Background: Previous research has demonstrated that a history of childhood maltreatment can lead to significant negative consequences across multiple domains of functioning. A significant minority of individuals remain resilience to such negative consequences, necessitating further research into the factors which protect against negative outcomes in young people who have experienced adversity. A systematic review of the literature was carried out in order to assess the evidence base for factors that predict adolescent resilience following childhood maltreatment. Several factors across the individual, family and community level were identified, however, evidence regarding these factors was mixed. Factors that have been shown to predict resilience in other age groups require further validation within adolescent samples. Aim: The first aim of this study was to investigate the role of resilience in the relationship between childhood maltreatment and psychological distress. The second aim was to address a possible role for attachment in mediating the relationship between childhood maltreatment and resilience. Method: Adolescents aged 13 – 17 who were attending Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services were asked to complete measures of childhood maltreatment, individual resilience, attachment and psychological distress. Results: Resilience was shown to mediate the relationship between maltreatment and psychological distress. Attachment avoidance was found to mediate the relationship between maltreatment and resilience but not when emotional reactivity was included in the resilience index. Attachment anxiety did not mediate the relationship between maltreatment and resilience, however, maltreatment history was found to moderate the relationship between attachment anxiety and resilience. Discussion: Generalisability of this study was limited due to possible bias within the recruited sample. Implications of the significant results are discussed along with suggestions for future research.

The established approach to safety management has failed to handle socio-technical systems that have become more complex. The main argument is this approach is based on assumptions that systems are protected against accidents by barriers (well-trained people, redundant mechanisms and safety devices, and procedures and safe systems of work). Complex systems, such as maintenance, are actually labour intensive; maintenance staff often works under pressure to finish tasks as rapidly as possible. They continuously adapt and make adjustments using available resources, time, knowledge, and competence to achieve success. Thus, they are accidents prone. Human factors inherent to maintenance accidents are most times difficult to identify. Research in this area in the oil and gas industry in maintenance management is limited in comparison to the aviation and nuclear sectors. Therefore, it has been suggested to overcome this lack by exploring the maintenance system and identifying appropriate methods and tools that lead a system to safety excellence. Resilience engineering (RE) approach has been found the suitable solution. Moreover, four system abilities (cornerstones of RE: ability to respond, to monitor, to anticipate, and to learn) have been identified to characterise the resilience of a system; if these abilities are known and increased, it will make the system As High Resilient As Possible (AHRAP). However, there is a need to bridge between RE theory and practice. Particularly, a tool that measures these abilities lacks in the oil and gas industry, specifically within the maintenance system. In doing so, a framework based on a Gap Analysis (GA) was outlined. A tool, the MAintenance System Resilience Assessment Tool- MASRAT, was developed to assess current system resilience and identify strategies for improvement to achieve safety excellence. The maintenance system of SONATRACH was explored by the analysis of the system documentation and processes, interviews with maintenance staff, questionnaires, field observations, storytelling, and functional analysis. MASRAT has been validated by means of congruency and principal components analysis, PCA (content validity), and Cronbach’s alpha (reliability). An expert panel testing was carried out to test its usability. The exploration of the system came up with a snapshot of daily activities as well as a better understanding of the maintenance system. The study identified the most significant human factors (resources, time pressure, and supervision/coordination) and their probable impact on plant safety. The elements of the system were found tightly coupled, hence the system complex. Stories describing the continuous adaptations of people to achieve assigned objectives were collected. On the other hand, MASRAT was validated. All items were rated above 0.75 in congruency test. The results of PCA for the three selected factors confirmed the items may be clustered after extraction into four components which interpretation represents the four cornerstones of RE. The analysis showed MASRAT is reproducible. Cronbach’s alpha results were found higher than what is required (0.7). MASRAT was found usable by maintenance expert panel. It was used to measure the maintenance department resilience. Strategies that may lead the system from current maturity level to excellence were identified. Eventually, recommendations were made to management to be implemented both at corporate and department levels. For the first time, the maintenance department resilience of petroleum assets was measured to fill in the gap between RE theory and practice. Besides, this can be of benefit to the petroleum industry by a better knowledge of the maintenance working environment and human factors impact on safety and by profiles determination and improvement strategies identification.

This thesis addresses two research gaps: the gap of how to operationalize resilience in an urban context, and the gap on empirical studies of the relationship between resilience and sustainable development. I have approached these gaps by entering the emerging field of interdisciplinary research linking planning and resilience in a study of the process of preparing a resilience assessment for the semi-urban municipality of Eskilstuna in Sweden (2012–13). In order to capture in-depth data, I have conducted participant observation of the resilience assessment process, semi-structured interviews with the organizers at the municipality, as well as key participants from other departments, a review of the official municipal documents and a survey to the workshop participants. My findings show that resilience thinking helped frame the previously overlooked threats of a future triple crises, and bridge the short-term crisis management and the longer-term planning for sustainable development at the municipality. The idea of complex adaptive systems introduced a new perspective for sustainable development in the municipality, which practitioners thought was useful for providing new arguments to hinder slowly degrading trends, as well as clarifying the picture of a sustainable society.

Doctor of Philosophy / Food Science Institute / Sara E. Gragg / Justin J. Kastner / Food safety is a public health issue that demands coordinated scientific and policy solutions. Despite advancements in interventions and surveillance, Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and Salmonella spp. continue to cause outbreaks in a wide variety of food products. In light of these public health urgencies, both microbiological and policy frameworks are needed to address and anticipate future food safety challenges related to these pathogens. Laboratory-based techniques are used to address (1) whether common processing stresses change the susceptibility of STEC and Salmonella to food-grade antimicrobials, (2) whether differences in STEC attachment to beef tissue can inform intervention strategies, and (3) the efficiency of a combined sanitizer approach to reduce Salmonella on spinach. Salmonella Montevideo, Newport, and Typhimurium, and STEC O26, O45, O103, O111, O145, and O157:H7 were subjected to salt, acid, heat, freeze-thaw, alkaline and no (control) stress, and then challenged with the antimicrobials lauric arginate, citric acid plus hydrochloric acid, peroxyacetic acid plus acetic acid and hydrogen peroxide, lactic acid plus citric acid, and lactic acid. Growth/inhibition/no-growth was determined by absorbance values. While differences (p≤0.05) were observed between some of the stressors and controls, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) observed for both STEC and Salmonella were below maximum concentrations permitted by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). STEC serogroups were grown in nutrient-dense or nutrient-limiting media and inoculated onto lean or adipose, pre-rigor (warm) or chilled beef tissue. Loosely and firmly attached cells were plated onto MacConkey agar at several time points. When grown in nutrient-dense media, time × sample type (buffer versus homogenized sample) and sample type × tissue type (adipose versus lean) were significant (p<0.001). For nutrient-limited cells, tissue type was a significant main effect (p=0.0134). Spinach was inoculated with 5.0 log CFU/g Salmonella, dried, and submerged in a sodium bisulfate peroxyacetic acid (SBS-PAA) wash, a chlorine wash, or water for 2 min. Samples were stored for 0, 1, 3, 5, and 10 d, and populations were enumerated. When plated on xylose-lysine-tergitol 4 (XLT-4), SBS-PAA and chlorine washes achieved significant reductions (p≤0.05). When plated on XLT-4 plus tryptic soy agar (TSA) overlay, SBS-PAA was the most effective treatment, with a reduction of 1.77 log CFU/g (p<0.0001). Recognizing that microbiology studies ought to be combined with policy frameworks (and potential food safety solutions), policy analyses were performed to (1) evaluate and make recommendations about the resilience of the U.S. food system to catastrophic events and (2) thoughtfully—and innovatively—address so-called “unknown unknowns” (or disasters) and forecast future food safety vulnerabilities. The U.S. food system and its response to an intentionally-contaminated food product are analyzed through responsibilities of public, private, and third-sector actors. To address unknown unknowns and more strategically address future food safety problems, public and private actors ought to: (a) learn from the past (i.e., the German O104 outbreak), (b) target food groups of high and/or increasing consumption, (c) assess threats primarily rooted in other critical infrastructures, (d) borrow concepts and principles from meteorological forecasting, and (e) advocate multidisciplinary thinking.

5 Abstract Resilience, stressing out the positive aspects of personality and ways of finding sources of support for the development of the internal forces of an individual despite challenging life circumstances has been receiving more and more attention recently from both professionals and the public. Results of the resilience research are affecting theoretical concepts, however, also the areas of intervention, psychotherapy, counseling and prevention programs as well. The subject of theoretical part of the thesis was the introduction to theoretical concepts of resilience and topics related to it. A special attention has been paid to the resilience to the trauma, as well as the results of research concerning resilience sources, risk and protective factors. The specifics of resilience relating to a given age group were discussed in the theoretical part. The subject of the empirical part was to develop a Czech version of the Resilience to Trauma Scale - Research Edition (RTS-RE) and its explorative analysis in order to create a pilot version, which could become a basis for subsequent wider use in research on resilience. For these purposes two other methods were used in addition to the Czech translation of RTS-RE, namely: Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) and the Personal Views Survey (PVS). The results of...

A graph is k-resilient if it is possible to construct local routing tables for each vertex such that we can reach a specified destination vertex from anywhere in the graph. There is a conjecture that k-resilience is equivalent to (k+1)-connectivity. We prove this for 3-edge-connected graphs and 4-edge-connected planar triangulations. In the proof we use independent directed spanning trees. Two spanning trees are independent if they share no common edge with the same direction. For k=3,4 we show that a graph has k independent spanning trees if and only if it is k-edge-connected. We search for the spanning trees constructively through reductions of parts of the graph. Some of these reductions can also be used in a general k- connected case. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)

The continuous turmoil in some regions of the Middle East, including Syria and Iraq, has resulted in the displacement of millions of people, a big portion of those displaced people end up seeking refuge in neighboring countries, where often refugee camps are set up by multiple contributors for humanitarian causes. The infill form of planning that comes with an emergency situation such as war, does not optimize the individual, social and energy efficiency aspects of refugee camps. Looking at the various refugee camps around the world gives an insight on how to/ or not to design in relation to climatic conditions. Lessons learned can also be deducted from looking at established camps and social programs. The goal is to design a grouping of Green shelters that allows for individual wellbeing and social interaction alongside the rest of the basic human needs.

Inom specialiserad barnsjukvård finns behov av säkerhetsstrategier utvecklade för komplexa adaptiva system. Tillvägagångssätt från ”Resilience Engineering” kan användas när säkerhetsstrategier utvecklas, men erfarenheten av detta är begränsad inom sjukvården. Masterarbetet genomfördes för att utforska hur ett förbättringsarbete kring att utveckla och använda instrumentet ”Resilient Assessment Grid”, RAG, kunde stödja medarbetarnas förutsättningar att arbeta på ett resilient sätt. Förbättringsarbetet genomfördes enligt Nolans förbättringsmodell. Studien var en fallstudie med kvalitativ ansats på en vårdavdelning inom specialiserad barnsjukvård. Studieresultatet visade att arbetet med att utveckla och använda RAG kunde stödja medarbetarnas förutsättningar att arbeta på ett resilient sätt genom att de fick tillgång till ett sätt att mäta förutsättningar för resiliens och genomföra strategiska förbättringsinterventioner. Medvetenheten och kunskapen om patientsäkerhet och resiliens ökade, vilket har lett till en ökad förståelse för verksamheten, och för vad som är viktigt för god patientsäkerhet. Vi har hittills inte kunnat påvisa förbättrade förutsättningar för resiliens genom att använda instrumentet RAG. Innan längre tid förflutit och ytterligare RAG-mätningar gjorts kan vi varken påvisa eller utesluta att förutsättningarna kommer förbättras. Erfarenheterna från masterarbetet kan nyttjas i kommande initiativ, inom komplexa adaptiva system i hälso- och sjukvården, som syftar till att förbättra förutsättningarna för resiliens. / This master´s thesis explores how an improvement work of developing and using the “Resilience Assessment Grid”, RAG, can support the potential for resilient performance on a paediatric ward, in light of the need for new safety strategies developed for complex adaptive systems. A qualitative case study of the improvement work was conducted. The improvement work was done according to the Model for Improvement. The work of developing and using RAG for measuring and managing resilient performance, supported the employees' potential for resilient performance by helping them in implementing strategic improvement interventions. The awareness and knowledge of patient safety and resilience increased, which led to increased understanding of the system and the needs of the system in terms of patient safety. We have not been able to show that the potential for resilient performance has improved by using RAG for measurement. We can neither demonstrate nor exclude that the potential will improve before further measurements have been made. Experience from the present study can be used in future interventions of improving the potential for resilient performance and patient safety in a complex adaptive system in the health care setting.

Deployment and separation are indivisible components of military life. Separation of family members due to deployment is stressful and challenging. The importance of spousal resilience has been reflected by the nature of problems that have been experienced by the spouses at home while the member/members were on external military deployment. Therefore, the model on social support services to the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) members’ spouses during external military deployment is not in place. Furthermore, the efficiency and effectiveness of spousal support services during external military deployment within the SANDF have not been scientifically evaluated. The design of a model for social support services to the spouses of SANDF members during external military deployment is therefore critical in ensuring that the members are mission-ready. The objectives of the study were as follows: • To undertake an in-depth literature review that would conceptualise social support services to SANDF members’ spouses while on external military deployment. • To evaluate the implementation, efficiency and effectiveness of existing social support services to SANDF members’ spouses while the member is on external military deployment. • To inform the SANDF management about the results of the study on the need for social support services to SANDF members’ spouses during the members' external military deployment. • To design a model for social support services to the SANDF members’ spouses while the member is on external military deployment as a prerequisite for combat readiness amongst the SANDF members. The research approach that was used in this study is a combination of both qualitative and quantitative approaches. A semi-structured interview schedule was used in soliciting information that aided in the design of a model for social support services to the spouses of SANDF members while members are on external military deployment. Interviews were conducted with the spouses of the members of the SANDF who are or have been involved in external military deployment. Social workers from each of the deploying units within the nine provinces of the RSA undertook interviews with the spouses of the SANDF members who are or have been involved in external military deployment whilst the researcher conducted interviews within the ninth province being Gauteng. Self-constructed questionnaires were used as a quantitative data collection method to elicit information from the SANDF members who are or have been involved in external deployment, regarding the nature of social support services during the external military deployment of the member. Social workers who were deployed with those members assisted with the administration of questionnaires. Following the guidelines provided in the findings and conclusions of the study, the model for social support services during external military deployment of the member was designed. The proposed model is the SANDF Unit Family Support Groups (SANDF UFSGs) model that will address all the challenges and issues that have been identified in this study. The formation of UFSG committees in all the deploying units in the SANDF in order to address deployment related issues and challenges is thus of great importance. Based on the abovementioned, the study was able to attain its goal and objectives. / Thesis (DPhil)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

The role of citizens working with urban nature in making cities more resilient is under-explored and under-theorised. The social-ecological system (SES) is an appropriate concept to explore these interactions but challenges in applying it to cities have been identified. It has been suggested that there is a need to strengthen the 'social' in the SES. This thesis develops a conceptual framework that splits the social component of the SES into culture and agency and operationalises it through the concept of landscape. Previous scholarship has demonstrated that landscape is a powerful force in how people think about the world and that citizens are increasingly active in transforming urban landscapes. Using a critical realist framework, the SES is approached as an underlying mechanism that can only be apprehended through the landscapes that it produces. This directs attention to people’s experience of and responses to landscape. Three ‘layers’ of landscape are elucidated: the material landscape, the cultural landscape and responses to the landscape, drawing on the disciplines of landscape ecology, cultural geography and others concerned with environmental perception and people-environment interactions. The research surveyed citizen interaction with landscapes across North West England before focusing in on two key case studies in the city of Manchester. This analysis gave rise to development of a new concept, the Inviting Landscape, to describe landscapes that invite citizens to engage with them in ways that enhance the resilience of the underlying SES. The thesis identifies characteristics of Inviting Landscapes and links them to three stages of citizen engagement with landscapes. Potential practical applications of this characterisation of landscapes are discussed. Intellectually, the SES approach is enhanced through a deeper understanding of positive feedback mechanisms whereby landscapes influence citizen-nature interactions, which in turn impact on social-ecological resilience. The thesis concludes by making the case that attending more carefully to the role of culture and agency can strengthen the applicability of the SES approach to cities.