MSc (Med), University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Health Sciences / Background: Males have a higher prevalence of cardiovascular diseases compared to premenopausal women. However, postmenopausal women are at equal risk to men. It has therefore been suggested that estrogen is cardioprotective. Although the exact mechanisms of the purported cardioprotective effects of estrogen are unknown, estrogen administration has been reported to suppress beta-adrenergic receptor up-regulation in ovariectomized female rats. As beta-adrenergic activation induces cardiomyocyte apoptosis and necrosis, and hence adverse cardiac remodelling and heart failure, I aimed to determine whether the extent of beta-adrenergic induced apoptosis and necrosis differs between males and females. Methods: 27 male Wistar rats were assigned to one of two groups: ISO M (n=14) receiving a beta-adrenergic receptor agonist, isoproterenol (0.02mg/kg) and CON M (n=13) receiving vehicle (saline, 0.2ml). 29 female Wistar rats were assigned to one of two groups: ISO F (n=15) receiving a beta-adrenergic receptor agonist, isoproterenol (0.02mg/kg) and CON F (n=14) receiving vehicle. Isoproterenol and saline were administered by means of daily subcutaneous injections for 5 days. On the 5th day, cardiac geometry and function were assessed before and after ISO or saline administration using echocardiography. Rats were then terminated under anaesthesia within 30 minutes of ISO (or vehicle) administration and blood samples collected for the determination of serum estrogen concentration (ELISA). Female rats were terminated in proestrus which corresponds to peak estrogen concentrations. Cardiac myocyte apoptosis was assessed histologically using the DeadEndTM Colorimetric TUNEL system (Promega, Madison, WI, USA). The number of apoptotic cardiomyocyte nuclei was expressed as a percentage of the total number of cardiomyocyte nuclei per slide (heamotoxylin and eosin stain). Necrosis and fibrosis (pathological score) were assessed by assigning a pathological score to sections stained for fibrosis (van Gieson). Groups were iii compared using two-way (gender and regimen; and including repeated measures for echocardiography data) ANOVA followed by the Tukey-Kramer post hoc test. Results: As expected estrogen concentrations were higher in female compared to male rats (mean±SEM, pg.ml-1; ISO M: 7.04±1.41; CON M: 7.14±0.53; ISO F: 23.00±3.47; CON F: 19.31±3.66; p<0.01). Five days of ISO or saline administration had no effect on cardiac function or geometry in either the male or the female rats. Inotropic effects (increased heart rate and cardiac function) were observed in response to acute ISO administration in both male and female rats. The female rats had slower heart rates (p<0.05) and showed a greater heart rate response to acute ISO administration than the male rats (p<0.05). But the acute ISO induced increments in cardiac function were similar between genders. Five days of ISO administration induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis in male rats but not in female rats (mean±SEM, % ; ISO M: 0.086±0.013; CON M: 0.030±0.004; ISO F: 0.053±0.004; CON F: 0.041±0.007; p<0.05). Furthermore, 5 days of ISO administration induced cardiomyocyte necrosis in male rats but not in female rats (mean±SEM, pathological score; ISO M: 1.21±0.21, CON M: 0.46±0.14, ISO F: 0.50±0.11, CON F: 0.68±0.12, p<0.01). Conclusion: Male rats are more susceptible than female rats to beta-adrenergic induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis and necrosis. The protective effects of estrogen against the adverse effects of beta-adrenergic activation on the heart, may explain the lower risk of cardiovascular disease in premenopausal women compare to men; however, the possible role of progesterone cannot be ignored.

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Humanities University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts (Philosophy), 2017 / This study seeks to investigate whether torture is fundamentally wrong and, if so, whether its status is a question of morality or of that which is prior to morality. According to the thought of Jacques Derrida, the play of différance makes it syntactically impossible for any term to signify meaning outside of the interplay of mutually opposing signifiers. Since Deontological and Utilitarian moral principles unfold within this differential play, they are syntactically incapable of signifying a concrete and constant moral status for torture. Even though différance is the syntactic possibility of being, I argue that there is a second and distinct category of experience. Drawing on the writing of Emmanuel Levinas and Bernard Lonergan, I contend that this category is our subjectivity as self-awareness, which always-already unfolds anterior to, as the primordial possibility of, and as otherwise than both différance and being. As an irreducibility constitutive of each person, the alterity of such self-awareness constitutes an absolute and singular relation of otherness between persons; this proximity functions as an absolute obligation and, in fact, constitutes ethics itself. Each subject therefore becomes an individual living ethicality. On this basis, it is always-already incoherent to identify any subject with any idea that we might have of him/her, including the idea of a person as a means to our ends. Since torture intentionally violates the living ethicality of the victim, it follows that torture must be ethically unjustifiable by primordial necessity under any and all possible circumstances. The ethical unjustifiability of torture therefore precedes all moral structures, although I suggest that torture may become permissible under certain practical circumstances, if saving human lives is at stake. Keywords: Torture; self-awareness; alterity; living ethicality; otherwise than being; différance; Emmanuel Levinas; Jacques Derrida; Bernard Lonergan. / GR2018

ABSTRACT Pain is a subjective sensation and is difficult to measure. It is important to quantify pain as benefits are obtained from its quantification. The validity and reliability of pain outcome measures have been extensively researched in Europe, America and Asia. In Africa on the other hand, very few studies have been done. This study was a cross-sectional study to validate and test the reliability of pain scales.The aim of this study was to establish the validity and reliability of the Tswana translations of three pain scales, namely, the Visual Analogue scale (two versions), the Verbal Rating Scale and the Wong-Baker Faces Pain Measure. The validity of the study was determined by the face validity,criterion validity and construct validity.The statistical analysis of the results showed several significant p values (p< 0.05).However, none of the correlations illustrated a strong relationship as there were no r values in excess of 0.5 indicating a moderate correlation or greater than 0.7 indicating a good correlation. The statistical significance only indicated that the observed values were not due to chance.From the statistical analysis of the results, it became apparent that the subjects tested did not have an understanding of any of the three scales .This was seen in all the age groups and education levels selected for the purpose of this study. It is our recommendation therefore, that suitable, new scales be developed for our local population. The scales which have been used up until now are not being understood and hence are not being interpreted or used correctly in the South African context amongst Tswana speaking individuals. Future research needs to be done in developing entirely different scales for the South African scenario. More relevant and better understood scales should be developed for our local population to include persons of different languages and different education levels. This will assist in a better understanding of the health care process and will by so doing, improve their health care and management.

faculty of Humanities School of Human and Community Development 9807986h IsrealN@umthombo.wits.ac.za / The issue of bias, whether a psychological test measures what it claims to measure similarly across different groups, remains a fundamental concern within the field of psychometrics, particularly within South Africa, where a history riddled with oppression, discrimination and malpractice in the area has led to suspicion, mistrust and legislation banning the use of many psychological tests as invalid and unfair (Foxcroft & Roodt, 2001; Murphy & Davidshofer, 2001; Nell, 1999). There is thus clearly a need for additional and more detailed investigations of the way specific individual tests function in the South African context. This study attempted to creatively examine systematic differences in performance on one specific test, the Raven’s Advanced Progressive Matrices (RAPM), on the basis of home language and gender, factors seldom investigated in the literature. A sample of one hundred Psychology first-year students completed a demographic questionnaire, the RAPM, the Similarities sub-test of the South African Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scales (SAWAIS) and an adapted version of the Reading Comprehension subtest of the Stanford Diagnostic Reading Test (SDRT). The data gathered was then utilized to explore four main research questions. Firstly, in order to establish construct comparability, the relationship between the RAPM and a more verbally-oriented measure of g, the Similarities sub-test of the SAWAIS, was assessed. Results indicated a relatively strong positive relationship between the two measures (r = 0.66), and no significant differences between the correlations on the basis of either gender or home language. Secondly, in order to explore the relationship between the RAPM and English comprehension, the study assessed the relationship between overall, literal and inferential scores on an adapted version of the Reading Comprehension sub-test of the SDRT and the RAPM. Results indicated only a moderate relationship between the two tests (r = 0.65), no difference in the relationship between RAPM performance and literal comprehension or inferential comprehension, and no difference in the relationship between the two tests on the basis of either gender or home language. Thirdly, in order to establish whether items were found to be difficult in a similar way across the different gender and home language groups, p-values and regression lines were calculated. These indicated that significant differences in level of item difficulty were experienced between English and African language speakers, although no differences were apparent in item difficulty on the basis of gender. 5 Lastly, in order to establish whether qualitative differences in performance on the basis of ability (as estimated by performance on the RAPM), gender or language existed, a discrimination analysis examining the types of errors made by each group was performed. Repeated measures ANOVAs and multiple comparison post-hoc analyses revealed significant differences in the types of errors made on the basis of ability and home language, but not gender. The post-hoc analyses suggested that those of higher ability or first language English speakers were more likely to make incomplete correlate errors, while those of lower ability or speaking African first languages were more likely to make confluence of ideas errors. In general, the findings of the study seemed to suggest that the RAPM, while not biased on the basis of gender, might contain a deep-seated language bias despite their non-verbal presentation.

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Engineering, 2016 / The work presented extends and contributes to the research of modelling lightning return stroke (RS) electromagnetic (EM) fields in the time domain. Although previous work in this area has focused on individual lightning electromagnetic pulse (LEMP) modelling techniques, there has not been an investigation into the strengths and weaknesses of different methods, as well as the implementation considerations of the models. This work critically compares three unique techniques (Finite Antenna, FDTD, and Single Cell FDTD) under the same ideal simulation parameters. The research presented will evaluate the EM fields in the range of 50m to 500m from the lightning channel. This range, often referred to as the near field distance, has a significant effect on lightning induced overvoltages on distribution lines, which are primarily created by the horizontal EM fields of the RS channel. These close distances have a significant effect on the model implementations, especially with the FDTD method. Each of these modelling methods is explained and tested through examples. The models are implemented in C++ and have been included in the Appendix to aid in future implementation. From the model simulations it is clear that the FDTD method is the most comprehensive model available. It allows for non-ideal ground planes, as well as complex simulation environments. However, FDTD has a number of numerical related errors that the Finite Antenna method does not suffer from. The Single Cell FDTD method is simple to implement and does not suffer from the same numerical errors as a full FDTD implementation, but is limited to simple simulation environments. This work contributes to the research field by comparing and evaluating three techniques and giving consideration to the implementation and the applicability to lightning EM simulations. / MT2017

The ethnodemographic differences in marital behavior: changes and attitudes Abstract This work deals with the ethnic differentiation of marital behavior in Kazakhstan. The study of marital behavior of ethnic groups is important and necessary, especially in a multiethnic state as Kazakhstan. Undoubtedly, the institution of marriage regulates the social reproduction of the population, and differences in marital behavior have an impact on family organizations and fertility among ethnic groups. These differences may shape the age at first marriage, age at first birth, and so on, that will have subsequent effects on the family organization among these ethnic groups. This work attempts to analyze the differences in attitudes toward marital marital myths between ethnic Kazakhs and Slavics. The sociological research has revealed some significant differences in the myths existing about marriage between these ethnic groups. These differences, largely due to socio-cultural characteristics. Keywords: marriage, marital behavior, ethnic groups, differences, Kazakhstan

Hyresrätt är en populär boendeform i Sverige. Trots det är diskrepansen mellan utbud och efterfrågan stor. Ett utökat investeringsstöd till utvecklingen av nya hyresfastigheter pekar på att insatser görs för att möta det bristande utbudet, men få svenska studier har undersökt om nybyggnation av hyresfastigheter har någon påverkan på området de utvecklas i. Denna uppsats undersöker om en tillkomst av hyresfastigheter på Kungsholmen i Stockholms innerstad påverkat närliggande bostadsrättspriser genom de attribut som hyresrätter för med sig, vilket i första hand antas vara låginkomsttagare. Via en difference-in-differences-regression, där data över genomsnittliga kvadratmeterpriser, medelinkomst och andel utrikes födda används, framkommer ett statistiskt signifikant resultat som säger att prisutvecklingen bland bostadsrätterna i SAMS-området Östra Stadshagen hade varit 8,2% högre om inte tre nya hyresfastigheter hade tillkommit i området år 2011. Resultaten bör dock tolkas med viss försiktighet, och författarna uppmanar till fler studier på området för att med säkerhet kunna fastslå om en tillkomst av hyresfastigheter har några priseffekter på närliggande bostadsområden.

Ho Kwok Ching. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 107-111). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Content --- p.5 / Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.7 / Chapter 2 --- Background Theory --- p.9 / Chapter 2.1 --- Background history --- p.9 / Chapter 2.2 --- Finite Difference Time Domain Method --- p.10 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Basic Formulation --- p.10 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Finite Difference Expression: --- p.11 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Courant Stability Criterion --- p.13 / Chapter 2.3 --- Absorbing Boundary Condition (PML) --- p.13 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- "Field -Splitting Modification of Maxwell's equation, TE case" --- p.14 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Propagation of a TE Plane Wave in a PML Medium --- p.15 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Transmission of a wave through PML-PML Interfaces --- p.19 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- PML for FDTD in 2D domain --- p.23 / Chapter 2.3.5 --- Extension to Three Dimension Case --- p.25 / Chapter 2.3.6 --- Obtaining S-parameters for General Microwave circuit --- p.26 / Chapter 2.4 --- Extended Finite Difference Time Domain Method --- p.29 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Direct Implementation of Lumped Elements --- p.30 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Equivalent-Source Techniques --- p.31 / Chapter 2.5 --- EMC --- p.37 / Chapter 3 --- Novel Techniques for Extended FDTD Method --- p.38 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.38 / Chapter 3.2 --- The Improved FDTD-SPICE Interface --- p.38 / Chapter 3.3 --- The Improved DC Bias Source --- p.48 / Chapter 3.4 --- The Improved DC Biasing Component --- p.50 / Chapter 3.5 --- Example --- p.51 / Chapter 3.6 --- Program Architecture --- p.55 / Chapter 3.7 --- Conclusion --- p.57 / Chapter 4 --- Example Design --- p.58 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.58 / Chapter 4.2 --- Internal Antenna Design --- p.58 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Half-wavelength Patch --- p.58 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Quarter-wavelength patch --- p.63 / Chapter 4.3 --- RF Power Amplifier Circuit Design --- p.73 / Chapter 4.4 --- Active Internal Antenna Design --- p.88 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Design --- p.88 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Surface Wave Analysis 一 Transient state analysis --- p.91 / Chapter 4.4.3 --- Surface wave analysis -AC analysis --- p.95 / Chapter 4.4.4 --- Far Field Pattern --- p.101 / Chapter 4.5 --- Conclusion --- p.105 / Chapter 5 --- Conclusion: --- p.106 / Chapter 6 --- Reference List --- p.107 / Publication --- p.111

by Sylvia Chun Mei Chan. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 105-114). / Abstract also in Chinese. / Chapter I. --- CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter i) --- Research Problems / Chapter ii) --- Rationale of the Research / Chapter iii) --- Objectives / Chapter II. --- CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.11 / Chapter i) --- Generalized Female Vulnerability Thesis / Chapter ii) --- Biological Factor / Chapter iii) --- Cultural Factor / Chapter iv) --- Motivational Factor / Chapter v) --- Situational Factor / Chapter III. --- CHAPTER THREE: CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK --- p.33 / Chapter i) --- The First Model / Chapter ii) --- The Second Model / Chapter iii) --- The Third Model / Chapter IV. --- CHAPTER FOUR: DATA AND METHOD --- p.51 / Chapter i) --- Sample and Data Collection / Chapter ii) --- Measurements of Variables / Chapter iii) --- Profile of Respondents / Chapter ix) --- Analytical Strategy / Chapter V. --- CHAPTER FIVE: ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION --- p.65 / Chapter i) --- The Whole Sample / Chapter ii) --- The Current Drinkers Sample / Chapter VI. --- CHAPTER SIX: DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION --- p.81 / Chapter i) --- Implications of the Results / Chapter ii) --- Limitations of the Study / Chapter iii) --- Suggestions for Future Research / Chapter iv) --- Social Reflection / Chapter VII. --- BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.105 / Chapter VIII. --- FIGURES --- p.i-vi / Chapter IX. --- TABLES --- p.vii-xxiv

by Wai-Chung Fung. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 121-124). / Abstract also in Chinese. / Acknowledgement --- p.i / Abstract --- p.ii / Table of contents / Chapter Chapter 1: --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter Chapter 2: --- Background Theories --- p.4 / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.4 / Chapter 2.2 --- Maxwell's Equations --- p.5 / Chapter 2.3 --- Basic Formulation --- p.8 / Chapter 2.4 --- Plane Wave Formulation --- p.13 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Total-Field / Scattered-Field Algorithm --- p.14 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Pure Scattered-Field Algorithm --- p.16 / Chapter 2.4.2.1 --- Application to PEC Structures --- p.16 / Chapter 2.4.2.2 --- Application to Lossy Dielectric Structures --- p.17 / Chapter 2.5 --- Incident Plane Wave Components Generation --- p.20 / Chapter 2.6 --- Source and Termination Modeling in FD-TD model --- p.24 / Chapter 2.6.1 --- Resistive source --- p.25 / Chapter 2.6.2 --- Resistor Formulation --- p.27 / Chapter 2.7 --- PML Formulation --- p.28 / Chapter 2.7.1 --- Two-Dimensional TE Case --- p.28 / Chapter 2.7.2 --- Extension to the Full-vector Three-Dimension Case --- p.32 / Chapter 2.8 --- Time Domain Extrapolation --- p.33 / Chapter 2.8.1 --- Prony's Model --- p.34 / Chapter 2.8.2 --- Auto-regressive Model and Performance Comparison with Prony's Method --- p.36 / Chapter 2.9 --- Summary --- p.42 / Chapter Chapter 3: --- Verification of FD-TD Method --- p.43 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.43 / Chapter 3.2 --- Microstrip Patch Antenna: An Introduction --- p.44 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Direct Fed Patch --- p.45 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- EMC Patch --- p.50 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Aperture-Coupled Patch --- p.53 / Chapter 3.3 --- Verification of FD-TD: S11 Analysis --- p.55 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Analysis of Direct Fed Rectangular Patch Antenna --- p.56 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Analysis of EMC Patch Antenna --- p.60 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Analysis of Aperture-Coupled Patch Antenna --- p.63 / Chapter 3.4 --- Verification of FD-TD: Radiation Pattern Analysis --- p.66 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- The Absolute and Relative Approaches --- p.67 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- The Inset Fed Patch Antenna --- p.69 / Chapter 3.5 --- Summary --- p.71 / Chapter Chapter 4: --- Space Diversity Design --- p.73 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.73 / Chapter 4.2 --- How Space Diversity Antenna Works --- p.74 / Chapter 4.3 --- Criteria for Evaluation and Optimization of Diversity Performance --- p.77 / Chapter 4.4 --- Simple Approach for Two-Patch Diversity Array --- p.82 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Performance as a Function of Antenna Separation --- p.83 / Chapter 4.5 --- Novel Designs for Performance Improvement --- p.89 / Chapter 4.5.1 --- Shorting Post Isolation --- p.90 / Chapter 4.5.2 --- Offset-positioned Configuration --- p.101 / Chapter 4.6 --- Three-Patch Diversity Array --- p.106 / Chapter 4.6.1 --- Co-aligned Configurations --- p.107 / Chapter 4.6.2 --- Offset-Positioned Configurations --- p.112 / Chapter 4.7 --- Summary --- p.117 / Chapter Chapter 5: --- Conclusion --- p.118 / Appendix A: Publication --- p.121 / Appendix B: References List --- p.122