Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1992.

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1993. / Xeorox copy of typescript. "Workshop report." Includes bibliographical references.

This thesis aimed to provide a second validation phase of a recently developed measure: the Parental Understanding of Neurodisability Questionnaire (PUN-Q) (Moran et al., submitted). The PUN-Q is a thirteen item self-report questionnaire measuring parents' understanding of their child's neurodisability. This thesis prospectively validated the PUN-Q over three time points, prior to and following a child's attendance at a Tier-Four paediatric diagnostic assessment, for queries regarding social communication. Four main aims were investigated: 1) to establish prospective Construct Validity by comparing the PUN-Q to two other parent-report measures (perceived self-efficacy and parenting stress); 2) to examine test-retest reliability of the PUN-Q by comparing two pre-assessment time points; 3) to examine whether the PUN-Q is sensitive measuring potential pre-and-post assessment changes to parental understanding; 4) to explore the relationship between the PUN-Q and child emotional, behavioural and social communication difficulties. These objectives were addressed using data collected from 37 parents, due to time constraints the study was underpowered at Times two and three (n=26, n=11, respectively); bootstrapping confidence intervals were therefore estimated for non-parametric data. Evidence was provided for Construct Validity at Time 1, but not at Time 3. Test-retest reliability was suggested for the PUN-Q between two non-intervention time points. Results suggested that the PUN-Q is responsive to changes over time, and that the clinic's diagnostic assessment is effective in enhancing parental understanding. The PUN-Q was not shown to be related to child-related outcomes. These preliminary results suggest that the PUN-Q is an important measure that can reliably and conveniently measure parental understanding of their child's neurodisability symptoms. This study suggests a role for parental understanding within a wider model of parenting stress and coping with disability. Further validation is needed to allow dissemination to the wider neurodisability service, and to less complex symptom presentations.

published_or_final_version / Architecture / Master / Master of Architecture

The dairy cattle is a source of income for thousands of producers in Brazil, with growing production data, especially in the Northeast, making it essential that they be encouraged to create sustainable processes, causing producers to be competitive, earning profits and quality of life in a responsible manner. In this sense, monitoring the remnants of the protein intake in the diet of lactating cows, allows a rational use of concentrate supplementation, promoting a reduction in production costs, and prevent loss of nitrogen to the environment. The concentration of plasma urea nitrogen (PUN) can be an important auxiliary tool in the implementation and adjustment of feeding strategies, because it reflects the nutritional protein, the efficiency of nitrogen utilization by the animal and the ruminal balance between nitrogen (N) and energy. Its use as a routine, can help professionals in rural technical assistance, the ease of performing the examination in any laboratory animal or human clinical analysis, and can be used in non-lactating animals and other animal categories. The aim of this study was to evaluate the concentration of plasma urea nitrogen (PUN) in different dairy herds in order to obtain a diagnosis of levels of dietary protein utilization of lactating cows and to relate these levels with economic and productive aspects. The experiment was conducted in 25 farms with the exploitation of dairy cattle in the town of Nossa Senhora da Glória (SE), where blood samples were collected in five cows per farm, every 30 days over a period of three consecutive months, to determination of the PUN. Then, we selected 10 properties, valued between 25 and showing greater zootechnic control, to analyze possible PUN associations with nutritional parameters, productive and reproductive, as well as assess the commitment of the income of milk with concentrate supplementation. The experimental design was completely randomized split plot in time, obtaining variations of PUN between 6.97 and 29.2 mg / dL (P <0.05) and overall average of 15.46 mg / dL between the properties, where only 37.33% of them presented PUN within the patterns, and found that increasing levels of crude protein (CP) in the diet resulted in elevated values of PUN and reduced reproductive efficiency. It was also observed, that the mean of a 38.17% of income from milk, with the use of concentration between the properties. Under the conditions of this diagnosis, it appears that the present levels of PUN is not standard in most properties, possibly influenced by crude protein (CP) in the diet, resulting in higher production costs of dairy. / A bovinocultura leiteira representa uma fonte de renda para milhares de produtores no Brasil, apresentando dados produtivos crescentes, principalmente no Nordeste, tornando-se fundamental que sejam estimulados processos de criação sustentáveis, fazendo com que os produtores sejam competitivos, auferindo lucros e qualidade de vida, de forma responsável. Neste sentido, o monitoramento das sobras da proteína ingerida na dieta das vacas em lactação, permite uma utilização racional da suplementação concentrada, promovendo uma redução nos custos de produção, além de evitar perdas de nitrogênio para o meio ambiente. A concentração do nitrogênio ureico no plasma (NUP) pode ser uma ferramenta auxiliar importante, na implantação e ajustes de estratégias de alimentação, pois reflete o estado nutricional protéico, a eficiência da utilização do nitrogênio pelo animal e o equilíbrio ruminal entre nitrogênio (N) e energia. Seu uso como rotina, pode auxiliar profissionais da assistência técnica rural, pela facilidade da realização do exame em qualquer laboratório de análise clínica humana ou animal, além de poder ser utilizado em animais não lactantes e em outras categorias animais. O objetivo dessa pesquisa foi avaliar a concentração de nitrogênio uréico no plasma (NUP) em diferentes rebanhos leiteiros, de modo a obter um diagnóstico dos níveis de aproveitamento protéico dietético de vacas em lactação e relacionar esses níveis, com aspectos produtivos e econômicos. O experimento foi conduzido em 25 propriedades rurais com exploração de bovinocultura leiteira, no município de Nossa Senhora da Glória (SE), onde foram realizadas coletas de sangue em cinco vacas por propriedade, a cada 30 dias, num período de três meses seguidos, para determinação do NUP. Em seguida, foram selecionadas 10 propriedades, entre as 25 avaliadas, que apresentavam maior controle zootécnico, para analisar possíveis associações do NUP com parâmetros nutricionais, produtivos e reprodutivos, além da avaliar o comprometimento da renda do leite (CRL) com a suplementação concentrada. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado, em parcelas subdivididas no tempo, obtendo variações de NUP entre 6,97 e 29,2 mg/dL (P<0,05) e média geral de 15,46mg/dL entre as propriedades, onde apenas 37,33% delas apresentou NUP dentro dos padrões, sendo verificado que níveis crescentes de proteína bruta (PB) na dieta resultaram na elevação dos valores de NUP e redução da eficiência reprodutiva. Foi observado também, um comprometimento médio de 38,17% da renda do leite (CRL), com a utilização de concentrado, entre as propriedades. Nas condições desse diagnóstico, verifica-se que os níveis de NUP apresentam-se fora dos padrões na maioria das propriedades, possivelmente influenciados pela proteína bruta (PB) na dieta, repercutindo num maior custo de produção da atividade leiteira.

published_or_final_version / Architecture / Master / Master of Architecture

published_or_final_version / Architecture / Master / Master of Architecture

published_or_final_version / Architecture / Master / Master of Architecture

published_or_final_version / Architecture / Master / Master of Architecture

published_or_final_version / Architecture / Master / Master of Architecture