This research project aims to explore service user and mental health social workers’ (MHSW) perspectives and experiences of practice in the area of personality disorder. It seeks to answer three research questions: how service users and MHSWs understand personality disorder, how they understand MHSW practice and how practice in this area might be better informed. The study’s attention to the experiences and perspectives of both groups sets the research within the interpretivist paradigm and relies on a relativist ontology, subjectivist epistemology and inductive, qualitative methodology. The involvement of both groups means that this project makes an original contribution to MHSW research and practice. Constructivist grounded theory (CGT) has been used to generate a conceptual, theoretical analysis. The research was divided into two phases. Phase 1 involved ten semi-structured interviews with ten service users from a community service for people with personality disorder. This data was analysed before Phase 2 began, comprising twelve semi-structured interviews with twelve MHSWs from three regions of England. NVivo 7 was used to analyse the data in and across case. The analysis identified participants’ understanding of personality disorder, mental health social work practice and how this practice might be better informed. The analysis was supplemented by documentary analysis of policies relevant to personality disorder and MHSW. The findings suggest that traumatic experience impacts on the lens through which the person views self and others. Distress can be overwhelming, lead to extreme and unsafe behaviours, which reinforce disconnection from self and others. In supporting a relationship between personality disorder and traumatic experience, this study suggests the relevance of mental health social work (MHSW) to personality disorder. The findings suggest that more humane, empathic responses are required. Practice founded on understanding the impact of traumatic experience and the ways in which the individual might be trying to cope with their distress. The findings reveal the importance of MHSWs’ relational skills and interventions that offer practical support, encouragement and effective liaison with others. Through more caring, protective bonds and broad social supports MHSW might empower individuals’ response to traumatic experience. The findings raise implications for MHSW and mental health professionals more generally. The findings also indicate that practice would be better informed by greater knowledge and understanding of the person and the diagnosis; the provision of feedback to the person; modelling; greater transparency and consistency; support for the person’s social and family network, and more practical support. This project makes an original contribution to knowledge about personality disorder and to MHSW knowledge and practice in this area.

Syftet med studien är att undersöka om det finns någon inlärningseffekt på testet Limits of Stability (LoS) för transtibialt amputerade protesbrukare och en kontrollgrupp. Sju transtibialt amputerade protesbrukare och en kontrollgrupp bestående av sju friska vuxna män upprepade testet LoS  fem gånger under fyra testtillfällen. Två kraftplattor och 69 reflexmarkörer användes för att samla in data. Testpersonerna placerades med en fot på varje kraftplatta och blev instruerade att förflytta sin center of pressure genom att luta kroppen från anklarna mot åtta mål som visades på en skärm tillsammans med deras center of pressure. Ordningen på målen var slumpvist utvalda. Datan analyserades med Friedmans test, eftersom den inte var normalfördelad, för att se om det fanns någon skillnad i resultatet mellan upprepningarna av testet och resultatet mellan testtillfällena. Det fanns några signifikanta skillnader mellan upprepningarna och mellan testtillfällena som tyder på att det finns en inlärningseffekt efter första upprepningen och första testtillfället, men resultatet var inte tillräckligt entydigt för att kunna dra några konkreta slutsatser. Vidare studier rekommenderas. / The aim of the study is to examine the learning effect of Limits of Stability (LoS) test concerning transtibially amputated prosthetic users and a healthy control group. Seven transtibially amputated prosthetic users and a control group of seven healthy males repeated the LoS test five times during four sessions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon in two consecutive days. Two forceplates and 69 reflex markers were used to collect the data. The test subjects were placed with on the foot on each forceplate and were instructed to move their center of pressure by leaning the body from the ankles towards eight targets presented on a screen along with their center of pressure. The targets were selected in random order. The data was analyzed with Friedmans test, since the data wasn’t normally distributed, to see if there was any discrepancy between the repetitions and between the sessions. There were some significant discrepancies between repetitions and between sessions mainly involving the first repetition and the first session. However the results weren’t distinct enough to draw any concrete conclusions. Further studies are recommended.

Professional voice users such as singers and teachers are at high risk for vocal injury. A literature review was conducted to understand the prevalence of voice problems and the effectiveness of vocal hygiene education. The findings of the review suggested that in order to reduce the impact of voice disorders, it is imperative that the education of singers and teachers include how the voice functions and how to best take care of it. The purpose of this study was to discover what students on a collegiate level know about vocal anatomy, physiology, and vocal hygiene issues. It was hypothesized that graduate students who had taken a pedagogy course, were more knowledgeable about vocal anatomy, physiology, and vocal health than undergraduate or graduate students who had not had such a course. A survey was administered to voice students at a large university music program to ascertain the level of student knowledge. An analysis of the survey results provides educators with insight into specific areas of student deficiency and current collegiate pedagogical needs. The findings from the study survey were applied to recommendations for undergraduate and graduate vocal pedagogy curriculum, with an emphasis on anatomy, physiology, and preventative care of the voice. Course descriptions, objectives, and assessment methods were included for each vocal pedagogy course. The study recommended that all voice students receive information that allows them to make educated decisions regarding voice care and prepares them to be leaders in teaching singing based on voice science. In addition to anatomy and physiology of the voice, vocal hygiene is an important topic to be included in pedagogy curriculum. Issues and resent research in vocal hygiene were discussed including: speaking habits, hydration, reflux, medical management, etc. and how these contribute to or detract from efficient voice use.

This thesis explores the use of multimodality to communicate retrieved results of Internet search engines. The investigation aimed to investigate suitable multimodal metaphors which would increase the level of usability of Internet search engine interfaces and enhance users` experience in the search activity. The study consisted of three experiments based on questionnaires and Internet search activities with a set of text-based and multimodal interfaces. These interfaces were implemented in two browsing platforms, named AVBRO and AVBRO II. In the first experiment, the efficiency of specific multimodal metaphors to communicate additional information of retrieved results was investigated. The experiment also sought to obtain users` views of these metaphors with a questionnaire. An experimental multimodal interface of the AVBRO platform, which communicated additional information with a combination of three 2D graphs and musical stimuli, was used as a basis for the experiment, together with the Google search engine. The results obtained led to the planning of a second experiment. The aim of this experiment was to obtain and compare the level of usability of four different experimental multimodal interfaces and one traditional text-based interface, all implemented in the AVBRO II platform. Effectiveness, efficiency and users` satisfaction were used as criteria to evaluate the usability of these interfaces. In the third and final experiment the usability analysis of a traditional text-based interface and the two most suitable experimental multimodal interfaces of the AVBRO II platform was further investigated. Learnability, errors rate, efficiency, memorability and users` satisfaction were used as criteria to evaluate the usability of these interfaces. The analysis of the results obtained from these experiments provided the basis for a set of design guidelines for the development of usable interfaces based on a multimodal approach.

An issue of great concern for amputees continues to be lack of proper fit and comfort in their sockets. This lack can often be attributed to changes in the shape of the residual limb that cannot be compensated for by existing prosthetic socket technology. In regions where cost is a prohibitive factor in the replacement of ill-fitting prosthetic sockets, the need for a volume adjustable, and potentially longer lasting, socket design is abundant. This research focuses on designing a volume adjustable lower limb prosthetic socket that accommodates the needs of amputees in underdeveloped countries using collaborative design techniques. Though advocated as a means of accurately identifying and satisfying their needs, including end-users in the design process often adds an additional layer of complexity because of differences in culture, language, or geography among the participants. This research therefore includes a study in which product design techniques were applied to the same volume adjustable socket design problem with a variety of users – typical users, lead users, and new Empathic Lead Users - from different countries, one developed and one developing. To overcome differences among participants, this research includes an alternative strategy to create Empathic Lead Users (ELU) from non-user product design engineers through the use of simulated lead user experiences. As a result of this study, customer needs analysis with ELU helps to identify 95% of traditional and lead user customer needs and 100% more latent needs, and possibly more avenues for product innovations, than interviewing lead or traditional users alone. The concepts generated by all users were also compared. Based on the resulting concepts’ novelty, variety, quality, and quantity, all users were able to satisfactorily complete the concept generation exercises and produced competitive design solutions. Using the concepts generated during this co-design study, a volume adjustable socket was developed. The final socket design, based on the analogous rotational movement of a camera aperture, is pursued through mechanical and subject testing. Early users of the socket liked the design and it has been demonstrated to provide the necessary volume adjustments, but future design iterations to improve its comfort are necessary. / text

<p align="justify">Aujourd'hui, la gestion des documents est l'un des problèmes les plus importants en informatique. L'objectif de cette thèse est de proposer un système de gestion documentaire basé sur une approche appelée recherche structurée et collaborative. Les caractéristiques essentielles sont :</p> <ul><li><p align="justify">Dès lors que les utilisateurs ont plusieurs centres d'intérêts, ils sont décrits par des profils, un profil correspondant à un centre d'intérêt particulier. C'est la partie structurée du système.</li> </p> <li><p align="justify">Pour construire une description des profils, les utilisateurs jugent des documents en fonction de leur intérêt</li> </p> <li><p align="justify">Le système regroupe les profils similaires pour former un certain nombre de communautés virtuelles</li></p> <li><p align="justify">Une fois les communautés virtuelles définies, des documents jugés comme intéressants par certains utilisateurs d'une communauté peuvent être partagés dans toute la communauté. C'est la partie collaborative du système.</p> </li></ul> <p align="justify">Le système a été validé sur plusieurs corpora de documents en utilisant une méthodologie précise et offre des résultats prometteurs.</p>

The adage, "old habits die hard", is especially relevant when humans learn new protective behaviors (i.e., dental flossing, IS security behaviors). The foundation that underlies many social-cognitive theories used in IS research is that intention to change predicts actual behavior change. Despite intentions to change, humans do not always change their habits due to actual or perceived obstacles, for example. In this study, user behavior, particularly with respect to vigilance over phishing attempts, was investigated via the theoretical lens of a hybrid continuum-stage behavior change model adapted from health-related fields. This type of model helps us to understand whether there are qualitatively different stages for adopting a more vigilant action plan toward phishing attempts, the number and ordering of distinct stages that a user must move through between forming an intention and subsequent behavior, what characterizes those stages, and how appropriate interventions at these stages can move a user to a higher stage of vigilant behavior. The goal of this research was to gain a better understanding of: a) whether there are distinct stages that distinguish end-users' vigilance toward phishing attempts; b) how many qualitatively different stages there are; and, c) what characterizes these stages. This study profiled IS end-users based on the model's constructs (e.g., coping self-efficacy, intention, action/coping planning, and risk perception) that examined end-users' protective behavior toward phishing attempts. In an exploratory analysis of survey data, stages of IS end-users were determined via cluster analysis techniques (hierarchical followed by K-means). A survey was administered to respondents (n= 394). Next, an agglomerative hierarchical cluster analysis using within-groups method of average linkage and Euclidean distance measures was performed on the model's constructs. Three clusters emerged as the optimal number to be used in the subsequent K-means cluster analysis. After conducting analyses for stability and validity for the 3-cluster solution, I compared the means of the model's constructs to develop profiles for the distinct three stages. I conclude that exploratory cluster analysis is an effective technique to discover natural groupings for protective behavior of IS end-users and propose future research to investigate stage-appropriate interventions to move users to higher stages.

<p>The purpose of the study was to investigate the impact of reduced hours on public library services in Cape Town through taking the Eersterivier Library, as a case study. The research problem comes from the author's personal experience as a librarian in the City of Cape Town whose library's usage seems to have increased since the reductions in hours in two neighbouring libraries, Melton Rose and Kuils River. The reductions in their hours are due to libraries losing staff and not being replaced.</p>

Background to the study: The Internet is rapidly becoming an important learning tool in academic institutions and workplaces. In academic institutions it plays a pivotal role in meeting information and communication needs of students, academics and researchers. Despite internet becoming an important information gathering and dissemination tool, literature reflects under-utilization both in academic and in practice settings for a number of reasons. This study therefore described the utilization of internet as an academic tool among undergraduate nursing students in a selected University in KwaZulu Natal in order to establish ways of enhancing its utilization. Methodology: A quantitative, non-experimental, descriptive design was used in this study. The population of the study was 222, and the the sample size was 141 of undergraduate nursing students which was calculated using Raosoft sample size calculator. The sample was stratified according to the percentages of the population in the Nursing program and the year of the study of the respondents. However, only 115 agreed to participate in this study and the response rate was rate therefore 81.1%. Data was collected using a survey after obtaining ethical clearance from the university and were analyzed descriptively. Findings: The findings revealed that participants perceived themselves to be at different levels of utilizing the Internet; intermediate level (32.2%) advanced level (19.1%) competent level (29.6%), beginner level (17.4%) and expert level (1.7%). The results reflected traditional university students as better equipped to use the Internet than non-traditional university students. The Internet was used for different purposes including; academic (96.5%); communication (82.6%), pleasure (71.3%), work related activity (53.9%) and shopping (13.9%). Facebook (77.4%) was the most commonly used social network followed by the twitter (24.3%). Challenges cited covered restricted access to certain sites (62.6%), very slow internet connection (55.7%), limited training in the use of the Internet (38.3%), limited number of computers (37.4%). The majority of the participants (89%) singled out training on internet use as priority with specific focus on basic IT skills (72.2%), accessing academic related material (70.4%), using Moodle (51.3%), Turnitin (35.7%) and endnote (33.9%). Conclusion: Contrary to other studies, this study reflected that students do use the Internet for a number of reasons. They however recommend structured support on how to use internet for academic purposes. / Thesis (M.N.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2013.

The purpose of this thesis was to explore socially constructed discursive barriers to physical activity for people with physical disabilities. This research was informed by a critical disability studies framework. Eight interviews were conducted, split between end-users and stakeholders. The end-user article discusses their perspectives with regard to their own PA participation, their use of PA resources, and their views of how disability is constructed. The stakeholder article deals with their views with regard to Canada’s progress in creating inclusive PA guidelines, the research process as it effects people with physical disabilities, and how disability is constructed. The results showed awareness among both groups of the social model of disability, but that the medical model is still firmly rooted. Work is needed to create inclusive promotional materials and disseminate them effectively. An effective advocacy and lobbying effort was suggested as one avenue towards a possible solution to this issue.