Zhang, Xinran. / Thesis submitted in: December 2007. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 80-87). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / TITLE PAGE --- p.i / ABSTRACT --- p.ii / 中文摘要 --- p.v / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.vii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.viii / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.xi / LIST OF TABLES --- p.xiv / ABBREVIATIONS --- p.xv / Chapter CHAPTER 1. --- Introduction / Chapter 1.1. --- Rationale of the Study --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2. --- Current technologies for formulating long-acting parenteral protein deliver system --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2.1. --- Chemical Modification --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2.2. --- Sustained-release formulation --- p.4 / Chapter 1.2.2.1. --- Phase separation method --- p.4 / Chapter 1.2.2.2. --- Solvent evaporation/extraction method --- p.5 / Chapter 1.2.2.3. --- Spray drying method --- p.6 / Chapter 1.2.2.4. --- Causes for protein instability --- p.6 / Chapter 1.2.2.4.1. --- Water/organic solvent interface --- p.6 / Chapter 1.2.2.4.2. --- Lyophilization --- p.8 / Chapter 1.2.2.4.3. --- Polymer --- p.11 / Chapter 1.2.2.4.4. --- Stabilizing additive --- p.13 / Chapter 1.3. --- Aqueous-aqueous emulsion technology --- p.17 / Chapter 1.3.1. --- Background --- p.17 / Chapter 1.3.2. --- Basic Principle --- p.17 / Chapter 1.3.3. --- Phase diagram --- p.18 / Chapter 1.3.4. --- Formation of aqueous-aqueous emulsion --- p.19 / Chapter 1.3.4.1. --- Introduction of a water-soluble charged polymer as stabilizer --- p.19 / Chapter 1.3.4.2. --- Freezing-induced phase separation --- p.20 / Chapter 1.3.5. --- General Protocol --- p.21 / Chapter 1.3.5.1. --- Introduction of a water-soluble charged polymeric stabilizer --- p.22 / Chapter 1.3.5.2. --- Freezing-induced phase separation --- p.22 / Chapter 1.3.6. --- Merits and limitations of the aqueous-aqueous emulsion technology --- p.23 / Chapter 1.3.7. --- Protein selection for the sustained release formulation --- p.25 / Chapter 1.4. --- Aims and scope of study --- p.26 / Chapter "CHAPTER 2," --- Materials and Methods / Chapter 2.1. --- Materials --- p.28 / Chapter 2.1.1. --- Proteins --- p.28 / Chapter 2.1.2. --- Polymers --- p.28 / Chapter 2.1.3. --- Media for TF-1 Cell Culture --- p.28 / Chapter 2.1.4. --- Chemicals and Solvents for Cell Proliferation Assay --- p.29 / Chapter 2.1.5. --- Other Chemicals and Solvents --- p.29 / Chapter 2.1.6. --- Materials for Cell Culture --- p.29 / Chapter 2.1.7. --- Materials for Reagent Kits --- p.30 / Chapter 2.2. --- Methods --- p.30 / Chapter 2.2.1. --- Determination of the Partition Coefficients of Proteins Between PEG and Dextran --- p.30 / Chapter 2.2.2. --- Preparation of Glassy Particles --- p.31 / Chapter 2.2.2.1. --- Standard Stable Aqueous-aqueous Emulsion Method --- p.31 / Chapter 2.2.2.2. --- Freezing-induced Phase Separation --- p.32 / Chapter 2.2.3. --- Preparation of Protein-loaded and Blank Microspheres Using S-o-w Solvent Extraction Technique --- p.32 / Chapter 2.2.4. --- Optical Microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy --- p.33 / Chapter 2.2.5. --- Determination of Protein Loading --- p.34 / Chapter 2.2.5.1. --- Within Dextran Particles --- p.34 / Chapter 2.2.5.2. --- Within PLGA microspheres --- p.34 / Chapter 2.2.6. --- Evaluation of Protein Structural Integrity and Bioactivity in Dextran Particles and PGLA Microspheres --- p.35 / Chapter 2.2.7. --- In vitro Release Study --- p.36 / Chapter 2.2.8. --- RhIFN Stability Determination under Simulated In Vitro Release Conditions --- p.37 / Chapter 2.2.8.1. --- In the Absence of PLGA --- p.37 / Chapter 2.2.8.2. --- In the Presence of PLGA --- p.37 / Chapter 2.2.9. --- MicroBCÁёØ Protein Assay --- p.38 / Chapter 2.2.10. --- Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC) - High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) --- p.38 / Chapter 2.2.11. --- ELISA --- p.39 / Chapter 2.2.12. --- Bioactivity Assay --- p.40 / Chapter 2.2.12.1. --- RhIFN --- p.40 / Chapter 2.2.12.2. --- RhGM-CSF --- p.41 / Chapter CHAPTER 3. --- Results and Discussions / Chapter 3.1. --- Sustained-release RhIFN Formulation --- p.45 / Chapter 3.1.1. --- Partition Coefficient of RhIFN --- p.45 / Chapter 3.1.2. --- Formulation Based on the Standard Aqueous-aqueous Emulsion (SA-AE) Method With Sodium Alginate as Stabilizer --- p.45 / Chapter 3.1.2.1. --- Surface Morphology --- p.45 / Chapter 3.1.2.2. --- Formulation Characterization --- p.46 / Chapter 3.1.2.3. --- In Vitro Release of RhIFN from PLGA Microsheres --- p.54 / Chapter 3.1.3. --- Formulation Based on the Freezing-induced Phase Separation (FIPS) Technique without Sodium Alginate --- p.56 / Chapter 3.1.3.1. --- Formulation Characterization --- p.56 / Chapter 3.1.3.2. --- In Vitro Release of RhIFN from PGLA Microsphees --- p.59 / Chapter 3.2. --- RhIFN Stability Assessment under Simulated In Vitro Release Conditions --- p.63 / Chapter 3.2.1. --- In the Absence of PLGA --- p.63 / Chapter 3.2.2. --- In the Presence of PLGA --- p.65 / Chapter 3.3. --- Sustained-release RhGM-CSF Formulation --- p.68 / Chapter 3.3.1. --- Partition Coefficient Determination of RhGM-CSF Between PEG and Dextran --- p.68 / Chapter 3.3.2. --- Formulation Based on Freezing-induced Phase Separation --- p.68 / Chapter 3.3.2.1. --- Validation of MTT Assay Conditions --- p.69 / Chapter 3.3.2.2. --- Formulation Characterization --- p.71 / Chapter 3.3.2.3. --- In Vitro Release of RhGM-CSF from PLGA Microspheres --- p.75 / Chapter CHAPTER 4. --- Conclusion and Future Studies / Chapter 4.1. --- Conclusion --- p.78 / Chapter 4.2. --- Future Studies --- p.79 / References --- p.80

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Work-related injuries are a persistent problem in the manufacturing industry. This research focuses on factors involved in the incidence, severity, and effective treatment of work-related injuries in a population of manufacturing workers. Data from a large Midwestern manufacturing facility were obtained with the aims of measuring the association between shift work and injury incidence, measuring the impact of injury reporting lag on injury severity, describing an intervention designed to provide expedited treatment to injured workers, and describing worker and injury characteristics associated with treatment success. Using injury and employment data from the Midwestern manufacturing facility for the years 2011 and 2012, we found that workers on second shift had a marginally significant increase in injury incidence compared to first shift workers. No differences were observed between third shift and first shift workers. Gender and job tenure were also found to be associated with increased injury rates. Job tenure was, in fact, a more significant predictor of injury than age. Using injury data from the years 2011 and 2012, we found that delayed injury reporting had a significant impact on injury severity. As the lag time increased between the date of injury and the injury report date, so too did the odds that the injury would lead to restricted work days. We did not, however, find the same association between reporting lag and lost work days. Injury type was a significant predictor of both restricted and lost days. Job tenure and body part injured were also predictors of lost days. Finally, we collected data from the years 2007-2009 on injured workers treated for musculoskeletal disorders through an intervention designed to reduce treatment lag time. The intervention, delivered by occupational health nurses and physical therapists, provided injured workers with a physical therapy visit within three days of reporting an injury. The intervention was designed to circumvent two barriers to timely care, the delay between the injury report date and the first occupational health physician visit, and the delay between the first physician visit and the first physical therapy visit. The most significant predictor of program discharge success was patient age. Older workers tended to have lower odds of being discharged to their baseline work duties compared to young workers. Overall, nearly two-thirds of the injured workers referred to the program were successfully discharged, regardless of gender, body part injured, cause of injury, or nature of injury. This project addresses the important issue of injuries in the manufacturing industry. We provide evidence on the factors associated with injury incidence and injury severity among workers in a large Midwestern manufacturing facility. We also show that workplace injury treatment interventions directed by occupational health nurses and physical therapists can be very effective in returning injured workers to their regular job duties. Our evidence suggests that future research and injury prevention efforts should focus on shift workers, low tenured workers, reducing delayed injury reporting, and reducing delayed injury treatment.

Organic semiconductors (OSCs) have already been shown to have great potential to play an important role in the future of clean energy generation (organic solar cells) and provide energy efficient lighting (organic light-emitting diodes, OLED). Prior research has found that the light-emission efficiency of OLED is severely limited by the magnetic state (technically the spin-configuration) of the light-emission process. In this thesis, we work on the processes using external magnetic fields that can overcome these magnetic limitations. A major focus of this research is to enhance the performance of OLED, while at the same time to unravel the scientific mechanisms by which magnetic fields act on OSCs devices. Thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) is a next-generation OLED emission technology which enables nearly 100% light-emission efficiency without using heavy precious metals. TADF characteristics depend on the probability of reverse intersystem crossing (RISC) from the triplet excited states (T1) to singlet excited states (S1). The conversion (T1 to S1) process depends strongly on spin dynamics, thus we predict a dramatic magnetic field effects (MFEs) in such TADF OLED devices. In subsequent experiments we observed that changes in TADF devices due to various forms of electrical stress can lead to enormous increases in magnetic field effects (MFEs) on the current (> 1400%) and electroluminescence (> 4000%). Our work provides a flexible and inexpensive pathway towards magnetic functionality and field sensitivity in current organic devices. Such OLED pave the way for novel magnetic sensitive OSCs devices with integrated optical, electronic and magnetic characteristics. Organic magnetoresistance (OMAR) has been observed to alter the current and efficiency of OLED without any ferromagnetic components. Here we utilizes slight alterations to the device properties, the addition of a radical-doped functional layer, in which the spin-relaxing effects of localized nuclear spins and electronic spins interfere, to address the assumption about the importance of the hyperfine interaction and to attempt to differentiate between the different models for OMAR. A feature where the magnitude of OMAR exhibits a plateau over a wide range of doping fraction was observed at all temperatures investigated. This phenomenon is well explained by a theory in which a single dopant spin strongly interacts, by exchange, with one of the bottleneck sites. A similar can be used to explain the efficiency increases observed in organic solar cells for certain doping fractions.

The present experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of reinforcer magnitude on resistance to disruption of remembering and response rates. Pigeons were exposed to a variable-interval (VI), delayed-matching-to-sample procedure (DMTS) with two components (rich and lean). Specifically, completion of a VI 20 second (s) multiple schedule resulted in DMTS trials in both components. In a DMTS trial, a choice of one of two comparison stimuli (e.g., blue key) results in reinforcement if the choice matches some property of the sample stimulus presented previously. Sample and comparison stimuli are separated by a delay. Four delays (0.1, 4, 8, and 16 s) were used between the sample and comparison stimuli in the study. The difference between rich and lean components was the length of hopper duration following a correct response. The probability of reinforcement following a correct response in both components was .5. Each pigeon was exposed to 50 sessions of initial baseline and then 30 sessions of baseline between each disruptive condition (extinction, intercomponent interval [ICI] food, lighting the houselight during delays, and prefeeding). Separable aspects of the forgetting functions (initial discriminability and rate of forgetting) were examined by determining accuracy at each delay. During baseline, response rates were higher in the rich component relative to the lean. Accuracy decreased as delay increased in both rich and lean components, and accuracy was consistently higher in the rich relative to the lean component. During disruptive conditions, extinction, ICI food, and prefeeding disrupted response rates, but lighting the houselight during the delays had little effect. During the DMTS portion of the procedure, extinction and prefeeding decreased initial discriminability and lighting the houselight during the delay increased rate of forgetting. Intercomponent food had little effect on accuracy. Accuracy in the rich component was more resistant to disruption relative to the lean component during extinction. These results indicate that certain disruptors do not have the same disruptive effect across response rates and accuracy (e.g., ICI food). These data also suggest that when systematic differences in accuracy between rich and lean components are revealed, performance in the rich component tends to be more resistant to disruption.

Supply and demand in the World oil market are balanced through responses to price movement with considerable complexity in the evolution of underlying supply-demand expectation process. In order to be able to understand the price balancing process, it is important to know the economic forces and the behavior of energy commodity spot price processes. The relationship between the different energy sources and its utility together with uncertainty also play a role in many important energy issues. The qualitative and quantitative behavior of energy commodities in which the trend in price of one commodity coincides with the trend in price of other commodities, have always raised the questions regarding their interactions. Moreover, if there is any interaction, then one would like to know the extent of influence on each other. In this work, we undertake the study to shed a light on the above highlighted processes and issues. The presented study systematically deals with the development of stochastic dynamic models and mathematical, statistical and computational analysis of energy commodity spot price and interaction processes. Below we list the main components of the research carried out in this dissertation. (1) Employing basic economic principles, interconnected deterministic and stochastic models of linear log-spot and expected log-spot price processes coupled with non-linear volatility process are initiated. (2) Closed form solutions of the models are analyzed. (3) Introducing a change of probability measure, a risk-neutral interconnected stochastic model is derived. (4) Furthermore, under the risk-neutral measure, expectation of the square of volatility is reduced to a continuous-time deterministic delay differential equation. (5) The by-product of this exhibits the hereditary effects on the mean-square volatility process. (6) Using a numerical scheme, a time-series model is developed and utilized to estimate the state and parameters of the dynamic model. In fact, the developed time-series model includes the extended GARCH model as special case. (7) Using the Henry Hub natural gas data set, the usefulness of the linear interconnected stochastic models is outlined. (8) Using natural and basic economic ideas, interconnected deterministic and stochastic models in (1) are extended to non-linear log-spot price, expected log-spot price and volatility processes. (9) The presented extended models are validated. (10) Closed form solution and risk-neutral models of (8) are outlined. (11) To exhibit the usefulness of the non-linear interconnected stochastic model, to increase the efficiency and to reduce the magnitude of error, it was essential to develop a modified version of extended Kalman filtering approach. The modified approach exhibits the reduction of magnitude of error. Furthermore, Henry Hub natural gas data set is used to show the advantages of the non-linear interconnected stochastic model. (12) Parameter and state estimation problems of continuous time non-linear stochastic dynamic process is motivated to initiate an alternative innovative approach. This led to introduce the concept of statistic processes, namely, local sample mean and sample variance. (13) Then it led to the development of an interconnected discrete-time dynamic system of local statistic processes and (14) its mathematical model. (15) This paved the way for developing an innovative approach referred as Local Lagged adapted Generalized Method of Moments (LLGMM). This approach exhibits the balance between model specification and model prescription of continuous time dynamic processes. (16) In addition, it motivated to initiate conceptual computational state and parameter estimation and simulation schemes that generates a mean square sub-optimal procedure. (17) The usefulness of this approach is illustrated by applying this technique to four energy commodity data sets, the U. S. Treasury Bill Yield Interest Rate and the U.S. Eurocurrency Exchange Rate data sets for state and parameter estimation problems. (18) Moreover, the forecasting and confidence-interval problems are also investigated. (19) The non-linear interconnected stochastic model (8) was further extended to multivariate interconnected energy commodities and sources with and without external random intervention processes. (20) Moreover, it was essential to extend the interconnected discrete-time dynamic system of local sample mean and variance processes to multivariate discrete-time dynamic system. (21) Extending the LLGMM approach in (15) to a multivariate interconnected stochastic dynamic model under intervention process, the parameters in the multivariate interconnected stochastic model are estimated. These estimated parameters help in analyzing the short term and long term relationship between the energy commodities. These developed results are applied to the Henry Hub natural gas, crude oil and coal data sets.

<p>Det här examensarbetet presenterar en evaluering av en <em>Klockkorrigerare av klockpulsbredd</em>. Den består främst av en korrigerare av klockpulsbredd (<em>Duty Cycle Corrector DCC</em>) och även en fördröjningslåst loop (<em>Delayed Locked Loop </em><em>DLL</em>). Det finns många olika korrigerare av klockpulsbredden designade förut, de två populäraste arkitekturerna då har varit enkel eller dubbel återkopplings loop. Den huvudsakliga skillnaden mellan dem är att enkel återkopplings loop använder sig av en öppen loop medan den dubbla varianten istället har en stängd loop. I det här projektet kommer en ny arkitektur att presenteras. Konceptet i den nya designen är att dela upp korrigeraren av klockpulsbredden i två delar, en korrigerare och en detektor. Detektorn får utsignalen från den fördröjningslåsta loopen som insignal och talar om för korrigeraren via två utsignaler ifall signalen behöver justeras. Detektorn är uppdelad i två likadana fördröjningselement, som båda är klockade av utsignalen och dess invers från den fördröjningslåsande loopen, fast i omvänd ordning. Det här gör det möjligt att avgöra om klockpulsbredden av signalen är över eller under 50 %. Om så är fallet kommer den att justeras av korrigeraren för att sedan skickas som insignal till den fördröjningslåsande loopen.</p><p>Abstraktionsnivån för det här projektet har varit systemnivå, detta för att kunna vara riktigt säker på att arkitekturen verkligen fungerar innan ett riktigt chip tillverkas. Tips på framtida projekt är att gå vidare till schemanivå för att slutligen göra en implementering och mätningar på ett riktigt chip av den här <em>Klockkorrigeraren av klockpulsbredd </em>när det är känt att idén fungerar.</p><p> </p>

In normal everyday viewing, we perform large eye movements (saccades) and miniature or fixational eye movements. Most of our visual perception occurs while we are fixating. However, our eyes are perpetually in motion. Properties of these fixational eye movements, which are partly controlled by the brainstem, change depending on the task and the visual conditions. Currently, fixational eye movements are poorly understood because they serve the two contradictory functions of gaze stabilization and counteraction of retinal fatigue. In this dissertation, we investigate the spatial and temporal properties of time series of eye position acquired from participants staring at a tiny fixation dot or at a completely dark screen (with the instruction to fixate a remembered stimulus); these time series were acquired with high spatial and temporal resolution. First, we suggest an advanced algorithm to separate the slow phases (named drift) and fast phases (named microsaccades) of these movements, which are considered to play different roles in perception. On the basis of this identification, we investigate and compare the temporal scaling properties of the complete time series and those time series where the microsaccades are removed. For the time series obtained during fixations on a stimulus, we were able to show that they deviate from Brownian motion. On short time scales, eye movements are governed by persistent behavior and on a longer time scales, by anti-persistent behavior. The crossover point between these two regimes remains unchanged by the removal of microsaccades but is different in the horizontal and the vertical components of the eyes. Other analyses target the properties of the microsaccades, e.g., the rate and amplitude distributions, and we investigate, whether microsaccades are triggered dynamically, as a result of earlier events in the drift, or completely randomly. The results obtained from using a simple box-count measure contradict the hypothesis of a purely random generation of microsaccades (Poisson process). Second, we set up a model for the slow part of the fixational eye movements. The model is based on a delayed random walk approach within the velocity related equation, which allows us to use the data to determine control loop durations; these durations appear to be different for the vertical and horizontal components of the eye movements. The model is also motivated by the known physiological representation of saccade generation; the difference between horizontal and vertical components concurs with the spatially separated representation of saccade generating regions. Furthermore, the control loop durations in the model suggest an external feedback loop for the horizontal but not for the vertical component, which is consistent with the fact that an internal feedback loop in the neurophysiology has only been identified for the vertical component. Finally, we confirmed the scaling properties of the model by semi-analytical calculations. In conclusion, we were able to identify several properties of the different parts of fixational eye movements and propose a model approach that is in accordance with the described neurophysiology and described limitations of fixational eye movement control. / Während des alltäglichen Sehens führen wir große (Sakkaden) und Miniatur- oder fixationale Augenbewegungen durch. Die visuelle Wahrnehmung unserer Umwelt geschieht jedoch maßgeblich während des sogenannten Fixierens, obwohl das Auge auch in dieser Zeit ständig in Bewegung ist. Es ist bekannt, dass die fixationalen Augenbewegungen durch die gestellten Aufgaben und die Sichtbedingungen verändert werden. Trotzdem sind die Fixationsbewegungen noch sehr schlecht verstanden, besonders auch wegen ihrer zwei konträren Hauptfunktionen: Das stabilisieren des Bildes und das Vermeiden der Ermüdung retinaler Rezeptoren. In der vorliegenden Dissertation untersuchen wir die zeitlichen und räumlichen Eigenschaften der Fixationsbewegungen, die mit hoher zeitlicher und räumlicher Präzision aufgezeichnet wurden, während die Versuchspersonen entweder einen sichtbaren Punkt oder aber den Ort eines verschwundenen Punktes in völliger Dunkelheit fixieren sollten. Zunächst führen wir einen verbesserten Algorithmus ein, der die Aufspaltung in schnelle (Mikrosakkaden) und langsame (Drift) Fixationsbewegungen ermöglicht. Den beiden Typen von Fixationsbewegungen werden unterschiedliche Beiträge zur Wahrnehmung zugeschrieben. Anschließend wird für die Zeitreihen mit und ohne Mikrosakkaden das zeitliche Skalenverhalten untersucht. Für die Fixationsbewegung während des Fixierens auf den Punkt konnten wir feststellen, dass diese sich nicht durch Brownsche Molekularbewegung beschreiben lässt. Stattdessen fanden wir persistentes Verhalten auf den kurzen und antipersistentes Verhalten auf den längeren Zeitskalen. Während die Position des Übergangspunktes für Zeitreihen mit oder ohne Mikrosakkaden gleich ist, unterscheidet sie sich generell zwischen horizontaler und vertikaler Komponente der Augen. Weitere Analysen zielen auf Eigenschaften der Mikrosakkadenrate und -amplitude, sowie Auslösemechanismen von Mikrosakkaden durch bestimmte Eigenschaften der vorhergehenden Drift ab. Mittels eines Kästchenzählalgorithmus konnten wir die zufällige Generierung (Poisson Prozess) ausschließen. Des weiteren setzten wir ein Modell auf der Grundlage einer Zufallsbewegung mit zeitverzögerter Rückkopplung für den langsamen Teil der Augenbewegung auf. Dies erlaubt uns durch den Vergleich mit den erhobenen Daten die Dauer des Kontrollkreislaufes zu bestimmen. Interessanterweise unterscheiden sich die Dauern für vertikale und horizontale Augenbewegungen, was sich jedoch dadurch erklären lässt, dass das Modell auch durch die bekannte Neurophysiologie der Sakkadengenerierung, die sich räumlich wie auch strukturell zwischen vertikaler und horizontaler Komponente unterscheiden, motiviert ist. Die erhaltenen Dauern legen für die horizontale Komponente einen externen und für die vertikale Komponente einen internen Kontrollkreislauf dar. Ein interner Kontrollkreislauf ist nur für die vertikale Kompoente bekannt. Schließlich wird das Skalenverhalten des Modells noch semianalytisch bestätigt. Zusammenfassend waren wir in der Lage, unterschiedliche Eigenschaften von Teilen der Fixationsbewegung zu identifizieren und ein Modell zu entwerfen, welches auf der bekannten Neurophysiologie aufbaut und bekannte Einschränkungen der Kontrolle der Fixationsbewegung beinhaltet.

<p>The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with reporting incidents of sexual violence after seventy-two hours at the sexual assault service centre in Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal. This descriptive study was based on retrospective analysis of 534 medical records of victims of sexual violence at the Newcastle hospital between 2005 and 2009. A data collection sheet was designed to extract information from three sources namely: the victims‟ hospital files, J88 forms and specific hospital forms that were completed for sexual assault victims. The collected data were entered into and processed for analysis using EPI INFO statistical package. Frequencies, means and standard deviations were calculated for the data set. Test of significance was also done using the Chi-square test and presented using odds ratios with 95% CI and p-value of &lt / 0.05. The victims‟ age range was 2-81years (mean= 18.84, &sigma / =13.25). Approximately 87% were female and 59.4% of the victims were aged 0-17 years. One in five victims (19.7%) was HIV positive, and most (74.4%) reported rape with vaginal penetration. Fifty-nine percent reported within 72 hours of being assaulted. The most common reason for delayed reporting (21.5%) was fear of the perpetrator. Most of the sexual assaults were committed by male (96%) and single perpetrator (90%). Nearly a third (32.4%) of the sexual violence occurred within intimate relationships and more than two-thirds (68%) knew the perpetrators. In all, 35% sustained injuries during the assault and a third (34.5%) reported the use of weapons during the assault. Nearly half of the victims (48.7%) were referred to hospital by their relatives who also accompanied them to the facility (42.1%). Of the 198 victims that were offered post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), 87% collected the full 28-day course.</p>

The dynamics of natural populations may be influenced by a variety of factors, ranging from feeding interference and territoriality to the risk of predation and climatic effects. The relative influence of these factors may be contingent upon the quality of the habitat in which individuals reside. A factor that can largely affect population dynamics and that often covaries with habitat structure is predation risk. However, the combined effect of habitat and predation risk can vary according to the social context and intrinsic characteristics that affect individual behavioural responses. This thesis investigates the effects of habitat quality at the level of the population and the individual, and examines how it relates to the above factors in Siberian jays (Perisoreus infaustus), a territorial, group-living species in which the main cause of mortality is predation. The results demonstrate a strong effect of habitat on survival, reproduction and behaviour. Mortality was generally higher in open areas and managed forests and reproductive success decreased after forest management. Breeding females were more sensitive to environmental factors than males, possibly because of higher reproductive costs. Estimates of spatial demography suggested that there were more sinks than sources, and that they were located in open, managed forests. Behavioural decisions confirmed that open forests were associated with higher predation risks. However, decisions depended on social context; immigrants took highest risks and were the recipients of most aggression, largely an effect of social subordination. Also, parents provide their offspring with benefits that are withheld from immigrants. As a result, first-year survival was higher in retained offspring. Investigating the effects of multi-scale habitat quality on individual behaviour and population dynamics has generated an increased understanding of the effects of forest management on the dynamics of this population. This approach should facilitate development of an effective conservation management policy for this species.