity using a pedometer or fitness application has shown improved awareness and sustainability of daily physical activity. This project was an investigation of the daily steps of bedside nurses working a 12-hour shift, and their subsequent awareness of their daily physical activity. Pender's Health Promotion Model was used to consider motivating factors for improving daily physical activity. Thirty-seven nurses were recruited to use a pedometer application for 24 hours on a (12-hour) workday to track their steps for 3 consecutive days, as well as complete a final survey. A repeated measures ANOVA, with a Greenhouse-Geisser correction, determined that there was no statistical difference in the number of steps over the 3 time periods. Seventy-eight percent of the participants indicated that the project increased their awareness of physical activity. Extended research is needed to add a stronger support for the affect of wearing a pedometer and the benefits of increased awareness on health promotion. Pender's health promotion model suggests adding motivating factors such as competition. Fitness trackers now have this function and could play a large role in improving physical activity awareness and the battle of obesity for nurses and the general population. The results of this study may promote positive social change by making nurses more aware of the importance of their health and physical activity, given their long work days.

Over the past decade, relationship education has grown as a means of enhancing couple relations. This study examines the experiences of 2,828 ethnically diverse and low-income adults who participated in the Smart Steps for Stepfamilies: Embrace the Journey program, a 12-hour stepfamily education program. Self-report measures of relationship quality, couple commitment, and relationship instability were gathered prior to and immediately after the Smart Steps intervention as well as six weeks, six months, and one year post-program. Results suggest that stepfamily participants experienced increases in relationship quality; however, these increases reduced to near pre-program levels one year after the programs completion. Results further showed no changes in couple commitment or relationship instability measures nor among differing participant groups including Latinos, European Americans, low-income, moderate- income, married, unmarried, those in a first marriage, second remarriage, and higher order remarriage. Finally a cost-analysis of the program was conducted. Application of these findings and policy implications are discussed.

Information collected from multiple domain child developmental assessments, known as five area assessments, are being used in early intervention for high stakes purposes such as program monitoring. As a result, it is important to examine variables that may affect test administration fidelity and its impact on obtaining valid data. The purpose of this study was to survey early intervention service providers in the state of Kentucky to determine possible independent variables that may affect their comfort level in administering five-domain tests. Surveys were made available to all early intervention service providers within the Kentucky First Steps early intervention program. Data were analyzed to determine the effect of independent variables such as: amount and format of training in administering assessments, amount and format of training in child development, years of experience, educational degree level, certification in interdisciplinary early childhood education, and discipline area on a provider’s comfort level in administering five area assessments. The results of the study indicated a statistically significant positive relationship between the amount of assessment training a provider received and their self-perceived comfort level in administering assessments.

There has been an increase of research in the area of forgiveness, particularly since the early 1980’s; however, there has been far less research done in the field of addiction and how forgiveness or the lack of forgiveness impact’s a person’s recovery. The profession of social work has a wide array of fields and services, and it is not uncommon for a social worker to work with a person abusing substances at some point in his or her career. While there are many aspects of treating and assisting client’s in their recovery, one topic that may not be discussed with clients is the subject of forgiveness. However, forgiveness renders itself as pertinent in a person maintaining sobriety and thus it is imperative while conducting treatment for social workers to not shy away from this subject with their clients. This study utilized a qualitative analysis consisting of interviews with ten participants who share their experiences of forgiveness in their own recovery. The purpose of this study is to explore the effects of forgiveness on 12 step group attendees in order to gain an awareness of how forgiveness or the lack of forgiveness affects one’s ability to maintain sobriety. The findings of this research will be used to increase social workers’ understanding of utilizing forgiveness as a treatment modality, impact future social work policy, practice and research.

Obesity in America has grown widespread over the past decade and is a significant social issue that affects many families. Identifying interventions that are not only effective in the natural environment but are easy to implement are ideal for helping individuals engage in more fitness related activities. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the NikeTM FuelBand for increasing physical activity in 3 adults. Additionally, a goal setting procedure was used to test if it enhanced the effects of the NikeTM FuelBand. Three measures were collected as part of the study, NikeTM Fuel, daily steps, and caloric expenditure. The NikeTM FuelBand was found to be effective at increasing all participants NikeTM Fuel score, daily steps, and caloric expenditure daily average from baseline to intervention phase. The goal setting procedure was found to be effective at increasing NikeTM Fuel point score, daily steps, and caloric expenditure daily average scores for two of three participants.

<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The aim of this thesis is to examine and compare the maternal mortality in three different countries; Malawi, India and United Kingdom, as well as highlighting the attributing factors and preventive steps that would reduce the maternal mortality in these countries. <strong>Methods and material: </strong>The studied design that was chosen is an ecological study which means to study the relationship between aggregated health data and exposing factors, for example a geographical area and time period. The reason of choosing this study can be seen in the relationship and the factors that contribute to maternal mortality in Malawi, India and the United Kingdom. In order to attain the objective of the thesis a variety of sources were utilized to find data, statistics and scientific articles concerning maternal mortality in all three countries.<strong>Results and conclusion: </strong>Maternal mortality is the highest in Malawi and India, while it is very low in the United Kingdom when compared with these two countries. The result shows among other things that the maternal mortality is mainly caused by direct causes both in Malawi and India and in the United Kingdom the maternal mortality is mainly from indirect causes. It is also shown that the maternal mortality in these countries have been changed over the years. It is also shown that preventive steps such as family planning, skilled attendance, obstetric emergency care and antenatal care can significantly reduce the maternal mortality rate.</p>

Objective: The aim of this thesis is to examine and compare the maternal mortality in three different countries; Malawi, India and United Kingdom, as well as highlighting the attributing factors and preventive steps that would reduce the maternal mortality in these countries. Methods and material: The studied design that was chosen is an ecological study which means to study the relationship between aggregated health data and exposing factors, for example a geographical area and time period. The reason of choosing this study can be seen in the relationship and the factors that contribute to maternal mortality in Malawi, India and the United Kingdom. In order to attain the objective of the thesis a variety of sources were utilized to find data, statistics and scientific articles concerning maternal mortality in all three countries.Results and conclusion: Maternal mortality is the highest in Malawi and India, while it is very low in the United Kingdom when compared with these two countries. The result shows among other things that the maternal mortality is mainly caused by direct causes both in Malawi and India and in the United Kingdom the maternal mortality is mainly from indirect causes. It is also shown that the maternal mortality in these countries have been changed over the years. It is also shown that preventive steps such as family planning, skilled attendance, obstetric emergency care and antenatal care can significantly reduce the maternal mortality rate.

As a result of human resources for an enterprise¡¦s importance will get increasingly day by day, and human resources department¡¦s role will not to be a simply administration and assistant department. It will to be a strategic role and create some performances for an enterprise; therefore, how to estimate human resources department performance will to be an importance key point to evaluate enterprise competitive. Nearly years, Balance Scorecard (BSC) concept was used on scholarly researches popularly, but about human resources management scope are very fewer; generally the greater part of human resources management¡¦s researches were used by human resources management¡¦s activities; efficiency; talent as their research subjects, and they also were used research method: Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to develop human resources department¡¦s indicator. In view of this, the research purpose will use balance scorecard and enterprise value theories as viewpoint for the research key framework, because about human resources scorecard¡¦s researches are very fewer and enterprises which have followed out human resources scorecard are also fewer; therefore, in lack of explicit quantitative information, the research will fit qualitative research¡¦s characteristic than quantitative research¡¦s characteristic. The research will also use bibliography to collect; confer; analyze; compare; generalize and add reality experience to ratiocinate as the research methods. Finally the research will construct two models, including human resources department performance measurement perspective model and human resources department scorecard guiding steps model. The research of human resources department performance measurement perspective model develops four performance measurement perspectives, including (1) financial capital perspective; (2) customer capital perspective; (3) structure capital perspective; (4) human capital perspective; the research of human resources department scorecard guiding steps model develops three phases and eleven steps, including (1) planning phase has four steps; (2) developing phase has three steps¡F(3) practicing phase has four steps.

<p>The purpose of this thesis is to reveal how Information Technology  Infrastructure Library (ITIL) should be implemented in an organization in  an efficient and effective way to achieve the goal of reducing wastage, cutting costs and increasing customers’ satisfaction. There are many books dealing with the ITIL. But these publications do not prescribe how to adopt, adapt or implement the guidelines as part of a service management strategy; it would seem useful to explore implementation strategies which are employed by organizations when they are using ITIL “best practices”.</p><p>This paper seeks to take a study of “How to implement ITIL successfully in organizations”, which could be subdivided into questions of “What steps are necessary to implement ITIL” and “what factors are critical within implementation process”. Although previous researches have made some recommendations generally, this paper investigates the question on that base through comparing consultants’, organizations’ opinion and previous researches.</p><p>This study begins with an overview of ITSM, ITIL, and critical success factors and steps of ITIL implementation. Information about the critical success factors and steps of ITIL implementation were acquired through interviews, emails and questionnaires from responsible staff in some major representative consultancy and organizations.</p><p>The outcomes of our research are fourteen significant steps to implement ITIL and some success factors during implementation, which are vital to have a prosperous ITIL implementation. This research makes a guideline for organizations to understand and carry out the ITIL implementation efficiently.</p>