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Spectrum sensing is the process of identifying the frequencies of a spectrum in which Signals Of Interest (SOI) are present. In case of continuous time signals present in a wideband spectrum, the information rate is seen to be much less than that suggested by its bandwidth and are therefore known as sparse signals. A review of the literature in [1] and [2] indicates that two of the many techniques used in wideband spectrum sensing of sparse signals are the Wideband Compressive Radio Receiver (WCRR) for multitoned signals and the mixed analog digital system for multiband signals. In both of these techniques even though the signals are sampled at sub-Nyquist rates using Compressive Sampling (CS), the recovery algorithms used by them are different from that of CS. In WCRR, a simple correlation function is used for the detection of carrier frequencies and in a mixed analog digital system, a simple digital algorithm is used for the identification of frequency support. Through a literature survey, we could identify that a VHSIC hardware descriptive ModelSim simulation model for wideband spectrum sensing of multitoned and multiband signals using sub Nyquist sampling does not exist. If a ModelSim simulation model can be developed using VHDL codes, it can be easily adapted for FPGA implementation leading to the development of a realistic hardware prototype for use in Cognitive Radio (CR) communication systems. The research work reported through this dissertation deals with the implementation of simulation models of WCRR and mixed analog digital system in ModelSim by making use of VHDL coding. Algorithms corresponding to different blocks contained in the conceptual design of these models have been formulated prior to the coding phase. After the coding phase, analyses of the models are performed using test parameter choices to ensure that they meet the design requirements. Different parametric choices are then assigned for the parametric study and a sufficient number of iterations of these simulations were carried out to verify and validate these models. / MIng (Computer and Electronic Engineering), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

“It’s not just about the money”: the meaning of work for people with severe and enduring mental health problems – an interpretative phenomenological analysis. Aim – to explore the meaning of work for people living with severe and enduring mental health problems. Method - Ten participants were recruited and interviewed initially; eight at six months; four at eighteen months. A longitudinal approach was chosen to facilitate capturing changes in the participants’ life worlds. The method used was interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Findings - Three overarching themes were identified. Building and maintaining an occupational identity expressed the ways in which participants used occupations as the building blocks of an evolving identity; some viewed work as a socially valued way of doing this. Most of the participants had aspirations towards work, and occupation in a broad sense was seen as an essential component of recovery from mental ill health. Work, and other ways of belonging encapsulated the need to feel connected to others. Many of the participants envisaged working as a way of achieving this. Others had experienced work as isolating and excluding, and had found leaving or changing work roles to be liberating. Work values, personal values; the need for accord reflected the attitudes that participants held about the role of work in their lives, and in society. These views reflected ambivalent feelings about working which often seemed to stem from distressing experiences of work. The longitudinal nature of the study facilitated engagement with the developing narratives and exploration of the changes and consistencies in the participants’ meaning making about work. Conclusion - work may contribute to recovery, as can other forms of occupational engagement. Attention to identity building and fostering a sense of belonging is important. Implications relate to the need for service providers to utilise a flexible approach to occupational participation.

Introduction In recent years the concept of ‘recovery’ has become increasingly prevalent in both government and health service policy, and in the terminology used by mental health service users. The current study examines the experiences of recovery as described by service users living in a rural / semi-rural population. This is in contrast to the majority of similar studies, which have tended to focus on urban centres where population characteristics, and the services available to service users, differ in many ways. As such, the aim of the current study was to add to the growing theory regarding what constitutes recovery from the viewpoint of service users living in a relatively remote area of the UK. Methodology Eight adult participants, all of whom defined themselves as either recovering or having recovered from significant mental health problems, were interviewed about their experiences using a semi-structured interview. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and analysed for emerging themes using a social constructionist version of Grounded Theory. Data Analysis & Discussion Analysis revealed a consistent set of themes emerging from the participant interviews. These are encapsulated in the concept of reflection and integration, and the dynamic nature of these phenomena over time. Participants made reference to the nature of their problems and the impact they had on relationships, the treatment they had sought and received, and the effects of their experiences on their notions of themselves as individuals. Conclusions The findings of the current study are discussed in the light of existing relevant literature and in relation to current policy initiatives. Comparisons to the emerging theory regarding recovery are drawn, and distinctions made between the existing theory and the findings which appear to be particularly pertinent to the sample population. Suggestions for clinical applications are made. Limitations of the study are also addressed, and areas for potential further research are outlined.

Research in the field of drug dependence and recovery emphasises the need for more understanding of the concept of recovery from dependent drug use. This study explored the ways in which dependent drug users recover from drug dependency in a Christian faith-based agency in Lagos, Nigeria. The strategy employed was a qualitative research design using a case study approach. Instruments for data collection were qualitative interviews and observation methods; agency records were also accessed for background information purposes. Three stages of the recovery process were explored: motivation for recovery, disengagement from drugs and maintenance of recovery. In each of these stages, psychological, socio-environmental and spiritual elements were identified as significant factors in the recovery process. The offer of treatment from a Christian faith-based agency seemed to be the most important factor in motivating informants to engage in treatment in the first place. At the disengagement stage, psychological and socio-environmental issues came to the fore, with a personal commitment to change and support from significant others including peers becoming important. Spiritual factors played a significant part at this time, however, including teaching and Bible reviews and prayers. Maintenance of recovery was found to be facilitated by psychological strategies such as positive self-talk and avoidance of triggers of drug dependency; by socio-environmental factors including supportive relationships; and by spiritual elements, which centred on the adoption of a Christian lifestyle. The findings conclude that although recovery from drug dependence is achieved through various routes, the most significant factor for the informants in this study was the spiritual intervention received.

Intermittent Pneumatic Compression (IPC) use as a tool for recovery after exercise has recently become widespread among athletes. While there is strong anecdotal support for IPC, little research has been done to show its effectiveness in recovery. Eight collegiate football athletes were recruited and subjected to IPC or control conditions in a randomized crossover manner during off-season training. Countermovement jump (CMJ) and 10m sprint were evaluated before training, at 3 and 24 hours following training. Self-reported soreness, blood markers of inflammation [interleukin-6, interleukin-10, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1)] and muscle damage (myoglobin) were measured before training, post-training, post-recovery and at 3 and 24 hours post-training. Significant time effects were observed in MCP-1 and myoglobin (p < 0.05) indicating an inflammatory response and muscle damage. No group differences (p > 0.05) were observed between recovery interventions for all measures, suggesting that the IPC protocol used was not effective in this population. / February 2017

<p>Oil spills in marine environments often damage marine and coastal life if not remediated rapidly and efficiently. In spite of the strict enforcement of environmental legislations (i.e., Oil Pollution Act 1990) following the Exxon Valdez oil spill (June 1989; the second biggest oil spill in U.S. history), the Macondo well blowout disaster (April 2010) released 18 times more oil. Strikingly, the response methods used to contain and capture spilled oil after both accidents were nearly identical, note that more than two decades separate Exxon Valdez (1989) and Macondo well (2010) accidents. </p><p>The goal of this dissertation was to investigate new advanced materials (mechanically strong aerogel composite blankets-Cabot® Thermal Wrap™ (TW) and Aspen Aerogels® Spaceloft® (SL)), and their applications for oil capture and recovery to overcome the current material limitations in oil spill response methods. First, uptake of different solvents and oils were studied to answer the following question: do these blanket aerogel composites have competitive oil uptake compared to state-of-the-art oil sorbents (i.e., polyurethane foam-PUF)? In addition to their competitive mechanical strength (766, 380, 92 kPa for Spaceloft, Thermal Wrap, and PUF, respectively), our results showed that aerogel composites have three critical advantages over PUF: rapid (3-5 min.) and high (more than two times of PUF’s uptake) oil uptake, reusability (over 10 cycles), and oil recoverability (up to 60%) via mechanical extraction. Chemical-specific sorption experiments showed that the dominant uptake mechanism of aerogels is adsorption to the internal surface, with some contribution of absorption into the pore space. </p><p>Second, we investigated the potential environmental impacts (energy and chemical burdens) associated with manufacturing, use, and disposal of SL aerogel and PUF to remove the oil (i.e., 1 m3 oil) from a location (i.e., Macondo well). Different use (single and multiple use) and end of life (landfill, incinerator, and waste-to-energy) scenarios were assessed, and our results demonstrated that multiple use, and waste-to-energy choices minimize the energy and material use of SL aerogel. Nevertheless, using SL once and disposing via landfill still offers environmental and cost savings benefits relative to PUF, and so these benefits are preserved irrespective of the oil-spill-response operator choices. </p><p>To inform future aerogel manufacture, we investigated the different laboratory-scale aerogel fabrication technologies (rapid supercritical extraction (RSCE), CO2 supercritical extraction (CSCE), alcohol supercritical extraction (ASCE)). Our results from anticipatory LCA for laboratory-scaled aerogel fabrication demonstrated that RSCE method offers lower cumulative energy and ecotoxicity impacts compared to conventional aerogel fabrication methods (CSCE and ASCE). </p><p>The final objective of this study was to investigate different surface coating techniques to enhance oil recovery by modifying the existing aerogel surface chemistries to develop chemically responsive materials (switchable hydrophobicity in response to a CO2 stimulus). Our results showed that studied surface coating methods (drop casting, dip coating, and physical vapor deposition) were partially successful to modify surface with CO2 switchable chemical (tributylpentanamidine), likely because of the heterogeneous fiber structure of the aerogel blankets. A possible solution to these non-uniform coatings would be to include switchable chemical as a precursor during the gel preparation to chemically attach the switchable chemical to the pores of the aerogel. </p><p>Taken as a whole, the implications of this work are that mechanical deployment and recovery of aerogel composite blankets is a viable oil spill response strategy that can be deployed today. This will ultimately enable better oil uptake without the uptake of water, potential reuse of the collected oil, reduced material and energy burdens compared to competitive sorbents (e.g., PUF), and reduced occupational exposure to oiled sorbents. In addition, sorbent blankets and booms could be deployed in coastal and open-ocean settings, respectively, which was previously impossible.</p> / Dissertation

The study investigates the process of recovery for people diagnosed with personality disorder. This is related to the application of the new meaning of recovery from mental illness as explored by members of The Haven which, as the service setting for the study, addresses the problems of a client group that suffers significant social exclusion, known to impact on demand for health and other public services. It aims to examine efforts which attempt to reverse this social exclusion as an aspect of the recovery process. An earlier inquiry by the author yielded a new understanding of the diagnosis of personality disorder as defined by service users, and contributed to a change in the national agenda when the Department of Health responded by providing new national guidance and funding for pilot projects throughout the country. This resulted in The Haven, the service context for this current study. As yet, internationally, there is no agreed rationale of recovery for those diagnosed with personality disorder and few researchers have sought the views of service users regarding the issue. The following study is the first internationally known research about personality disorder and recovery. A Participatory Action Research approach was chosen for this study and The Haven Research Group, comprised of the author and Haven clients, formulated proposed research questions and conducted Focus Groups and Individual Client Interviews with 66 participants, over a period of three years. The group has been concerned with the effectiveness of The Haven as a recovery tool from the perspective of service users and carers. An examination of emerging themes, and the interplay between themes, gives insight into what participants consider to be the key steps to recovery for someone with a personality disorder diagnosis. From this thematic analysis a map is proposed of the journey of recovery for people with the diagnosis. Findings offer contributions to knowledge in terms of the service model and propose a new construct regarding recovery in personality disorder. This is defined as a journey of small steps highlighting recovering as a process, rather than recovery as a goal, leading to the emergence of the new concept of Transitional Recovery. As an alternative to the historically sequential path of rehabilitation and proposed recovery, this study offers a new, socially inclusive way of working with people who have a personality disorder diagnosis where they may choose to retain a haven while continuing to develop and progress on their chosen path in the wider world.