Orientador: Antonio Padilha Feltrin / Banca: Jose Roberto Sanches Mantovani / Banca: Ariovaldo Verandio Garcia / Resumo: A reestruturação dos mercados de energia para fornecer livre acesso ao sistema de transmissão e o conseqüente aumento no número de transações de compra e venda de energia tem causado congestionamento nos sistemas de transmissão. Como conseqüência, as redes têm sofrido sobrecargas nas linhas de maneira mais freqüente. Uma maneira prática de se melhorar a capacidade de transferência de potência ativa em uma linha de transmissão é a redução de seu fluxo reativo. Esse controle pode ser feito através de alterações nos controles das fontes de potência reativa e nos taps de transformadores. A definição de quais ações serão tomadas de modo a minimizar o fluxo reativo e aliviar, ou mesmo eliminar, a sobrecarga em uma determinada linha, pode ser realizada através da análise de sensibilidade. Uma vez que se está interessado na resposta do sistema às variações de injeções de reativos, utilizamos a matriz Lc do método CRIC (Calcul de Reseaux Implicitement Couples) de fluxo de potência. Também foi utilizado o modelo constante do método CRIC. A metodologia desenvolvida consiste da manipulação da matriz Lc com outras sensibilidades de primeira ordem, de modo a se obter as sensibilidades entre fluxo reativo nas linhas e injeção de reativos nas barras e fluxo reativo nas linhas e taps dos transformadores. As sensibilidades obtidas fornecem as barras e transformadores mais indicados para alívio de uma determinada sobrecarga e são úteis principalmente em casos emergenciais, nos quais não seja necessária a instalação de novas fontes de reativos. Os resultados obtidos são comparados com os obtidos através de uma metodologia semelhante, que utiliza a matriz jacobiana do método de Newton. Foram utilizados para os testes o sistema Cigré de 32 barras, e o sistema Sul-Sudeste brasileiro em duas configurações de carga diferentes. / Abstract: The restructuring of energy markets to supply free access to the transmission system and the consequent increase of the number of power transactions has been causing congestions in the transmission systems. As consequence, the networks have been suffering overloads in the lines in a more frequent way. A practice way of improving the transfer capability of active power in a transmission line is to decrease its reactive power flow. That control can be made through changes in the reactive power sources injections and in the transformer ratios of transformers. The definition of which actions will be taken to minimize the reactive flow and to alleviate, or even to eliminate, the overload in a determined line can be accomplished through the sensibility analysis. Once it is interested in the answer of the system to the variations of reactive power injections, we used the matrix Lc from the CRIC (Calcul of Reseaux Implicitement Couples) power flow method. The constant model of CRIC is also used. The developed methodology consists of the manipulation of the matrix Lc with other first order sensibilities, in order to obtain the sensibilities among reactive flow in the lines and reactive power injections in the buses and reactive flow in the lines and transformer ratios of the transformers. The obtained sensibilities indicate the buses and transformers for relieving a certain overload and they are mainly useful in emergency cases, which it is not necessary the installation of new sources of reagents. The obtained results are compared with the obtained through a similar methodology, that uses the of Newton's method jacobian matrix. The methodologies were tested using the 32-bus Cigré network and the South-southeast Brazilian system in two different load configurations. / Mestre

Thesis (M.Sc.) -- University of Limpopo, 2016 / Purpose of the study The purpose of this study was to investigate the experiences of couples on disclosure of their HIV-positive status to each other. Research methodology Qualitative, Phenomenology, exploratory descriptive and contextual research was conducted to identify the experiences and to determine the strategies that address non-disclosure of couples on their HIV-positive status. The population comprised 12 participants (six (6) couples). Purposive sampling was used to select eight (8) participants (four (4) couples) who participated in the study. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data until data saturation was reached. Study findings Data were analysed using Tesch’s open-coding method. Five themes emerged, namely, fear of being HIV-positive, disclosure of HIV-positive status is a difficult process, acceptance of HIV-positive status, relations between partners post knowledge of HIV-positive results and encouragement pertaining to disclosure of HIV-positive status. Strategies were developed to address the experiences identified. Recommendations were made for the Department of Health, clinic staff, future researchers, patients and community members. Conclusion Although couples disclosed their status to one another disclosure was found to be a difficult process. Acceptance of HIV status was also found to be one of the challenges that led to delayed disclosure of the status. Support system from both family and community is a very important factor which might increase HIV status acceptance and disclosure from couples. Keywords: Couples, experiences, disclosure, HIV-positive status.

<p>This quantitative study sought to expand upon research surrounding the influence pornography use has on relationship and sexual satisfaction for gays and lesbians. Previous literature has primarily focused on the couple outcomes associated with pornography use for heterosexual romantic relationships. This research was conducted and conceptualized through the lens of queer and minority stress theory. It was hypothesized that amount of shared pornography use would be positively associated with relationship and sexual satisfaction for same-sex couples. Additionally, it was hypothesized that the relationship between amount of shared pornography use and relationship as well as sexual satisfaction for same-sex couples will be more strongly positively associated for a high level of acceptance of pornography use. Lastly, it was hypothesized that the relationship between the amount of shared pornography use and level of relationship as well as sexual satisfaction will be more strongly positively associated for women than men. Five of the six hypotheses were not statistically significant. The relationship between amount of shared pornography use and level of sexual satisfaction was strongly positively associated for higher levels of acceptance of pornography use. In addition, higher levels of acceptance of pornography use were related to higher levels of relationship satisfaction. Regarding control variables, relationship status was found to be significantly associated with relationship satisfaction. Participants who reported being either engaged or married indicated higher satisfaction with the current state of their romantic relationship than participants who were dating or cohabitating. Strengths and limitations, clinical implications, and future directions for research are explored.<br></p>

Policies mandating HIV status disclosure to decrease incidence create ethical challenges for physicians on whether to breach or maintain infected patients' confidentiality. In Sub-Saharan Africa where HIV incidence is high, there is a need for clear guidelines/policies on making confidentiality decisions. The purpose of this quantitative quasi experiment was to determine whether the gender, gender orientation, and sexual relationship of an infected patient and physicians' demographics predicted physicians' decisions to breach confidentiality. In Plateau State, Nigeria, 222 physicians were given vignette questionnaires containing 6 different descriptions of gender, gender orientation, and sexual relationships of a hypothetical patient. Each physician decided to maintain or breach a patient's confidentiality in a variant. The utilitarian framework was applied, and data were analyzed using logistic regression models. A majority of the participants (70%) indicated a breach by directly informing sex partners or informing or referring to the health department. Only physicians' feature of previous confidentiality breach significantly predicted the decision to breach [p =.028, Exp (B) =.1.345, 95%CI (1.032, 1.753)]. The results suggested that regardless of patients' characteristics, physicians will breach confidentiality to protect sex partners potentially at risk of HIV infection. These findings may bring about positive social change by clarifying reasons for physicians' breach decisions, by informing the development of physicians' decision guidelines that would enhance physicians' practices in managing discordant couples, which could reduce HIV transmission among discordant couples leading to better and longer lives.

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Sexual mindfulness has been shown to improve couple's relationship and sexual satisfaction. Mindfulness research has mostly been conducted with White participants, largely leaving out the perspectives of diverse participants. This study piloted an online culturally-adapted version of the Sexual Mindfulness Project with Black and interracial couples (N=26 heterosexual individuals in a committed relationship from three different continents; age range 23€“44) to understand the program's acceptability and impacts. Qualitative interviews and quantitative surveys showed that couples enjoyed the program and experienced positive relational and sexual impacts post-intervention, including improved relationship satisfaction, sexual satisfaction, communication, and sexual mindfulness. Implications to improve the program curriculum and delivery are discussed.

<p>  </p> <p>Lack of physical activity is considered a public health crisis, with only 21% of women meeting current physical activity guidelines. Inactivity places individuals at higher risk for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, depression, cancer, and premature death. Affect, or one’s mood and emotions, is often related to both health outcomes and health behaviors. Positive affect is associated with a lower risk of mortality, healthy eating habits, and decreased alcohol consumption, while negative affect is associated with premature mortality, lower medication adherence, and riskier sexual behaviors. Fredrickson’s broaden and build theory of positive emotions (BABT) supports the relationship of how positive emotions can lead to enhanced health. This dissertation aims to examine the relationship between positive affect of married women, positive affect of their husbands and wives’ physical activity, guided by the BABT. </p> <p><br></p> <p>The three hypotheses for this investigation are: A) on days when wives have indicated higher positive affect, they will have higher levels of same day moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), B) on days when wives have higher positive affect, they will have higher levels of next day MVPA, and C) husbands’ positive affect will be associated with wives’ same day MVPA beyond the impact of wives’ own daily positive affect. To examine these relationships, a secondary data analysis of the Health and Relationships Project (HARP) data set using population average models was done. The HARP is a 10 day, online, daily diary study (including a baseline questionnaire) of couples that aimed to examine how individuals in long-term relationships manage situations/contexts that impact their health. </p> <p><br></p> <p>Independent variables assessing daily positive affect of calm and happy were used. The dependent variable of daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was created as a sum of minutes of reported moderate and vigorous activity over the last 24 hours. Covariates in the model included age, baseline moderate activity frequency, baseline vigorous activity frequency, education level, marital quality, and race/ethnicity. This analysis included 115 heterosexual couples. There is partial support for the hypotheses. Results for hypothesis A showed only happiness (β = 0.15; <em>p</em> < 0.01) to be associated with same day MVPA. For hypothesis B neither happiness (β = 0.11; <em>p</em> = 0.06) nor calmness (β = 0.01; <em>p</em> =0.90) were significantly associated with wives’ next day MVPA. Findings for the two-partner model (hypothesis C) showed husbands’ affect did not significantly contribute to wives’ MVPA, while wives’ positive affect remained significantly associated with their own same day MVPA (happy β = 0.15; <em>p</em> < 0.01).</p> <p><br></p> <p>Wives’ positive affect being significantly associated with same day MVPA supports the tenets of Fredrickson’s BABT and previous work surrounding affect and health behaviors.  While husbands’ positive affect was not significant in this analysis, husbands could be contributing to their wives’ MVPA in other ways such as increasing her overall happiness level or increasing her marital satisfaction. Additionally, other indicators of social support (e.g., close friends or other family members) could be impacting wives’ MVPA behaviors and should be considered in future studies. The results from this study support further investigation of the affect-physical activity relationship.</p>

Autism kan innebära att individen har problem med socialt samspel och social kommunikation samt begränsande och repetetiva beteenden, intressen och aktiviteter enligt diagnosmanualen DSM 5. Individer med autism främställs ofta mer negativt i studier om autism och dejting samt kärleksrelationer och är få till antalet. Denna kvalitativa studie baserad på semikonstruerade intervjuer har i avsikt att undersöka hur människor med autism upplever dejting? Vilka hinder och möjligheter identifierar de själva när det kommer till dejtingsammanhang? Vad är deras syn på kärleksrelationer? Informanterna identifierar hinder och möjligheter relaterade till autism i större utsträckning när det kommer till kärleksrelationer de är eller har varit i. Tidiga insatser tros påverka förutsättningarna senare i livet i social interaktion i tex dejtingsammanhang. Informanter identifierade hinder i dejtingsammanhang i form utav prestationsångest, brist på bra balans i samtal, linda in saker i "socialt fluff". Bra möjligheter i dejtingsammanhang är online dejting via appar eller andra internetsidor som kan underlätta den sociala interaktionen, special events upplevs som en bra mötesplats att träffa potentiell kärlekspartner. Personer med autism behöver ha frizoner där det får interagera med andra individer utifrån sina förutsättningar och inte ständigt behöva anpassa sig till neurotypiska normer vid social interaktion.

Architecture is known to gather people and encourage shared spaces in our buildings and homes, while the Corona virus, aka COVID-19 has refrained us from our usual face to face communication and meetups. For some, work and social life has been reduced and limited to a screen, virtual meetings for studies, work, social events and so forth. Architecture has its impact on us more than ever before. It can and should provide us safety, infection control and prevention from getting sick. The materials we choose to design our home with is also crucial in a pandemic situation as we should be looking for disinfectant material properties. Copper have been shown to perform better than other common materials like steel, plastic, and wood. Air circulation and ventilation in inner spaces will also have stricter requirements where the air should be changed every hour and checking the air quality – that could be improved with the ratio of greenery and open spaces. Designing a home that can stimulate the productivity, flexibility, comfort, happiness, and health in its dwellers is the ultimate goal for this study. The target audience for the thesis are architects, interior designers and laymen who are interested in this field or those that are seeking a design which promotes healthy, safe and adequate living spaces and homes. The methods used in this study where both quantitative and qualitative methods through an international online survey as well as conducting local interviews with residential buildings’ dwellers in Berlin. On one hand, poor design can lead to both higher expenses in the long term as well as leading to bad physical and mental health, which is felt through the responses from both the survey and interviews. The biophilic design on the other hand, can have a huge positive impact on the dwellers both physically and mentally and should be tested and used more as a solid base for designing interior spaces.