Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Co-use'
To see the other types of publications on this topic, follow the link: Co-use.
Create a spot-on reference in APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, and other styles
Consult the top 50 dissertations / theses for your research on the topic 'Co-use.'
Next to every source in the list of references, there is an 'Add to bibliography' button. Press on it, and we will generate automatically the bibliographic reference to the chosen work in the citation style you need: APA, MLA, Harvard, Chicago, Vancouver, etc.
You can also download the full text of the academic publication as pdf and read online its abstract whenever available in the metadata.
Browse dissertations / theses on a wide variety of disciplines and organise your bibliography correctly.
1
Kimball, B. A., J. R. Mauney, and F. S. Nakayama. "Effect of CO₂ on Cotton Yile and Water Use." College of Agriculture, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 1986. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/219709.
Full textAbstract:
The 1985 and 1986 Cotton Reports have the same publication and P-Series numbers.Seed cotton yields were increased an average 80% by a near doubling of the carbon dioxide concentration (approximately 650 ppm) in 3 years of experiments using CO₂-enriched, open-top chambers on field-grown cotton. Water use was not changed much or in a consistent direction, so water use efficiency increased in step with the dramatic yield increase.
2
Caiazzo, Fabio. "Non-CO₂ environmental impacts of transportation fuel use and production." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101491.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis: Ph. D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 2015.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 154-165).
Transportation represents one of the largest contributors to anthropogenic air pollution and global climate change. This thesis aims to quantify three specific environmental impacts from transportation fuel combustion and production: 1) Health impacts from transportation combustion emissions in the United States. A multiscale air quality model is applied to assess health impacts from PM 2.5 and ozone concentrations attributable to different transportation modes and other sectors in the U.S. Road transportation is found to be the largest contributor for both pollutant-related mortalities, causing overall 58,000 (90% Cl: 22,800 107,100) early deaths per year. Shipping accounts for 8,800 (90% Cl: 3,700 - 16,100) premature mortalities per year, and rail transportation for 5,000 (90% Cl: 1,900 - 9,300) early deaths. Aviation emissions are responsible for 2,500 (90% Cl: 1,400 - 3,700) early deaths per year in the U.S. 2) Climate effects of albedo changes due to biofuel production. An augmented lifecycle framework is developed to quantify the effects of albedo variations induced by biomass cultivation, and applied to eleven land-use change (LUC) scenarios. Two scenarios are found to have a warming effect, the largest of which is for replacement of desert land with salicornia cultivation. This corresponds to 222 gCO₂e/MJ, equivalent to 3890% and 247% of the lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of fuels derived from salicornia and crude oil, respectively. Nine LUC scenarios exhibit a cooling effect, the largest of which is for the replacement of tropical rainforest with soybean cultivation. This corresponds to -161 gCO₂e/MJ, or -28% and -178% of the lifecycle GHG emissions of fuels derived from soybean and crude oil. 3) Climate impacts from changes in radiative forcing (RF) generated by contrails and contrail cirrus in the scenario of a widespread use of alternative jet fuels in the U.S. The Contrail Evolution and Radiation Model (CERM) is developed to simulate contrail and contrail cirrus cover, properties and radiative forcing over the United States. The results show that the use of alternative jet fuels in the U.S. generates 8% more contrails with respect to conventional jet fuels, due to the enhanced engine water vapor emissions. Contrails from alternative fuels are optically thinner (-35% in optical depth), and formed by larger and fewer ice crystals (+58% in diameter and -73% in number concentration), due to the lower emissions. These differences are responsible for a lower albedo (-36%) from contrails forming as a consequence of alternative fuels emissions. The cooling impact of having optically thinner contrails and is contrasted by the warming effects of having contrails less reflective of the incoming sunlight and in larger number, thus determining a small difference (+0.6%) in the net RF by contrails and contrail cirrus in case of alternative fuels use with respect to conventional jet use. CERM simulations are also performed to quantify for the first time impacts on contrails and contrail cirrus radiative impacts of both combustor technology and ambient conditions, in terms of available concentrations ice nuclei (IN). The results of this thesis offer new insights into the environmental impacts of transportation. The air quality and climate impacts of this sector can be potentially reduced by fostering the use of alternative fuels, but only when previously overlooked effects (such as changes in surface albedo for biofuel production, or ambient concentrations of ice nuclei affecting contrail properties) are taken into account.
by Fabio Caiazzo.
Ph. D.
3
Pacciani, Roberta. "The use of Ca-based solid sorbents for capturing CO₂." Thesis, University of Cambridge, 2009. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.611454.
Full text
4
Ellison, Lisa. "Treatment of Co-Morbid Chronic Pain and Substance Use Disorders." Cleveland State University / OhioLINK, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=csu1313617346.
Full text
5
Mearhart, Jozella Selina Sophia. "Ethnicity, psychosis and co-morbid substance use disorders in the U.K." Thesis, King's College London (University of London), 2014. https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/ethnicity-psychosis-and-comorbid-substance-use-disorders-in-the-uk(f795d90b-e1b3-4a2b-bbbc-acb30d88cf14).html.
Full textAbstract:
BACKGROUND: The relationship between psychotic disorders and substance use is well established but complex. High rates of psychosis and greater risk of negative outcomes have been found in Black Caribbean and Black African groups. In addition research within the general population has shown important ethnic differences in patterns of substance use disorders (SUD). An under researched issue is the impact of SUDs on treatment and outcomes for people suffering from psychosis and whether this impact differs by ethnic group. METHOD: This PhD study aimed to investigate the prevalence, correlates and experiences of comorbid SUDs in patients with an 8-12 year history of psychosis with special attention to Black African and Black Caribbean groups. The study comprised two phases. The first phase utilised data from the AESOP-10 follow-up study of 325 epidemiologically based White British, Black Caribbean and Black African individuals who originally presented to psychiatric services in London and Nottingham between 1997 and 2000 with a psychotic disorder. The second phase was a qualitative study that purposefully selected a sub-sample of patients from the AESOP London cohort. AIMS AND HYPOTHESES: It was hypothesised that there would be higher rates of SUDs in Black Caribbean and lower rates in Black African ethnic groups compared to White groups and that irrespective of ethnicity comorbidity will be associated various negative factors. The second phase aimed to describe the experiences of mental illness, SUDs and treatment experiences in all ethnic groups. RESULTS: The quantitative study found that Black African patients had a significantly lower prevalence of SUDs than White patients (Comorbid DUD: OR 0.090, CI 0.025-0.327, p=0.000; Comorbid AUD: OR 0.066, CI 0.013-0.322, p=0.001). Black Caribbean patients with drug use disorders and White British patients with alcohol use disorders were more likely to have negative outcomes however many these findings failed to reach statistical significance. Findings from the qualitative study highlighted the use of numerous devices and mechanism in account giving. Several thematic constructions were uncovered including lay models of illness aetiology, perceptions of a causal relationship between illness experiences and substance use, perceptions of a relationship between cannabis and paranoia, perceptions of cannabis use as non-problematic and the importance of the role health services (particularly talking based therapies), family and mastery play in the treatment and recovery process. CONCLUSIONS: Mixed method design involving large longitudinal epidemiological and qualitative studies are an appropriate way of investigating the relationship between psychosis and substance use disorders. Patients with comorbid SUDs may be more likely to have subsequent relapses and hospital admissions over the course of their illness, however the likelihood of this may differ for different ethnic groups and type of substances used. Talking based treatments which focus on lay models of aetiology, mastery of symptoms and cannabis use and involve the patients larger social networks are likely to be of benefit to this population. Further epidemiological and qualitative research into the changing patterns of substance use over a time are necessary.
6
Oliveira, Marcos César de. "Exploring the use of co-change clusters in software comprehension tasks." reponame:Repositório Institucional da UnB, 2015. http://dx.doi.org/10.26512/2015.09.D.22533.
Full textAbstract:
Dissertação (mestrado)—Universidade de Brasília, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Departamento de Ciência da Computação, 2015.Submitted by Fernanda Percia França (fernandafranca@bce.unb.br) on 2016-06-15T18:11:05Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2015_MarcosCésardeOliveira.pdf: 2100208 bytes, checksum: afd0bf07cd06fda6ddc2ab3603c8bea0 (MD5)
Approved for entry into archive by Raquel Viana(raquelviana@bce.unb.br) on 2017-02-14T19:20:43Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2015_MarcosCésardeOliveira.pdf: 2100208 bytes, checksum: afd0bf07cd06fda6ddc2ab3603c8bea0 (MD5)
Made available in DSpace on 2017-02-14T19:20:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2015_MarcosCésardeOliveira.pdf: 2100208 bytes, checksum: afd0bf07cd06fda6ddc2ab3603c8bea0 (MD5)
O desenvolvimento de software orientado a características (FOSD) é um paradigma que pode ser usado, entre outros, para estruturar um sistema de software em torno de características que podem representar pequenas funcionalidades do software bem como requisitos não funcionais. Além do seu papel na estruturação do software, o uso de FOSD habilita a ativação e desativação de features individuais em uma dada configuração de software. Essa vantagem pode ser útil em cenários onde a variabilidade do software é necessária. Por outro lado, a adoção da abordagem FOSD pode ser feita em um sistema de software existente, torna-se necessária a aplicação de alguma técnica de engenharia reversa para extração de features de uma base de código legada, bem como o mapeamento dessas features para suas implementações. Essa dissertação apresenta uma nova abordagem para auxiliar nessa atividade de engenharia reversa, a qual relaciona dados históricos extraídos de sistemas de controle de tarefas de desenvolvimento e de mudanças em código-fonte. A abordagem se baseia em técnicas de Mineração de Repositórios de Software (MSR), especificamente o agrupamento baseado em dependências evolucionárias entre elementos do código-fonte, que leva ao descobrimento de grupos de co-mudança. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho é descobrir as propriedades dos grupos de co-mudança que podem ser úteis no processo de extração de features. Especificamente, um conjunto de termos, associados com os grupos, que revelam conceitos que podem ajudar a identificar features. De acordo com os resultados obtidos, os grupos de co-mudança não possuem vantagem quando usa- dos como unidades de modularização, mas podem revelar novas dependências que são ocultas ao desenvolvedor. Também mostram que os grupos de co-mudança possuem coesão conceitual, e que podem ser usados para extrair conceitos e termos associados com eles. Por fim, os conceitos extraídos dos grupos de co-mudança podem ser usados para construir um mapeamento entre eles e o código-fonte, e que podem ser usados como uma lista de sementes de entrada para métodos de expansão de features.
Feature-oriented software development (FOSD) is a paradigm that can be used, among others, to structure a software system around the feature concept that can represents small functionalities and non-functional requirements. Besides their role in software structure, FOSD enables the activation and deactivation of individual features in a given configuration of the software. This advantage can be useful in scenarios where the variability of the software is required. On the other hand, the adoption of FOSD can be done for an existing software system, thus, becomes necessary to apply some reverse engineering technique to extract features from a legacy code base, and also the mapping between these features and their implementations. This dissertation presents a new approach to aid in the reverse engineering activity, that relates historical data from issue tracking systems and source-code changes. The approach relies upon Mining Software Repositories (MSR) techniques, specifically the clustering based on co-evolutionary dependencies between source-code elements, which leads to the discover of co-change clusters. Thus, the goal of this work is to discover the properties of the co-change clusters that can be useful in a feature extraction process. Specifically, a set of terms, associated with the clusters, which reveal concepts that can help to identify features. According to the study results, co-change clusters have no advantage when used as a modular unit, but can reveal new dependencies that is hidden to the developer. They also show that the co-change clusters have conceptual cohesion, and can be used to extract concepts and the terms associated with them. In the end, the concepts extracted from co-change clusters can be used to build a mapping from them and the source-code, and that can be used as a input seed list to feature expansion methods.
7
Tulus, Frank. "An investigation of factors affecting information systems use among the Philippine co-operatives." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1997. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk2/ftp04/mq24514.pdf.
Full text
8
Fiedler, Frank. "Combined solar and pellet heating systems : Study of energy use and CO-emissions." Doctoral thesis, Västerås : Department of Public Technology, Mälardalen University, 2006. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:mdh:diva-167.
Full text
9
Eller, James D. "Correlation of electronic health records use and reduced prevalence of diabetes co-morbidities." Thesis, University of Phoenix, 2013. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=3570767.
Full textAbstract:
The general problem is Native American tribes have high prevalence rates of diabetes. The specific problem is the failure of IHS sites to adopt EHR may cause health care providers to miss critical opportunities to improve screening and triage processes that result in quality improvement. The purpose of the quantitative correlational study was to explore a possible correlation between electronic health record use and reductions in diabetes co-morbidities. The study involved examining over 10 years of ex post facto data, with over one million patient encounters, from the Resource and Patient Management System database. Electronic health records containing key components such as clinical decision support with clinical reminders, evidence-based guidelines, template-driven protocols, and algorithmic modeling changes clinical provider behavior resulting in quality improvement. The study identifies the theoretical constructs from over 50 years of literature that converge to support quality improvement using electronic health records. Quality improvement theory and the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology were examined to explore relationships between process changes and behavioral modification. Results revealed a significant positive correlation between total blood pressure control screenings and the diagnosis of hypertension for fiscal years 2005 – 2009 r(4) = .947, p = .007. A significant positive correlation also existed between blood pressure control screenings with values >130/80 and diagnosis of hypertension for fiscal years 2005 – 2009 r(4) = .909, p = .016. The study concludes with a rejection of the posited null hypotheses, revealing a statistically significant correlation between use of a comprehensive electronic health record and health care quality improvement.
10
Mitchell, Hannah G., Rachelle H. Kromash, and Meredith K. Ginley. "Moderating Factors of Co-occurring GD/IGD and ENDS Use among College Students." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2021. https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu-works/8889.
Full textAbstract:
Introduction: Research has found extensive similarities between symptoms of gaming disorder/Internet gaming disorder (GD/IGD) and symptoms of other addictive disorders, including the presence of cravings, tolerance, and inability to stop despite adverse consequences (Müller & Montag, 2017). Significant associations between GD/IGD and financial strain, occupational difficulties, sleep deprivation, malnutrition, obesity, and the development and/or exacerbation of other mental illness have been found, contributing to growing concern over the detrimental impact of GD/IGD (Kohorst et al., 2018). Video gaming is also associated with increased use of substances, including nicotine as found in electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS; Cranwell et al., 2016). The harmful consequences of ENDS use may exacerbate the health risks associated with GD/IGD, especially in connection to sleep, nutrition, and mental health. There is extensive overlap between the demographic and psychosocial characteristics of typical video gamers and typical users of ENDS, including being young, male, highly impulsive, sensation-seeking, and having a diagnosis of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which may account for the rates of concurrent dependence (Von der Heiden et al., 2019; Mathews, 2019). However, definitive characteristics of individuals demonstrating symptoms of both GD/IGD and ENDS dependency remain unknown. The present study aims to explore the demographic and psychological associations of co-occurring symptoms of GD/IGD and ENDS dependency.
Method:Participants (n = 2,174) were college students age 18-24 (M=19.25) recruited as part of a multi-university study examining psychological variables within young adults. Participants completed a battery of self-report questions assessing for demographic characteristics, symptoms of ADHD, and level of impulsivity and sensation seeking as measured by the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale, Brief Sensation Seeking Scale, and Barratt Impulsiveness Scale Version 11, respectively. ENDS dependency was evaluated through the PROMIS E-cigarette Dependence Scale, and GD/IGD was measured by the Video Game Dependency Scale. Pearson correlations, chi-square tests, MANCOVAS, and moderation analyses were used to evaluate this data.
Results:Results found that 7.3% of the sample met criteria for probable ENDS dependency, 4.7% of the sample endorsed symptoms of GD/IGD dependency, and 1.4% of the sample endorsed both dependencies. Age, gender, and race/ethnicity were all associated with increased risk of concurrent GD/IGD and ENDS dependency. The moderating effect of ADHD symptoms on the relation between GD/IGD and ENDS dependency was significant, ΔR2 = .067, F(1, 1036) = 24.75, p < .001, indicating that the relation between GD/IGD and ENDS dependency was stronger when participants endorsed more symptoms of ADHD. Impulsivity and sensation seeking also had significant interaction effects on the relation between ENDS dependency and GD/IGD.
Conclusion:Ultimately, there is ample evidence that ENDS dependency and GD/IGD occur at significant levels on college campuses. Heightened impulsivity and sensation seeking and the diagnosis of ADHD significantly correspond with increased rates of GD/IGD and ENDS dependency. These results are supported by prior research findings that impulsivity and sensation seeking are risk factors for many behavioral health concerns, including engagement in risky sexual behaviors and substance addiction. Future research examining protective factors and treatment of co-occurring GD/IGD and ENDS dependency is warranted.
References:
Cranwell, J., Whittamore, K., Britton, J., & Leonardi-Bee, J. (2016). Alcohol and tobacco content in UK video games and their association with alcohol and tobacco use among young people. Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking, 19(7), 426-434. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2016.0093
Kohorst, M. A., Warad, D. M., Nageswara Rao, A. A., & Rodriguez, V. (2018). Obesity, sedentary lifestyle, and video games: The new thrombophilia cocktail in adolescents. Pediatric Blood & Cancer, 65(7), e27041.
Mathews, C. L., Morrell, H. E. R., & Molle, J. L. (2019). Video game addiction, ADHD symptomatology, and video game reinforcement. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 45(1), 67-76. https://doi.org/10.1080/00952990.2018.1472269
Müller, M., & Montag, C. (2017). The relationship between internet addiction and alcohol consumption is influenced by the smoking status in male online video gamers. Clinical Neuropsychiatry: Journal of Treatment Evaluation, 14(1), 34–43.
Von der Heiden, J. M., Braun, B., Müller, K. W., & Egloff, B. (2019). The association between video gaming and psychological functioning. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 17-31. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01731
11
Huber, Michaela Elizabeth. "Transition Services for Parolees with Co-Occurring Substance Use and Mental Health Disorders." BYU ScholarsArchive, 2016. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/6183.
Full textAbstract:
A large portion of U.S. inmates and parolees experience co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders (COD). Offenders with COD exhibit significantly poorer outcomes than offenders who do not have COD, including less time to rearrest and reincarceration. Research shows that transition services for substance use and mental health disorders improve parolee outcomes, yet a majority of offenders with COD do not receive transition services prior to discharge or upon release from correctional facilities. Using a nationally representative sample of offenders with COD (secondary data from the CJ-DATS; N=811), this study analyzes the treatment effects of Transition Case Management (TCM) on parolees' drug use, rearrest, and reincarceration during the first nine months of parole, on a sample of offenders with COD. Results indicate there are no statistically significant differences between TCM treatment and control groups when predicting likelihood of rearrest, reincarceration, and drug use.
12
Puff, David. "The use of mass spectrometry for the characterization of molecules co-purifying with integrins." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 2000. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk1/tape4/PQDD_0018/MQ53211.pdf.
Full text
13
Hautamäki, M. (Minna). "Co-creating value-in-use for public healthcare customer through modularity of logistics services." Master's thesis, University of Oulu, 2015. http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:oulu-201505211571.
Full textAbstract:
The healthcare industry today is in the search for efficient solutions. However, currently services, such as logistics, supporting the hospital core processes are produced in-house. Recent findings have shown internally produced services may not always be as efficient as their external alternatives. This has led to hospitals outsourcing their non-core activities which allows the external service providers to expand their markets to the healthcare industry. In this thesis, a logistics service provider’s business opportunities will be explored in the context of public healthcare. Furthermore, this study considers modular service architecture as a facilitator for creating value. The research emphasises the role of operational-level customer i.e. nursing staff’s conception of value created by logistics as well as its value creation processes in a university hospital. By gaining an understanding of how logistics creates value-in-use to the hospital customer, business opportunities can be discovered. The purpose of this thesis is to find new business opportunities for a logistics service provider organisation aiming to increase its market share in the public healthcare sector. In order to achieve this goal, the researcher investigates current logistics issues in the university hospital’s surgical ward emphasising value creation processes in the ward and the operational-level customer point-of-view. In addition to addressing a practical need, this study contributes to existing research in co-creation of value and modularity in the context of logistics and healthcare. This is a qualitative study where the research phenomenon is approached utilising three divergent research methods that are semi-structured interviews, observations and a group discussion. Although this research emphasises the role of the medical staff consisting of nurses, interviews are carried on both strategic- and operational-levels in the healthcare customer and logistics service provider organisations. The group discussion is regarded to be a data collecting method enabling representatives from the logistics service provider and healthcare customer organisations to co-create value. The results of this study support existing research on modularity and its suitability in markets with heterogeneous needs, such as the healthcare industry where hospitals often contain a number of internal customers that may differ from each other in terms of their needs. Furthermore, current research on modularity emphasises monetary benefits, such as efficiency and cost reductions, created for the customer. However, this research suggests modular services may additionally create non-monetary value-in-use to the customer by improving well-being and trust among the medical staff. In other words, modular services are not solely a facilitator for efficiency. The results of this study may be applied by practitioners looking for new business opportunities through co-creation together with the customer. Furthermore, the results suggest organisations wanting to gain more market share in the healthcare industry ought to consider modular service design to be able to respond to heterogeneous customer needs. Due to the qualitative nature of this study as well as the narrow amount of empirical data, the results of this study cannot be generalisedTerveydenhuoltoalalla hankittavien ratkaisujen tehokkuus on keskeinen tekijä. Siitä huolimatta nykyiset sairaalan ydinprosesseja tukevat palvelut, kuten logistiikka, tuotetaan pääosin sisäisesti. Viimeisimmät tutkimukset osoittavat, että sisäisesti tuotetut palvelut eivät useinkaan ole ulkoiselta tarjoajalta hankittuja palveluja tehokkaampia. Tämä on johtanut ei-keskeisten palvelujen ulkoistamiseen ja mahdollistanut ulkopuolisten palveluntarjoajien levittäytymisen terveydenhuoltomarkkinoille. Tässä tutkielmassa erään logistisen palveluntuottajan liiketoimintamahdollisuuksia tarkastellaan julkisen terveydenhuollon kontekstissa. Lisäksi tutkimuksessa painotetaan modulaarisen palveluarkkitehtuurin roolia arvonluonnin mahdollistajana. Tutkielmassa korostetaan operationaalisen tason asiakkaan, eli hoitohenkilökunnan ymmärrystä logistiikan luomasta arvosta sen omissa arvonluontiprosesseissa. Arvonluontiprosessien tutkiminen mahdollistaa uusien liiketoimintamahdollisuuksien kartoittamisen. Tämän tutkielman tarkoituksena on löytää uusia liiketoimintamahdollisuuksia logistiselle palveluntarjoajalle, jonka tavoitteena on lisätä markkinaosuuttaan julkisen terveydenhuollon sektorilla. Tutkimustavoitteen saavuttamiseksi tutkija selvittää, millaisia logistisia haasteita tutkimuskohteena olevalla yliopistosairaalan keskusleikkausosastolla on tällä hetkellä ja miten ne vaikuttavat operationaalisen tason toimijoiden arvonluontiprosesseihin. Tutkimus pyrkii käytännön ongelman ratkaisemisen lisäksi tuomaan uutta tietoa arvon yhteisluonnin ja modulaarisuuden tieteellisiin keskusteluihin logistiikan ja terveydenhuollon kontekstissa. Tämä tutkimus on luonteeltaan kvalitatiivinen. Tutkimuskohdetta lähestytään kolmella eri tavalla puolistrukturoitujen haastattelujen, havainnointien ja ryhmäkeskustelun avulla. Vaikka tutkimuksessa painotetaan hoitohenkilökunnan näkemyksiä, haastatteluja tehtiin sekä strategisella että operationaalisella tasolla sekä palveluntarjoaja- että asiakasorganisaatioissa. Ryhmäkeskustelun avulla simuloitiin asiakkaan ja palveluntarjoajan välistä arvon yhteisluontiprosessia. Tutkimuksen tulokset tukevat olemassa olevaa modulaarisuuskirjallisuutta vahvistaen näkemystä, jonka mukaan modulaarinen palvelusuunnittelu toimii erityisen hyvin ympäristöissä, joissa ilmenee heterogeenisiä tarpeita. Esimerkiksi terveydenhuollon alalla sairaaloissa sisäisten asiakkaiden tarpeet voivat erota toisistaan. Lisäksi nykyisessä modulaarisuutta käsittelevässä kirjallisuudessa painotetaan modulaarisuuden rahallisia hyötyjä, kuten tehokkuutta ja kustannussäästöjä. Tämä tutkimus kuitenkin osoittaa, että modulaariset palvelut luovat asiakkaille myös ei-rahallisia hyötyjä parantamalla hoitohenkilökunnan työhyvinvointia ja luottamusta. Käytännön harjoittajat voivat soveltaa tämän tutkimuksen tuloksia etsiessään uusia liiketoimintamahdollisuuksia yhdessä nykyisten tai potentiaalisten asiakkaitten kanssa. Lisäksi tulokset osoittavat, että yritykset, jotka haluavat lisätä näkyvyyttään terveydenhuollon alalla, jolla asiakkaitten tarpeet ovat usein heterogeenisiä, voivat pitää modulaarisuutta yhtenä palvelusuunnitteluvaihtoehtona. Tutkimuksen kvalitatiivisen luonteen ja aineiston suppeuden vuoksi sen tulokset eivät ole yleistettävissä
14
Zhu, Xiangwei. "Unfolding, crosslinking and co-polymerization of Camelina protein and its use as wood adhesives." Diss., Kansas State University, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/2097/35420.
Full textAbstract:
Doctor of PhilosophyDepartment of Grain Science and Industry
X. Susan Sun
Oilseed protein is a promising renewable source to be used as the replacement of petroleum-based materials for adhesion purpose, and it has drawn increasing attention since soy-based adhesives were developed for wood glues. However, soy protein comprises a portion of humans’ diets, thereby creating competition between utilization of soy protein for protein-based products or human food. Therefore, alternative bio-resources must be discovered. Proteins from camelina sativa provide such potential. Similar to other protein-based polymers, low mechanical strength and poor water resistance are the major drawbacks limiting camelina protein’s further applications. In this research, camelina protein (CP) was modified by unfolding, crosslinking, and co-polymerization treatment for improved flow-ability, adhesion properties and water resistance, which facilitates the industrialization of camelina as an alternative to soy-based adhesives. The physicochemical properties and microstructures of CP were also investigated. To increase the reactivity of CP adhesive, the first step is to denature the folded structure of native proteins. Camelina protein was extracted from defatted camelina meal through alkali solubilization and acid precipitation and modified with varying amount of NaHSO₃ (0-12% of the protein dry base) and Gdm.Cl (0-250% of the protein dry base). NaHSO₃ treatment broke the disulfide bonds of the CP and thus increased its free sulfhydryl content and surface hydrophobicity. As NaHSO₃ concentration increased, the viscosity, elastic modulus (G') and water resistant of NaHSO₃-modified camelina protein (SMCP) dispersion decreased, and the protein became hydrophobic. Gdm.Cl treatment broke the CPI’s hydrogen bonds but decreased their surface hydrophobicity. Similarly, viscosity, G', and water resistant of Gdm.Cl-modified camelina protein (GMCP) dispersions decreased as Gdm.Cl increased and protein became to aggregate. The reducing effect of NaHSO₃ was more obvious than Gdm.Cl to disrupt CPI’s intermolecular protein interaction but less obvious than Gdm.Cl to reduce the viscosity and water resistant. To further increase the CP’s water resistance, a coupling agent, Ethyl-3-(3-dimethyl-aminopropyl-1-carbodiimide) (EDC), was applied to stabilize the protein structure by crosslinking the free carboxyl groups and amino groups. The cross-linked CP exhibited increased molecular weight and particle size. Microstructures of modified CP also became rigid and condensed. Accordingly, CP’s increased intermolecular protein interaction resulted in its higher elastic modulus, viscosity and water resistance. The ultrasound pretreatment further increased the crosslink degree of CP, which resulted in protein’s increased aggregation behaviors and compact micro-structures. Consequently, the elastic modulus, viscosity, and water resistance of CP increased accordingly. Copolymerization with hydrophobic enhancers was also an effective method to improve CP’s water resistance. In this study, kraft lignin was oxidized by H₂O₂ and then copolymerized with CP as wood adhesives, which exhibited increased wet strength. In the presence of ultrasound irradiation, the H₂O₂-depolymerized kraft lignin exhibited reduced particle size, thermal stability and increased content of hydroxyl groups. Fluorescence spectroscopy analysis revealed that after coupling with pristine or de-polymerized lignin, CP exhibited increased hydrophobicity due to lignin’s increased reactivity with camelina protein. Accordingly, the water resistance of CP-based adhesives improved. In the optimized condition, when CP was copolymerized with ultrasound-induced oxidized lignin, it had increased wet shear adhesion strength from 0.28 MPa to 1.43 MPa, with wood panels passing the three-cycle water soaking test.
15
Smith, Jessica Rose. "Developing P(MMA-co-NVP) hydrogels for use in self-inflating, anisotropic tissue expanders." Thesis, University of Oxford, 2015. http://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:dc1b83e1-c74a-4f28-b4a8-c7da671e3541.
Full textAbstract:
Artificial tissue expansion is required to generate new skin prior to reconstructive surgery, in order to compensate for a deficit of healthy tissue. Hydrogel tissue expanders, which expand anisotropically, show great promise in overcoming clinical limitations in the field, thus allowing the technique to be used in a wider range of surgeries. These devices consist of pellets of dry poly(methyl methacrylate-co-vinylpyrrolidone), compressed into discs through a hot compression moulding process. However, a number of significant problems still exist in these devices, and this thesis aims to address these issues. To date, there has been a lack of investigation of the factors governing the behaviour of anisotropic swelling. For this reason, a range of different compression ratios have been investigated, with particular focus on the relationship between the material flow during compression and the swelling behaviour of the resulting device. It was found that samples of the same initial size expand to the same reference swelling dimensions, regardless of compression ratio. During hot pressing, the material flow was found to be governed by slip-stick behaviour at the interface between the hot press and the device, affecting the properties and swelling behaviour of the devices. Based on these findings, devices were developed which could expand from a disc into a non-prismatic shape (dome or wedge). Such devices could reduce complication rates and allow the growth of new tissue with anisotropic resting tension. The devices were tested in a small in vivo trial, where it was shown that there were no adverse effects on the tissue produced, and that the shape of the expander (dome) was retained. As devices are being produced for medical use, understanding the effect of sterilization by γ-irradiation is essential, but to date this has been overlooked in the literature. It was found that γ-irradiation caused an increase in cross-linking in the P(MMA-co-NVP). Whilst this produced little change in swelling behaviour for isotropic devices, in the case of anisotropic devices it caused a change in the shape of expansion, reducing the area of new skin which could be generated by the device. It was found that by reducing the concentration of impurities (residual molecules from the polymer synthesis) the impact of γ-irradiation could be greatly reduced. Finally, controlling the rate of expansion is essential in order to avoid clinical complications. In order to control the rate of expansion, particularly during the initial period of swelling, semi-permeable PDMS coatings were applied to the compressed devices. Coatings of thickness greater than 0.375mm were found to effectively control the rate of swelling, for both cylindrical and non-prismatic shapes. As the coating thickness increased, the maximum swelling size decreased. However, it has been shown that change in height (the parameter which governs the area of skin produced) is affected less than the change in mass or diameter.
16
Guerra, ?rick St?fano Silveira. "Study of the addition of poly(ethylene-co-methyl acrylate-co-glycidyl methacrylate) thermoplastic to epoxy resin for use in self-healing composites." PROGRAMA DE P?S-GRADUA??O EM CI?NCIA E ENGENHARIA DE MATERIAIS, 2017. https://repositorio.ufrn.br/jspui/handle/123456789/23776.
Full textAbstract:
Submitted by Automa??o e Estat?stica (sst@bczm.ufrn.br) on 2017-09-04T20:41:24Z
No. of bitstreams: 1
ErickStefanoSilveiraGuerra_DISSERT.pdf: 8653820 bytes, checksum: 2aa743da5d1ccc3d04ee5e239d05a6c2 (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by Arlan Eloi Leite Silva (eloihistoriador@yahoo.com.br) on 2017-09-06T19:52:51Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 ErickStefanoSilveiraGuerra_DISSERT.pdf: 8653820 bytes, checksum: 2aa743da5d1ccc3d04ee5e239d05a6c2 (MD5)
Made available in DSpace on 2017-09-06T19:52:51Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ErickStefanoSilveiraGuerra_DISSERT.pdf: 8653820 bytes, checksum: 2aa743da5d1ccc3d04ee5e239d05a6c2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-04-28
Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior (CAPES)
O reparo de estruturas comp?sitas danificadas a fim de recuperar condi??es iniciais e atender requisitos regulat?rios pode ser um grande desafio. Assim, materiais capazes de se auto-reparar quando danificados s?o de grande interesse. Em uma das abordagens de auto-reparo estudada na literatura, um material termopl?stico ? adicionado ? matriz termofixa e o material danificado ? capaz de parcialmente recuperar suas propriedades mec?nicas depois de um ciclo de reparo. Essa t?cnica usa calor para reestabelecer parcialmente as propriedades mec?nicas do material comp?sito. No presente estudo, a modifica??o de resina ep?xi com a adi??o de poli(etileno-co-metil acrilato-co-glicidil metacrilato) (E-MA-GMA) foi avaliada. A influ?ncia do tipo de endurecedor (anidrido e amina) empregado nas propriedades do material tamb?m foi investigada. An?lises din?mico-mec?nicas (DMA) foram realizadas para averiguar mudan?as nas propriedades viscoel?sticas devido a adi??o do termopl?stico. Mudan?as qu?micas nas misturas termopl?stico-ep?xi foram avaliadas por espectroscopia de infravermelho por transformada de Fourier (FTIR). Microscopia de for?a at?mica (AFM) foi empregada para examinar o papel da adi??o de termopl?stico na estrutura da rede do ep?xi. A habilidade de reparo foi avaliada comparando ?reas danificadas por uma indenta??o padr?o na superf?cie das amostras antes e depois do ciclo de reparo para amostras com e sem a adi??o de E-MA-GMA. Os resultados sugerem a presen?a de uma segunda fase de E-MA-GMA ap?s a cura, um aumento na temperatura de transi??o v?trea (Tg) para todas as misturas com termopl?stico quando comparadas ? ep?xi pura, a presen?a de uma ?nica Tg para misturas EMA- GMA-ep?xi curadas com anidrido e mudan?as qu?micas e estruturais na rede ep?xi devido ? adi??o de E-MA-GMA. Al?m disso, o desaparecimento de danos causados por indenta??es em ?reas do material modificado com o termopl?stico depois do ciclo de aquecimento confirmam o potencial no uso de E-MA-GMA como agente de reparo.
Repair of damaged composite structural elements to restore pristine conditions and meet regulatory requirements can be a great challenge. Thus, materials capable of self-healing when damaged are of great interest. In one of the self-healing approaches studied in the literature, thermoplastic is added to a thermosetting matrix and the damaged material partially recovers its mechanical properties after a healing cycle. This technique employs heat to trigger the healing process and partially reestablish the mechanical properties of the composite material. In the present study, poly(ethylene-co-methyl acrylate-co-glycidyl methacrylate) (E-MA-GMA) thermoplastic was added to epoxy matrix and evaluated as a self-healing agent. The influence of the type of hardener employed (anhydride or amine) on the properties of the material was also investigated. Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) was performed to evaluate changes in viscoelastic properties due to the addition of thermoplastic. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to evaluate chemical alterations in thermoplastic-epoxy systems. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was employed to examine the role of thermoplastic addition on epoxy network structure. Healing ability was assessed by comparison of areas damaged by indentations on the surface of samples before and after a healing cycle for materials with and without E-MA-GMA addition. Results suggest the presence of a E-MA-GMA second phase after curing, an increase in glass transition temperature (Tg) for all thermoplastic blended samples as compared to neat epoxy, the presence of one single Tg for epoxy anhydride hardened E-MA-GMA mixtures and chemical and structural alterations on the epoxy network due to addition of E-MA-GMA. Further, the elimination of visible damage areas of the material modified with thermoplastic after a heating cycle supports the potential use of E-MA-GMA as healing agent.
17
Suopajärvi, H. (Hannu). "Bioreducer use in blast furnace ironmaking in Finland:techno-economic assessment and CO₂ emission reduction potential." Doctoral thesis, Oulun yliopisto, 2015. http://urn.fi/urn:isbn:9789526207063.
Full textAbstract:
Abstract Most of the steel produced in the world is based on the integrated blast furnace-converter route, which is based on the use of virgin raw materials. Large amounts of fossil-based, carbon containing reductants are used in blast furnaces, which results in carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere. Fossil carbon dioxide emissions from steel production can be reduced by new technologies or moving from non-renewable to renewable energy sources. Biomass-based reductants could be one way to reduce the specific emissions from blast furnace-based steel production. The aim of this thesis was to examine the techno-economic and CO₂ mitigation potentials of using bioreducers in blast furnace ironmaking. Bioreducer feasibility was analyzed in the Finnish context, but the research methods used can be applied more widely. The metallurgical properties of bioreducers were evaluated and compared to fossil-based reductants. The impact of bioreducers on blast furnace behavior and on other steel plant processes was evaluated, with an emphasis on the reductions achieved in CO₂ emissions at the plant scale. The CO₂ emissions, energy consumption and production costs of bioreducers were evaluated, as was the availability of energy wood for bioreducer production. The results show that solid, liquid and gaseous bioreducers can be produced with thermochemical conversion technologies. However, their suitability for blast furnace use varies greatly. The highest substitution of fossil-based reductants in a blast furnace is achieved with charcoal injection. The carbon footprint of torrefied wood, charcoal and Bio-SNG is moderate compared to fossil-based reducing agents and their production is energetically feasible. The economic feasibility of bioreducers is currently weak in comparison to fossil-based reducing agents, but competitive when compared to other CO₂ emission reduction measures such as carbon capture and storage. The biomass availability assessment revealed that sufficient amount of energy wood could be available for bioreducer production in the areas where Finnish steel plants are situated. The feasibility of bioreducer production could be improved by producing a number of products from the biomass and taking advantage of the process of integration possibilitiesTiivistelmä Suurin osa maailmassa tuotetusta teräksestä valmistetaan integroidulla masuuni-konvertteri reitillä, joka perustuu neitseellisten raaka-aineiden käyttöön. Masuuniprosessissa käytetään suuri määrä fossiilisia, lähinnä hiilipohjaisia pelkistimiä, jotka aiheuttavat hiilidioksidipäästöjä ilmakehään. Fossiilisia hiilidioksidipäästöjä voidaan teräksenvalmistuksessa vähentää uusilla teknologioilla tai siirtymällä uusiutumattomista energialähteistä uusiutuviin. Biomassasta valmistetut pelkistimet voisivat olla yksi mahdollinen keino alentaa masuunipohjaisen teräksenvalmistuksen ominaispäästöjä. Tämän työn tavoitteena oli tarkastella biopelkistimien käytön teknistaloudellista potentiaalia masuunikäytössä ja aikaansaatavia hiilidioksidipäästövähenemiä eri systeemirajauksilla. Työssä keskityttiin tarkastelemaan biopelkistimien hyödynnettävyyttä lähinnä Suomen tasolla, vaikka käytetyt tutkimusmetodit ovat sovellettavissa myös laajemmin. Työssä arvioitiin biopelkistimien metallurgisia ominaisuuksia, niiden vaikutusta masuuniprosessiin ja laajemmin muihin terästehtaan prosesseihin, pääpainon ollessa saavutettavan CO₂ päästövähenemän tarkastelussa. Työssä tarkasteltiin biopelkistimien valmistuksen CO₂ päästöjä, energiankulutusta ja tuotantokustannuksia sekä energiapuun saatavuutta biopelkistimien tuotantoon. Tulokset osoittavat, että biomassasta voidaan valmistaa kiinteitä, nestemäisiä ja kaasumaisia pelkistimiä termokemiallisilla konversioteknologioilla, joiden soveltuvuus masuunikäyttöön vaihtelee suuresti. Masuuniprosessissa suurin fossiilisten pelkistimien korvaavuus saavutetaan käyttämällä puuhiili-injektiota. Torrefioidun puun, puuhiilen ja Bio-SNG:n hiilijalanjälki on varsin maltillinen verrattuna fossiilisiin pelkistimiin ja niiden tuotanto on energeettisesti järkevää. Biopelkistimien taloudellinen kannattavuus verrattuna fossiilisiin pelkistimiin on tällä hetkellä heikko, mutta kilpailukykyinen verrattuna muihin CO₂ päästöjen vähennyskeinoihin, kuten hiilidioksidin talteenottoon ja -varastointiin. Energiapuun saatavuus biopelkistimien valmistukseen on suurin alueilla, jotka sijaitsevat lähellä Suomen terästehtaita. Biopelkistimien tuotannon kannattavuutta voitaisiin parantaa tuottamalla useita tuotteita ja hyödyntämällä prosessi-integraatiota
18
Zorland, Jennifer L. "Assessing Problem Gambling and Co-Occurring Substance Use and Criminal Activity among Drug Court Clients." Digital Archive @ GSU, 2009. http://digitalarchive.gsu.edu/psych_diss/62.
Full textAbstract:
Research has demonstrated that problem gambling is associated with substance and alcohol abuse (Petry, Stinson, & Grant, 2005), participation in criminal activities (McCorkle, 2002; Meyer & Stadler, 1999), and involvement in the criminal justice system (NORC, 1999). This study assessed problem gambling and its relation to crime and substance use within a population in which these risk factors are compounded: Adults mandated to participate in drug and DUI courts. Results indicate that the prevalence and severity of problem gambling may be higher within this population than any other. Furthermore, the results of qualitative and quantitative analyses converged to highlight that gambling, crime and substance use are interrelated behaviors, as each may lead to and/or reinforce the other. These findings suggest that problem gambling is a salient issue among substance-abusing offenders and that resources should be dedicated to screening those involved with the criminal justice system for problem gambling, establishing evidence based best practices in the prevention and treatment of problem gambling within this population, and that such practices may incorporate components addressing gambling, crime, and substance use.
19
Zorland, Jennifer Lee. "Assessing Problem Gambling and Co-Occurring Substance Use and Criminal Activity among Drug Court Clients." Digital Archive @ GSU, 2009. http://digitalarchive.gsu.edu/psych_diss/67.
Full textAbstract:
Research has demonstrated that problem gambling is associated with substance and alcohol abuse (Petry, Stinson, & Grant, 2005), participation in criminal activities (McCorkle, 2002; Meyer & Stadler, 1999), and involvement in the criminal justice system (NORC, 1999). This study assessed problem gambling and its relation to crime and substance use within a population in which these risk factors are compounded: Adults mandated to participate in drug and DUI courts. Results indicate that the prevalence and severity of problem gambling may be higher within this population than any other. Furthermore, the results of qualitative and quantitative analyses converged to highlight that gambling, crime and substance use are interrelated behaviors, as each may lead to and/or reinforce the other. These findings suggest that problem gambling is a salient issue among substance-abusing offenders and that resources should be dedicated to screening those involved with the criminal justice system for problem gambling, establishing evidence based best practices in the prevention and treatment of problem gambling within this population, and that such practices may incorporate components addressing gambling, crime, and substance use.
20
Lövenhag, Sara. "Substance Use in Swedish Adolescents : The Importance of Co-occurring Psychiatric Symptoms and Psychosocial Risk." Doctoral thesis, Uppsala universitet, Institutionen för neurovetenskap, 2015. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-251558.
Full textAbstract:
Aims: Study I: Identify substance use disorders (SUDs), psychiatric disorders, and psychosocial risk (PSR) in adolescence, to predict SUD after 5 years in 147 adolescents who sought treatment at a misuse-clinic. Study II: Identify alcohol risk use (ARU) and its association with psychiatric symptoms and PSR in 960 adolescents who sought treatment in general psychiatric care. Study III: Examine the effect of antisocial behavior (ASB) on the association between inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity, and alcohol use in 3,864 adolescent students. Study IV: Examine the veracity of drug use reports comparing responses in questionnaires, in-depth interview, and hair analysis in 200 adolescent students. Results: Study I: SUDs in adolescence persisted into early adulthood. Predictors for SUD: girls who had mothers with alcohol use disorder, victimization, criminality, SUD, or SUD treatment. Study II: Prevalence of ARU was 20%. ARU increased with the number of psychiatric symptom domains. Probability of psychiatric symptoms increased with ARU. Most ARU was found in: ASB and sexual abuse. Most common in ARU: symptoms of ADHD, depression, and anxiety. Study III: ASB reduced association between inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity, and alcohol use for boys, and hyperactivity and impulsivity for girls. Girls’ inattention continued to affect alcohol use despite the presence of ASB. Study IV: Twice as many participants reported drug use in interviews compared to questionnaires. Questionnaires and hair-analysis showed low sensitivity and high specificity. Responses from participants in less privileged socioeconomic circumstances were less reliable. Conclusions: Study I: Treatment-as-usual experienced difficulties preventing the persistence of SUD. Participants’ comorbidity and PSR must be attended to. Study II: ARU in general psychiatric care is prevalent and associated with other psychiatric symptoms, and all symptoms must be attended to simultaneously. Study III: ASB should be screened for when symptoms of ADHD are present. Inattention in girls might require special attention to prevent alcohol use. Study IV: Interviews might be an alternative to questionnaires. Hair analysis was less useful in this population, but a physical measure might function as a pipeline procedure. Responses from participants in less privileged circumstances might be interpreted with caution.
21
Avgoustakis, Konstantine. "Synthesis and evaluation of some poly(lactide-co-glycolides) for use in sustained release tablets." Thesis, King's College London (University of London), 1992. https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/synthesis-and-evaluation-of-some-polylactidecoglycolides-for-use-in-sustained-release-tablets(8b664ccc-71de-4a1c-8995-7b7f9c72e905).html.
Full text
22
Nunes, de Abreu Paulo M. C. "Fostering computer support to co-operative work : contributions from the use of soft systems methodology." Thesis, Lancaster University, 2000. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.369495.
Full text
23
Syed, Mohamed Ahmed. "Use of evidence and knowledge translation approaches facilitating co-creation of evidence in public health." Thesis, University of Warwick, 2017. http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/98559/.
Full textAbstract:
Best available research evidence is essential but not the only type of evidence needed in public health decision making. Decisions are also influenced and must take into account factors other than research evidence. This approach in public health is called evidence-informed public health (EIPH). A fundamental concept of EIPH is to take into account realities of a specific real-world environment when translating research evidence into policy and practice. Therefore approaches to co-creation of best available evidence for decision making - evidence that is informed by best available research evidence but that also incorporates other types of information to address decision makers’ needs - are necessary for knowledge translation in public health. This thesis includes published works which report findings on 1) the use of research and other types of evidence and barriers and facilitators of its use and 2) KT approaches facilitating co-creation of best available evidence in public health policy making and practice. The eight publications included in this thesis studied factors associated with evidence use and present examples of co-creating evidence. The published works on evidence use (Publications 1 and 2) were undertaken using qualitative methods, specifically, content analysis of policy documents and interviews with decision makers within physical activity policy-making. Examples of co-creating evidence to address barriers identified in Publication 2 (such as relevance of research, lack of resources, lack of applicability of research etc.) used the Delphi technique, Population Impact Measure and Coverage with Evidence Development methodologies. They were applied to inform public health policy and practice in areas which include SARS and SARS-like diseases (Publications 3 and 4), rare diseases (Publication 5), cardiovascular diseases, strokes, cancers (Publication 6) and Dupuytren’s disease (Publication 7 and 8). It is essential that approaches supporting the use of research and other types of evidence in public health continue to be developed and documented, and this thesis represents such an endeavour. Usefulness and effectiveness of different KT approaches facilitating evidence use and reduce its barriers must also be continuously evaluated as they are adopted or modified to deal with different issues in different settings. Effective interventions along with strategies facilitating their delivery and implementation can then be utilised by public health professionals and policy makers who wish to promote EIPH.
24
Harleston, Dionne M. "Brief psychological interventions for in-patients with co-existing mental health and substance use disorders." Thesis, University of Birmingham, 2014. http://etheses.bham.ac.uk//id/eprint/4800/.
Full textAbstract:
Aims: This study sought to test the feasibility and impact of a brief intervention for clients with coexisting mental health and substance misuse difficulties in an in-patient psychiatric setting. Methods: 11 participants were recruited to the study from three in-patient psychiatric ward. A case series design encompassing a pre-intervention baseline assessment period, a brief integrated motivational intervention and post intervention assessment (immediately following the intervention and approximately one month after). Analysis was undertaken using the reliable change index (RCI) (Jacobson and Traux, 1991) and analysis of themes from a brief post intervention semi-structured interview. Results: Analysis of the eight of the 11 cases followed up (4 intervention and 4 non-intervention cases) showed no significant difference between the groups who reported little change in process or outcome variables following the intervention. In contrast, a number of cases from both groups reported reduced substance use. Discussion: The brief integrated motivation intervention appeared to be feasible for those patients whose length of stay spanned the intervention. Difficulties in implementation such as attrition due to discharge and follow up in the community were identified along with the need for more sensitive measures for this population. Issues for implementation and future research are discussed.
25
Ncube, Sinini P. "The use of social media on mobile devices to support the co-reading of eTextbooks." Doctoral thesis, Faculty of Science, 2019. https://hdl.handle.net/11427/31756.
Full textAbstract:
A textbook is a boundary object of interest among students within given communities, in some instance, a region or a whole country. Students in such communities have the possibility to engage collaboratively to study and gain a better understanding of similar content together. Collaborative work leverages mass communications that have become a beneficial means of enabling knowledge construction through independent and flexible learning mechanisms. Currently, textbooks are presented as PDFs on online portals with links to discussion forums for discussing the given resources. However, one major challenge is the lack of connection between the content being discussed and where it is discussed. Also, separating forums from their content leads to the discussion of topics that are sometimes irrelevant to the course content as discussions are mainly for general inquiries. In this dissertation, the feasibility of an academically focused social networking system that combines forums with their respective resources was investigated. This research explores various ways of altering the presentation of forums in an attempt to improve co-reading and increase textbook related interactions. An experimental system with internal forums, which are embedded inside eTextbooks, was created. The traditional form of rendering discussions as a standalone platform was also presented as a control system. Our objectives were to determine if the presentation of discussion forums inside resources affect the number and quality of interactions. Another objective was to determine if anonymous identity is essential for collaborating on educational learning platforms. The system was tested and evaluated with high school students as well as university students through various experiments that compared the traditional forums to the proposed system. This work adds nuance to our understanding of effective co-reading for shared boundary objects.
26
Leader, John William. "Potential use of by-product co-treatments with constructed wetlands for removing phosphorus from wastewater." [Gainesville, Fla.] : University of Florida, 2005. http://purl.fcla.edu/fcla/etd/UFE0011608.
Full text
27
Vogler, Sabine, August Österle, and Susanne Mayer. "Inequalities in medicine use in Central Eastern Europe: an empirical investigation of socioeconomic determinants in eight countries." BioMed Central Ltd, 2015. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12939-015-0261-0.
Full textAbstract:
Equitable access to essential medicines is a major challenge for policy-makers world-wide, including Central and Eastern European countries. This study analyses whether socioeconomic determinants influence the use of prescribed and non-prescribed medicines in eight Central and Eastern European countries (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia). Further, the study discusses observed (in)equalities in medicine use in the context of the pharmaceutical policy framework and the implementation in these countries. The study is based on cross-sectional data from the first wave of the European Health Interview Survey (2007-2009). Multivariate logistic regression analyses were carried out to determine the association between socioeconomic status and medicine use (prescribed and non-prescribed medicines). This was supplemented by a pharmaceutical policy analysis based on indicators in four policy dimensions (sustainable funding, affordability, availability and accessibility, and rational selection and use of medicines). Overall, the analysis showed a gradient favouring individuals from higher socioeconomic groups in the consumption of non-prescribed medicines in the eight surveyed countries, and for prescribed medicines in three countries (Latvia, Poland, Romania). The pharmaceutical systems in the eight countries were, to varying degrees, characterized by a lack of (public) funding, thus resulting in high and growing shares of private financing (including co-payments for prescribed medicines), inefficiencies in the selection of medicines into reimbursement and limitations in medicines availability. Pharmaceutical policies aiming at reducing inequalities in medicine use require not only a consideration of the role of co-payments and other private expenditure but also adequate investment in medicines and transparent and clear processes regarding the inclusion of medicines into reimbursement. (authors' abstract)
28
Martin-Benito, Dario, Kevin Anchukaitis, Michael Evans, Río Miren del, Hans Beeckman, and Isabel Cañellas. "Effects of Drought on Xylem Anatomy and Water-Use Efficiency of Two Co-Occurring Pine Species." MDPI AG, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/625999.
Full textAbstract:
Exploring how drought influences growth, performance, and survival in different species is crucial to understanding the impacts of climate change on forest ecosystems. Here, we investigate the responses of two co-occurring pines (Pinus nigra and Pinus sylvestris) to interannual drought in east-central Spain by dendrochronological and wood anatomical features integrated with isotopic ratios of carbon (delta C-13) and oxygen (delta O-18) in tree rings. Our results showed that drought induces both species to allocate less carbon to build tracheid cell-walls but increases tracheid lumen diameters, particularly in the transition wood between early and latewood, potentially maximizing hydraulic conductivity but reducing resistance to embolism at a critical phase during the growing season. The thicker cell-wall-to-lumen ratio in P. nigra could imply that its xylem may be more resistant to bending stress and drought-induced cavitation than P. sylvestris. In contrast, the higher intrinsic water-use efficiency (iWUE) in P. sylvestris suggests that it relies more on a water-saving strategy. Our results suggest that narrower cell-walls and reduced growth under drought are not necessarily linked to increased iWUE. At our site P. nigra showed a higher growth plasticity, grew faster and was more competitive than P. sylvestris. In the long term, these sustained differences in iWUE and anatomical characters could affect forest species performance and composition, particularly under increased drought stress.
29
Zhang, Suogui. "The development of computer-aided inspection planning system for use with a co-ordinate measuring machine." Thesis, London South Bank University, 2000. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.324879.
Full text
30
Wohlert, Beverly Ann. "Self-Care Practices of Female Peer Support Specialists with Co-Occurring Mood and Substance Use Disorders." Diss., The University of Arizona, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/317803.
Full textAbstract:
The purpose of this study was to better understand the self-care practices of female peer support specialists (PSS) with co-occurring mood and substance use disorders. The researcher took a qualitative grounded theory approach conducting in-depth semi-structured interviews with ten women employed at peer-run agencies in Maricopa County, Arizona. Data from these interviews were transcribed, then analyzed manually, as well as with NVivo 10.0 software, to identify the key terms, nodes, categories and emergent themes of the participants' experiences. Self-care practices of peer support specialists included accessing personal and professional support networks; maintaining a daily routine to balance the demands of recovery, parenting, and working; taking medications; sleeping; practicing spirituality; participating in service work; eating nutritiously; exercising, and building a sense of coherence. Although a variety of practices were being used and identified as helpful, spirituality was identified as the most important self-care practice to achieve overall wellness. Employment improved the ability for PSSs to practice self-care because they valued the support of their supervisors and coworkers, were reminded of the consequences of not practicing self-care by working with individuals who were unstable, gained knowledge from teaching others, found healing in telling their stories, and reported higher self-esteems from working and helping others. However, participants did identify ways that employment as a PSS could interfere with practicing self-care, such as staff turnover, limited access to supervisors, or being unprepared to work in the field. Several recommendations were suggested as a result of this study, such as the importance of understanding and using effective self-care practices, building personal and professional support networks, and establishing daily routines to balance recovery with personal and professional demands.
31
Maggio, Sarah Elizabeth. "DEVELOPMENT OF A TRANSLATIONAL MODEL OF CO-USE OF ALCOHOL AND NICOTINE FOR TESTING POTENTIAL PHARMACOTHERAPIES." UKnowledge, 2019. https://uknowledge.uky.edu/psychology_etds/167.
Full textAbstract:
Co-users of alcohol and nicotine are the largest group of polysubstance users worldwide. Although pharmacotherapies are available for alcohol (EtOH) or tobacco use disorders individually, it may be possible to develop a single pharmacotherapy to treat heavy drinking tobacco smokers through capitalizing on the commonalities in their mechanisms of action. Towards this goal, several models of concurrent access to EtOH and nicotine were explored as potential preclinical models of co-use using female alcohol-preferring (P) rats. Additionally, potential pharmacotherapeutics for the treatment of EtOH and nicotine co-use disorder were tested using different variations of our model. Treatments tested included (1) varenicline, a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) partial agonist with high affinity for the α4β2* subtype; (2) r-bPiDI, a subtype-selective antagonist at α6β2* nAChRs; (3) (R)-modafinil, an atypical inhibitor of the dopamine transporter (DAT); and (4) naltrexone, a clinically available µ-opioid receptor antagonist used to treat alcohol use disorder (AUD).
Results from the current dissertation show success in developing a translational animal model in female P rats for co-use of EtOH and nicotine under which pharmacologically relevant levels of both EtOH consumption and nicotine intake are achieved. Additionally, our model was successfully used in testing potential pharmacotherapeutics for the treatment of EtOH and nicotine co-use disorder. Although none of the drugs tested were effective as a monotherapy, results from testing the known smoking cessation agent varenicline and the known AUD treatment naltrexone indicate that our model is effective for selectively measuring changes in EtOH and nicotine intake separately, which suggests the beneficial utility of this model for future treatment research.
Furthermore, by applying behavioral economic principles to our findings, we found that EtOH acts as an economic substitute for nicotine. Additionally, our behavioral economic analyses revealed that when the cost of nicotine is changed via response requirements vs dose per infusion, there are differences in the elasticity of demand for concurrently available EtOH and nicotine. Finally, the relatively flat consumption curve for EtOH following varenicline pretreatment suggests that pretreatment with varenicline acts to disrupt the relationship between EtOH and nicotine such that EtOH no longer acts as an economic substitute for nicotine.
32
Bircanin, Filip. "Co-designing with adults with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities to enable active communication technology use." Thesis, Queensland University of Technology, 2022. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/233760/1/Filip_Bircanin_Thesis.pdf.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis describes a series of studies examining the role of technologies in supporting adults with intellectual disabilities to have their voices heard and express their competencies and interests in a day centre for people with intellectual disabilities. It offers insights on how communication unfolds through complex relations between adults with intellectual disabilities and their carers. This thesis also describes several working prototypes and shows new pathways for design of Alternative and Augmentative Communication devices. Overall, the research articulates a number of methodological contributions on how to operationalize co-design activities in a group care setting for people with intellectual disabilities.
33
Graven, Heather Dawn. "Advancing the use of radiocarbon in studies of global and regional carbon cycling with high precision measurements of ¹⁴C in CO₂ from the Scripps CO₂ Program." Diss., Connect to a 24 p. preview or request complete full text in PDF format. Access restricted to UC campuses, 2008. http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/ucsd/fullcit?p3297574.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, San Diego, 2008.Title from first page of PDF file (viewed April 28, 2008). Available via ProQuest Digital Dissertations. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 243-256).
34
Loades, Sophie T. "The impact of value co-creation: A service employee perspective." Thesis, Queensland University of Technology, 2018. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/119153/1/Sophie_Loades_Thesis.pdf.
Full textAbstract:
Despite being a widespread organisational strategy, little is known about the impact of increasing consumer participation in services on service employees. This study examines the outcomes of value co-creation for service employees using in-depth semi-structured interviews with performers and managers within DeepBlue, a successful mainstream innovative arts organisation. The findings show employees experienced fluctuations in economic, social, hedonic, altruistic and connection value, with different types of value co-creation opportunities providing different levels and types of value derived or destroyed for employees. Ultimately, the findings suggest that value co-creation can both positively and negatively affect service employees and requires careful management.
35
Huertas, Miguelanez Maria De Las Mercedes. "A reflexive analysis of participants' engagement in the co-design of digital resources." Doctoral thesis, Università degli studi di Trento, 2019. http://hdl.handle.net/11572/243452.
Full textAbstract:
Appealing participants' engagement drives collaborative systems to enhance it through system's use or through system's design. However, engaging participants in collaborative systems to create digital resources is not trivial to achieve as the majority of contributions are provided by a very small percentage of engaged participants. In the literature, different approaches, such as human-in-the-loop and co-design, investigate engagement in these lines. This thesis aims to study how reflexivity can help designers to investigate participants' engagement in co-design of collaborative systems. Based on a qualitative approach, the thesis is positioned in the field of Human Computer Interaction and grounded on two studies. The retrospective analysis of the two studies was guided through a framework composed of three phases. In the first phase, supported by the literature review, several qualitative methods were investigated to identify the communities to be involved in the research; in the second phase, different co-design sessions were conducted with participants; and in the third phase, participants evaluated the solutions co-designed. The two studies followed different but intertwined approaches. Study 1 followed a user-centric approach and supported the identification and consolidation of a set of factors that hindered or facilitated engagement. The factors were articulated as barriers, drivers, and workarounds, and were validated in Study 2, which followed a participative approach. These factors constitute the first contribution of this thesis. Moreover, the literature review and the empirical data supported the identification of three dimensions to facilitate the adoption of a reflexive approach in co-design. These dimensions correspond to the second contribution of this thesis. Finally, the set of barriers, drivers, and workarounds was merged with the dimensions to propose a framework to investigate engagement in co-design of collaborative systems, constituting the third contribution of this thesis.
36
Sabri, Bushra. "Victimization and co-occurring disorders among adolescents." Diss., University of Iowa, 2011. https://ir.uiowa.edu/etd/1070.
Full textAbstract:
Purpose. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether severe victimization experiences, and psychological and social resources were shared risk factors for internalizing only, externalizing only, and co-occurring internalizing and externalizing disorders among victimized substance-using adolescents.
Method. Data for this cross-sectional study were obtained from a multisite research project. Adolescents, ages 11-18, participated in a comprehensive screening program for substance abuse at 106 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT)-funded grantee sites throughout the United States.
Results. Longer duration/frequent victimization, more than one type of victimization, recent victimization, low self-efficacy beliefs and available sources of emotional support were related to co-occurring internalizing and externalizing disorders. Victimization by a trusted person, however, was only related to internalizing disorders.
Conclusion. The findings show that some indicators of severe victimization experiences, psychological and social resources are shared risk factors for internalizing, for externalizing, and for co-occurring internalizing and externalizing problems, thus providing support for the common factors model of co-morbidity. These findings suggest that practitioners in substance abuse treatment must thoroughly assess for severe victimization experiences among adolescents presenting with co-occurring mental health issues. Treatment planning and interventions may focus on helping adolescents cope effectively with their victimization experiences and addressing their MH needs. Particular emphasis may be placed on enhancing self-efficacy and social skills, so that adolescents may benefit from their available sources of support.
37
Shoff, Rebecca. "Parental Factors as a Moderator of the Co-occurrence of Substance use and Depression in Hispanic Adolescents." Diss., CLICK HERE for online access, 2010. http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/ETD/image/etd3428.pdf.
Full text
38
Taylor, Emily. "Use of Corn Co-Products in Beef Cow Diets and Its Effects on Cow and Offspring Performance." Thesis, Purdue University, 2017. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10607515.
Full textAbstract:
The effect of feeding corn by-products on cow reproductive performance, as well as offspring growth and reproductive performance has been investigated through four separate studies. The first study was conducted to evaluate the use of dried distiller’s grains with solubles (DDGS) in beef cow diets during early lactation on both dam and heifer offspring growth and reproductive performance. Three diets, consisting of 0, 2.5 or 4.7 kg/d DM of DDGS were formulated to be isocaloric but the DDGS diets exceeded protein requirements. Milk production was not different, however, milk components increased with the addition of DDGS. Resumption of cyclicity of dams, as well as days of age at puberty in heifer offspring were not different. However, while not statistically different, time-artificial insemination (TAI) rates of both cow and heifer offspring were numerically improved with the addition of DDGS in the diet. Plasma urea nitrogen (PUN) concentrations in the cows followed the trend of being higher with increasing levels of DDGS. While PUN concentrations did reach levels that are considered detrimental to fertility, they did not seem to have a negative impact on conception.
In the second study, the use of corn gluten feed (CGF) in dam diets and its effects on their reproductive performance was investigated. Three diets, consisting of 0, 3.3 or 6.7 kg/d DM of CGF were formulated to be isocaloric but the CGF diets exceeded protein requirements. Milk production and milk components were not different with the exception of fat, which tended to be greater in the high CGF treatment. Resumption of cyclicity and TAI conception rates were not improved when CGF was added to the diet. Plasma urea nitrogen concentrations did not approached what would have been considered detrimental to fertility.
The third study was conducted to evaluate feeding DDGS during the second trimester or the second and third trimester (3.0 or 3.5 kg/d DDGS, respectively), on heifer offspring reproductive performance. Growth performance of heifer offspring did not differ among treatments. There were no differences in TAI conception rates in heifer offspring from dams fed DDGS but, dominant follicles tended to be larger in heifer offspring from dams fed DDGS during the second trimester. Due to the lack of improvement in reproductive performance in this study, it has been hypothesized that lactation may be a more critical time point for improvements in heifer offspring reproductive performance.
The fourth study followed the hypothesis of the third study. Because heifer offspring reproductive performance was positively impacted when dams were fed DDGS during early lactation, evaluation of dams fed DDGS during early lactation on bull offspring performance was investigated. Bull offspring growth performance was not impacted by dam diets during early lactation. Scrotal circumference, testosterone concentrations and semen analysis were used to evaluate days of age at puberty, however, puberty attainment in bull offspring was also not impacted. In summary, feeding DDGS as a primary source of dietary energy during early lactation had a positive impact on both cow and heifer offspring reproductive performance, but this does not seem to be true for bull offspring.
39
Sheedy, Claudia. "Use of immunoaffinity chromatography to remove co-contaminants from soil extracts prior to residue analysis by immunoassay." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 2000. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk1/tape4/PQDD_0035/MQ47362.pdf.
Full text
40
Evans, Brandon. "An integrated program for homeless adults with co-occurring mental and subtance use disorders| A grant proposal." Thesis, California State University, Long Beach, 2013. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=1523350.
Full textAbstract:
Given the prevalence of homeless adults who experience a variety of co-occurring mental and substance use disorders, the purpose of this project was to identify a funding source and write a grant proposal to design and implement an integrated program that will address the needs of homeless adults with co-occurring disorders. The target area is Los Angeles County, more specifically, San Pedro, California. There are many risks associated with adults who experience co-occurring disorders, including chronically homelessness, poor health, high suicide rates, HIV I AIDS, and frequent interactions with the criminal justice system. The overarching goal of this proposed program is to decrease the prevalence of co-occurring disorders by offering effective treatment. The potential funding source for this project is the McMillen Family Foundation because the criteria of the grant guidelines were consistent with the nature of this program and identified population. The actual grant submission and/or funding of the grant was not a requirement for successful completion of this project.
41
Dey, Rebecca. "An investigation into the potential use of poly(vinylphosphonic acid-co-acrylic acid) in bone tissue scaffolds." Thesis, University of Manchester, 2017. https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/an-investigation-into-the-potential-use-of-polyvinylphosphonic-acidcoacrylic-acid-in-bone-tissue-scaffolds(0f3b96dd-29e6-4b46-9760-57770dee8bde).html.
Full textAbstract:
Bone undergoes constant turnover throughout life and has the capacity to regenerate itself. However, the repair of critical size defects, caused by bone diseases such as osteoporosis, can be more problematic. Therefore, there is a clinical need for a bone graft substitute that can be used at sites of surgical intervention to enhance bone regeneration. Poly(vinylphosphonic acid-co-acrylic acid) (PVPA-co-AA) has recently been identified as a potential candidate for use in bone tissue scaffolds. It is hypothesised that PVPA-co-AA can mimic the action of bisphosphonates â a class of drugs used in the treatment of osteoporosis â by binding to calcium ions from bone mineral surfaces. In this way, bisphosphonates can affect bone turnover by increasing the activity of osteoblasts and reducing osteoclast activity. Although PVPA-co-AA has been shown to improve bone formation, the mechanism of action has so far not been fully elucidated. Therefore, this work aims to understand the effect of copolymer composition on the properties of PVPA-co-AA, and thus to determine its effect on osteoblast adhesion and proliferation. PVPA-co-AA copolymers have been synthesised with a range of monomer feed ratios. It was found that a VPA content of 30 mol % led to the greatest calcium binding affinity of the copolymer and is thus expected to lead to enhanced bone formation and mineralisation of the matrix produced by osteoblast cells. The release profile of PVPA-co-AA from electrospun PCL scaffolds was investigated. It was shown that all of the PVPA-co-AA was released into aqueous media within 8 h of immersion. It was also found that the calcium chelation from osteogenic differentiation media significantly increased within the first 8 h. Therefore, it was concluded that PVPA-co-AA is released from the scaffolds, where it can then bind to calcium ions from the bone mineral surface to promote mineralisation, thus acting as a mimic of non-collagenous proteins, which are present in the extracellular matrix (ECM) of bone. Hydrogels of PVPA-co-AA have been produced and the effect of monomer feed ratio (0-50 mol % VPA) on the properties of the gels was explored. It was found that an increase in VPA content led to greater hydrogel swelling and increased porosities. Hydrogels that contained 30 and 50 mol % VPA were shown to have similar morphologies to the native ECM of bone. Rheological testing showed that hydrogels with higher VPA contents were more flexible and could be deformed to a large extent without permanent deformation of their structure. An increase in osteoblast adhesion and proliferation was observed for hydrogels with 30 and 50 mol % VPA content as well as superior cell spreading. Osteoblast cell metabolic activity also increased as a function of VPA content in the hydrogels. This work indicates that hydrogels of PVPA-co-AA, with VPA contents of 30 or 50 mol %, are ideal for use as bone tissue scaffolds. Furthermore, the mechanical and cell adhesion properties of the gels can be tuned by altering the copolymer composition. Finally, composite hydrogels of PVPA-co-AA and hydroxyapatite (HA) have been produced and investigated for their ability to remove fluoride ions from groundwater. It was found that the fluoride uptake ability of PVPA-HA hydrogels was significantly enhanced when compared with HA powder alone. Furthermore, the fluoride uptake was dependent on many factors, including pH, contact time and the presence of competing ions. It was possible to regenerate the hydrogel to remove the fluoride ions, and thus it was shown that the material can be used a number of times with only a slight reduction in its fluoride uptake capacity.
42
Manville, Nathan Kyle. "Acceleration of Catalytic Asymmetric Silylation of Syn-Diols and Triols by Use of a Tetrazole Co-Catalyst." Thesis, Boston College, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/2345/3236.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis advisor: Kian L. TanThe acceleration of catalytic asymmetric silylation of syn-diols and triols by use of an azole additive has been developed. By simply adding 7.5-20 mol % of a commercially available small-molecule, 5-ethylthiotetrazole, to a previously reported chiral catalyst, reactions proceed within one hour delivering the desired products with similarly high yields and enantiomeric ratios; there is minimal reaction during the same period when one of the co-catalysts is absent. In an attempt to better understand this silylation mechanism, computational catalyst design and synthetic development were employed
Thesis (MS) — Boston College, 2013
Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Discipline: Chemistry
43
Srinivasan, Narayanan. "Pretreatment of Guayule Biomass Using Supercritical CO2-based Method for Use as Fermentation Feedstock." University of Akron / OhioLINK, 2010. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1289782016.
Full text
44
Moore, Barbara Colin. "STRESS, COPING, AND WELL-BEING AMONG FAMILY MEMBERS OF WOMEN WITH SUBSTANCE USE OR CO-OCCURRING DISORDERS." Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies / OhioLINK, 2007. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1156529516.
Full text
45
Ogawa, Lisa Marie Fink. "Substance Use Experiences and Hepatitis C Treatment Decision-Making Among HIV/HCV Co-infected Adults: A Dissertation." eScholarship@UMMS, 2007. https://escholarship.umassmed.edu/gsn_diss/3.
Full textAbstract:
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection affects between 150,000 to 300,000 human immunodeficiency (HIV) positive adults in the US (Alter et al., 1999; Sherman, Rouster, Chung, & Rajicic, 2002). The majority of co-infected adults (50%-90%) have acquired HCV through substance abuse (Centers for Disease Control [CDC], 1998; CDC, 2006b). A patient's decision to begin HCV treatment is not straightforward. HCV evaluation and treatment involves a significant amount of time, energy, effort, and compliance on the part of the patient. There is limited information on how adults with HCV mono-infection make decisions about HCV evaluation and treatment (Fraenkel, McGraw, Wongcharatraee, & Garcia-Tsao, 2005). Even less is known about how adults with HIV/HCV co-infection with a history of substance abuse make treatment decisions. The purpose of this study was to describe substance abuse experiences and to explore how these related to patient decision-making about HCV treatment in HIV/HCV co-infected adults. Qualitative descriptive design and secondary data analysis were used to study these phenomena. Data were managed by using NVivo software and analyzed by secondary data analysis and qualitative content analysis.
Five major themes with sub-themes emerged during the data analysis. They were: (1) The Evolution of Substance Abuse (with sub-themes: substance abuse initiation, escalation, polysubstance abuse, normalcy: a family of addicts, the enemy within, and transmission and disclosure), (2) Revolving Door: Going Back Out (with sub-themes: specific events as a trigger, emotions as a trigger, alcohol as a trigger, and destructive relationships as a trigger), and (3) Reconstructing Life (with sub-themes: defining moments in substance abuse addiction and maintaining sobriety), (4) HCV Infection Treatment Issues (with sub-themes: HCV treatment: not a priority, fear, and misinformation, and desire to use stimulated during HCV treatment), and (5) Get Clean and Try It.
The participants spoke about how their substance abuse evolved from inception to sobriety, and for some it remained a problem. Relapse and recovery were fragile in nature especially in these adults with HIV/HCV co-infection. The decision-making process is influenced by substance abuse experiences, however more research is needed to uncover specific factors influencing these decisions.
46
Choi, Chong Seok Seok. "COMBINED LAND USE OF SOLAR INFRASTRUCTURE AND AGRICULTURE FOR SOCIOECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL CO-BENEFITS IN THE TROPICS." Master's thesis, Temple University Libraries, 2019. http://cdm16002.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p245801coll10/id/546811.
Full textAbstract:
GeologyM.S.
Solar photovoltaic (PV) generation has been gaining popularity as low carbon energy technology in the face of the global climate change. However, conventional utility-scale PV requires large swaths of land to be occupied for decades which prevents the land from producing food or performing vital ecosystem services. Co-location of PV with crop cultivation is an emerging strategy for mitigating the land use of PV. In order to optimize this strategy, the impact of the plant growth-related soil properties need to be quantified. To this end, the first portion of the thesis investigated the impacts on the soil properties in a re-vegetated solar PV facility in Boulder, Colorado, which was the oldest vegetation-PV co-location site in the world. The second portion of the thesis uses a life cycle analysis (LCA) approach to test the feasibility of co-location of model crop cultivation and solar PV electricity generation in rural Indonesia, and it is the first study to use the LCA study of the co-located solar in the tropics. The first approach revealed that the soil hydrology, grain size distribution, and total carbon and nitrogen are significantly altered from their original state by the construction and presence of photovoltaic arrays, and that those properties had not been restored to their pre-construction levels despite the fact that ten years had passed since re-vegetation of the PV array. The persistence of the altered soil properties meant that the designs regarding re-vegetation or co-location of PV with crops would have to be considered at the beginning of the construction of the PV to minimize the impact on the soil and the existing vegetation. Furthermore, soil moisture was the highest in the soil underneath the western edge of the PV panels, where the western tilt of the PV panel had concentrated the rainfall. The heterogeneity in soil hydrology created by the panels could be manipulated to benefit the growth of vegetation within the PV array. The LCA approach revealed that a hectare of PV arrays with full module density would carbon offsets against diesel electricity generation and the grid, and that the annual supply of electricity from the PV could satisfy the demand of a typical rural Indonesian village several times over. However, the high capital expenditure of solar mean that co-location with full PV module density would not be economically feasible, even with the income stream from the co-located crop cultivation. In order to reduce the capital expenditure, the PV module density for co-location was reduced to half. The combination of reduced capital expenditure and the income stream from the crop made the co-located land use significantly less costly. Additionally, the rural electrification would be able to provide secondary socioeconomic benefits such as avoidance of health costs through operation of public health infrastructures, increased standard of living, and secondary income opportunities from processing of raw materials. However, better subsidies for renewables, specialized loan structures for small-scale renewable systems, and a culture of co-operation between small landholders would need to be implemented before the co-located system becomes affordable to the inhabitants in rural Indonesian villages.
Temple University--Theses
47
Grant, Misty. "Exploring Relationships of Meaning, Co-Occurring Diagnoses, and Attitudes About Substances." ScholarWorks, 2018. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/5869.
Full textAbstract:
It is increasingly important to understand the factors associated with individuals struggling with addiction and their quality of life, especially with those struggling with co-occurring diagnoses (CODs). The purpose of this study was to explore the extent to which meaning, and CODs of anxiety and depression predict an individual's attitudes and beliefs about addiction among persons receiving treatment for substance use disorders (SUDs). The theoretical foundation used to guide this study was logotherapy, which emphasizes the importance of increasing meaning in life through choices, while also centering on being able to find meaning in all situations. A cross-sectional correlation design was employed, using a sample of patient admission records from a dual diagnosis treatment center in the western United States. The responses on 4 assessments related to meaning, symptoms of anxiety and depression, and attitudes about substances were analyzed using a multiple linear regression. There was no statistically significant relationship between an individual's attitudes and beliefs about addiction as predicted by that individual's meaning and CODs symptoms of anxiety and depression. A significant negative correlation existed between depression and meaning (p < .01), while a significant positive correlation existed between the depression and anxiety (p < .05) as well as the anxiety and attitudes about substances (p < .01). The findings from this study can assist counselor educators in understanding the correlation between SUD, increased depressive symptoms, and low personal meaning.
48
Houser, Kimberly Ann. "Examining the Association Between Co-occurring Mental and Substance Use Disorders and Institutional Misconduct Among Female State Inmates." Diss., Temple University Libraries, 2011. http://cdm16002.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p245801coll10/id/144630.
Full textAbstract:
Criminal JusticePh.D.
In view of the vast numbers of individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders within the offender population, the scarcity of research on the potential exacerbating effects of co-occurring disorders on prisoner misconduct is surprising. With a sample of 1,470 incarcerated women offenders in Pennsylvania, this study examined prisoner misconduct among four distinct groups: 1) inmates with co-occurring disorders, 2) those with mental illness only, 3) inmates with substance use disorders only, and 4) prisoners with no mental health or substance use disorders net the effects of other factors demonstrated in prior studies to influence institutional misconduct. Results suggested that female prisoners with mental health and co-occurring disorders were significantly more likely than those with no disorders to be charged with prison misconduct . Co-occurring disorder inmates were also more likely to be charged with both minor and serious misconduct compared to inmates with no disorders. The results of this study suggest that menttal health and co-occurring disorders may hinder the ability of some female offenders to successfully assimilate to the prison environment as evidenced by higher rates of institutional misbehavior. Practice and policy implications are discussed
Temple University--Theses
49
Hammermeister, James Paul. "The co-ordination of light rapid transit and land-use : an examination of the institutional framework in Edmonton." Thesis, University of British Columbia, 1987. http://hdl.handle.net/2429/26826.
Full textAbstract:
Land use and transportation are dynamic processes continually reacting to the pressures of urban development and societal change. Although the theoretical literature supports the notion that land use and transportation should be planned and managed in a co-ordinated fashion, the empirical evidence suggests that land use and transportation decisions are still made largely independent of each other.
The thesis maintains that an emphasis on the substantive approach in the planning process has led to a misunderstanding of the manner in which the institutional framework can influence the co-ordinated development of land use and transportation.
Several institutional factors are involved including; the organizational framework, the process of integration within the framework, and the strategies developed to implement societal goals and objectives. Specific concerns include; fragmentation of authority, lack of authority, a reactive planning process, and the lack of formal mechanisms for implementation.
An adaptive, process-oriented model of institutional integration is proposed that blends two elements of an effective planning process: the co-ordinated development of land use and transportation and the integration of organizational components within the institutional framework. The thesis suggests that one cannot successfully implement strategic change without making compensating and reinforcing changes to the process and structure. The degree of risk and uncertainty within the environment is the qualifying factor that maintains a proper
'fit' within the planning process.
The latter part of the thesis examines the institutional framework
responsible for the development of the City of Edmonton's Northeast light rapid transit system. The analysis reveals that although rapid transit was seen as a means of accomplishing compact growth and development little redevelopment has occurred along the transit corridor, particularly at the level envisaged by the city planners. A number of institutional factors have contributed to the lack of development including; a dynamic and complex environment, a reactive planning process, the lack of formal integrative mechanisms, separate and, at times, independent land use and transportation planning processes, and disincentives towards redevelopment such as the redevelopment levy and zoning freeze.
The application of the integrated institutional model suggests the need for a number of integrative mechanisms that were not evident within the institutional framework responsible for Edmonton's light rapid transit system. The study reveals that the institutional framework influences the effectiveness of land use planning along a rapid transit corridor and that integrative mechanisms are required within the planning process in order to effectively co-ordinate the development of land use and transportation.Applied Science, Faculty of
Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of
Graduate
50
Cochrane, David. "The interaction between co-morbid substance use and psychosis : an exploratory study of service users' beliefs and attitudes." Thesis, University of Leicester, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/2381/4464.
Full textAbstract:
Literature review. A systematic review of the literature on the interaction between substance use and psychosis was conducted focusing on the areas of: symptoms and course of illness; engagement with services; violence, suicide and criminal behaviour; and treatment approaches. Research report. A qualitative study was carried out to explore the beliefs and attitudes of clients regarding their use of illicit substance and/or alcohol and how they felt this interacted with their psychotic experiences. Eight participants were recruited for interview and Grounded Theory techniques of data collection and analysis were employed. A core category concerning participants' `Emotionally Charged Relationship with Substances' emerged from analysis that is suggested to have characteristics similar to interpersonal relationships. Constituent categories of Escaping; Limiting Factors; Making sense of psychosis and Substance Use; and Identity and Substance Use, were identified and explored. A theoretical model was constructed to represent how these constituent categories interplayed to determine the nature of participants' dynamic emotional relationship with substances. Implications for clinical practice with this client group and future research in this area are discussed. Critical appraisal. An in-depth account of the Principal Investigators reflections on the whole research experience. Aspects of personal and professional development arising from the process of planning, conducting and writing up the study are explored.