The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale - 3rd Edition (WAIS-III) is the newest of the internationally recognised Wechsler family of intelligence tests. It has been improved in terms of its psychometric properties, neuropsychological assessment abilities and its content. This test is in the process of being standardised by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) in South Africa. As the adapted South African version will be available shortly for use in the multicultural circumstances of South Africa, the application of the various aspects of this test needs to be investigated. This test is very comprehensive and thorough, however its one disadvantage is that it takes on average three hours to administer in its entirety. Thus there is a need to find ways in which to abbreviate the test for particular purposes when time is limited, for example in research, brief clinical assessments or neuropsychological screenings. The concept of abbreviating tests, including the earlier Wechsler intelligence test can be traced back to 1917, when it was asked if all the items on the Binet-Simon scale were required to give an accurate assessment of IQ (Levy, 1968). Since then there have been many short form suggestions made, with many different considerations in mind. These can be divided into two main approaches or methods. Firstly, the number of subtests of the scale can be reduced. Thus with the WAIS-III which consists of 14 subtests in total, an option is to use, for example only four of the subtests to get an estimate of a person's IQ. Secondly, the number of items in each subtest can be reduced. Thus only half the items or even only a third of the items on a subtest can be administered to get an estimate of the persons' performance on each subtest and in this way estimate their overall IQ. Both methods have been used on the WAIS and WAIS-R, although the reduction of the subtests is favoured. Both should now be validated and considered for use with the WATS-III in South Africa. Wechsler tests and their constituent subtests have been found to be differentially effected by race, education, language and socio-economic status (Kaufman, McLean & Reynolds, 1988; Nell 1999). These differences have also been found to impact on the short forms which are suggested, as certain subtests are considered to be more biased towards particular groups than others. Vocabulary and Block Design in particular bias testees who are not as westernised or acculturated towards a largely American and European culture (Kaufman, McLean & Reynolds, 1988). These differences, although often ascribed to race, language or socio-economic status can best be understood more broadly in terms of degree of acculturation (i.e. westernisation) (Shuttleworth-Jordan, 1996) and test-wiseness (Nell, 1999). In South Africa in particular, with its extreme cultural diversity these factors need to be carefully considered when developing short forms. In the present study the development of a short form appropriate to South Africa's diverse cultural circumstances will be approached, through a sample which has been stratified according to gender, first language (English vs. African), quality of schooling received (Private/Model C vs. DET) and level of education achieved (Matric vs. Graduate). Both a subtest reduction method and an item reduction method will be considered to arrive at a short form. The subtest reduction method will be considered further in an attempt to clarify which subtests would be more or less appropriate to include in a short form considering group differences. Finally the thesis will develop suggestions as to which short forms would be best for use in South Africa.

L'optimisation des procédés utilisant un substrat bon marché et abondant est considéré comme un facteur affectant le prix de production du 2,3-BD. Les valeurs optimales du pH, du taux d'aération, de la vitesse d'agitation, et de la concentration en substrat (maltodextrine) pour la production de 2,3-BD à partir de maltodextrines par la souche génétiquement modifiée Klebsiella oxytoca KMS005 ont été déterminées par une méthode conventionnellefacteur par facteur ainsi que par l’utilisation de la méthode des surfaces de réponse avec un plan d’expériences de Box-Behnken. Les résultats ont montré que les valeurs optimales de pH, taux d'aération, vitesse d'agitation, et concentration en substrat (maltodextrine) ont été respectivement de 6,0, 0,8 wm, 400tr/min et 150 g/L. Les surfaces de réponses ont permis de montrer que la vitesse d'agitation était le paramètre le plus influent pour la production de 2,3-BD. La mise en oeuvre d’un procédé fed-batch a permis d’obtenir en 78 h une concentration en 2,3-BD de 88,1±0,2 g/L avec un rendement de 0,412±0,001 g/g et une productivité de 1,13±0,01 g/L/h. L’influence des conditions de micro-aération sur la croissance des microorganismes et sur la production de 2,3-BD a été étudiée. En bioréacteurs batch, le transfert d’oxygène a été caractérisé via la mesure kLa en faisant varier le débit d'air et la vitesse d'agitation. La quantité optimale d'oxygène fournie aété évaluée à 9,5 g correspondant à un kLa de 25,2 h-1. Ensuite, un Ensuite, un procédé fed-batch a été étudié avec différentes stratégies de débit d'alimentation en glucose. Les meilleurs résultats ont été obtenus pour un débit d'alimentation constant en glucose de 2 g/h après une phase batch de croissance de 48 heures, et suivie d'une phase batch finale de 40 heures. Il en est résulté une concentration finale de 2,3-BD de 74,7 g/L avec une productivité de 0,64 g/L/h et peu de sous-produits formés (environ 3 g/L d’acide succinique, acétate et éthanol). D’autre part, les résultats issus des expérimentations en bioréacteur de 2 L ont été mis en oeuvre à l’échelle pilote. La production de 2,3-BD de maltodextrine a été réalisée dans des bioréacteurs de 10, 90 et 300 L pour différentes vitessesd’agitation et un taux d'aération fixé à 0,8 vvm.). Une concentration de 2,3- BD de 53,8 g/L et un rendement de 0,40 g/g de sucre consommé en 48 hont été obtenus avec une vitesse d’agitation constante de 295 tr/min en réacteur de 10 L. Pour le réacteur de 90 L, une concentration en 2,3-BD de52,53 g/L et un rendement de 0,43 g/g de sucre consommé ont été atteints en 72 h pour une vitesse d’agitation constante à 130 tr/min. Les meilleuresconditions d’inoculation ont été obtenues pour les précultures en phase exponentielle de croissance (12 h d’incubation) et une DO550 égale à 4 avant transfert dans le bioréacteur de 90 L. Pour le réacteur de 300 L, la concentration en 2,3-BD était de 45,02 g/L pour un rendement de 0,43 g/g de sucre consommé, obtenusaprès 72 h. / An optimization process with a cheap and abundant substrate is considered one of the factors affecting the price of commercial 2,3-Butanediol (2,3-BD) production. The optimized levels of pH, aeration rate, agitation speed, and substrate concentration (maltodextrin)were optimized by a conventional method and Response Surface Methodology (RSM) with Box-Behnken design in which metabolically engineered Klebsiell oxytoca KMS005 utilized maltodextrin to produce 2,3-BD. Results revealed that pH, aeration rate, agitation speed,and maltodextrin concentration at levels of 6.0, 0.8 vvm, 400 rpm, and 150 g/L, respectively, were the optimal conditions. RSM indicated that the agitation speed was the most influential parameter when either agitation and aeration interaction or agitation and substrate concentrationinteraction played important roles for 2,3-BD production. Under interim fedbatch fermentation, 2,3-BD concentration, yield, and productivitywere obtained at 88.1±0.2 g/L, 0.412±0.001 g/g sugar supplied, and 1.13±0.01 g/L/h, respectively, within 78 h. The influence of micro-aerobicconditions on microbial growth and 2,3-BD production was also studied. In batch bioreactors, air flow rate and agitation rate characterized through kLa measurement were tested. The optimal amount of oxygen supply was evaluated at 9.5 g corresponding to a kLa of 25.2 h-1 for cell growth and 2,3-BD production. Then, a fed-batch process was investigated by different glucose feeding rate strategies. Fedbatch with a glucose feeding rate of 2 g/h starting at the end of the growth phase during 48 h, followed by a final batch phase of 40 h was found satisfactory. It resulted in a final 2,3- BD concentration of 74.7 g/L with a productivity of 0.64 g/L/h but few byproducts formed (about 3 g/L including succinate, acetate and ethanol). Validated information in the 2 L bioreactor was further applied in a larger scale production of 2,3-BD with series of bioreactors from 10, 90 and 300 L vessels. Batch experiments were conducted based on various agitation speeds with the fixedaeration rate at 0.8 vvm. As a result, 2,3-BD concentration, and yield were achieved at 53.8 g/L, and 0.40 g/g sugar supplied within 48 h, respectively, under the constant tip speed at 295 rpm using a 10 L vessel. Its concentration of 52.53 g/L and yield of 0.43 g/g sugar consumedwithin 72 h were attained under the condition of the constant tip speed at 130 rpm using a 90 L fermenter. An appropriate seed inoculum condition was found with an optical cell density (OD550) around 4 at the log phase (12 h incubation) prior to transferring of the inoculum into the 90 L fermenter. Under the constant tip speed at 70 rpm, 2,3-BD concentration and yield were obtained at 45.02 g/L and 0.43 g/g sugar consumed in the pilot scale of 300 L bioreactor after 72 h incubation.

Orientador: Marcos Augusto de Moraes Silva / Banca: Marcos Augusto de Moraes Silva / Banca: Antonio S. Martins / Banca: Mônica Oliveira Orsi Gameiro / Banca: João Carlos Braga / Banca: Edson Lopes Lavado / Resumo: Os serviços de saúde acompanhando o desenvolvimento econômico e alta competitividade direcionam atenção à qualidade com que os serviços estão sendo realizados. A avaliação de um serviço de saúde está ligada à percepção do paciente na medida em que suas expectativas foram atendidas na efetividade e na qualidade das intervenções. O objetivo deste estudo consistiu em avaliar a funcionalidade e a qualidade de serviço em pacientes de cirurgia cardíaca no período pré-operatório e pós-operatório recente 6ºPO. Buscou-se ainda relacionar o nível de funcionalidade e de qualidade do serviço com: gênero, faixa etária e uso de circulação extra-corpórea (CEC). Foram estudados 82 pacientes, submetidos à cirurgia cardíaca eletiva, operados por toracotomia médio esternal, de ambos os gêneros, com idade entre 31 e 83 anos. Os pacientes entraram no estudo consecutivamente, de acordo com os critérios de inclusão e exclusão, a partir de março a setembro de 2006. Os pacientes foram divididos em subgrupos de acordo com: gênero, faixa etária, tipo de cirurgia, primeira cirurgia cardíaca ou reoperação e uso de CEC. O nível de funcionalidade foi avaliado pela escala MIF e a qualidade dos serviços prestados pela escala SERVQUAL-Card, escala modificada da SERVQUAL. A funcionalidade foi prejudicada após a cirurgia cardíaca até o 6º PO. Os níveis mais elevados de perda funcional ocorreram na categoria de locomoção, concentrando-se na atividade de subir escadas. No pré-operatório os pacientes mais jovens apresentaram níveis mais elevados de funcionalidade. Os níveis diminuíram com o aumento da idade dos pacientes e a menor funcionalidade foi na faixa etária de 70 a 85 anos. Tanto no aspecto motor como no cognitivo a utilização de CEC não esteve relacionada com o grau de perda funcional no pós-operatório recente. A qualidade dos serviços percebida pelo paciente foi satisfatória. / Abstract: The health services, following the economical development and the high competition, focus its attention on the quality of services. The evaluation of a health service is related to the patient perception as his expectations are met in the quality and effectiveness of the interventions.This paper was aimed at evaluating the service functionality and quality in cardiac surgery patients during the preoperative and recent postoperative periods (6° PO). It was also aimed at relating the service level of functionality and quality with the following: gender, age, and use of extra-corporal circulation (ECC). Eight two patients (men and women), subjected to elective cardiac surgery, were studied; they were operated by means of sternal medium thoracotomy and their ages ranged from 31 to 83 years. The patients were entered the study consecutively, according to the criteria of inclusion and exclusion, from March to September, 2006. The patients were divided into sub-groups in accordance with gender, age, type of surgery, first cardiac surgery or re-operation and use of ECC. The functionality level was assessed by using the MIF scale and the quality of the services was measured by the SERVQUAL scale-Card, modified SERQUAL scale. The functionality was harmed after the cardiac surgery until the 6° PO. The most elevated levels of functional losses occurred in the locomotion category, concentrating on the activity of climbing stairs. During the preoperative period, the youngest patients presented more elevated levels of functionality. The levels were decreased according to the increase in the patients’ ages and the smallest functionality was found in the ages of 70 to 85 years. Both in the motor aspect and in the cognitive aspect, the use of ECC was not related to the degree of functional loss during the recent postoperative period. The quality of the services watched by the patients was considered satisfactory. / Doutor

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:30:23Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2006-12-19Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:00:29Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 borges_jbc_dr_botfm.pdf: 523209 bytes, checksum: 91e394791a292a14faa66bdc26898c97 (MD5) / Os serviços de saúde acompanhando o desenvolvimento econômico e alta competitividade direcionam atenção à qualidade com que os serviços estão sendo realizados. A avaliação de um serviço de saúde está ligada à percepção do paciente na medida em que suas expectativas foram atendidas na efetividade e na qualidade das intervenções. O objetivo deste estudo consistiu em avaliar a funcionalidade e a qualidade de serviço em pacientes de cirurgia cardíaca no período pré-operatório e pós-operatório recente 6ºPO. Buscou-se ainda relacionar o nível de funcionalidade e de qualidade do serviço com: gênero, faixa etária e uso de circulação extra-corpórea (CEC). Foram estudados 82 pacientes, submetidos à cirurgia cardíaca eletiva, operados por toracotomia médio esternal, de ambos os gêneros, com idade entre 31 e 83 anos. Os pacientes entraram no estudo consecutivamente, de acordo com os critérios de inclusão e exclusão, a partir de março a setembro de 2006. Os pacientes foram divididos em subgrupos de acordo com: gênero, faixa etária, tipo de cirurgia, primeira cirurgia cardíaca ou reoperação e uso de CEC. O nível de funcionalidade foi avaliado pela escala MIF e a qualidade dos serviços prestados pela escala SERVQUAL-Card, escala modificada da SERVQUAL. A funcionalidade foi prejudicada após a cirurgia cardíaca até o 6º PO. Os níveis mais elevados de perda funcional ocorreram na categoria de locomoção, concentrando-se na atividade de subir escadas. No pré-operatório os pacientes mais jovens apresentaram níveis mais elevados de funcionalidade. Os níveis diminuíram com o aumento da idade dos pacientes e a menor funcionalidade foi na faixa etária de 70 a 85 anos. Tanto no aspecto motor como no cognitivo a utilização de CEC não esteve relacionada com o grau de perda funcional no pós-operatório recente. A qualidade dos serviços percebida pelo paciente foi satisfatória. / The health services, following the economical development and the high competition, focus its attention on the quality of services. The evaluation of a health service is related to the patient perception as his expectations are met in the quality and effectiveness of the interventions.This paper was aimed at evaluating the service functionality and quality in cardiac surgery patients during the preoperative and recent postoperative periods (6° PO). It was also aimed at relating the service level of functionality and quality with the following: gender, age, and use of extra-corporal circulation (ECC). Eight two patients (men and women), subjected to elective cardiac surgery, were studied; they were operated by means of sternal medium thoracotomy and their ages ranged from 31 to 83 years. The patients were entered the study consecutively, according to the criteria of inclusion and exclusion, from March to September, 2006. The patients were divided into sub-groups in accordance with gender, age, type of surgery, first cardiac surgery or re-operation and use of ECC. The functionality level was assessed by using the MIF scale and the quality of the services was measured by the SERVQUAL scale-Card, modified SERQUAL scale. The functionality was harmed after the cardiac surgery until the 6° PO. The most elevated levels of functional losses occurred in the locomotion category, concentrating on the activity of climbing stairs. During the preoperative period, the youngest patients presented more elevated levels of functionality. The levels were decreased according to the increase in the patients ages and the smallest functionality was found in the ages of 70 to 85 years. Both in the motor aspect and in the cognitive aspect, the use of ECC was not related to the degree of functional loss during the recent postoperative period. The quality of the services watched by the patients was considered satisfactory.

A previous analysis of starburst-dominated HII galaxies and HII regions has demonstrated a statistically significant preference for the Friedmann-Robertson-Walker cosmology with zero active mass, known as the R-h = c(t) universe, over Lambda cold dark matter (Lambda CDM) and its related dark-matter parametrizations. In this paper, we employ a two-point diagnostic with these data to present a complementary statistical comparison of Rh = ct with Planck Lambda CDM. Our two-point diagnostic compares, in a pairwise fashion, the difference between the distance modulus measured at two redshifts with that predicted by each cosmology. Our results support the conclusion drawn by a previous comparative analysis demonstrating that Rh = ct is statistically preferred over Planck Lambda CDM. But we also find that the reported errors in the HII measurements may not be purely Gaussian, perhaps due to a partial contamination by non-Gaussian systematic effects. The use of HII galaxies and HII regions as standard candles may be improved even further with a better handling of the systematics in these sources.

Autistic symptoms appear to change during adolescence. This study replicates an earlier one (McCallon, 1985) which attempted to validate the use of the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) with adolescents. The standard observation method of administration was used. Additionally, information obtained in structured parent interviews was used to score a CARS. Subjects were nine autistic and nine nonautistic retarded adolescents from 13 to 21 years of age. Results suggested that the CARS, administered either way, validity discriminates between retarded adolescents who are diagnosed as autistic and those with other handicaps. Methodological limitations of the present study are discussed.

Unusual responses to sensory stimuli have been reported in nearly all children with autism spectrum conditions (ASC). A few studies on adults indicate that the sensory and perceptual problems persist into adulthood. Sensory symptoms have not been included in the diagnostic criteria for ASC but in the new diagnostic manual (DSM-5, 2013) hyper- or hyporeactivity or unusual sensory interests were included in the diagnostic criteria for ASC. Sensory phenomena are mostly investigated in studies involving children and the scales used to measure sensory reactivity have been constructed on the basis of the scientific literature and parents’ reports. The experiences of adults with ASC are not well understood and have not been systematically used to develop measures. The overall aim of the thesis was to capture the first-hand experiences of and perspectives on sensory reactivity and translate them into a self-rating scale. To fulfil this overarching aim the personal sensory experiences of adults with ASC were investigated and the variations and range of atypical sensory phenomena explored and described in two qualitative studies (study I and II). The analyses of the firstperson descriptions enabled the development of items for a scale. These were reduced in steps and the final scale which was named the Sensory Reactivity in Autism Spectrum scale (SR-AS) comprised 32 items in four subscales: high awareness/ hyperreactivity, low awareness/hyporeactivity, strong sensory interests and sensory/motor. The SR-AS was validated using content and factor analyses. Its discriminative validity was then investigated as well as its reliability in the form of internal consistency (study III). In the final step the scale was used to identify clusters of atypical sensory functioning in adults with ASC by hierarchical cluster analysis (study IV). Three different sensory clusters were found. The main contribution of this thesis is its presentation of individual experience and perspectives and the creation of an clinical tool to measure atypical sensory reactivity frequently experienced by people with ASC. The ways in which the SR-AS can be used comprise assessment of individual sensory patterns for self-knowledge and awareness, to enable the development of coping strategies and to provide information on environmental adjustments required. In diagnostic processes where other criteria for ASC are fulfilled the SR-AS can be used for assessing sensory symptoms according to the DSM-5.

Magister Philosophiae - MPhil / Poverty dynamics and livelihood challenges among small-scale fishing communities on Lake Kariba (Zimbabwe) The aim of this study was to assess poverty among small-scale fishing communities on Lake Kariba (Zimbabwe) as well to as identify livelihood challenges that confront them. Two fishing communities were used as case studies and were uniquely selected from among the many fishing camps/villages dotted along the Zimbabwean shoreline of Lake Kariba. Depending on gear type, fishing activities on Lake Kariba target both the smaller-sized Kapenta species and larger species such as the bream and the tiger. Fishing activities are a major livelihood source for fishers in the two case studies upon which they obtain food and derive income to address other family needs. Mutual linkages and exchanges also exist between fishing camps/villages and communal areas where land-based activities such as cropping and livestock rearing are carried out. Before fieldwork, there was a pre-conceived notion that members of fishing communities on Lake Kariba were very poor. Although the fishers expressed desires for a better life than they were experiencing, they did not consider themselves poor. Instead, they rated their economic position as well off compared to some of their urban counterparts. However, on further interrogation, the study revealed that the fishers were facing a set of vulnerabilities that is commonly associated with the fishing profession. These vulnerabilities had substantial impacts on the livelihood system of these fishers. Using vulnerability ladders, a picture was painted depicting the severity of these vulnerabilities. It emerged that fishers were more vulnerable to existing state institutions that are designed to manage access to and the use of natural resources in the country. There are several reasons to suggest why this is the case which include, (i) the high cost of accessing the fishery, (ii) the stern measures in place that restrict access to and use of the fishery, and (iii) the punitive measures imposed for contravening rules of access and use of the fishery. Although restricting access is in line with the principle of long run sustainability of the fishery, it may threaten the development of the fishing industry and impact negatively on livelihoods of communities involved. Unlike fisheries elsewhere in the world, Lake Kariba is not viewed as a vehicle for reducing poverty and achieving food security. On the contrary, government places emphasis on preserving and enhancing the natural environment both aquatic and non-aquatic with a view to sustaining tourism. Under such a paradigm, fishing is viewed as a threat to the natural environment and requires strict management. Heavy fines are therefore imposed on users that violate the rules of access. Many of the fishers have had their properties attached after failing to raise the necessary amounts to cover the fines. By shifting away from the promotion of fisheries, government has accelerated the decline of the small-scale fishing industry on Lake Kariba, through narrowing the fishers action space and creating an environment conducive for corruption. The decline has subsequently shrunk the livelihoods base of local communities as well as many others who are associated with the fishing industry. While the sustainability of the fishery is paramount, government needs to reconsider its strategy on governing and managing fisheries on Lake Kariba. Given enough support, small-scale fisheries on Lake Kariba have the potential to contribute significantly to the country’s Gross Domestic Product. Small-scale fisheries have also proved their resilience in the wake of the severe economic crisis that Zimbabwe experienced between 2007 and 2009. During this period, there were widespread shortages of basic food items in the country and the demand for fish and fish products rose drastically. The fishers reported that there was an increase in the demand for fish during the crisis period to the extent that they could not supply enough to satisfy the market. This supports the observation by the United Nations (2010) that fisheries, in particular small-scale, can play an important role in the economy in terms of livelihoods, poverty reduction and food security. Fishing activities are also the perfect complement to other land-based livelihood activities for communities that live in close proximity to large water bodies.

No description available.

In order of measuring the relationship between Tinder intensity and self-esteem, the Tinder Intensity Scale was developed in this present study. The scale was developed with help from exploratory factor analysis (EFA) measuring dimensionality and Cronbach's alpha testing the interrelations between the scale items. The EFA found that the Tinder Intensity Scale (Cronbach’s alpha 0.75) consists of two dimensions, one measuring frequency and emotional connection and the other measured dating behavior, such as being the first one to contact a match. The index-scores were used to measure the relationship between the self-esteem score and Tinder Intensity Scale and the scales’ two dimensions. The findings of this study suggest that the relationship between self-esteem and Tinder intensity is rather weak for both men and women, but slightly higher for men’s dating behavior and self-esteem. A reason for this could be due to the low intensity on Tinder in this sample. For future research, it is suggested to examine the relationship on a larger sample. Another suggestion is to determine causality between Tinder use and self-esteem by doing a longitudinal study, where self-esteem is measured pre-Tinder usage and after using Tinder.