Commercial pelagic longline fishers within the U.S. Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean are required to report all fishing interactions per each gear deployment to NOAA’s Vessel Logbook Program of the Southeast Fisheries Science Center to quantify bycatch, increase conservation efforts, and avoid jeopardizing the existence of vulnerable species listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). To provide additional accuracy, the Pelagic Observer Program (POP) of the SEFSC deploys professionally trained observers on longline vessels to produce a statistically reliable subset of longline fisheries data. A comparison of self-reported (“unobserved”) datasets versus observer-collected (“observed”) datasets showed a general consistency for most target species but non-reporting or under-reporting for a number of bycatch species and “lesser-valued” target species. These discrepancies between catch compositions and abundancies regarding targeted species, species of bycatch concern, and species of minimum economic value can provide insight into increased fisheries regulations, stricter requirements, or additional observer coverage.

The diploma thesis deals with development of high resistant composite, which brings its properties closer to the melted basalt products. This fact will allow substitution of basalt elements in hostile chemical environment by newly developed material and completes its product line. High resistant composite also consists of secondary raw material in highest possible amount. Material that is being evolved carries high strength, abrasion resistance and is also resistable in hostile chemical environment.

The subject of this diploma thesis is paid attention to the influence of different dosing of R-material containing unmodified asphalt on the properties of asphalt concrete for abrasive layers (AC011 +) bonded with polymer highly modified asphalt (binder type HiMA). The properties of asphalt mixtures will be evaluated by means of the stiffness modulus test and the test of low-temperature properties by a uniaxial tensile test.

The study sought to understand the labour-market experiences of Kenyan women living in Swedenfrom a precarity standpoint. Specifically, from the point of view of uncertainty and vulnerability ofAfrican migrants workers in the labor market. The research explored how individual, structural, andcultural factors influenced the choice of profession and the labour market participation of Kenyanmigrant women in Sweden. Intersectionality, Precarity and the Dual Labor Market theory were thetheories picked to make sense of the particular vulnerabilities experienced, and strategies adoptedby Kenya migrant women in the Swedish labour market. A qualitative approach was adopted by thestudy and a case-study specifically used. Semi -structured interviews were used as the tool for datacollection and the data coded and analyses thematically. The research found out that African wokenfaced challenges in the Swedish labour market despite their academic qualifications, workexperience or Swedish language skills. Gender and ethnicity were found to be contributing factorsto these women being embedded mostly in the secondary segments of the labour market. Dualismor the labor market segmentation theory- divided into two sections; the primary and the secondaryjobs proved useful as it enabled the research make sense of the participants embeddedness in thesecondary labour markets. The concept of precarity was helpful in analysing various precariouswork undertaken by the participants from the beginning of their migration to Sweden and aftermany years of being in the country. The combination of the dual labor market theory with theintersectionality approach was significant to the study as it highlighted the dichotomy and thecomplexity of interactions between race, gender and ethnicity in the labor market. The findings ofthe research generally confirmed previous studies that show that highly skilled migrant women aremostly situated in the secondary segments of the labour market or face discrimination whenpositioned in primary jobs due to their different ethnicity and different culture. The studyrecommends that further research be done with a a larger sample and the same study done in otherEuropean countries for comparison purposes.

Resultat från TIMS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study, 2019) visar att svenska elever presterar under genomsnittet i matematik både i årskurs fyra och i årskurs åtta. År 2020 sammanfattade Skolinspektionen tre områden som är avgörande för bättre kvalitet i skolan och som sammanfaller väl med bland annat testbaserat lärande. Skolinspektionens (2020) sammanfattning och testbaserat lärandets gemensamma nämnare är vikten av att ha tydliga lärandemål, skapa en varierad och anpassad undervisning som ger elever stimulans och utmaningar efter varje elevs förutsättningar, med stöd av läraren, samt betydelsen av elevers delaktighet och möjlighet till formativa återkoppling.  Mot den bakgrunden samt att det finns grundlig forskning kring testbaserat lärande som högeffektiv inlärningsstrategi analyserades sex lärares erfarenheter av implementeringsarbetet kring testbaserat lärande. Utöver det gjordes en kvantitativ studie inom testbaserat lärande i ämnet matematik. Studien utgår från kognitionsteori och har lärarperspektiv samt en teoretisk referensram i litteratur och artiklar från främst de senaste årtiondena. Efter implementeringen av testbaserat lärande intervjuades sex lärare på en F-6 skola vars undervisning (minst 75 procent av undervisningstillfällena) hade innehållit minst en testbaserad uppgift per lektion under sex veckor. Uppsatsens kvalitativa studie visade lärarnas reaktioner efter implementeringsperioden. De uttryckte en trygghet och motivation i implementeringsarbetet samt hur deras lektionsdesign hade förändrats genom återhämtningsaktiviteterna. De sex lärarna förmedlade också en överraskande positiv upplevelse kring den återkoppling som de testbaserade aktiviteterna gav eleven och läraren, med större möjlighet för läraren att justera sin undervisning för högre måluppfyllelse.Den kvantitativa studien som gjordes i ämnet matematik (aritmetik) i årskurs fyra och fem under en sex-veckors period var en mix av testbaserat lärande (retrieval practice) och delvis inflätat lärande (interleaved practice). Studien med de förutsättningar som gavs visade att testbaserade aktiviteter adderat till delvis inflätat lärande inte höjde resultaten i interventionsgruppen. Vid analysen framkom olika anledningar till resultatet som till exempel utformning och frekvens av de testbaserade aktiviteterna i planeringsschemat, lärarna och elevernas oerfarenhet inom området samt val av interventionsgrupp. / Results from TIMS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study, 2019) show that Swedish students perform below average in mathematics for, both in grade four and in grade eight. In 2020, the Skolinsepktionen summarized three areas that are crucial for better quality in schools and that coincide well with, among other things, retrieval practice. Skolverket's (2022) summary and retrieval practice common denominator is the importance of having clear learning goals, creating varied and adapted teaching that gives students stimulation and challenges according to each student's conditions, with the support of the teacher, as well as the importance of student participation and the opportunity for formative feedback. With that background and the fact that there is thorough research on retrieval practice as a highly effective learning method, six teachers' experiences of the implementation work of retrieval practice are analyzed in this essay. In addition to that, a quantitative study is carried out in test-based learning in the subject of mathematics. The study is based on cognitive theory and has a teacher's perspective as well as a theoretical frame of reference in literature and articles from mainly recent decades.  After the implementation of retrieval practice, six teachers were interviewed at an F-6 school whose instruction (at least 75% of the time) had included at least one retrieval practice activity per lesson for six weeks. The essay's qualitative study shows the teachers' positive reactions after the implementation period. They also express a sense of security and motivation in the implementation work and how their lesson design has changed through the recovery activities. The six teachers also convey a surprisingly positive experience regarding the feedback that the retrieval practice activities provide to the student and the teacher, with greater opportunity for the teacher to adjust their teaching for higher goal achievement. The quantitative study that is done in the subject of mathematics (arithmetic) in grades four and five during a six-week period is a mix of retrieval practice and interleaved practice. The study with the conditions provided showed that retrieval practice activities added to interleaved practice did not increase the results in the intervention group. During the analysis, various reasons emerged for the result, such as the design of the retrieval practices activities, frequency of the retrieval practices activities in the planning schedule, the teachers' and students' inexperience in the field, and the choice of intervention group.

Thesis (M.Sc. (Physiology)) -- University of Limpopo, 2021 / The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of cART on renal function and assess the association between renal function and cardiovascular risk factors in a black rural HIV-positive population in Limpopo Province, Mankweng district. We have conducted a cross-sectional study which included both male and female cART-treated patients (n=84), cART-naïve patients (n=27) and HIV-negative controls (n=44). We have measured biomarkers of renal function (plasma cystatin C, clusterin, retinol binding protein 4 [RBP4]) and determined the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) using the chronic kidney disease-epidemiology collaboration formula (CKD-EPI). We have also measured blood pressure (BP), body mass index (BMI) and fasting blood glucose (FBG). The prevalence of renal dysfunction was similar among the study groups. A significant difference in RBP4 was found among the groups after controlling for covariates (age, gender, alcohol consumption, BMI, systolic blood pressure and FBG) (F (2, 146) = [4.479], p=0.010). The significant difference in RBP4 was specifically observed between the cART-treated and cART-naïve groups (p=0.008). Cystatin C, clusterin and eGFR were not significantly different among the study groups after controlling for the covariates. The cardiovascular risk factors age (β=0.207; p=0.039), CD4+ T-cell count (β=-0.236; p=0.040), and duration of cART (β=0.232; p=0.043) were independently associated with cystatin C. The use of cART independently associated with RBP4 (β=0.282; p=0.004). Age (β=-0.363; p=0.001), CD4+ T-cell count (β=0.222; p=0.034) and duration of cART (β=-0.230; p=0.034) independently associated eGFR. Renal dysfunction is common in this HIV-positive population, with similar rates as the HIV-negative population. Plasma cystatin C as a promising alternative renal biomarker need to be re-evaluated in this HIV-positive population. RBP4 may be a more promising renal function biomarker in the HIV-positive population. Cardiovascular risk factors are associated with renal dysfunction in this rural HIV-positive population and CD4+ T-cell count may be an independent predictor for renal function.

This thesis explores the Visit Friends and Relatives (VFR) tourism experiences of highly skilled first-generation Italians and Chinese in Sweden. It focuses on personal networks influence on migrant hosts’ interaction and participation in the place and how the Covid-19 global immobility has changed the dynamics and the feelings towards the place. Data are collected through semi-structured interviews with a participative target sociogram as memory recollection and visualization tool. Results showed that VFR is mainly a within network experience and the interaction with the place and the society is marginal and influenced by hosts’ mediation, their local network structure and composition. The VFR aspect of sharing quality time emerges as central element. The local dimension shapes place interaction and participation dynamics: the migrant host personal relation to the local place, their local network structure and composition, and the difference of having a native member in the network are crucial elements.

Investeringar i transportinfrastruktur är dyra och kräver god planering, även då blir det inte alltidsom tänkt. Denna studie ämnar att se relationen mellan en investering i transportinfrastruktur iÖresundsregionen och regional attraktionskraft samt ekonomisk tillväxt. Öresundsmetron ärännu en vision som planeras och diskuteras av Malmö Stad och Köpenhamns Kommun. Sedan1800-talet har företagen i västvärlden förändrats vilket har ökat behovet och efterfrågan på bratransportinfrastruktur i regionen. Tidigare studier visar att investeringar i transportinfrastrukturenkan öka den ekonomiska tillväxten och attraktionskraften genom lokalisering- ochurbaniseringsekonomier. De visar även att företag fortfarande resonerar på samma sätt som detidigare gjort när det kommer till lokalisering men efter att företag och samhälle utvecklats harval av lokalisering förändrats eftersom behoven har förändrats. Eftersom västvärlden inte kankonkurrera med produktionseffektiviteten som utvecklats i Asien har västvärlden gått från enfabriksindustri till kunskapsintensiva innovationsföretag. Innan den industriella revolutionen varråvaran och transportkostnader företagets högsta kostnad, när industriproduktionen ersattes medkompetent arbetskraft blev lönen företags högsta kostnad. Företag vill lokaliseras där de har lägstkostnad, här har Öresundsregionen chans att locka företag genom att öka attraktionskraftengenom bland annat en god infrastruktur som möjliggör för företag att ha tillgång till högutbildadpersonal, det vill säga den kreativa klassen. Studien är byggd på en kvalitativ metod där empirinbestår av artiklar från dagstidningar, en motion i Sveriges Riksdag, en undersökning avDemoskop samt en intervju gjord med Projektledaren för Öresundsmetron. Empiri haranalyserats utifrån tidigare forskning och de teoretiska modellerna. Resultatet visar att enÖresundsmetro kan leda till ökad attraktionskraft för Öresundsregionen och ekonomisk tillväxtgenom att företag och arbetskraft attraheras till regionen, med förutsättningen att den befintligainfrastrukturen fungerar som förväntat där Öresundsmetron kompletterar snarare än ersätter. / Investments in transport infrastructure are expensive and require planning, even then it does notalways work as intended. This study aims to see the relationship between an investment intransport infrastructure in the Öresund region and regional attractiveness as well as economicgrowth. The Öresundsmetro is still a vision which is planned and discussed in Malmö City andCopenhagen City. Since the 19th century companies in the western world have changed theirproduction which has increased the demand for good transport infrastructure. Previous studieshave shown that investments in transport infrastructure can increase the economic growth andattractiveness through localization- and urbanization economies. Previous studies have alsoshown that companies have a similar mindset as they have had historically when choosinglocalization, but as companies and society change, the demand and choice of localization haschanged. When the western world could not compete with the production efficiency which wasdeveloped in Asia, the western world’s companies developed from an industry toknowledge-intensive companies. Before the industrial revolution, raw materials andtransportation costs were the company's highest cost, when replacing the industrial productionwith skilled labor the salaries became companies highest cost. Companies want to be locatedwhere they have the lowest costs. Here, the Öresund region has a chance to attract companies byincreasing its attractiveness through, among other things, a good infrastructure that enablescompanies to have access to a higher educated workforce, the creative class. We have used aqualitative method where the empirical data consists of articles in newspapers, a motion in theSwedish Parliament, a survey of Demoskop and an interview with the Project Manager for theÖresundmetro. This empiric data has been analyzed based on previous research and theoreticalmodels. The results shows that the Öresundmetro can lead to increased attractiveness andeconomic growth, for the region in Öresund, by attracting companies and labor to the region,with the conditions that existing infrastructure works as it should where the Öresundsmetrocomplements rather than replaces.

Thesis (MPH.) -- University of Limpopo, 2022 / Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) has affected all parts of the world, and as of 2019, more than 76 million people have been infected by HIV. South Africa has the largest population of people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the world and the highest infected group were aged 24 to 49, and females had the highest percentage in viral load suppression for all age groups. HIV infection leads to advanced loss of CD4 T cells and the roll out of antiretroviral therapy (ART) has bring about in significant cutbacks in HIV-associated complications by recovering the CD4+ T cell count. Some patients may not be successful in attaining this result, and some may accomplish it only after a number years of treatment. The disease progression and the health conditions amongst People Living with HIV-AIDS (PLWA) has improved substantially in the past two decades. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the disease progression of the patients initiated on ART from 2017 to 2019 at the University of Limpopo Health Centre, in Limpopo province. Methodology: A descriptive retrospective investigation was carried out which followed a quantitative approach in which secondary data from medical files of 259 patients initiated on ART at University of Limpopo Health Centre was used. where outcomes of ART initiation assessed and evaluated in association with characteristics of patients. Data analysis was done using the STATA statistical software version 12 for Windows (STATA Corporation, College Station, Texas). Frequency tables were used to make comparisons between groups for continuous and categorical variables using student t-test, and chi-square test. P-value less than 0.05 at 95% confidence level were regarded as significant. Results: The research finding revealed 80.0% of the study participants were females and the mean age group of participants diagnosed HIV positive was 28.28 years with standard deviation of ±7.5. The mean of the CD4 count cells at baseline for females was 411.4 cells/μL while for males was 341.2 cells/μL (p=0.212). The mean CD4 count cells at last ART visit for females was 613.7 cells/μL while for males was 452.9 cells/μL (p<0.001). There has been significant increase of the CD4 cell count from the baseline to the last ART visit as it is noted in the increase in proportion of patients with CD4 cell count of more than 500 in all the years. The proportion of patients with baseline CD4 cell count of 200 to 350 (moderate immunodepression) were high in 2019 and 2017 at 40.6% and 40.3% respectively. Majority of the patients were transferred out to other facilities at 79.4% as most patients are students and only 2.3% mortality rate has been reported for the study period. Majority of the patients initiated on ART at University of Limpopo were in WHO stage 2 at 45.5% followed by those in stage 3 and stage 1 at 22.2% and 21.8% respectively. Patients who were 24 years or older were 1.1 times more likely to have improved CD4 cell count at the last date of ART visit as compared to younger patients but not statistically significant while males were 3.5 times more likely to have improved CD4 cell count at the last date of ART visit as compared to females which was statistically significant. Patients who were initiated on ART at WHO stage 4 were 6.67 more likely to have improved CD4 cell count at the last date of ART visit as compared to those who were initiated on ART at WHO stage 1. Conclusion: The treatment progression in the study setting was found to be convincing and acceptable which is similar to the findings reported in other studies in many other countries. The significance of CD4 cell counts monitoring for HIV patients cannot be overemphasised. This study recommends a strengthened testing and treatment programme targeted males amongst the university community, enhance provider provider relationship when patients are transferred out to other health facilities, enhance the collection of baseline and progressive data on both the CD4 cell count and viral load.

Thesis (Ph.D. (Pharmacy)) -- University of Limpopo, 2022 / Antiretroviral (ARV) management in children is considered a challenging process, and patients receiving ARVs remain at risk of medication errors. Recently, there has also been a noticeable increase in Treatment Failure (TF) and the development of drug resistance amongst children on ART. However, ART failure amongst children seems to be an under-recognised issue, and adherence to treatment guidelines is reported to be a challenge among nurses caring for People Living with HIV (PLWHIV). Hence, the aim of this study was to explore the prescribing practices, and to determine the knowledge, understanding, and competence levels of NIMART-trained nurses’ in the management of children on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) in Public Health Care (PHC) facilities located in a rural district of Limpopo Province. To attain the purpose of the study, the researcher in this study adopted a mixed-method, in an explanatory sequential manner. The quantitative phase adopted a descriptive cross-sectional and retrospective census of medical records to determine whether or not the children on ART were prescribed the correct ARV regimen, dose, strength, dosing frequency and received the correct quantities to last until the next appointment date. Whereas the qualitative phase embraced a total purposive sampling of the NIMART-trained professional nurses to explore their knowledge, understanding and views of ART management in children. The results highlighted that these children under study even though they were prescribed a correct ARV regimen in (n=7045; 96%) of the cases;they were only correctly dosed in (n=7797; 53%); and prescribed the correct strength (n=9539; 77%), with only (n=2748; 36.9%) having received the correct quantity of treatment to last them until the next appointment date. Most nurses even though they rated themselves very knowledgeable and competent in paediatric HIV/AIDS management. This finding was contradicting the results obtained from the medical records, as well as their responses to the given case scenario depicted some level of non-adherence to treatment guidelines as well as a lack of understanding of ARV management. From the findings of this ARV utilisation review and the implementation of the developed ART dosing and dispensing training programme. The study concludes that the nurse's prescribing practice was irrational in this cohort of children, and most prescriptions did not entirely comply with the 2014/15 HIV/AIDs treatment recommendations. Since, this cohort of children was found to be susceptible to medication related errors such as; Drug omissions in ARV regimens; Incorrect dosing & dosing frequencies; as well as incorrectly supplied quantities. From the study findings it is recommended that ARV stewardship programs should be considered in order to develop and establish a core strategy for enhancing quality improvement in the management of HIV-infected children on ART in resource-limited settings, not only to inundate viral suppression and maintain it, but also to help achieve the UNAIDS 95- 95-95 target in children under 15 year / National Research Foundation (NRF)