Thesis (M.Ed. (Educational Psychology))--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Education, 1998.

This thesis endeavors to comprehensively examine and elucidate the factors and challenges that have shaped the city of Beirut, Lebanon into its current state. Extensive research has shed light on numerous incidents, which can be regarded as defining moments that have imbued the city with its distinct character and identity. Among these events, the pivotal occurrence that triggered the ongoing turmoil within Beirut is the catastrophic Beirut Blast of August 4th, 2020. This incident serves as the focal point of the thesis, aiming to foster unity while embracing the city's authenticity and showcasing the visible wounds through architectural expressions. It represents a conscious acknowledgment of the past as a means to propel transformation and shape the future. The thesis project presents seven distinct scenarios, each encapsulating a significant dichotomy in Beirut's history and its enduring impact on the city's present. The objective is to cultivate a considerate architecture that not only serves the needs of the population but also respects and nurtures the surrounding natural environment. By revitalizing and promoting biodiversity in both aquatic and terrestrial realms, an attempt is made to establish a dialogue between the city and the site of the catastrophe. This dialogue serves as a platform for reconciliation, paving the way for Lebanon's long-term welfare. The envisioned spaces encompass public areas, educational facilities, and spaces for healing, effectively becoming sanctuaries that hold multifaceted significance. These architectural interventions aspire to provide value that extends beyond mere physical structures, enhancing the overall fabric of the city. / Master of Architecture / In this research project, I aim to explore the factors and challenges that have shaped Beirut, Lebanon into its current state, with a focus on the city's unique identity. I have conducted extensive research, uncovering significant events that have influenced the city's character. Among these, the Beirut Blast of August 4th, 2020, stands out as a pivotal moment that triggered ongoing turmoil. The thesis aims to bring people together while embracing Beirut's authenticity and showcasing the visible scars through architectural expressions. Through the project, I present seven scenarios that represent important dichotomies in Beirut's history and their lasting impact on the city today. The goal is to create thoughtful architecture that not only meets the needs of the population but also respects and nurtures the natural environment. By revitalizing and promoting biodiversity in both land and water, I seek to establish a dialogue between the city and the blast site. This dialogue serves as a platform for reconciliation and contributes to Lebanon's long-term well-being. The envisioned spaces include public areas, educational facilities, and healing spaces, serving as sanctuaries with multiple layers of significance. These architectural interventions aim to go beyond physical structures and enrich the fabric of the city, providing value and enhancing the overall experience for its residents and visitors.

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Microscopic simulation traffic models are widely used by transportation researchers and practitioners to evaluate and plan for transportation facilities. The intent of these models is to estimate the second-by-second vehicle movements and interactions on such facilities. Due to constraints related to time, budget, and availability of data, these models are typically designed in such a way where the microscopic output is viewed on the macroscopic level. Inherently, this can leave uncertainty to how the model estimates the individual interactions between vehicles on the microscopic level. This thesis utilizes three microsimulation models, INTEGRATION, VISSIM, and CORSIM, to investigate the lane changing behavior as vehicles approach a freeway diverge area. The count of lane changes, lane use distribution, and visual inspection of the simulated lane changing behavior was compared to video data collected at two freeway diverge areas on U.S. 460 in the vicinity of Blacksburg, Virginia during both off-peak and peak periods. It was observed that all three models generally overestimated the number of lane changes near the diverge areas compared to field observations. By modifying the models' lane changing logic, the models were able to closely match field observations in one of the four scenarios. It was found that microsimulation models accurately estimated the lane use distribution. In addition, the INTEGRATION lane use distribution results were found to be more consistent when compared to observed lane use distribution than either VISSIM or CORSIM. / Master of Science

Background: Migraine is a chronic disaese, often described as a growing publich health problem. One of the suffering groups are adolescents and the prevalence of the migraine is one of the most common reasons why school based health clinics are contacted. The state is related to an extensive, physical and psychological suffering. Objectives: The aim with the presented study was to illuminate the experienced life situation of the adolescent migraineurs. Method: The exploration of articles were done with restriction in databases as Pubmed, CINAHL and psycINFO. The 13 chosen articles were viewed, analyzed and compiled in four different categories with eight sub-categories. Results: The presented outcome reveals that migraine effects the life of adolescents in four different dimensions. The state impacts negatively on the physical and psychological well-being. Furthermore it influences school and leisure of the suffered group. A tendency of isolation and denial is seen as a repeated behaviour in the adolescent migraineurs. Conclusion: Embracement and acceptance ought to be present for the possibility, to create and develop an individual lasting coping strategy. This way of thinking might improve the life situation of the adolescent migraineurs. Keywords: Migraine, adolescents, life changing events, coping strategies, effects. / Bakgrund: Migrän är en kronisk sjukdom och den beskrivs som ett växande folkhälsoproblem. En grupp individer som drabbas är ungdomar och åkomman är en av de vanligaste orsakerna till uppsökt skolvård. Tillståndet är nära bundet till ett omfattande fysiskt och psykiskt lidande. Syfte: Syftet med litteraturstudien var att belysa den upplevda livssituationen hos ungdomar med migrän. Metod: Artiklar har sökts i databaserna Pubmed, CIHNAL och psycINFO och därefter kvalitetgranskats. 13 utvalda artiklar analyserades och sammanställdes i fyra kategorier med åtta underkategorier. Resultat: Resultatet visar att migrän påverkar livet för ungdomar i fyra olika dimensioner. Åkomman påverkar den fysiska och psykiska hälsan negativt och inverkar på ungdomarnas skola och fritid. En tendens av isolering och förnekelse kunde ses som upprepade beteenden. Slutsats: Bemötande och acceptans bör infinnas hos den migränsjuke för att vidare kunna skapa och utveckla en individuellt hållbar copingstrategi som förbättrar livssituationen. Nyckelord: Migrän, ungdomar, livshändelser, copingstrategier, effekt.

To date, no observation-based proxy for climate change has been successful in quantifying the feedbacks between clouds and climate. The most promising, yet demanding, avenue to gain confi dence in cloud–climate feedback estimates is to utilize observations and large-eddy simulations (LES) or cloud-resolving modeling (CRM) to improve cloud process parameterizations in large-scale models. Sustained and improved satellite observations are essential to evaluate large-scale models. A reanalysis of numerical prediction models with assimilation of cloud, aerosol, and precipitation observations would provide a valuable dataset for examining cloud interactions. The link between climate modeling and numerical weather prediction (NWP) may be exploited by evaluating how accurate cloud characteristics are represented by the parameterization schemes in NWP models. A systematic simplifi cation of large-scale models is an important avenue to isolate key processes linked to cloud–climate feedbacks and would guide the formulation of testable hypotheses for fi eld studies. Analyses of observation-derived correlations between cloud and aerosol properties in combination with modeling studies may allow aerosol–cloud interactions to be detected and quantifi ed. Reliable representations of cloud dynamic and physical processes in large-scale models are a prerequisite to assess aerosol indirect effects on a large scale with confi dence. To include aerosol indirect effects in a consistent manner, we recommend that a “radiative fl ux perturbation” approach be considered as a complement to radiative forcing.

This thesis focuses on how physical and biological factors influence the outcome of exposures to γ/X-rays. That the dose rate changes during real life exposure scenarios is well-known, but radiobiological data from exposures performed at increasing or decreasing dose rates is lacking. In paper I, it was found that an exposure where the dose rate decreases exponentially induces significantly higher levels of micronuclei in TK6 cells than exposures at an increasing or constant dose rate. Paper II describes the construction and validation of novel exposure equipment used to further study this “decreasing dose rate effect”, which is described in paper III. In paper I we also observed a radioprotective effect when cells were exposed on ice. This “temperature effect” (TE) has been known for decades but it is still not fully understood how hypothermia acts in a radioprotective manner. This was investigated in paper IV, where a multiparametric approach was used to investigate the underlying mechanisms. In paper V the aim was to investigate the role of biomarkers and clinical parameters as possible risk factors for late adverse effects to radiotherapy (RT). This was studied in a rare cohort of head-and-neck cancer patients that developed mandibular osteoradionecrosis (ORN) as a severe late adverse effect of RT. Biomarker measurements and clinical factors were then subjected to multivariate analysis in order to identify ORN risk factors. The results suggest that the patient’s oxidative stress response is an important factor in ORN pathogenesis, and support the current view that patient-related factors constitute the largest source of variation seen in the frequency of late adverse effects to RT. In summary, this thesis provides new and important insights into the roles of biological and physical factors in determining the consequences of γ/X-ray exposures. / <p>At the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 3: Submitted. Paper 5: Manuscript.</p>

Bakgrunn: Røyking blir fortsatt betraktet som den viktigste forebyggbare årsak til død i ge land. Praktiserende leger er nøkkelpersoner innen tobakksforebygging. Enkel rådgiving, som minimal intervensjon, gitt av allmennleger øker andelen røykfrie pasienter signifikant. Kan en oppsøkende intervensjon gjennomført av en likemann være en egnet metode for å få leger til å ta opp tobakksbruk oftere og på en bedre måte, og kan denne undersøkelsen påvise dette? Hensikt: Hensikten med denne studien er: 1) Vurdere om primærlegene i Agder har endret praksis i perioden 2001-2004 med hensyn til hvor ofte og hvordan de tar opp tobakksbruk med sine pasienter og eventuelle hindringer for dette. 2) Undersøke om oppsøkende intervensjon er en egnet metode for å få leger til å endre praksis ved at de bidrar mer og bedre med individuell røykeintervensjon. Metode: Randomisert kontrollert studie for å undersøke om oppsøkende intervensjon er en egnet metode for å få leger til å endre praksis. Denne studien er sett i lys av en sammenliknende analyse av legenes røykeintervensjon og hindringer for dette i perioden 2001-2004. Resultat: Allmennlegene i Agder har endret praksis i perioden 2001 til 2004. Legene tar oftere opp tobakksbruk uten av pasientene har røykerelaterte symptomer, og det er færre hindringer både for å spørre om røykevaner og for å tilby hjelp til røykeslutt. Studien kan ikke bekrefte at oppsøkende intervensjonen er en egnet metode for å få leger til endre praksis ved at de bidrar mer og bedre med individuell røykeintervensjon. Konklusjon: I perioden 2001-2004 har det vært en signifikant endring i legenes røykeintervensjon og hindringer for dette. Studien kan ikke påvise at legene som fikk opplæringen ”Røykeslutt i praksis” bidrar mer med individuell røykeintervensjon enn kontrollgruppen, og det er heller ikke signifikante forkjeller på hindringer for en slik intervensjon / Background: Cigarette smoking is still considered the leading preventable cause of death in the western world. Physicians constitutes a key personnel in tobacco prevention. Brief advising, such as minimal intervention, performed by general practitioners, GPs, increases the number of smoke free patients significantly. The potential effect of outreach visits performed by a peer educator is a question to be studied. Objective: The objective of this study is: 1) Assesswhether the primary physicians in Agder, during the period 2001 to 2004, have changed their professional practice as tohow often and in which way they discuss smoking habits with their patients and possible barriers to stop them. 2) The study also seeks to determine whether outreach visits constitute an effective method to make GPs change their professional practice by contributing more and better to individual smoking cessation. Method: Randomised controlled study to determine whether outreach visits constitute an effective method to make GPs change their practice. This study is also viewed in the light of a comparative analysis of doctors’ attitude to tobacco prevention over the period 2001-2004. Result: During the period 2001-2004 the GPs in Agder have changed their professional practice. They discuss more frequently tobacco use with patients without smoke-related symptoms, and there are fewer barriers that keep them from asking about smoking habits and from offering assistance with smoking cessation. The effect of outreach visits in improving professional practice cannot be ascertained through this study. Conclusion: During the period 2001-2004 there has been a significant change in the GPs intervention work and fewer barriers to stop them. The GPs who received training through the program “Røykeslutt i praksis” do not contribute to individual smoke intervention any more than the control group. We were unable to detect any significant differences regarding barriers to such intervention / <p>ISBN 91-7997-153-9</p>

A refugee reception has been placed in Kungshall, one of Nybros residential areas. The area has a bad reputation and there are arguably prejudices about the area from the local population. I therefore want to investigate if an ethnic residential segregation exists in Kungshall, from a postcolonial perspective. The following research questions have been formulated: How do residents who doesn’t live in the refugee reception, look at ethnic residential segregation in Nybro? How has Kungshall changed since the refugee reception? Does a cultural racism exist in Kungshall?   The study is a qualitative study using semi structured interviews of four people living in the residential area, a person who has moved out of the area and a person working on the housing corporation “Nybro bostads AB”, who is one of the housing corporation responsible for the residential area Kungshall. The study is based on post-colonial theory. According to all the interviewees, there is an uneven balance between Swedes and immigrants in the neighborhood. And according to all the interviewees living in the area, too many refugees have been placed in Kungshall, and the residential area has changed for the worse in recent history. One of the interviewees has already moved, and the others living in the area either know someone who has moved out of the area or is planning to themselves. And the main reason to ethnic residential segregation is often explained in terms of cultural differences between “us-and- them”: between the refugees and the others. It is clear from the interviews that there is a cultural racism among people and the main reason for people moving out of the area could arguably be related to cultural racism.