Rozprawy doktorskie na temat „Dog ownership”

[Truncated abstract] The Dogs and Physical Activity (DAPA) study sought to examine the relationship between dog ownership and physical activity, in particular walking. It used an ecological model to examine the socio-demographic, intrapersonal, social environmental, physical environmental and policy-related factors affecting dog owners walking with their dog. Results from this study are presented as a series of papers four which are published, in press or accepted for publication. A review of the dog ownership, health and physical activity literature and results from qualitative research of the potential barriers and motivators to dog owners being physically active with their dogs were used to develop and test an instrument for measuring dog walking behaviour. The DAPA tool was designed to measure the amount of physical activity people undertake with their dog and dog-specific individual and environmental factors affecting people walking with their dog. It was developed as a supplementary tool for the second RESIDential Environments (RESIDE) survey. RESIDE is a 5-year longitudinal study of the physical activity levels of people building homes in new housing estates in Western Australia. Findings from the baseline survey of 1813 RESIDE participants (44% dog owners) showed that dog owners were 60% more likely than non-owners to achieve sufficient physical activity and sufficient walking and almost 80% more likely than non-owners to achieve sufficient walking for recreation in the neighbourhood after controlling for demographic, intrapersonal and environmental differences. ... Findings from the DAPA study highlight the importance of the local policy and physical environment in encouraging dog walking behaviour. Perceived lack of accessible public open space (POS) and dogspecific exercise areas were identified by focus group participants as major barriers to dog owners walking with their dog. Objective measurement of the local physical environment of dog owners supported their concerns; no dog owners in this study had access to a sign-posted off-leash park [greater than or equal to] 2 acres within their neighbourhood. Furthermore, access to local POS with dog-supportive infrastructure was associated with being a regular dog walker. Overall, the results of this study draw attention to the needs of dog owners in the allocation and design of POS. The prospective component of the DAPA study enabled examination of the causal relationship between dog ownership and physical activity. After adjusting for baseline variables, dog acquisition significantly increased minutes of recreational walking within the neighbourhood by 37 minutes. However, after further adjustment for changes in baseline variables, the increase in minutes of recreational walking within the neighbourhood from dog acquisition reduced to 21 minutes and was no longer statistically significant. Increase in intention to walk appeared to mediate the relationship between dog acquisition and increased recreational walking. This study highlights a number of important physical activity benefits associated with dog ownership and provides evidence to suggest that dog walking has the potential to positively affect the proportion of the community who are sufficiently active.

Background: Numerous studies have found that there are many health-related benefits to owning a dog, however, this has not been investigated in a high dense Asian environment where the culture is very different to Western countries. Objectives: This study aimed at investigating 1) if dog-owners are more active than those who do not own a dog; 2) if dog-owners have higher perceived physical and mental health status compared to a sample of the population who do not own a dog; 3) are there social/environmental factors measured by the Dogs-and-Physical Activity (DAPA) tool that are associated with the perceived physical and mental health as well as physical activity (PA) habits of dog owners. Methods: A total of 102 Chinese dog-owners resident in Hong Kong were recruited to examine what factors might affect dog-owners to walk their dog regularly and hence likely to take part in more daily PA. All of these dog-owners were invited to complete a questionnaire that combined the DAPA-tool, Short-Form-12 health survey (SF-12), and the International-Physical-Activity-Questionnaire – short (IPAQ-short) and to wear an accelerometer for a week. Of the 102 recruited dog-owners, 52 had analysable SF-12 and accelerometry data that could be compared with similar data from 47 HK Chinese who did not own dogs. Linear regression was used to analyse differences between dog-owners and non-dog-owners and to examine social/environmental factors that contributed to physical component score (PCS) and mental component score (MCS) and accrued PA of the dog-owners; their living status, gender, age, Body Mass Index (BMI), income, education level and work status were adjusted during the analysis. Result: Compared to those without dogs, dog-owners were found to have higher PCS scores (P<0.001), involved in more moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA, P=0.02) and overall PA (OVPA, P<0.001) as measured by objective accelerometry; while no significant differences were seen in MCS, nor MVPA or OVPA as measured by the self-reported IPAQ. “Owning a dog adds to my happiness” was associated with having higher PCS (P=0.04); whilst “Trees and shrubs for dogs to sniff” (P=0.02), “Sitting areas with benches” (P=0.06) and “My enjoyment of being outdoors” (P=0.01) were positively related to MVPA as measured by IPAQ, whilst “My dog would be unfriendly or difficult to control” (P=0.02) was negatively related to IPAQ MVPA. Furthermore, “Signs to say if dogs are permitted” (P=0.03), “Trees and shrubs for dogs to sniff” (P=0.02), “The fact that I feel safe when walking with my dog” (P=0.02) and “It would keep my dog healthy” (P=0.04) were found to be positively related to OVPA as measure by IPAQ, whilst “My family commitments” (P=0.03) and “It would stop me feeling guilty” (P=0.03) were found to be negative related to IPAQ OVPA. No variables were significantly related to MCS among the dog-owners. Conclusion: Dog-ownership is associated with Hong Kong owners having a more active lifestyle and is related to higher perceived physical, but not mental health. A small number of social and physical factors appear important in providing a supportive environment that can help enhance the health benefits of dog-ownership.
published_or_final_version
Human Performance
Master
Master of Philosophy

Dog parks are the fastest growing type of park in U.S. cities; however, their increasing popularity has been met with increasing criticism of pets in public space. Dogs have shown to be a deep source of neighborhood conflict, and the provision of dog parks, or off-leash areas, is a seemingly intractable controversy for city officials. In 2003, Portland, Oregon established a network of 33 off-leash areas which remains the second largest both in count and per capita in the country. The purpose of my research is to understand the public debate over off leash dogs during the establishment of Portland's off-leash area network, and how dog parks relate to processes of demographic change. The analysis involved two phases. First, I conducted a thematic analysis of editorial perspectives published in the major local newspaper. Second, I conducted an exploratory spatial analysis of the distribution of Portland's off-leash areas and patterns of racial and economic change throughout the city from 2000 to 2015. Central to the debate are conflicting notions of responsible pet ownership. The notions of responsibility employed in the debate are primarily personal, yet the findings from my exploratory analysis of the relationship between dog parks and demographic change suggest a need to attend to notions of public responsibility. I recommend that future research, discussion, representations, and policy regarding dog parks consider the consequences of off-leash areas as amenities within the changing neighborhoods in which they exist.

Pedigree dog welfare in the United Kingdom is a controversial subject. This PhD aimed to investigate small animal veterinary surgeons’ (VS), pedigree dog breeders’ (PDB) and owners’ perceptions surrounding canine health, their roles, information acquisition and the quality of online resources available to new dog owners. Via a mixed-methods approach VS and PDB were asked about their perceptions of pedigree dog welfare using online questionnaires. Focus groups were then used to explore these parties’ opinions on advising dog owners and buyers. Dog owners were administered an online questionnaire to explore drivers of dog acquisition and sourcing of information about canine health. A further sample of dog owners provided possible internet search terms they would use to find information on how to care for a new dog. These terms were used for a scoping review to examine the quality of available information. The VS and PDB exhibited varied perceptions relating to pedigree dog breeding, inherited disease and health screening programmes. Each group considered themselves the most knowledgeable on these topics and lacked clarity on how their roles interrelated. Focus groups showed conflicting views on advising dog owners and buyers. Dog owners varied in their drivers for ownership, from whom they obtained information and the internet search terms used when looking for information online. The scoping review identified a lot of easy to understand, poor quality information. VS and PDB need to better understand and appreciate each others’ roles, perspectives and knowledge to instigate effective collaboration and improve pedigree dog health. Owners are diverse and require a multifaceted educational approach to improve knowledge. The quality of online information for owners needs to be made clear and a coordinated approach involving all stakeholders is required to enable dissemination of practical, evidence-based information on pedigree dog health.

Pets are a common aspect of life for many Americans. In 2012, 36.5% of American household owned dogs and 30.4% owned cats (American Veterinary Medical Foundation, 2012). The purpose on this study was to explore the influence of dog ownership on romantic relationships. Specifically, this thesis investigates how dog ownership acts as a catalyst of relational maintenance and conflict behavior in interactions about the couple's dog. No prior research has been conducted on the role dogs' play in enacting relational maintenance or conflict in romantic relationships, so it is unclear if there is an influence to the these behaviors. This study asks how dog ownership might act as a centripetal force pulling the relationship together (e.g. relational maintenance) and/or as a centrifugal force pushing the partners apart (e.g. conflict). A total of 379 participants were recruited through social media to complete a short online survey. The survey asked questions on the romantic relationship, dog ownership, conflict regarding the dog, relational maintenance activities regarding the dog, and demographics. The majority of participants reported engaging in 8 of the 24 relational maintenance activities "often" or "always" and 3 of the 30 conflict topics occurred at least one or more times. Satisfaction with the romantic relationship associated positively with partial weak and negligible correlations to the relational maintenance activities and one negligible association with a conflict topic. A thematic analysis provides details on the short answers participants provided. The results shows that dogs do provide couples opportunities for relational maintenance but also are the source of conflict. This research is the start to understanding the role of dog ownership within romantic relationship. While each couple and dog may produce different influences on the relationship, this study is the start for the investigation and provides guidance for future research.
M.A.
Masters
Communication
Sciences
Communication; Interpersonal Communication Track

Dog ownership is common worldwide; two in five Australian households own a dog. It has been suggested that dog ownership improves mental well-being although corroborating evidence is limited. This thesis investigated the effects of human–dog interactions (H–DI) on biological and self-reported markers of mental well-being across three studies: Study One investigated the anticipated health benefits and challenges of ownership among 3465 prospective dog adopters through an online questionnaire; Study Two examined the acute physiological responses to H–DI in a sample of 29 dog owners using a four-condition random order cross-over trial: dog-walking; walking without the dog; affiliative H–DI; and resting quietly. Salivary oxytocin and heart rate variability (HRV) samples were collected before and after each condition. Study Three explored the chronic effects of dog acquisition on mental well-being in a sample of 71 adults using an eight-month controlled study. 17 individuals acquired a dog, 29 were interested in dog ownership but delayed acquisition until after the study and 25 had no intentions to acquire a dog. All participants completed the UCLA Loneliness Scale, Positive and Negative Affect Schedule and Kessler10 at baseline, three-months and eight-months. Study One showed prospective dog owners anticipated mental health benefits from ownership, including increased happiness, decreased stress and loneliness. In Study Two, acute H–DI did not significantly affect oxytocin concentrations or HRV. Study Three produced mixed evidence regarding the effects of dog acquisition on mental well-being. Overall, the relationship between dog ownership and mental well-being is complex. Dog ownership may produce long-term improvements in well-being although I did not find evidence of an acute effect of H–DI on physiological functioning. This thesis provides valuable insights to inform future research on the potential of dog ownership to improve health in the community.

This paper will assess the relationship between tenant characteristics and public REIT volatility. Specifically, we focus on the retail REIT subset of the industry. Given that retail REITs are one the most transparent asset classes, they provide an interesting landscape for evaluating the relationship between the firm and the customers, or in this case, the tenants. Specifically, we assess how major tenant ownership, public or private equity owned, impacts the volatility of the REIT’s stock price using 2010 data on 30 retail REITs. Controlling for tenant credit quality, leverage, ROE, book-to-market, size, age, region and property focus, we find that a higher percentage of rental revenue from private equity owned tenants is associated with lower REIT stock volatility, and a higher percentage of rental revenue from publicly owned tenants is associated with higher REIT stock volatility.

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Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)
O convívio do ser humano com cães e gatos tem se intensificado sem a devida adoção de posturas de posse responsável. O presente trabalho teve propósito de contribuir com os estudos da dinâmica populacional de cães e gatos em Jaboticabal, São Paulo, e avaliar o nível de conhecimento das pessoas sobre posse responsável e zoonoses. A obtenção de dados foi feita em dois bairros da periferia, nos anos 2005 e 2010, por meio de questionários. No Bairro Residencial entrevistaram-se 228 moradores em 2005 e, em 2010, foram re-entrevistados 196. No Bairro Jardim Boa Vista foram 111 em 2005, e 84 em 2010. Foram realizados a Análise de Correspondência Múltipla e o Geoprocessamento. Obteve-se um alto número de animais com livre acesso às ruas, na maioria machos e principalmente gatos. Esses animais podem ser computados como semi-restritos ou de vizinhança, com possibilidade de causar transtornos. Além de já estarem em número elevado, os animais de rua têm respaldo da comunidade, que os alimenta, dando condições para que perpetuem. Existe um programa de castração no Município, mas a população de cães e gatos continua crescendo, pois o número de animais castrados ainda é pouco expressivo. Do ano de 2005 para 2010, houve aumento significativo da quantidade de cães idosos, principalmente fêmeas; isso pode ser reflexo da postura das pessoas de maiores cuidados com os animais. As informações obtidas em muito contribuirão para que seja estabelecida a dinâmica da população de cães e gatos em todo Município de Jaboticabal. Certamente, isto dará um suporte valioso ao Serviço Municipal de Saúde para o planejamento e a adoção de medidas mais adequadas de controle de populações animais e de zoonoses
The interaction of humans with dogs and cats has increased without proper postures of responsible ownership. The purpose of this study was to contribute to studies of population dynamics of dogs and cats in Jaboticabal, São Paulo, and assess the level of knowledge of the community about responsible ownership and zoonoses. The data collection was done with two neighborhoods, in the years 2005 and 2010, using questionnaires. In the Neighborhood Residential 228 residents were interviewed in 2005 and 196 residents were re-interviewed in 2010. In Jardim Boa Vista 111 residents were interviewed in 2005 and 84 in 2010. We performed a Multiple Correspondence Analysis and GIS. We obtained a high number of animals witch has free access to the streets, mostly male and cats. These animals could be classified as semi-restricted or neighborhood, with the possibility of causing trouble. In addition, besides the high number of animals, the street animals have the support of the community that provide food to them, giving conditions to perpetuate. There is a castration program in the city, but the cats and dogs population continues to grow due to the fact that the number of castrated animals is still small. From 2005 to 2010, there was a significant increase in the number of older dogs, especially female; this may reflect the attitude of the community to be more careful with animals. The information obtained will contribute greatly to the setting of a dynamic population of dogs and cats throughout Jaboticabal. Certainly, it will provide valuable support to the Municipal Health Service for planning and adoption of suitable measures to control animal populations and zoonoses

Resumo: O convívio do ser humano com cães e gatos tem se intensificado sem a devida adoção de posturas de posse responsável. O presente trabalho teve propósito de contribuir com os estudos da dinâmica populacional de cães e gatos em Jaboticabal, São Paulo, e avaliar o nível de conhecimento das pessoas sobre posse responsável e zoonoses. A obtenção de dados foi feita em dois bairros da periferia, nos anos 2005 e 2010, por meio de questionários. No Bairro Residencial entrevistaram-se 228 moradores em 2005 e, em 2010, foram re-entrevistados 196. No Bairro Jardim Boa Vista foram 111 em 2005, e 84 em 2010. Foram realizados a Análise de Correspondência Múltipla e o Geoprocessamento. Obteve-se um alto número de animais com livre acesso às ruas, na maioria machos e principalmente gatos. Esses animais podem ser computados como semi-restritos ou de vizinhança, com possibilidade de causar transtornos. Além de já estarem em número elevado, os animais de rua têm respaldo da comunidade, que os alimenta, dando condições para que perpetuem. Existe um programa de castração no Município, mas a população de cães e gatos continua crescendo, pois o número de animais castrados ainda é pouco expressivo. Do ano de 2005 para 2010, houve aumento significativo da quantidade de cães idosos, principalmente fêmeas; isso pode ser reflexo da postura das pessoas de maiores cuidados com os animais. As informações obtidas em muito contribuirão para que seja estabelecida a dinâmica da população de cães e gatos em todo Município de Jaboticabal. Certamente, isto dará um suporte valioso ao Serviço Municipal de Saúde para o planejamento e a adoção de medidas mais adequadas de controle de populações animais e de zoonoses
Abstract: The interaction of humans with dogs and cats has increased without proper postures of responsible ownership. The purpose of this study was to contribute to studies of population dynamics of dogs and cats in Jaboticabal, São Paulo, and assess the level of knowledge of the community about responsible ownership and zoonoses. The data collection was done with two neighborhoods, in the years 2005 and 2010, using questionnaires. In the Neighborhood Residential 228 residents were interviewed in 2005 and 196 residents were re-interviewed in 2010. In Jardim Boa Vista 111 residents were interviewed in 2005 and 84 in 2010. We performed a Multiple Correspondence Analysis and GIS. We obtained a high number of animals witch has free access to the streets, mostly male and cats. These animals could be classified as semi-restricted or neighborhood, with the possibility of causing trouble. In addition, besides the high number of animals, the street animals have the support of the community that provide food to them, giving conditions to perpetuate. There is a castration program in the city, but the cats and dogs population continues to grow due to the fact that the number of castrated animals is still small. From 2005 to 2010, there was a significant increase in the number of older dogs, especially female; this may reflect the attitude of the community to be more careful with animals. The information obtained will contribute greatly to the setting of a dynamic population of dogs and cats throughout Jaboticabal. Certainly, it will provide valuable support to the Municipal Health Service for planning and adoption of suitable measures to control animal populations and zoonoses
Orientador: Adolorata Aparecida Bianco Carvalho
Coorientador: Antonio Sergio Ferraudo
Banca: Angela Cleusa de Fátima Banzatto de Carvalho
Banca: Maria Angélica Dias
Mestre

Os cães já fazem parte do cotidiano do homem há milhares de anos. Atualmente, os cães assumem o papel de membros da família, apresentando um forte vínculo com os familiares, incluindo crianças. No entanto, as crianças, assim como a maioria dos adultos, pouco sabem ou aprendem sobre como cuidar de um animal, como prevenir zoonoses ou exercer a Guarda Responsável, propagando uma visão antropocêntrica. O presente trabalho visou mostrar de que maneira a Educação em Saúde pode trazer benefícios na formação ética e psicológica, por melhorar a relação criança-animal, ao mesmo tempo em que reduz a os riscos inerentes às doenças zoonóticas e o abandono de animais. As avaliações foram feitas com a utilização de questionários com questões abertas e fechadas em duas etapas, antes e após o projeto educativo. Para a comparação dos dados quantitativos obtidos nas duas fases, utilizou-se os testes de McNemar e de Homogeneidade Marginal, para análise qualitativa foram realizados grupos focais com crianças e professoras. O projeto educativo proporcionou a aquisição de conhecimento sobre os temas abordados e algumas mudanças de atitudes das crianças com seus animais de companhia, o que pode ser percebido pelo grupo focal e por algumas mudanças estatisticamente significantes entre as fases 1 e 2.
Dogs are already part of everyday life of man for thousands of years. Currently, the dogs take on the role of family members, showing a strong bond with them, including children. However, children as well as most adults know and learn little about caring for an animal, how to prevent zoonoses or promote Responsible Ownership, propagating an anthropocentric view. This study aims to show how health education can bring benefits in the ethical and psychological, by improving the child-animal relationship, while reducing the risks inherent in zoonotic diseases and the abandonment of animals. The evaluations were done with the use of questionnaires with open and closed questions in two stages, before and after the educational project. For comparison of quantitative data obtained in the two phases, we used the McNemar and Marginal Homogeneity tests, for the qualitative analysis was conducted focus groups with children and teachers. The educative project provided knowledge on the topics covered and some changes in attitudes of children with their pets, which could be perceived by the focus group and some statistically significant changes between phases 1 and 2.

Procurou-se avaliar os fatores que contribuíram para o abandono ou guarda responsável de cães e gatos no bairro Vargem Grande no município de São Paulo/SP, entre 2005 e 2008. Foi constatado que fatores como idade e porte dos animais, preocupação com a saúde, a permissão para o animal permanecer dentro do domicílio e a aquisição de outro animal nos últimos 12 meses foram associados ao abandono de cães. A quantidade de gatos estudados não permitiu uma avaliação confiável dos fatores. Estes dados podem ser utilizados no momento da compra ou adoção de um animal, prevenindo um futuro abandono.
The aim of the study was to evaluate the contributing factors to the abandonment or responsible ownership of dogs and cats in the district of Vargem Grande, in São Paulo city, between 2005 and 2008. Factors such as age and animal size, health concerns, allowing the animal to remain inside the residence and the purchase of another animal in the last 12 months were associated to the abandonment of dogs. The number of cats did not allow a reliable assessment of these factors. These data can be used when purchasing or adopting an animal, preventing a future abandonment.

Nesta pesquisa descrevem-se e exploram-se pela primeira vez os papéis de controle, direcionamento (estratégia e política) e prestação de serviços dos Conselhos de Administração (CAs) e sua relevância no sistema de governança corporativa nas empresas listadas na BOVESPA. Estuda-se, ainda, também pela primeira vez, de um lado a relação entre os papéis do CAs e a estrutura e tipo de propriedade, tamanho e idade da empresa, determinantes da qualidade de governança no nível do CA e de outro a relação entre os papéis e a participação de investidores institucionais. Os resultados, dada a concentração da amostra, são principalmente aplicáveis às empresas listadas no Novo Mercado ou que emitem ADRs na Bolsa de Nova Iorque. No estudo quantitativo, de caráter descritivo e correlacional, considerou-se uma amostra não probabilística, por conveniência composta por 65 empresas listadas e 122 administradores. O Modelo de Equações Estruturais foi usado inicialmente, mas suspeitas sobre sua adequação levaram a um segundo modelo - o Modelo de Equações Simultâneas. Devido à ausência de dados, o modelo estatístico acabou por utilizar um total de 88 observações. Os CAs em grande parte são dominados pelos acionistas controladores. A participação de conselheiros independentes ainda está abaixo da recomendação das melhores práticas e a presença de acionistas minoritários nos CAs é pequena. O acúmulo dos cargos de presidente do conselho e presidente executivo não é um problema maior, porém mais importante é o acúmulo de poder verificado já que a presidência do CA é, em grande parte, ocupada por familiar do acionista controlador ou por ele próprio. A frequência relevante de presidentes executivos que também são familiares do controlador é outro elemento de concentração de poder. O papel de controle predomina nos CAs estudados, mas o papel de direcionamento também é relevante. O papel de serviço é o menos importante. O papel de controle pode ser enfraquecido nas empresas onde o presidente executivo e o presidente do conselho são familiares dos acionistas controladores. CAs com maiores níveis decisórios estão associados a um número maior de melhores práticas de governança. Os resultados não confirmaram as hipóteses de relação entre os elementos estudados e o papel das empresas listadas brasileiras. A pesquisa traz contribuições práticas aos agentes de mercado, indicando prioridades para a melhoria das práticas do CA e introduzindo não só o conceito de estilo do CA, mas também seu nível decisório. Para a pesquisa acadêmica, contribui-se com a construção de dois indicadores de concentração de poder e de endogenia/exogenia dos CAs que poderão ser utilizados não só em futuras pesquisas, como também pelas empresas. Os papéis do conselho de administração devem ser mais explorados e, já que o entendimento do órgão central do sistema de governança está apenas se iniciando, conclui-se esta dissertação com proposições de caminhos de pesquisa.
This study is the first to describe and to explore the control, guidance (strategy- and policydirecting), and service roles of boards of directors (BoD) and their relevance to the corporate governance system of companies listed on the São Paulo Stock Exchange (BOVESPA). It also studies on one side the relationship between the roles of the boards and structure and type of ownership, company size and age, board-level determinants of governance quality and on the other, the role of boards and institutional investor participation, and was also the first study to analyze this. Due to the concentration of the study sample, results are mainly applicable to companies listed on the Novo Mercado or issuing ADRs on the New York Stock Exchange. This quantitative, descriptive, and correlational study used a nonprobabilistic convenience sample of 65 listed companies and 122 executives and board directors. Structural equation modeling was initially employed, but suspicion on its adequacy led to an alternative one, the simultaneous equation model. Because there was an absence of data, a total of 88 observations were used in the statistical model. Boards are mostly dominated by controlling shareholders; participation of independent directors is still below the best practice recommendations levels, and minority shareholder participation is low. The functions of CEO and chairman played by the same person is not a major concern; the power concentration is more important, as boards are often chaired by relatives of controlling shareholders or by controlling shareholders themselves. Another element that concentrates power is the relevant frequency with which controlling shareholders relatives hold CEO positions. In the selected boards, the control role is dominant, with guidance also playing a relevant part; the service role was the least important. The control role may be weakened in companies where CEO and chairmen are from controlling shareholders family. Boards with higher decision-making levels are associated with a higher number of best governance practices. Results did not confirm the hypotheses of a relation between the studied elements and the role of listed Brazilian companies. This dissertation provides practical contributions for market agents, suggesting priorities for the improvement of board practices and introducing the concept of board style and decision-making level. The study also contributes to the academic literature by constructing two indicators concentration of power and board endogeny/exogeny which may be used in future researches and in the corporate environment. The roles of the BoD must be explored further, as we have only just begun to understand this central body of the corporate governance system. This dissertation concludes by proposing several possible research directions.

Mestrado em Contabilidade, Fiscalidade e Finanças Empresariais
Sendo os escândalos financeiros e as falências empresariais uma realidade cada vez mais frequente na nossa sociedade, o papel desempenhado pelos administradores não executivos nos Conselhos de Administração das empresas torna-se ainda mais importante para a resolução desta problemática, uma vez que estes procuram o alinhamento de interesses entre os accionistas e os gestores. Pretende-se com este estudo identificar quais os factores que determinam o grau de representação dos administradores não executivos no Conselho de Administração das empresas cotadas na Euronext Lisbon e analisar o impacto que a sua presença tem na remuneração dos administradores e no desempenho da empresa. Para tal, recolheu-se um conjunto de dados sobre o funcionamento destas empresas num período de quatro anos. Os nossos resultados sugerem que a dualidade do CEO e a adesão ao PSI20 reduzem a percentagem de não executivos presente nos Conselhos de Administração enquanto a dimensão do Conselho tem um efeito positivo. Constatamos, ainda, que estes administradores não estão a cumprir o seu papel de controlo no que diz respeito à política remuneratória e ao desempenho da empresa.
Being the financial scandals and corporate bankruptcies an increasingly common reality in our society, the role played by non-executive directors on companies Boards is becoming more critical for the resolution of this problem, since they aim to align the interests between shareholders and managers. This study intends to identify which factors settle the representation degree of non¬executive directors on the Board of Directors of companies listed on Euronext Lisbon and analyze the impact of their presence has on directors compensation and in firm performance. In order to achieve this, we gathered a set of data about these companies functioning for a period of four years. Our results suggest that the CEO duality and adherence to PSI20 reduce the percentage of non-executives on the Boards while the size of the Board has a positive effect. Finally, we observe that these managers are not fulfilling its controlling role with regard to remuneration policy and firm performance.

This thesis aims to analyze the condition of the land struggle in the fight against capital, from the reality of the Landless Rural Workers Movement (MST) in the city of Petrolina -PE. The reflective analytical reading centered on the method of dialectical materialism, which allowed to understand how capital expands through its territorial and monopolization of the territory, resulting in social conflicts. In the case of the city Petrolina -PE, the expansion of capitalist relations was made possible mainly by the concentration of power of the ¡°Coelho¡± family and its strong national and international networking. The path chosen by the ruling class to advance the capital was, primarily, use the paid labor force, through control of the lands and waters of the Sao Francisco River. The activity of irrigated fruit gave the city of Petrolina status of one of the most important hubs for agribusiness in the circuit of capital promoting the expropriation of peasant production unit, boosting labor mobility and forming a relative surplus population in the city, hence various conflicts. At the current stage of capital accumulation, in the pursuit of profit obtaining, their demands clash with the demands of the workers. The participation of the state, through public policy was and remains essential to mediate these tensions and ensure the continued reproduction of the capital. The capital is incapable of yielding the minimum needs of human achievements. Moreover, although the MST has advanced in the fight, without breaking the rule of capital, through the occupation of unproductive latifundia, ends becoming functional to this, either as an extension of manufacturing, or through food production, it lowers the cost of reproduction of labor power. At MST.s camps and settlements, the capital monopolizes territory, subjecting the land of work and life in the land of business: merchandise, leaving them only to work for capital, particularly in agribusiness. Thus, it is evident that the struggle for land, agrarian reform collides with the capitalist order in progress, becoming an anti-capitalist struggle, even if not all the fighting have full conviction of that process.
A presente dissertação teve como objetivo analisar a condição da luta pela terra na luta contra o capital, a partir da realidade do Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra (MST) no Município de Petrolina-PE. A leitura analítica reflexiva, centrada no método do materialismo dialético, permitiu entender como o capital se expande por meio da sua territorialização e da monopolização do território, resultando em conflitos sociais. No caso do Município de Petrolina-PE, a expansão das relações capitalistas foi viabilizada, principalmente, por meio da concentração de poder da família Coelho e sua forte articulação nacional e internacional. O caminho escolhido pela classe dominante para promover o avanço do capital foi utilizar, prioritariamente, a força de trabalho assalariada, mediante o controle das terras e das águas do rio São Francisco. A atividade da fruticultura irrigada deu ao Município de Petrolina status de um dos mais importantes polos do agronegócio no circuito do capital, promovendo a expropriação da unidade de produção camponesa, impulsionando a mobilidade do trabalho e formando uma superpopulação relativa na cidade, consequentemente vários conflitos. No atual estágio de acumulação do capital, na busca da obtenção do lucro, as suas demandas se chocam com as reivindicações dos trabalhadores. A participação do Estado, por meio de políticas públicas, foi e continua sendo fundamental para mediar essas tensões e garantir a contínua reprodução do capital. O capital se mostra incapaz de ceder o mínimo às necessidades de realizações humanas. Por outro lado, embora o MST tenha avançado na luta, sem romper com a ordem do capital, por meio da ocupação do latifúndio improdutivo, termina tornando-se funcional a este, seja como extensão da transformação industrial, seja por meio da produção de alimentos, barateando o custo de reprodução da força de trabalho. Nos acampamentos e assentamentos do MST, o capital monopoliza o território, sujeitando a terra de trabalho e vida à terra de negócio, em mercadoria, só lhes restando trabalhar para o capital, especialmente nas empresas do agronegócio. Desse modo, fica evidente que a luta pela terra, pela reforma agrária se choca com a ordem capitalista em curso, tornando-se uma luta anticapitalista, ainda que nem todos que lutam por ela tenham plena convicção desse processo.

碩士
國立體育大學
運動科學研究所
100
PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of dog ownership and environmental factors on physical activity (PA) of dog owners. METHODS: Subjects were over the age of 18 living around Great Taipei Area. The experimental group consisted of 32 novice dog owners, while the control group was formed using a sex- and age- matched sample of 32 non-owners. The Questionnaire of Physical Activity and Environmental Factor for Dog Owners and Non-owners was formed which consisted of three subscales including first, the Perceived Environmental Factors for Walking (PEFW); second, the Neighborhood Physical Activity Questionnaire (NPAQ ), and lastly the Dog and Physical Activity questionnaire (DAPA). The PEFW was developed by a panel of experts using Delphi Method and pilot tested by 188 dog owner and non-owners, while the NPAQ and DAPA were translated and evaluated their relevance by a group expert after authorized by the authors of NPAQ and DAPA. Subjects were completed the aforementioned questionnaire at baseline and after 2 months of dog adoption for dog owners. RESULTS: At baseline, there were no significant differences between dog owners and non-owners across all categories of PA in neighborhood and non- neighborhood, transportation and leisure time, walking and biking, as well as PA in moderate and vigorous intensity. However, Dog owners had significant greater time in leisure-time walking, total walking time, and moderate and vigorous intensity PA than non-owners. Dog owners had a significant more time in leisure-time walking and total walking time after intervention. Environmental comfortableness held the highest score to influence walking among dog owners. Perceived environmental factor as a whole significantly impact dog owners in reaching the 150 min/week recommendation. Among all environmental factors, traffic safety was the most influential factors of all in reaching that recommendation.

碩士
國立臺灣師範大學
健康促進與衛生教育學系
107
With the growing number of elderly population, the issue of health promotion and disease prevention among older adults has become a priority of the world. Dog walking has been widely considered to be a potential method for increasing and maintaining physical activity levels among older adults. It is of value to examine the associations of pet ownership, dog walking behavior with leisure-time physical activity. Therefore, the aims of this study are (1) to describe the prevalence of pet ownership and dog walking according to socio-demographic variables. (2) to examine the association of sociodemographic factors with pet ownership and leisure-time physical activity. (3) to identify the relationship of pet ownership and dog walking with leisure-time physical activity. A telephone-based cross-sectional survey targeting Taiwanese older adults was conducted. Data related to dog ownership, time spent in dog walking and sociodemographic variables were obtained from 1,074 older adults. Descriptive statistics, chi-square test ,adjusted binary logistic regression and Kruskall-Wallis test were performed using IBM SPSS 22.0 The results showed that (1) Living status is associated with pet ownership; Elderly living alone were more likely to be pet owner. (2) Residential area is associated with dog ownership; Elderly living in the south area were more likely to be dog owner. (3) Residential area is associated with dog walking; Elderly living in the south were more likely to own dogs but not walk their dogs. (4) Age, residential area, work status and educational level are associated with leisure-time physical activity; Elderly who aged 65-74 years, lived in eastern and outer area, not employed and with higher educational level were more likely to meet 150 minutes of leisure-time physical activity per week. (5) Dog walkers had significantly higher time spent in leisure-time walking than non-dog owners and non-dog walkers. The above-mentioned results are critical to inform policy-makers and physical activity intervention designers for health promotion of the elderly. It is suggested that further studies could focus on examining the barriers of dog walking among those who own dogs but not walk their dogs), for the purpose of promoting their leisure-time physical activity.

Diploma thesis deals with the question of the possible benefit of a pet - a dog for the quality of life of its owner. In the introduction of the thesis, the individual approaches to the concept of quality of life are first presented, which are subsequently given in connection with the possibilities of how the dog can contribute to the individual areas of life of its owner. In this regard, the possible benefits of the dog for the quality of life of different age groups of dog owners are especially described. Significant researches, which contributed to understanding the mechanism of action that a dog exerts influence on its owner are described. The aim of the work was to find out how the dog affects the different aspects of its owner's life and how the dog owners themselves perceive and evaluate this contribution in terms of influencing the quality of their life and subjective well-being. For this purpose, qualitative research was carried out. It was performed by the method of interviews, in which it was possible to determine how the specific life situation and individual preferences were involved in the perceived contribution of the dog to life. In qualitative research, the contribution of dog ownership to owners was examined in more detail, especially in the physical, psychological and social spheres of...

Dissertação de Mestrado Integrado em Engenharia e Gestão Industrial
Atualmente, na maioria das organizações, os custos com materiais e serviços adquiridos ultrapassam consideravelmente os custos de produção internos. Assim, a seleção de fornecedores adequados às necessidades e requisitos impostos pelas empresas e que contribuam para manter os níveis de competitividade das mesmas, afigura-se um processo fundamental em organizações modernas inseridas em cadeias de fornecimento integradas e interdependentes. As empresas tendem, por diversas razões, nomeadamente para uma melhor gestão do risco, a estabelecer relações privilegiadas e de longo prazo com um conjunto de fornecedores o que resulta em diversas vantagens relevantes, mas também impede, muitas vezes, de se reconhecer oportunidades de redução de custos que novos fornecedores poderão trazer à organização. Este projeto de investigação teve como objetivo principal estudar o processo de sourcing na empresa Bosch Car Multimedia Portugal S.A., quando existe a possibilidade de considerar-se um novo fornecedor. Nestes casos, é particularmente relevante analisar-se os indutores de custo associados aos custos de nomeação de novos fornecedores, o que poderá ser feito através da metodologia Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). Foram analisadas duas situações, nas quais os novos fornecedores apresentavam preços unitários competitivos em relação aos fornecedores preferenciais da empresa e estudaram-se os custos de nomeação e as questões associadas à introdução desses novos fornecedores na pirâmide da Bosch Car Multimedia Portugal S.A. Nos casos estudados foi possível concluir que os novos fornecedores continuavam a ser economicamente mais vantajosos, mesmo considerando-se os custos de nomeação associados. Porém, interessa particularmente analisar a sensibilidade do TCO aos custos de nomeação, as condições de sucesso na nomeação de um novo fornecedor e os riscos associados. Estes aspetos, de natureza económica, mas também estratégica, foram igualmente discutidos. Constatou-se também que a estrutura formal e os procedimentos rigorosos subjacentes ao TCO, paradoxal e simultaneamente, tornam possível e limitam a sua aplicação na prática.
Currently, in most organizations, the cost of purchased materials and services far exceeds internal production costs. Thus, selecting suppliers that are appropriate to the needs and requirements imposed by companies and which help maintain their competitiveness levels is a fundamental process in modern organizations embedded in integrated and interdependent supply chains. For a variety of reasons and, in particular, for better risk management, firms tend to establish long-term and privileged relationships with a range of suppliers, which results in a number of relevant advantages, but also hinders, many times, cost reduction opportunities that new suppliers could bring to the organization. This research project had as main objective to study the process of sourcing in the company Bosch Car Multimedia Portugal S.A., when it is possible to consider a new supplier. In these cases, it is particularly relevant to analyze the cost inducers associated with the costs of nominating new suppliers, which can be done through the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) methodology. Two situations were analyzed in which the new suppliers presented competitive unit prices in relation to the company's preferred suppliers and the nomination costs and issues related to the introduction of these new suppliers in the pyramid of Bosch Car Multimedia Portugal SA were studied. In the cases studied it was possible to conclude that new suppliers continued to be economically more advantageous, even considering the associated costs of nomination. However, it is particularly important to analyze the sensitivity of the TCO to the nomination costs, the success conditions in nominate a new supplier and the associated risks. These aspects, both economic and strategic, were also discussed. It was also found that the formal structure and rigorous procedures underlying the TCO, paradoxically and simultaneously, make it possible and limit its application in practice.

A Constituição da República Portuguesa estipula que a Administração Pública (AP) visa a prossecução do interesse público, no respeito pelos direitos e interesses legalmente protegidos dos cidadãos, e que os órgãos e agentes administrativos estão subordinados à Constituição e à lei, devendo a AP ser estruturada de forma a evitar a burocratização e a aproximar os serviços das populações, assegurando a participação dos interessados na sua gestão efetiva. No que concerne à dominialidade dos recursos hídricos, o enquadramento legal que tem vindo a regulamentar a sua gestão tem visado garantir a prossecução do interesse público subjacente à utilização destes recursos. À Agência Portuguesa do Ambiente, I.P. (APA, I.P.) está atribuído um conjunto de responsabilidades no âmbito da gestão da informação atinente à dominialidade dos recursos hídricos, na qualidade de Autoridade Nacional da Água. O presente projeto visa aferir se a APA, I.P. detém, atualmente, os instrumentos de capacitação necessários à formação interna e à divulgação de informação atinente à titularidade dos recursos hídricos destinadas às unidades orgânicas e às entidades parceiras em razão de matéria e localização.
The Portuguese Constitution stipulates that the Public Administration (PA) aims to promote the public interest, while respecting the rights and legally protected interests of citizens, and that the administrative organs and agents are subject to this Constitution and the law, the AP must be structured to avoid bureaucracy and bring services closer to the people, ensuring stakeholder involvement in its effective management. Regarding the ownership of water resources, the legal framework that has regulate their management has aimed to ensure the continuation of the use of these resources underlying the public interest. The law defines a set of responsibilities to the Portuguese Environment Agency, I. P. (APA, IP), as the National Water Authority, within the management of information related to the ownership of water resources. This project aims to assess whether the APA, I. P. currently owns the instruments required for internal training and for divulging information regarding the ownership of water resources, aimed at its workers and at partner organizations by reason of matter and location.