This master thesis project studies behavior and actions of older users in China, with emphasis on the influence of vision decrease on older peopleʼs using experience. Related data was collected through the action research process and user behavior was studied. The project can be divided into two parts: user study and action research. In the user study section, user problems were posed and studied thoroughly with three user investigation methods: questionnaire, interview and ethnographic observation. Analysis was then carried out according to the study outcomes. Based on the user study results, action research direction was elicited to mainly focus on three aspects: font and icon study, as well as touch-screen interaction pattern research. Contextual inquiry was adopted as the primary research method; “Text-in-screen” prototype; “Look and feel” prototype and the platform iOS were used as tools to complete the research. At the end, explicit criteria of fonts and icons that better suits older users with poor vision was established and usersʼ adaptability for touch-screen smart phone system was explored.

Inadequate discharge planning for individuals with chronic illnesses or injuries is associated with increased readmissions to the hospital or rehabilitation facility where the original treatments were administered. To help ensure the recovery of discharged patients and avoid readmissions, discharge planners guide medication and care processes. The rate of readmissions was high in a stand-alone rehabilitation center due to ineffective discharge plans. Patients, family members, and caregivers lacked knowledge about medications, treatments, and self-care guidelines after the patient left the facility. The purpose of this project was to ascertain the impact of improved discharge processes using the (a) IDEAL Discharge Planning Overview, Process, and Checklist; (b) the teach-back Method training for discharge nurses; and (c) the Postdischarge Rehabilitation Services Follow-Up Tool incorporating telephone calls to all participants during Weeks 1, 2, and 4 postdischarge. Lewin's theory of planned change undergirded this project. According to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services data, the rate of readmissions among the 50 participants was 4.4%, compared with 6% (all-facility readmission rate) during the same quarter of the prior year. Findings from this project suggest that reductions in readmissions were associated with improvements in discharge planning, training of caregivers, and the use of national tools to standardize practices in reducing readmissions. The implication of this project for positive social change is that patient-centered inpatient rehabilitation care and patient-centered care following discharge may reduce readmissions, reduce costs, improve reimbursement, and reduce deterioration of patients' conditions postdischarge.

Telehealth initiated a transformation in the realm of innovative strategies to meet the demands of an ever-changing health care system. Adapting provisions to new delivery care models such as telehealth is one way to improve access to care. The purpose of this project was to explore evidence of best practices in telehealth through an extensive, systematic literature review. The practice-focused question focused on identifying advantages of and barriers to the use of telehealth for improving patient satisfaction and quality of care. The plan-do-study-act cycle served as a model for accelerating quality improvement through improved systems of practice, and the Critical Appraisal Skills Program tool was used to identify factors in the literature that indicated the clinical effectiveness of telehealth and the contributions of information technology to patient outcomes throughout the care continuum. Applying Melnyk and Fineout-Overholt's model, which consists of 7 levels for grading evidence, 11 articles were identified as meeting the inclusion criteria. With respect to comparing telehealth services, this review identified areas for future research, including how telehealth can be used to bridge the gap between hospital and home with the integration of telehealth being integrated into routine care as a means to deliver medical, health, and educational services that contribute to improving patient outcomes. The implications of this project related to social change include supporting evidence that positive change is possible when modalities of health care delivery include the patient as part of care, benefiting both patient and provider.

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Thesis (M. Sc. (Microbiology)) -- University of Limpopo, 2016 / Smart hydrogels could facilitate immobilisation of cellulases to allow recovery and decrease enzyme cost in the biofuel industry, as they have a soluble-gel transition. The aim of the study was to design and evaluate the use of smart hydrogels for immobilisation of cellulase system that can be recovered after hydrolysis of cellulosic biomass. Cellulases from Aspergillus niger FGSC A733 produced under solid state fermentation and commercial cellulases were used in immobilisation. Various support matrices prepared were poly-N-isopropylacrylamide (p-NIPAAm), poly-N isopropylacrylamide-co-Methacrylic acid (p-NIPAAm-co-MAA) and supermacroporous poly-crosslinked-Acrylamide-co-N,N’-Methylenebisacrylamide (p-crosslinked-AA-co MBA). Cellulases were coupled onto the support matrices by covalent attachment method through reactive groups of N-acryloxysuccinimide (NAS) or Methacrylic acid N-hydroxysuccinimide (NMS). The low critical solution temperature (LCST) of formed p-NIPAAm-co-MAA copolymer was determined by the inflection point method. The shrinking and swelling kinetics and pH sensitivity of p-NIPAAm-co-MAA copolymer and conjugates were characterised using a cloud point method. Hydrolysis of CMC using cellulase-microbeads-p-NIPAAm and cellulase-crosslinked-p-NIPAAm with different percentage gel showed activity trend of 0.05>1>10>5>0.1% and 5>2>10% respectively. HPLC analysis showed that supplementation of β-glucosidase in cellulase-crosslinked-p-NIPAAm conjugates increased glucose by 12 and 14-fold at 30 and 50 °C respectively in the avicel hydrolysate in comparison with no β glucosidase supplementation. In the hydrolysis of avicel using cellulase-crosslinked p-NIPAAm-co-MAA conjugate a total of 13.6 g/L of reducing sugar was liberated after three cycles. In comparison a total of 21.4 g/L of reducing sugars were released from avicel hydrolysis using cellulase-crosslinked-p-AA-co-MBA conjugate after 3 cycles. In contrast, reducing sugars released in thatch grass hydrolysis using free enzyme were 8 times greater than in cellulase-crosslinked-p-AA-co-MBA conjugate. Cellulase crosslinked-p-NIPAAm-co-MAA conjugates were more stable than free enzyme at 50 and 60 °C after 24 hour and 120 minutes of incubation respectively, but lost activities at 65 °C after 120 minute. Therefore the activity loss in the immobilised enzymes was more due to thermal inactivation during precipitation and recovery than incomplete recovery during precipitation cycles. The results show that cellulases immobilised on smart polymers with sol-gel transition could be used in hydrolysis of cellulose due to ease of recovery. Hydrolysis kinetics was efficient for both immobilised enzyme system (cellulase-crosslinked-p-AA-co-MBA and cellulase-crosslinked-p-NIPAAm-co MAA conjugate) since were re-used in hydrolysis of avicel. Therefore the use of these smart polymers for cellulase immobilisation can contribute in cost reduction of the enzymatic hydrolysis process in the biofuel industry. / National Research Foundation (NRF) , University of Limpopo financial aid office and Flemish Interuniversity Council (VLIR-UOS) fo

The mango tree is one the important sources of income in the rural economy of Senegal. However, mango producers in Ziguinchor are facing fruit fly infestations leading to important losses in income. The aim of this study is to measure the impact of the losses encountered by mango farmers in Ziguinchor over three years 2012, 2013, and 2014 and conduct an econometric study to examine household characteristics associated with high level of losses. At the household level, the total yearly losses on average from fruit fly infestations represent 17.09 % of the average total household income in Ziguinchor (Casamance). The losses associated with variability of production are much smaller than losses from decreases of average yield. Furthermore, the results show that the number of hectares, level production, and use of Keitt varieties are three factors statistically significant, with a significant positive influence on losses from infestation. The use of fruit fly control technologies does not appear to significantly reduce losses. / Master of Science

O presente trabalho propõe a concentração da bauxita presente em um rejeito fino gerado na usina de beneficiamento da Companhia Brasileira de Alumínio (CBA), agora denominada Votorantim Metais Alumínio, em Itamarati de Minas (MG), através da flotação reversa da sílica, sob a forma de quartzo. Como os minerais de ferro e titânio acompanham a bauxita, é necessário fazer separação magnética para eliminá-los do concentrado final. O concentrado de ferro e titânio pode ser utilizado como aditivo para fabricação de cimento portland. O rejeito de sílica pode ser utilizado como areia para construção civil ou na própria mina em manutenção de vias de acesso. Os experimentos sistemáticos em bancada foram realizados em célula de flotação mecânica, primeiramente, com minério de uma amostragem realizada em 2004. Determinadas as dosagens ótimas dos reagentes (coletor e depressor), partiu-se para a flotação com etapas cleaner e scavenger para definir o balanço de massas e verificar o comportamento do processo. Para validar as conclusões do trabalho experimental, foi feita nova amostragem na usina de beneficiamento de Itamarati de Minas, em julho de 2005, e, com este minério, o experimento de flotação com recirculação de produtos em um circuito em bancada composto por cinco etapas rougher, cleaner e scavenger. Partindo-se de uma alimentação nova com 11,6% de alumina aproveitável, chegou-se a um concentrado com teor de 52,6% no final do circuito, após a separação magnética, com recuperação em massa de 13,3% e recuperação de alumina aproveitável de 60,4%. / The present work proposes bauxite concentration using quartz flotation from a product so far considered a tailing, from the ore processing plant of Companhia Brasileira de Alumínio (CBA), now called Votorantim Metais Alumínio, at Itamarati de Minas (MG). A magnetic separation operation is also necessary to eliminate iron and titanium contaminants. Both products from this beneficiation process can have an industrial destination: iron and titanium concentrate can be used as a portland cement charge and the quartz can be used as construction sand in mine or in road maintenance. Systematic experiments were performed on bench cell froth flotation using the remaining ore sample taken in a 2004 campaign. The optimum collector and depressant dosages were found, followed by a flotation test with cleaner and scavenger that determined the mass balance and confirmed the process behavior. To validate these conclusions a fresh ore sample was taken in July 2005. A new simulation of the flotation circuit by locked cycle with five steps rougher, cleaner and scavenger in bench scale was done with this sample. From an 11,6% alumina feed, a 52% Al2O3 alumina concentrate was achieved, after magnetic separation. The mass recovery was 13,3% and the available alumina recovery was 60,4%

<p>The local wind band in Lilla Edet, <em>Lilla Edets Musikförening</em>, springs from work and activities in the late 19:th century. Since then, the band has developed from a brass sextet to mixed wind band. It has been an appreciated contribution to the society on festive occasions. Yet, it seems like the band more and more has lost it´s useful purpose. Also, the recruiting of new members has ceased, as the music school has trouble with attracting pupils to learn to play wind instruments.</p><p>The reasons for this reduced interest are more then one. One aspect can be lack of atten-tion to the genre in music education, both in the music school and in the regular school. It may also be due to the media not showing enough of the wind music. That this genre, in many purposes, has been replaced by today´s popular music also makes the average Swede unaware of it´s qualities.</p><p>There are, however, places where the wind music tradition is stronger. This can, for example, come from special wind instrument education at an early age. It can also be due to the local band playing a prominent part in the society.</p><p>To help a languishing band activity, the band itself must cooperate with the music school and the society. All parts must do what they can to make sure the business stays alive.</p> / <p>Lilla Edets Musikförening har sitt ursprung ur föreningslivet i slutet av 1800-talet. Musik-kåren har sedan dess utvecklats från mässingssextett till blandad blåsorkester. Den har uppskattats och haft sin givna plats vid högtider i, och i många fall utanför, kommunen. Dock har musikföreningens funktion i samhället med åren successivt blivit mindre befintlig. Därtill har rekryteringen av nya medlemmar avstannat, i takt med att musikskolan lockar färre och färre elever till att spela blåsinstrument.</p><p>Anledningarna till detta minskande blåsmusikintresse kan dels vara brist på uppmärksamhet på genren i musikundervisningen, både i musikskolan och i den vanliga skolan, dels kan det vara att blåsmusiken syns för lite i media. Att blåsmusiken, som underhållnings- och funktionsmusik, ersatts av dagens populärmusik, gör också att kunskapen om blåsmusiken är liten hos medelsvensken.</p><p>Dock finns platser där blåsmusiktraditionen är starkare. Detta kan t.ex. komma sig av att man satsar på särskild blåsundervisning i tidig ålder, eller att musikkårsverksamheten har en väldigt framträdande och självklar roll i samhället.</p><p>För att en tynande musikkårsverksamhet ska överleva krävs insatser från både musikkåren själv, musikskolan och kommunen. Alla parter måste samverka och vara beredda att satsa för att trygga verksamhetens framtid.</p>

The local wind band in Lilla Edet, Lilla Edets Musikförening, springs from work and activities in the late 19:th century. Since then, the band has developed from a brass sextet to mixed wind band. It has been an appreciated contribution to the society on festive occasions. Yet, it seems like the band more and more has lost it´s useful purpose. Also, the recruiting of new members has ceased, as the music school has trouble with attracting pupils to learn to play wind instruments. The reasons for this reduced interest are more then one. One aspect can be lack of atten-tion to the genre in music education, both in the music school and in the regular school. It may also be due to the media not showing enough of the wind music. That this genre, in many purposes, has been replaced by today´s popular music also makes the average Swede unaware of it´s qualities. There are, however, places where the wind music tradition is stronger. This can, for example, come from special wind instrument education at an early age. It can also be due to the local band playing a prominent part in the society. To help a languishing band activity, the band itself must cooperate with the music school and the society. All parts must do what they can to make sure the business stays alive. / Lilla Edets Musikförening har sitt ursprung ur föreningslivet i slutet av 1800-talet. Musik-kåren har sedan dess utvecklats från mässingssextett till blandad blåsorkester. Den har uppskattats och haft sin givna plats vid högtider i, och i många fall utanför, kommunen. Dock har musikföreningens funktion i samhället med åren successivt blivit mindre befintlig. Därtill har rekryteringen av nya medlemmar avstannat, i takt med att musikskolan lockar färre och färre elever till att spela blåsinstrument. Anledningarna till detta minskande blåsmusikintresse kan dels vara brist på uppmärksamhet på genren i musikundervisningen, både i musikskolan och i den vanliga skolan, dels kan det vara att blåsmusiken syns för lite i media. Att blåsmusiken, som underhållnings- och funktionsmusik, ersatts av dagens populärmusik, gör också att kunskapen om blåsmusiken är liten hos medelsvensken. Dock finns platser där blåsmusiktraditionen är starkare. Detta kan t.ex. komma sig av att man satsar på särskild blåsundervisning i tidig ålder, eller att musikkårsverksamheten har en väldigt framträdande och självklar roll i samhället. För att en tynande musikkårsverksamhet ska överleva krävs insatser från både musikkåren själv, musikskolan och kommunen. Alla parter måste samverka och vara beredda att satsa för att trygga verksamhetens framtid.