The unheard voices of people with disabilities: practical theology in conversation with the spiritualities of Julian of Norwich and Teresa of Avila

This practical theological study draws on the theological method of Don S. Browning to implement a mutually critical correlation between the everyday experiences of people with disabilities depicted in six case study narratives and selected texts of two mystical authors, Julian of Norwich and Teresa of Avila. The study brings to light the harsh everyday reality of living with a physical disability, articulates disability as a practice, and outlines the operative effective history of the United States associated with physical disability. This operative history has long kept the harsh reality of embodied vulnerability hidden from view and thus has contributed to the marginalization of people with disabilities. The critical dialogue between the narratives of persons with disabilities and the selected mystical texts provides a new hermeneutical lens through which to read mystical theology and reveals insights into embodiment and marginalization that bear implications for spirituality studies, disability studies, and practical theology. This dissertation argues that scholars in disability studies neglect embodied vulnerability when they define disability only as a social construction. Chapter One proposes that disability is both a social construction and a biological reality. The next chapter illustrates that people with disabilities still experience existential absurdity and that predominant norms in the United States (however unconscious) continue to try to conceal or avoid the negative effects of embodied difference. The study then analyzes the themes of embodiment and marginalization in the mystical theologies of Julian of Norwich and Teresa of Avila. Chapter Three reveals that Julian’s relational conception of the Trinity and God’s immanence in the humblest of needs offer ways to establish dignity for people with disabilities. Chapter Four shows that mystical prayer provides impetus for Teresa’s work as a social reformer, which challenges sixteenth century Spain to welcome conversos and value women. The final chapter shows that the mutually critical conversation offers a starting point for building theological constructs of embodied spirituality to respond to the avoidance of embodied vulnerability and the challenges of living with physical disability

Childish Gambino Says Goodbye

Childish Gambino ends his music career with his This Is America tour. In this review, we delve into how the audience reacts to his goodbye and how he is determined to give us his most spectacular farewell

Incidence and need of advanced aesthetic somatology in South Africa

Published ThesisRapid advancements in technology have resulted in a growing trend of aesthetic beauty treatments. Internationally, the beauty profession has adapted to include aesthetic treatments through the offering of non-surgical aesthetic qualifications as an additional career choice for qualified beauty therapists. The merging of beauty and aesthetics treatments has created a skills gap and an opportunity for career development in the beauty industry. Although somatologists in South Africa are currently practicing aesthetic treatments, there is no qualification which focuses solely on this skill. This has created the need for somatology in South Africa to move towards a more medical approach within the skin care sector and align itself with international benchmarks being set by other countries in the industry. The aim of this study was to assess the requirements and needs for the development of advanced aesthetic somatology as an education programme in the South African context. A quantitative research design was implemented with qualitative elements. The mixed method approach gathered qualitative and quantitative data which provided a broader context to respondents’ perceptions on the use of advanced aesthetics within the somatology industry. Three questionnaires were developed, targeting each respondent group: somatology students, qualified somatologists and medical professionals. A non-probability purposive sampling technique was applied for the purpose of the study. Results indicated the need for the development and standardisation of aesthetics education in the field of somatology. Somatology respondents recognised the consumer need for aesthetic treatments and agreed there is a need to keep abreast of new technologies and aesthetic treatments being offered in the industry. A skills gap was further highlighted when somatology respondents confirmed they were currently incorporating advanced skin care treatments into their scope of practice, but required further training and education in aesthetic somatology. A common sentiment among the three respondent groups was the need to revisit the current somatology curricula to include advanced aesthetic modalities. Similarly, somatology students recognised the need to expand somatology education to include aesthetics in order to prepare them for current industry trends. Students displayed great interest in obtaining future employment in medical settings and in performing aesthetical treatments. Similar responses from the three stakeholder groups found dermal science, permanent hair removal techniques, wound care, resurfacing science and pre/post-operative techniques to be important subjects included in the advanced aesthetic somatology curriculum. A generally positive outlook was displayed by all stakeholders with regards to interdisciplinary practices. Both students and somatologists indicated it would be beneficial for the profession and clients to work under the supervision of medical professionals. Likewise, medical professionals agreed they would feel comfortable hiring an advanced aesthetic somatologist to assist in medical practices provided the correct education and training was in place. The South African beauty profession has recognised the benefits of diversifying services in order to meet industry needs. Due to a rapidly evolving beauty industry, the need to develop and standardise aesthetics education in somatology was highlighted. Finally, this study identified the importance for the somatology industry to bridge an imperative training and education deficit

Credit ratings and corporate diversification : the aftermath of the global financial crisis

As ten years have passed by since the 2007-2008 world financial crisis, one of the largest ones in recent history, this thesis investigates whether credit ratings still have an informa-tional effect on diversified firms. That is, if credit ratings still are an useful tool to coun-teract the diversification discount often documented in literature. Thus, to study this research question, two main hypotheses are developed. The first one predicts that diversified rated firms are less affected by the diversification discount than unrated ones. The second one predicts that higher rated diversified firms are less affected by diversification discount than low-rated ones. The employed approach to study these hypotheses is through OLS regressions with data for 39,174 firm-years from 1985 to 2016. These regressions are performed both for rated and unrated subsamples and then dividing the timeframe into 3 periods (pre-crisis, crisis, post-crisis). In this context, three analysis are performed differing only in the crisis period definition. The first analysis encompassed the crisis years as 2007-2008, whereas the sec-ond and third contains 2007-2009 and 2008-2009, respectively. The results obtained indicate that both hypotheses hold true in the pre-crisis period, which denotes a mitigation in the diversification discount for rated and investment grade rated firms. Nonetheless, in the post-crisis period, only the unrated diversification coefficient is significant. Therefore, this indicates that ratings credibility was somehow undermined as a clear difference in its role before and after the crisis is denoted. These results are consistent with the intertemporal robustness regressions performed in this dissertation.Após dez anos desde a crise financeira de 2007-2008, esta tese investiga se as notações de crédito ainda têm um efeito informativo sobre empresas diversificadas. Isto é, se as notações de crédito ainda são uma ferramenta útil para contrariar o desconto de diversifi-cação, frequentemente documentado na literatura. Assim, para estudar esta questão científica, são desenvolvidas duas hipóteses basilares. A primeira prevê que empresas diversificadas, possuidoras de uma notação de crédito, se-jam menos afetadas pelo desconto de diversificação do que as que não contêm. A segunda hipótese antecipa que empresas diversificadas com classificações mais elevadas sejam menos afetadas pelo desconto de diversificação do que as de baixa classificação. Para conduzir este estudo, usa-se como metodologia regressões MQO com dados para 39.174 empresas-ano de 1985 a 2016. Essas regressões comparam empresas classificadas com não-classificadas durante 3 períodos: pré-crise; crise; pós-crise. Foram feitas três análises que diferem apenas nos anos definidos como crise. A primeira análise considera os anos de crise de 2007-2008, enquanto a segunda e terceira definem como 2007-2009 e 2008-2009, respetivamente. Os resultados obtidos indicam que ambas as hipóteses são verificadas no período pré-crise, o que denota uma atenuação no desconto de diversificação para empresas classifi-cadas e de elevada qualidade de crédito. No entanto, no período pós-crise, apenas o coe-ficiente de empresas diversificadas não classificadas se torna significativo. Portanto, isto sugere uma perda de credibilidade das classificações, visto que há uma clara diferença no seu papel pré-crise e pós-crise. Finalmente, estes resultados são robustos com regressões intertemporais realizadas nesta tese

Relationships between grandparents and their teenage grandchildren: an integrative review

O objetivo do estudo foi analisar a relação entre avós e seus netos adolescentes, e descrever suas diferentes representações no cotidiano de seus netos por meio de revisão integrativa. Realizou-se a busca de artigos e resumos publicados no período de janeiro 2002 a junho de 2012, nas bases de dados LILACS e MEDLINE, por meio dos seguintes descritores: avós, netos adolescentes, relações entre avós e netos. Seguindo as estratégias definidas para o estudo, a busca resultou em seis artigos na íntegra. Foram incluídos dois artigos da base de dados LILACS e quatro da MEDLINE. Concluiu-se que as relações entre avós e netos adolescentes se diferenciaram de acordo com a proximidade entre os sujeitos, sendo esta derivada de diversos fatores, como corresidência, trabalho e estado civil dos netos, opções sexuais GLBT, origem e doenças crônicas dos avós. Pesquisas futuras que estudem essa temática são importantes para contribuir com um melhor entendimento da relação entre avós e seus netos na perspectiva de ambos os sujeitos.This study aimed to analyze the relationship between grandparents and their teenage grandchildren, and describe different representations in everyday of their grandchildren through an integrative review. A search for articles and abstracts published from January 2002 to June 2012, was conducted in MEDLINE and LILACS databases using the following descriptors: grandparents, grandchildren teenagers, relationships between grandparents and grandchildren. Following the strategies defined for the study, the search resulted in six full articles. Two articles from LILACS and four from MEDLINE were included. The conclusion was that the relationship between grandparents and teenage grandchildren differed according to the proximity of the subject, which is derived from several factors such as co-residence, work and marital status of the grandchildren, GLBT sexual choices, and chronic source of grandparents. Future research work assessing this issue are important to contribute to a better understanding of the relationship between grandparents and grandchildren from the perspective of both subjects

Profile of ocular and systemic characteristics in Möbius sequence patients from Brazil and Italy

PURPOSE: To compare the profiles and clinical findings of a series of patients with Möbius sequence from Brazil with a series from Italy. METHODS: This is a multicenter study, which includes 46 Möbius sequence patients from Brazil and 20 from Italy. Socio-demographic, gestational, and neonatal profile characteristics were collected from interviews with the guardians of the Möbius sequence patients and compared. The Möbius sequence patients were submitted to an ophthalmologic examination and systemic malformations were also evaluated. RESULTS: Misoprostol was used in the first trimester of pregnancy by 26 (56.5%) of the mothers of the Möbius sequence patients in the Brazilian series and was not used by any of the Italian mothers. The mean age of the Brazilian Möbius sequence patients was 89.95 ± 7.79 months and the mean age of the Italian patients was 102.6 ± 22.94 months (P=0.6105; Mann-Whitney test). Brazilian mothers had a significantly lower education level (P=0.0002; Fisher's exact test) and Italian mothers had significantly more stable relationships (p=0.0002; Fisher's exact test). The frequency of ocular and systemic abnormalities was similar in both series. CONCLUSION: Adverse events during pregnancy varied between both groups. A history of misoprostol use during early pregnancy was present only in Brazilian mothers, who had lower levels of education and less frequent stable marital statuses. Clinical findings were similar between both groups of patients. OBJETIVO: Comparar o perfil de características oculares e sistêmicas de uma série de pacientes com sequência de Möbius do Brasil com uma da Itália. MÉTODOS: Esse estudo multicêntrico incluiu 46 pacientes com sequencia de Möbius do Brasil e 20 da Itália. As características dos perfis sociodemográfico, gestacional e neonatal foram coletadas a partir de entrevistas com os responsáveis dos pacientes e comparadas. Os pacientes foram submetidos a um exame oftalmológico e malformações sistêmicas foram avaliadas. RESULTADOS: O misoprostol foi usado no primeiro trimestre da gestação por 26 (56,5%) mães brasileiras e por nenhuma italiana. A média de idade dos pacientes brasileiros com sequência de Möbius foi de 89,95 ± 7,79 meses e dos italianos 102,6 ± 22,94 meses (P=0,6105; teste de Mann-Whitney). Mães brasileiras tinham significantemente menor escolaridade (P=0,0002; teste exato de Fisher) e mães italianas tinha relacionamentos estáveis mais frequentemente (P=0,0002; teste exato de Fisher). A frequência de anormalidades oculares e sistêmicas foi semelhante entre as séries. CONCLUSÃO: Eventos adversos durante a gestação variaram entre os grupos. O uso de misoprostol pelas mães precocemente na gestação foi relatado apenas por mães brasileiras, que tinham menor escolaridade e status conjugal estável menos frequentemente. Achados clínicos foram semelhantes entre os grupos

Bug-in-Ear Technology as a Clinical Teaching Tool for Au.D. Education: A Pilot Study

Traditional forms of clinical pedagogy include post-observation feedback and side-by-side coaching. The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate a newer strategy, bug-in-ear technology (BIET), in which clinical supervisors provide live feedback through a discrete earpiece. BIET has the potential to overcome limitations associated with traditional clinical pedagogy. This pilot study compared side-by-side coaching to BIET coaching, using standardized patients in an on-campus audiology clinic. In this study, first-year Au.D. students conducted a case history assessment for two standardized patients. Likert-response ratings and qualitative data from open-set questions indicated BIET coaching was well received by supervisors because it provided a discrete way to deliver quick, live feedback to students. Although supervisor ratings of BIET were slightly more positive than student ratings, comments from both students and supervisors indicated they could see BIET coaching working well in the future, with modifications. Likert-response items indicated student preference for BIET was associated with feelings of confidence and desire to use BIET. More research is needed to examine ways in which BIET coaching can be operationalized to support audiology clinical education

Clima laboral y productividad de los trabajadores en la empresa Corporación Wama Sac- Tiendas Pieers, San Juan de Lurigancho en el año 2016

El objetivo general de la presente investigación fue: determinar la relación que existe entre Clima Laboral y Productividad de la empresa Corporación Wama Sac – Tiendas Pieers, SJL, 2016. La metodología empleada para la elaboración de esta tesis estuvo relacionada al método cuantitativo. Se siguió el modelo de la investigación de tipo descriptivo – correlacional, de diseño no experimental y corte transversal. La muestra estuvo representada por 30 colaboradores de la empresa Corporación Wama Sac en el presente año. Las técnicas e instrumento de investigación empleadas fueron la encuesta y el cuestionario, respectivamente. Finalmente se llegó a la conclusión que: el clima laboral tiene una relación moderada del 60% con la productividad en la empresa Corporación Wama Sac – Tiendas Pieers, SJL, 2016 debido a que la valoración, percepciones, regulaciones y normativas y por últimos los elementos poseen puntuaciones buenas que contribuyen de forma positiva en la productivida

Análise de Vendas de uma Empresa de Distribuição

Este relatório é o resultado do Estágio Profissionalizante do Mestrado em Engenharia Alimentar da Escola Superior Agrária de Coimbra. Este trabalho decorreu entre os dias 1 de Março e 31 de Julho de 2013 numa empresa de distribuição alimentar na região de Coimbra. O objetivo deste trabalho é a caracterização e análise de vendas dos diferentes produtos da empresa, entre os anos 2010 e 2012. Para isso, é inicialmente feita a análise ABC, de forma a identificar os produtos ou famílias de produtos que representam a parte mais importante das vendas. A estes produtos são aplicados depois os métodos de previsão. Os métodos de previsão aplicados pretendem não só avaliar a possibilidade de reduzir a incerteza relativamente à procura futura, mas também analisar de forma mais detalhada, o comportamento das vendas no passado, nomeadamente identificando tendências e efeitos de sazonalidade. São aplicados e comparados diferentes métodos de previsão, na tentativa de identificar qual o mais adequado para os objetivos pretendidos. Também é avaliada a importância destes métodos relativamente à forma como é feita a gestão de stocks na empresa onde decorreu o estágio. Em função dos resultados obtidos, ao longo do trabalho serão sugeridas algumas alterações à forma como os stocks são geridos.This report is the result of the Vocational Stage Master in Food Engineering by College of Agriculture of Coimbra. This work took place between March 1st to July 31st 2013, in a retail company in the region of Coimbra. The objective of this work is the characterization and analysis of sales of the various products of the company, between the years 2010 and 2012. For this, we initially made the ABC analysis in order to identify products or their families that represent the most important part of sales. After this are applied prediction methods to these products. The forecasting methods applied not only intend to evaluate the possibility of reducing the uncertainty of future demand , but also to analyze in detail the behavior of sales in the past , including identifying trends and seasonal effects . Are applied and compared different forecasting methods in attempt to identify the most appropriate for the intended objectives. Also assessed the importance of these methods in relation to how the management of stocks is made, in the company where the internship was done. Depending on the results obtained throughout the work will be suggested some changes to the way stocks are managed