Public support for renewable energy projects is important in transitioning towards a more sustainable energy system. However, the literature investigating local energy acceptability has predominantly focused on understanding local opposition to single (wind) energy projects. As a result, it has relatively little to say about the construction of support for such projects, and about the relative acceptability of other local contributions to sustainability. Also, by focusing on oppositional responses to energy projects, the willingness and ability of local communities to contribute constructively to the design of locally-supported energy developments has also been overlooked by many previous studies. In response to these limitations, this research adopted a focus on early stage ‘upstream’ deliberation of multiple local energy alternatives, using the British island of Guernsey as a case study. Informed by social representations theory, three studies investigated how potential future offshore wind, tidal and wave energy projects were represented by Guernsey residents to threaten, enhance or fit place-related values and meanings associated with Guernsey and its coast and sea. Working collaboratively with the Guernsey government’s Renewable Energy Team, a mixed methods approach with a focus on participatory, visual methods was adopted, including auto-photography (Study 1), deliberative focus groups (Study 2) and a questionnaire survey (Study 3). The research found Guernsey and its coast and sea to be meaningful to local residents in many ways and at different scales, including as a unique island in need of more independence, with a coast that is valued for its quietness, wildlife, leisure opportunities, tides, natural beauty and as a space for exploration. Public understandings of tidal and wave energy as a local energy option were highly diverse, and subsequently some but not all local offshore renewable energy options were represented as ‘fitting’ these place-related meanings. In particular, the notion of Guernsey’s local distinctiveness was found to be important; tidal energy projects were represented as enhancing this distinctiveness, while offshore wind energy was instead portrayed as making Guernsey more like everywhere else. Overall, local energy acceptance at such an upstream stage was found to depend to a substantial extent on the technology chosen, the selected site for the project, and on how the project is interpreted relationally within a context of wider energy systems, policies and the perceived availability of (more appealing) local alternatives. This thesis suggests that adopting an upstream, visual, place-based approach could be one way to both achieve a better academic understanding of the acceptability of local energy projects, and to contribute to the development of more acceptable energy development practices in the future.

VIDAL, Juliana Maria Aderaldo. Utilização de resíduos da filetagem de tilápia-do-nilo(Oreochromis niloticus) na obtenção de concentrado protéico de peixe:caracterização físico-química e aceitação sensorial. 2007. 108 f. : Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal do Ceará, Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Departamento de Tecnologia de Alimentos, Fortaleza-CE, 2007 / Submitted by Nádja Goes (nmoraissoares@gmail.com) on 2016-06-13T13:09:20Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2007_dis_jmavidal.pdf: 2042354 bytes, checksum: 73ba06640339358107dc98cda64b5df6 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Nádja Goes (nmoraissoares@gmail.com) on 2016-06-13T13:09:36Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2007_dis_jmavidal.pdf: 2042354 bytes, checksum: 73ba06640339358107dc98cda64b5df6 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-13T13:09:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2007_dis_jmavidal.pdf: 2042354 bytes, checksum: 73ba06640339358107dc98cda64b5df6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007 / This study aimed to use mechanically separated mince (MSM) from the residues left after filleting Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus Linnaeus, 1757) to obtain a protein concentrate for human consumption and to assess its proximal composition and sensory characteristics. Three laboratory scale methods of obtaining fish protein concentrate (FPC) from MSM were studied. FPC evaluation included process yield, protein, fat and moisture contents as well as water activity. Based on these preliminary results a test procedure was established to obtain FPC. Yield, proximal composition, water activity sensory evaluation and microbial counts were analyzed on the dry FPC. Sensory evaluation used affective tests and hedonic scales relative to the ideal value for appearance, color and aroma of the product and was accomplished by 48 untrained tasters Five levels of FPC (0%, 15%, 22.5%, 30% and 37.5%, according to the recommended daily intake (RDI) of protein for young adults) were then included in a food formulation based on rice. These samples were identified, respectively, as: A, B, C, D and E were evaluated for appearance, color, aroma, taste and global acceptance by 80 untrained tasters using structured hedonic scales of nine points, following a balanced complete block design. The intention of consumption by the tasters was also assessed using a nine point scale. Data from chemical composition of MSM and FPC were submitted to descriptive analysis. Sensory data were analyzed by graphic design, descriptive analysis, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey test, using the SPSS statistical program v.13.0 FPC has a yield of 18.34%, and contained 1.38% moisture, 62.39% protein, 32.63% fat, 2.26% ash and had 0.16 Aw. The increase in protein percentage in FPC related to MSM was approximately four times. Microbial counts indicated that the experimental FPC is safe according to Brazilian microbiological standards and therefore it is fit for human consumption. Sensory evaluation of dry FPC powder expressed as acceptance by tasters frequency was 60.4% for color, 51.1% for general appearance and 41.7% for aroma. Description of flavor with terms like "typical of fish" was reported by only 44.2% of the tasters, suggesting the need for a more efficient deodorizing process and showing a balance in relation to the group of tasters that did not notice the characteristic smell. With regard to the perceived intensity of odor, 68.8% of the tasters considered the product ideal, which suggests an odor highly acceptable. Sensory evaluation of CPP included in the rice base showed the sample with 0% of CPP significantly (p 0.01) different from all other samples added of CPP for all attributes studied. Sample B (15% added FCP) however showed the best acceptability among the samples containing FPC. Thus, FPC obtained from MSM from Nile tilapia is a raw material acceptable to use as a food ingredient in various food bases as showed in this study with rice which is considered a neutral food base. Moreover, it is possible to add value to a residual food material offering an alternative source of protein at a relatively low cost. / Este estudo teve como objetivo o aproveitamento da carne mecanicamente separada (CMS) de resíduos da filetagem de tilápia-do-Nilo (Oreochromis niloticus) na obtenção de um concentrado protéico para o consumo humano, caracterizando-o quanto aos parâmetros físico-químicos e sensoriais. Foram estudados, em escala de laboratório, três métodos de obtenção de concentrado protéico de peixe (CPP) a partir da CMS. Os seguintes parâmetros foram avaliados: rendimento, percentual de proteína, gordura, umidade e atividade de água (Aw). Baseando-se nos resultados obtidos, elaborou-se um procedimento analítico que foi utilizado na obtenção do CPP em escala piloto. Para a caracterização do CPP realizaram-se as análises de rendimento, composição centesimal, Aw, análises microbiológicas e sensoriais. Nos testes sensoriais do CPP, 48 provadores não treinados avaliaram as características de aparência, cor e aroma usando os testes afetivos de escala hedônica e escala relativa ao ideal. Posteriormente, testou-se cinco níveis do CPP usando o arroz como alimento veículo. Os níveis de adição 0% (controle), 15%, 22,5%, 30% e 37,5% foram calculados a partir da Ingestão Diária Recomendada (IDR) de proteínas para adultos jovens. As cinco amostras de CPP adicionado em arroz identificadas, respectivamente, como: A, B, C, D e E foram avaliadas por 80 provadores não treinados com relação à aparência, cor, aroma, sabor e aceitação global através da escala hedônica estruturada de nove pontos, seguindo um delineamento de blocos completos balanceados. Também avaliou-se a intenção de consumo dos provadores usando uma escala de ação de nove pontos. Os dados de composição química da CMS e do CPP foram submetidos à análise descritiva. Os dados sensoriais foram analisados através de representação gráfica, análise descritiva, análise de variância (ANOVA) e teste de Tukey, utilizando-se o programa estatístico SPSS v.13.0. O CPP obtido em escala piloto apresentou um rendimento de 18,34%, teor de umidade de 1,38%, proteína 62,39%, gordura 32,63% e cinza 2,26% e Aw 0,16. O acréscimo do percentual de proteína do CPP em relação ao da matéria-prima original foi aproximadamente quatro vezes. A análise microbiológica revelou que o CPP atendeu aos padrões microbiológicos da legislação e, portanto, encontrava-se apto para o consumo humano. Na avaliação sensorial do CPP, a freqüência de aceitação dos provadores foi de 60,4% para cor, 51,1% para o aspecto geral e 41,7% para o aroma. A descrição do aroma com termos como “característico de pescado” foi relatada por 44,2% dos provadores, sugerindo a necessidade de uma desodorização parcial do material, e indicando um equilíbrio em relação ao grupo dos provadores que não perceberam o odor característico. Com relação à intensidade do odor percebido, 68,8% dos provadores consideraram ideal, o que revela um odor altamente aceitável. Os resultados sensoriais da adição do CPP em arroz mostraram que a amostra com 0% de CPP diferiu significativamente (p 0,001) das demais amostras adicionadas de CPP para todos os atributos estudados e, dentre as amostras adicionadas de CPP, a amostra B (15%) foi a que apresentou melhor aceitabilidade. Assim, o CPP obtido a partir da CMS de resíduos de filetagem de tilápia-do-Nilo é uma matéria-prima viável de utilização como ingrediente alimentício em diferentes bases alimentares, haja vista sua aceitação satisfatória em arroz, considerada uma base neutra. Além disso, esta pesquisa agregou valor a um material de descarte, gerando possibilidades de oferta de uma fonte protéica alternativa, de custo relativamente baixo.

Submitted by Fernando Souza (fernandoafsou@gmail.com) on 2017-08-03T12:23:28Z No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 2062214 bytes, checksum: 6431e34faacef3adea0e676969755258 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-08-03T12:23:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 2062214 bytes, checksum: 6431e34faacef3adea0e676969755258 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-04-07 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The research conducted in this study investigates the verbal reflexivity and its role in the anaphoric process. In order to determine which verbs are considered more acceptable in reading sentences containing the anaphora a si mesmo(a) and se(self), it was held three offline acceptability judgment tests with Brazilian Portuguese native speakers. It was used the concept of reflexivity proposed by Reinhart & Reuland (1993) which predicts that the reflectivity is a property of predicates as well as the functionalist nature of the work of Christiano (1993) and Mello (2008), as they established a higher rating categorical for verbs with more reflective characteristics, dividing them into three levels; primary – penteou (combed), secondary – sentou (sat) - and tertiary – acusou (accused) - according to their degree of reflexivity. The results found in the first test with anaphora a si mesmo(a), and se, and the three verbs with the three levels of reflexivity showed that the anaphora se was considered more acceptable, regardless of the verb type. With these results, we conducted two tests in order to verify the possible verbal influence. In the second test using the same verbs of the first experimental test and the anaphora se, in order to find evidences of the verbal influence. The findings toward to the influence only of the secondary verb combined with anaphora se. Thus, we conducted a third trial acceptability test using only the secondary verb and the absence and presence of anaphora se and we observe a significant effect of the secondary verb type when it was in the presence of anaphora is. In general, the results showed that the property of reflexivity may be present both in the anaphora as the predicate, and says Reinhart & Reuland (1993). / A pesquisa elaborada neste estudo investiga a reflexividade verbal e seu papel no processamento anafórico. No intuito de verificar quais verbos são considerados mais aceitáveis na leitura de sentenças contendo as anáforas a si mesmo(a) e se, realizamos três testes de julgamento de aceitabilidade, offline, com falantes nativos do português brasileiro. Utilizou-se da noção de reflexividade proposta por Reinhart & Reuland (1993), que predizem que a reflexividade é uma propriedade dos predicados, bem como dos trabalhos de cunho funcionalista de Christiano (1993) e Mello (2008), pois estes estabeleceram uma classificação mais categórica para os verbos com características mais reflexivas, dividindo-os em três níveis: primário - penteou, secundário – sentou - e terciário – acusou - de acordo com o seu grau de reflexividade. Os resultados encontrados no primeiro teste com as anáforas a si mesmo(a), se e os verbos dos três níveis de reflexividade evidenciaram que a anáfora se foi considerada mais aceitável, independentemente do tipo de verbo. Diante desses resultados realizamos mais dois testes com vistas a comprovar a possível influência verbal. No segundo teste utilizamos os mesmo verbos do primeiro teste experimental e a anáfora se, no intuito de encontrar evidências da influência verbal. Os resultados tangenciaram para a influência, apenas, do tipo de verbo secundário aliado a anáfora se. Assim, realizamos um terceiro teste de julgamento de aceitabilidade utilizando somente o verbo secundário e a ausência e presença da anáfora se e observamos um efeito significativo do tipo de verbo secundário quando este estava na presença da anáfora se. De modo geral, os resultados encontrados evidenciaram que a propriedade da reflexividade pode estar presente tanto na anáfora como no predicado, assim como afirma Reinhart & Reuland (1993).

Orientador: David Dequech Filho / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Economia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-11T15:27:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Aggio_GustavodeOliveira_M.pdf: 1141173 bytes, checksum: 2d9e8ae184faedf22a735a6b0870726c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008 / Resumo: Neste trabalho buscamos fazer uma contribuição para a teoria da aceitabilidade da moeda através de uma tentativa de compatibilizarão entre a teoria da moeda como uma convenção e a teoria da moeda do Estado. O método utilizado foi fazer o levantamento bibliográfico sobre os dois conjuntos teóricos e comparar os aspectos complementares entre eles. A conclusão a que chegamos e que a moeda completa aceita de forma generalizada em uma economia capitalista mantém seu caráter de convenção e a moeda do Estado. Este trabalho esta dividido em três capítulos. No primeiro observamos como a idéia de que a aceitabilidade da moeda possui um caráter convencional vem sendo utilizada desde a construção da economia como disciplina cientifica autônoma ate contemporaneamente. A idéia de moeda como convenção significa que um agente aceita a moeda porque espera que os demais também a aceitarão e que a forma aceita e em algum grau arbitraria. Isto significa que se todos os agentes aceitassem outra forma valida esta seria a moeda da economia. Verificamos, ainda, que alem de ser possível demonstrar logicamente a aceitabilidade generalizada da moeda-convencão, e possível construir teorias que especulam sobre a emergência da moeda. Estas teorias podem fazer alusão a processos históricos e permitem a compatibilidade entre a teoria da moeda como convenção e a teoria da moeda do Estado. No segundo capitulo delimitamos nosso estudo da teoria da moeda do Estado a chamada teoria cartalista da moeda. A apreciação desta teoria nos permitiu obter a definição de moeda do Estado como sendo toda aquela que o Estado aceita em pagamentos. Verificamos que a atuação do Estado permite a confiança na durabilidade da moeda na economia e que as principais formas de atuação do Estado são sobre a estrutura institucional de contratos monetários e a capacidade de instaurar uma cobrança de impostos estipulada na sua moeda. No terceiro capitulo sumarizamos os pontos de compatibilidade entre os dois conjuntos teóricos estudados nos capítulos precedentes e concluímos que o Estado e a instituição mais capacitada a ofertar e/ou regulamentar sobre a oferta da moeda aceita de forma generalizada na economia. Construímos, também, neste capitulo um modelo descritivo, sem formalização matemática, para indicar que a moeda aceita de forma generalizada em uma economia capitalista deve ser a moeda do Estado, mas que ela mantém a sua característica de convenção, porque pode deixar de ser aceita quando o Estado falhar em criar um estado de confiança suficiente para que os agentes aceitem definir suas posições econômicas nesta moeda. Isto possibilita que nossa teoria seja compatível com o fenômeno historicamente observado de crises monetárias / Abstract: In this study we intend to get a contribution to the theory of the acceptability of the money through an attempt of the compatibility between the theory of the money as a convention and the State theory of money. The method used in the study was to search for the bibliographic list of both theories and to compare the complementary issues between them. Our conclusion is that the generalized form accepted money in a capitalist economy keeps its convention characteristic and it is the State money. This study is divided in three chapters. In the first chapter we can notice how the idea of the acceptability of the money has a conventional character is been used since the construction of the economy as an autonomous scientific discipline until contemporary. The idea of the money as a convention means that an agent accepts money because he expects other ones will accept it too and that the accepted pattern is in a certain level arbitrary. This means that if all the agents would accept another valid form of money, this new form would be the money of the economy. We verified, nevertheless, that besides to be possible to demonstrate logically the generalized acceptability of the convention-money, it is also possible to build theories to speculate over the emergency of the money. These theories can refer to historic processes and to allow the compatibility between the theory of the money as a convention and the State theory of money. In the second chapter we delimitated the study of the theory of State money into the called Chartalists theory of money. The appreciation of this theory enabled us to obtain the definition of the State money as all money accepted by the State in payments. We certified that the action of the State allows the trust in the durability of the money in the economy and the State in the main manners acts over the institutional structure of the money contracts and the capability to institutes a collection of taxes stipulated for its money. In the third chapter we summarized the points of compatibility between both theories studied in the others chapters and we concluded the State is the institution with more capability to offers and/or regulates over the offer of generalized accepted money in the economy. We built too in this chapter a descriptive model, without a mathematical formalization, to indicate that the generalized form accepted money in the capitalist economy must be the State money, but it keeps the characteristic of convention because it could be a not accepted money when the State failed to keeps a state of trust enough to the agents accept to define their economic positions on this money. This allows our theory be compatible with the phenomenon history observed during the monetary crisis / Mestrado / Politica Economica / Mestre em Ciências Econômicas

FundaÃÃo Cearense de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Cientifico e TecnolÃgico / Este estudo teve como objetivo o aproveitamento da carne mecanicamente separada (CMS) de resÃduos da filetagem de tilÃpia-do-Nilo (Oreochromis niloticus) na obtenÃÃo de um concentrado protÃico para o consumo humano, caracterizando-o quanto aos parÃmetros fÃsico-quÃmicos e sensoriais. Foram estudados, em escala de laboratÃrio, trÃs mÃtodos de obtenÃÃo de concentrado protÃico de peixe (CPP) a partir da CMS. Os seguintes parÃmetros foram avaliados: rendimento, percentual de proteÃna, gordura, umidade e atividade de Ãgua (Aw). Baseando-se nos resultados obtidos, elaborou-se um procedimento analÃtico que foi utilizado na obtenÃÃo do CPP em escala piloto. Para a caracterizaÃÃo do CPP realizaram-se as anÃlises de rendimento, composiÃÃo centesimal, Aw, anÃlises microbiolÃgicas e sensoriais. Nos testes sensoriais do CPP, 48 provadores nÃo treinados avaliaram as caracterÃsticas de aparÃncia, cor e aroma usando os testes afetivos de escala hedÃnica e escala relativa ao ideal. Posteriormente, testou-se cinco nÃveis do CPP usando o arroz como alimento veÃculo. Os nÃveis de adiÃÃo 0% (controle), 15%, 22,5%, 30% e 37,5% foram calculados a partir da IngestÃo DiÃria Recomendada (IDR) de proteÃnas para adultos jovens. As cinco amostras de CPP adicionado em arroz identificadas, respectivamente, como: A, B, C, D e E foram avaliadas por 80 provadores nÃo treinados com relaÃÃo à aparÃncia, cor, aroma, sabor e aceitaÃÃo global atravÃs da escala hedÃnica estruturada de nove pontos, seguindo um delineamento de blocos completos balanceados. TambÃm avaliou-se a intenÃÃo de consumo dos provadores usando uma escala de aÃÃo de nove pontos. Os dados de composiÃÃo quÃmica da CMS e do CPP foram submetidos à anÃlise descritiva. Os dados sensoriais foram analisados atravÃs de representaÃÃo grÃfica, anÃlise descritiva, anÃlise de variÃncia (ANOVA) e teste de Tukey, utilizando-se o programa estatÃstico SPSS v.13.0. O CPP obtido em escala piloto apresentou um rendimento de 18,34%, teor de umidade de 1,38%, proteÃna 62,39%, gordura 32,63% e cinza 2,26% e Aw 0,16. O acrÃscimo do percentual de proteÃna do CPP em relaÃÃo ao da matÃria-prima original foi aproximadamente quatro vezes. A anÃlise microbiolÃgica revelou que o CPP atendeu aos padrÃes microbiolÃgicos da legislaÃÃo e, portanto, encontrava-se apto para o consumo humano. Na avaliaÃÃo sensorial do CPP, a freqÃÃncia de aceitaÃÃo dos provadores foi de 60,4% para cor, 51,1% para o aspecto geral e 41,7% para o aroma. A descriÃÃo do aroma com termos como âcaracterÃstico de pescadoâ foi relatada por 44,2% dos provadores, sugerindo a necessidade de uma desodorizaÃÃo parcial do material, e indicando um equilÃbrio em relaÃÃo ao grupo dos provadores que nÃo perceberam o odor caracterÃstico. Com relaÃÃo à intensidade do odor percebido, 68,8% dos provadores consideraram ideal, o que revela um odor altamente aceitÃvel. Os resultados sensoriais da adiÃÃo do CPP em arroz mostraram que a amostra com 0% de CPP diferiu significativamente (p 0,001) das demais amostras adicionadas de CPP para todos os atributos estudados e, dentre as amostras adicionadas de CPP, a amostra B (15%) foi a que apresentou melhor aceitabilidade. Assim, o CPP obtido a partir da CMS de resÃduos de filetagem de tilÃpia-do-Nilo à uma matÃria-prima viÃvel de utilizaÃÃo como ingrediente alimentÃcio em diferentes bases alimentares, haja vista sua aceitaÃÃo satisfatÃria em arroz, considerada uma base neutra. AlÃm disso, esta pesquisa agregou valor a um material de descarte, gerando possibilidades de oferta de uma fonte protÃica alternativa, de custo relativamente baixo. / This study aimed to use mechanically separated mince (MSM) from the residues left after filleting Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus Linnaeus, 1757) to obtain a protein concentrate for human consumption and to assess its proximal composition and sensory characteristics. Three laboratory scale methods of obtaining fish protein concentrate (FPC) from MSM were studied. FPC evaluation included process yield, protein, fat and moisture contents as well as water activity. Based on these preliminary results a test procedure was established to obtain FPC. Yield, proximal composition, water activity sensory evaluation and microbial counts were analyzed on the dry FPC. Sensory evaluation used affective tests and hedonic scales relative to the ideal value for appearance, color and aroma of the product and was accomplished by 48 untrained tasters Five levels of FPC (0%, 15%, 22.5%, 30% and 37.5%, according to the recommended daily intake (RDI) of protein for young adults) were then included in a food formulation based on rice. These samples were identified, respectively, as: A, B, C, D and E were evaluated for appearance, color, aroma, taste and global acceptance by 80 untrained tasters using structured hedonic scales of nine points, following a balanced complete block design. The intention of consumption by the tasters was also assessed using a nine point scale. Data from chemical composition of MSM and FPC were submitted to descriptive analysis. Sensory data were analyzed by graphic design, descriptive analysis, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey test, using the SPSS statistical program v.13.0 FPC has a yield of 18.34%, and contained 1.38% moisture, 62.39% protein, 32.63% fat, 2.26% ash and had 0.16 Aw. The increase in protein percentage in FPC related to MSM was approximately four times. Microbial counts indicated that the experimental FPC is safe according to Brazilian microbiological standards and therefore it is fit for human consumption. Sensory evaluation of dry FPC powder expressed as acceptance by tasters frequency was 60.4% for color, 51.1% for general appearance and 41.7% for aroma. Description of flavor with terms like "typical of fish" was reported by only 44.2% of the tasters, suggesting the need for a more efficient deodorizing process and showing a balance in relation to the group of tasters that did not notice the characteristic smell. With regard to the perceived intensity of odor, 68.8% of the tasters considered the product ideal, which suggests an odor highly acceptable. Sensory evaluation of CPP included in the rice base showed the sample with 0% of CPP significantly (p 0.01) different from all other samples added of CPP for all attributes studied. Sample B (15% added FCP) however showed the best acceptability among the samples containing FPC. Thus, FPC obtained from MSM from Nile tilapia is a raw material acceptable to use as a food ingredient in various food bases as showed in this study with rice which is considered a neutral food base. Moreover, it is possible to add value to a residual food material offering an alternative source of protein at a relatively low cost.

Doctor Educationis / Background: Since 2005 the Chronic Dispensing Unit (CDU) has been part of the Western Cape Government’s strategy to address increasing demand for chronic medication for patients with non-communicable diseases. However, some patients are unable to collect their pre-packed chronic medication parcels from health care facilities on the due date. Recent research reported that some patients utilise collectors or medicine agents to collect their prepacked chronic medication parcels. Currently little is known about this phenomenon of collectors. Aim and Objectives: This study explored the acceptability of collectors of CDU chronic medication parcels to improve access to medicines for patients with non-communicable diseases at Lotus River Community Day Centre (LRCDC). Methodology: An exploratory descriptive qualitative study using semi-structured interviews in English and Afrikaans was conducted with six purposively selected collectors, three patients who use collectors and three key informants who have intimate knowledge of the collectors and system at the health facility. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, translated into English (where applicable) and thematically coded to derive themes from the data. Ethical approval was provided by the University of the Western Cape Bio-Medical Research Ethics Committee and informed consent was obtained from all study participants. Results: Patients reported that their collectors exhibited positive characteristics such as trust, patience and reliability, as well as, a passion for helping the community and organisational skills. All patients acknowledged the benefits of utilising a collector and found them to be highly acceptable. Key informants, however, had some reservations about the characteristics of collectors and their role in medication distribution and were sceptical as to whether collectors were suitably equipped to perform this function. Patients were grateful when their collector had some knowledge about their condition and were able to converse with them regarding their medication. Key informants suggested that with sufficient training and skills development, collectors could potentially improve access to chronic medication parcels and impart basic knowledge about chronic medication adherence to patients. iv Conclusion: The collector system that has emerged at LRCDC is highly acceptable to patients, but health facility staff were more measured in their assessments. Health facility staff, however, acknowledged the potential of collectors to improve access to chronic medication parcels for patients with chronic conditions and the benefit of upskilling collectors to perform this function. Recommendations: As a short-term measure, collectors should be formally accepted at facilities as medicine agents. They should receive basic education about safe medication distribution practices. Patients should screen collectors to ensure that they have the desired positive attributes. Furthermore, future research is necessary to comprehensively understand the current scope of practice of collectors within communities

BACKGROUND: Recently there has been a shift in the global health arena towards maternal immunization as the missing link to protect mother, fetus, and infant. However, as research is being conducted across the maternal immunization portfolio to address underlying immunological mechanisms, effectiveness, stability, and safety, there is minimal data regarding acceptance from the perspective of women and providers, specifically in low-resource settings. Serving as a factor that informs a global and national recommendation for vaccine use, closing this knowledge gap will be necessary to reach policy decisions, develop strategies to introduce maternal vaccines into National Immunization Programs, and secure uptake of such policies on the part of intended beneficiaries. METHODS: Qualitative data was collected across three health facilities (urban, peri-urban, rural) via focus group discussions (women), key informant interviews (family/community members), and clinical vignettes (women). Thematic analysis was guided by the World Health Organization’s Model of Determinants of Vaccine Hesitancy using the seven stages of the Framework Method. RESULTS: Results demonstrated that while women showed confidence in the safety and efficacy of vaccines, hesitancy towards maternal vaccination was fostered by misinformation, religious beliefs, use of traditional medicine, social norms, family involvement, and concerns about risk benefit profiles. In contrast, providers expressed service delivery barriers such as long wait times, husband involvement in decision-making, and religion as main reasons why women were hesitant to be vaccinated during pregnancy. Providers believed that these barriers could easily be overcome with proper outreach, education, and modifications to service delivery. Additionally, providers displayed confidence in their own understanding of the vaccine ecosystem and the level of knowledge women possessed about vaccines. CONCLUSION: To ensure the full potential of maternal vaccines, policies, national strategies, and implementation approaches will need to consider knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs expressed by women and providers, as well as the cultural dynamics of the setting in which vaccines are being administered. Furthermore, research is required to understand the relative strength of explanatory factors in deciding to be vaccinated during pregnancy, as well as exploration of how these factors change over time and contribute to policy and program implementation approaches. / 2022-09-30T00:00:00Z

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most frequently diagnosed problems affecting school-age children. This disorder can cause significant problems for children who consequently need treatment. Consumers of interventions for ADHD have efficacious treatments to choose from, but such treatment may not be implemented appropriately and effectiveness may decrease. Viewing treatments as 111 acceptable can affect treatment integrity and in turn increase effectiveness. Therefore, it is important that professionals understand how to increase the acceptability of treatments when first presenting treatment options to consumers. The primary purpose of this study was to determine if presenting parents and teachers with additional information about treatment options (behavioral therapy, medications, combination of both), beyond that of only providing treatment descriptions, would increase their treatment acceptability. Results showed that providing a rationale for treatment increased parents' acceptability for treatments involving medications, but not for behavioral treatments. This effect for how treatments were presented was not found among teachers. The results also suggest that parents and teachers differ in how acceptable they viewed some of these treatments. While parents rated the behavioral intervention as more acceptable than teachers, teachers rated the combination intervention as more acceptable than did parents. The results also indicate that consumers, especially parents, viewed the acceptability of these three treatment options differently, but that these effects interact with the amount and kind of information that the practitioners present to them. Specifically among parents, those who only received a description of the interventions rated the behavioral intervention as more acceptable than the combination intervention. However, there was no longer a significant difference in acceptability ratings of these two treatment options when rationales were provided along with treatment descriptions.

Research has demonstrated the effectiveness of school-based interventions for children to use to deal with being bullied. However, the research has not looked at the effectiveness of these interventions for Latino students. These students come to school with different cultural experiences and values. In theory, treatment that is evaluated as acceptable and potentially effective is more likely to be used. This study investigates and compares the treatment acceptability ratings of White American (n=87) and Mexican descent (n=28) students for two intervention skills that are often taught in bully intervention programs: assertiveness, and seeking help from an adult. Students were taught each skill in an analog group setting and asked to rate the acceptability of each skill. Results showed that White American students had a higher acceptability rating of the assertiveness skill than the Mexican descent students. White American females rated the assertiveness skill higher than Mexican descent males, and rated the skill of seeking adult help higher than White American males. No differences in treatment acceptability were found between the groups of students for the intervention on seeking help from adults. Similar barriers to implementation were reported by both Mexican descent and White American students. Finally, no relationship was found between the Mexican descent students’ acculturation level and treatment acceptability ratings. Implications of these findings for school-based practice and research are discussed.

Parent training is an effective intervention for parents of children with a variety of childhood disorders, and parents often view behavioral parent training as acceptable. Explanations and rationales for parent training are commonly provided at the beginning of treatment. However, there is little research regarding how rationales may influence acceptability. There is also limited information on whether fathers and mothers judge the acceptability of parent training differently. The purpose of this study was to determine whether changing the description of a behavioral parenting intervention influenced parents’ acceptability ratings and whether mothers and fathers differed in their ratings. Participants viewed one of two descriptions of parent training that focused on either addressing deficits in parenting skills or enhancing existing parenting skills. The results indicated that there was not a significant difference in the acceptability of the two parent training descriptions. However, mothers rated both treatment descriptions as more acceptable than did fathers. Results also indicated that parents’ beliefs about their influence as parents significantly predicted acceptability of the parent training descriptions. The results of the current study suggested that treatment acceptability was not influenced by the way that the interventions were described. Future research should focus on how to increase acceptability of parent training for fathers and parents who do not feel that they have control and influence over their children.