This study investigates the consequences of domestic violence for the people who are subjected to this kind of abuse. South Africa has a high incidence of domestic abuse, along with a high crime rate in general. The study aims to contribute to pastoral counselling with people who have suffered domestic abuse. The approach of the study is to bring insights from the field of psychology into dialogue with insights from Scripture and spirituality in order to provide a counselling model for pastors who are often the first to be approached for help. The South African Domestic Violence Law is evaluated. The causes of domestic violence are analysed in order to clarify why it is specifically rampant in South Africa. Disturbances that result from domestic violence are described in order to provide a deeper understanding of the effects of domestic abuse that pastors will encounter in their practice. Two counselling models that are deemed useful to pastoral counselling with victims of domestic abuse are narrative therapy as developed by White and Epston and the Logotherapy of Victor Frankl. These models provide the counsellee with the prospect of hope and meaning of life for the future. / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / lk2014 / Practical Theology / MA / Unrestricted

Seagrasses are considered highly important CO2 sinks, with the capacity to store substantial quantities of organic carbon in the living biomass and sediments, and thereby acting as a buffer against climate change. In this thesis, I have studied carbon storage variability in temperate and tropical seagrass habitats and identified factors influencing this variation. In addition, as seagrass areas are decreasing worldwide, I have assessed effects of different anthropogenic disturbances on carbon sequestration processes. The result from this thesis showed that there was a large variation in carbon storage within and among temperate, tropical and subtropical regions. The highest organic carbon stocks were found in temperate Zostera marina meadows, which also showed a larger carbon storage variability than the subtropical and tropical seagrass habitats. The tropical and subtropical seagrass meadows had inorganic carbon pools exceeding the organic carbon accumulation, which could potentially weakens the carbon sink function. The variability in organic carbon stocks was generally strongly related to the sediment characteristics of the seagrass habitats. In Z. marina meadows, the strength of the carbon sink function was mainly driven by the settings of the local environment, which in turn indicates that depositional areas will likely have higher organic carbon stocks than more exposed meadows, while in the tropics seagrass biomass was also influencing sedimentary carbon levels. Furthermore, locations with large areas of seagrass were associated with higher carbon storage in tropical and subtropical regions, which could be related to increased accumulation of both autochthonous and allochthonous carbon. In an in situ experiment, impacts on carbon sequestration processes from two types of disturbances (with two levels of intensity) were tested by simulating reduced water quality (by shading) and high grazing pressure (through removal of shoot biomass). At high disturbance intensity, reductions in the net community production and seagrass biomass carbon were observed, which negatively affected carbon sequestration and could impact the sedimentary organic carbon stocks over time. In the treatments with simulated grazing, erosion was also seen, likely due to an increase in near-bed hydrodynamics. When experimentally testing effects of increased current flow on organic carbon suspension in Z. marina sediment, a ten-fold release of organic carbon with higher current flow velocities was measured, which resulted in an increase in the proportion of suspended organic carbon by three times in relation to other sediment particles. Therefore, periods with enhanced hydrodynamic activity could result in a removal of organic carbon and thereby likely reduce the seagrass meadows’ capacity to store carbon. The findings of this thesis add to the emerging picture that there is a large natural variability in seagrasses’ capacity to store carbon, and highlight how human-induced disturbances could negatively affect the carbon sink function in seagrass meadows. / <p>At the time of the doctoral defense, the following paper was unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 4: Manuscript.</p>

Due to overgrazing, mining and other anthropogenic disturbances, large sections of the Karoo region have been degraded, resulting in areas with low vegetation cover, where erosion rates are high and vegetation is dominated by unpalatable species. These areas have low and unpredictable rainfall, with slow to non-existent autogenic recovery, and this often forces landowners to implement reseeding rehabilitation in an attempt to increase both overall vegetation cover and the relative abundance of palatable plants. Landowners use soil preparation treatments, which include creating micro-catchments, ripping, mulching and brush packing, to supplement land rehabilitation. This study investigated the significance of initial rainfall, mean monthly rainfall, soil preparation techniques, slope, existing vegetation cover, litter, mulch and stone cover in determining the success of reseeding rehabilitation. Rainfall had the most significant influence, where long-lived shrubs established best under low initial rainfall and high mean monthly rainfall, and grasses established best after receiving high initial rainfall. Micro-catchments proved the most successful soil preparation technique for the establishment of long-lived shrubs, while ripping and mulching impacted negatively on grass establishment. A combination of mulch and micro-catchments aided Osteospermum sinuatum establishment in soils where soil shrinkage cracks occurred. Temperature influenced seed germination and drought tolerance of Lessertia annularis, Fingerhuthia africana and O. sinuatum, with higher germination success of O. sinuatum under temperatures simulating summer, and of F. africana under temperatures simulating winter. L. annularis germination had a faster growth rate and higher survival when germinated under autumn/spring temperatures. Landowners are advised to sow seeds of more than one species during rehabilitation, to include micro-catchments as soil preparation treatment, and to sow seeds during a time when rainfall is predicted to be high.

La gestion par éclusées des aménagements hydroélectriques (plus de 150 en France) pour la production d'énergie de pointe engendre de brusques variations de débit sur les cours d'eau et est susceptible d’altérer la composition, l’abondance et la structure des populations de poissons et d’invertébrés, sur de longues distances. Les objectifs de cette thèse ont été (1) de développer une méthode de caractérisation des éclusées au sein des hydrogrammes, ainsi qu'un indicateur synthétique du niveau de perturbation hydrologique, et (2) de progresser dans la définition des mesures de mitigation des impacts des éclusées sur les poissons. A partir de l'analyse de 97 stations et 1575 années de données de débit, les gradients des variations naturelles de débit ont tout d’abord été caractérisés sur 8 gammes entre 5% et 4 fois le débit moyen interannuel (module). Des formules représentant les variations de débit « les plus rapides possibles naturellement » ont été construites en tenant compte du type de variation (hausse ou baisse), de la taille du cours d'eau (via le module) et de la gamme de débit sur laquelle se déroule la variation, pour ensuite discriminer les éclusées des événements naturels. A partir de l'analyse de 80 stations et 491 années de données de débit influencées par les éclusées, une méthode a été mise au point pour repérer au sein des hydrogrammes les éclusées dont les caractéristiques sont au-delà de ce qui peut se rencontrer en hydrologie naturelle, à partir de 3 critères : une amplitude minimale (≥ à 10% du module et ≥ à 20% du débit de base de l’éclusées), un gradient minimal (> au gradient naturel maximal) et une limite haute sur le débit maximum (pour éliminer les événements de crues). Une grande variabilité des régimes d'éclusées du fait de la diversité des aménagements hydroélectriques et des fluctuations des apports hydrologiques et de la demande énergétique, a été constatée et illustrée […]. / Hydropeaking management of hydroelectric facilities (more than 150 in France) generates sudden changes in flow on the river and can affect the composition, the abundance and the structure of fish and invertebrates populations over long distances. The objectives of this thesis were (1) to develop a method for characterizing hydropeaks within hydrograph and a synthetic indicator of hydrological disturbance, and (2) to progress in defining mitigation measures of hydropeaking impacts on fish. From the analysis of 97 stations and 1575 years of flow data, rate of change of natural flow variations have been characterized within 8 ranges between 5% and 4 times the mean inter-annual discharge. Formulas representing the "fastest variations possible naturally" and taking into account the type of change (increase or decrease), the size of the stream (via the mean inter-annual discharge) and the flow range over which the variation takes place have been constructed and then used to discriminate hydropeaks and natural events. From the analysis of 80 stations and 491 years of flow data affected by hydropeaks, a method was developed to identify, within the hydrograph, hydropeaks whose characteristics are beyond what can occur in natural hydrology, using 3 criteria: a minimum range (≥ 10% of the mean inter-annual discharge and ≥ 20% of the hydropeak base flow), a minimal rate of change (> to the maximum natural rate of change) and an upper limit on the maximum flow rate (to remove flood events). A large variation in hydropeaking regimes, due to the diversity of hydroelectric schemes and fluctuations in incoming flow and energy demand, was observed and illustrated […]

Orientadores: Ilza Maria Urbano Monteiro, Maria Yolanda Makuch / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-28T02:22:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Montalti_CamilaStein_M.pdf: 1208610 bytes, checksum: f81cceda9a4fdf6f5d2f94dfa9b3583b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015 / Resumo: INTRODUÇÃO: Sangramento menstrual abundante (SMA) é uma queixa comum entre as mulheres e pode comprometer a qualidade de vida (QV), além de levar à diminuição da concentração sérica de hemoglobina (Hb), causando anemia e fadiga. OBJETIVO: Verificar a prevalência de anemia, taxas baixas de ferro e ferritina entre as mulheres com e sem SMA, e comparar a QV e fadiga em mulheres anêmicas e não anêmicas com SMA confirmada. MÉTODOS: Foram realizados dois cortes transversais em mulheres com queixa de SMA, entre 18 e 55 anos, atendidas no Ambulatório de Hemorragia Uterina da UNICAMP. No primeiro estudo, foi realizada uma revisão de prontuários das mulheres atendidas entre 2011 e 2014 e extraídos os dados sobre os sintomas e hemograma. As mulheres foram divididas em três grupos: SMA (n=160), sem SMA (n=45), confirmados pelo Pictorial Blood Loss Assessment Chart (PBAC), e SMA subjetivo (n=160) sem confirmação do PBAC. No segundo estudo, entre 2013 e 2014, as mulheres com SMA confirmado pelo PBAC responderam a uma ficha de avaliação, ao questionário SF-36, à escala de fadiga FACIT-F e realizaram hemograma. Foram formados dois grupos: com anemia (GCA) apresentando níveis de Hb sérica menor que 12 g/dL (n=24) e sem anemia (GSA) com níveis de Hb sérica maior ou igual a 12 g/dL (n=51). RESULTADOS: No primeiro estudo os níveis médios de Hb e ferro séricos estiveram em torno do normal e semelhantes nos três grupos, enquanto os níveis de ferritina sérica foram mais baixos no grupo SMA. As frequências de anemia foram 33,1%, 28,9% e 40% nos grupos SMA, sem SMA e SMA subjetivo, respectivamente, sem diferenças significativas. Da mesma forma, não houve diferença significativa nos percentuais de mulheres com níveis de ferro e ferritina séricos baixos. No segundo estudo, as médias de Hb, ferro e ferritina séricos foram significativamente menores no GCA. Apesar do resultado médio de ferro e ferritina séricos nos dois grupos estarem dentro da normalidade, a frequência de mulheres com ferro e ferritina séricos baixos foi maior no GCA. No questionário SF-36 não houve diferença significativa entre os grupos, com variação de escore entre 20 e 63 nos oito domínios. O escore da escala de fadiga FACIT-F também não teve diferença significativa entre os grupos (26,3 no GCA e 30,6 no GSA), mas no GCA o escore foi abaixo de 30, ou seja, apresentou fadiga grave. CONCLUSÃO: Estes resultados reforçam a hipótese de que a queixa de SMA deve ser valorizada, independentemente da anemia, uma vez que apenas um terço das mulheres com SMA apresenta Hb abaixo do normal. Como o SMA torna-se uma condição crônica em muitas mulheres, a anemia não chega a comprometer a qualidade de vida e fadiga, uma vez que esta já estava afetada pelo próprio sangramento excessivo / Abstract: BACKGROUND: Heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) is a common complaint among women and may compromise the quality of life (QoL). It can lead to decreased serum hemoglobin (Hb) level, resulting to anemia and fatigue. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of anemia and iron deficiency in women with and without confirmed HMB and to compare QoL and fatigue in anemic and non-anemic women with HMB. METHODS: Two cross-sectional studies were conducted with women with HMB complaint between 18 and 55 years old at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medical Sciences, UNICAMP. In the first study, we reviewed medical charts between 2011 and 2014 and data on symptoms and blood counts were extracted. Women were separated into three groups: HMB (n=160), Non-HMB (n=45), both confirmed by the Pictorial Blood Loss Assessment Chart (PBAC), and subjective HMB (Subj-HMB) (n=160) without PBAC confirmation. In the second study, between 2013 and 2014, women with HMB confirmed by PBAC completed an evaluation form, the SF-36 health survey questionnaire, the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F) scale and were evaluated by the blood count. They were divided into two groups: anemic (hemoglobin <12 g/dl; n=24) and non-anemic (hemoglobin ?12 g/dl; n=51). RESULTS: In the first study, mean serum hemoglobin and iron levels were similar in all three groups, while serum ferritin levels were lower in the HMB group. Frequencies of anemia were 33.1%, 28.9% and 40% in the HMB, non-HMB and subj-HMB groups, respectively, with no statistically significant differences. Likewise, there were no significant differences in the percentages of women with low serum iron levels or low serum ferritin levels. In the second study, mean serum hemoglobin, iron and ferritin levels were significantly lower in the anemic group. Although mean serum iron and ferritin levels were within the normal limits in both groups, there were more women with low serum iron and ferritin levels in the anemic group. The SF-36 questionnaire scores ranged from 20 to 63, with no significant difference between the groups. The FACIT-F score was also similar for both groups, 26.3 in the anemic group and 30.6 in the non-anemic group, however in the anemic group the score was below 30, ie, severe fatigue. CONCLUSION: These results give strength to the hypothesis that the complaint of HMB must be valorized irrespective of its association with anemia, since only 30% of women with HMB show low hemoglobin levels. HMB has become a chronic condition in many women, so anemia does not influence QoL and fatigue because the excess bleeding itself already affects these women¿s conditions / Mestrado / Fisiopatologia Ginecológica / Mestra em Ciências da Saúde

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(農学) / 甲第21806号 / 農博第2319号 / 新制||農||1065(附属図書館) / 学位論文||H31||N5178(農学部図書室) / 京都大学大学院農学研究科応用生物科学専攻 / (主査)教授 松井 徹, 教授 久米 新一, 教授 廣岡 博之 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Agricultural Science / Kyoto University / DGAM

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Both optimal disturbances and optimal control are studied by means of numerical simulations for the case of the flat-plate boundary-layer flow. The optimisation method is the Lagrange multiplier technique where the objective function is the kinetic energy of the flow perturbations and the constraints involve the linearised Navier–Stokes equations. We consider both the optimal initial condition leading to the largest growth at finite times and the optimal time-periodic forcing leading to the largest asymptotic response. The optimal disturbances for spanwise wavelengths of the order of the boundary layer thickness are streamwise vortices exploiting the lift-up mechanism to create streaks. For long spanwise wavelengths it is the Orr mechanism combined with the amplification of oblique wave packets that is responsible for the disturbance growth. Control is applied to the bypass-transition scenario with high levels of free-stream turbulence. In this scenario low frequency perturbations enter the boundary layer and streamwise elongated disturbances emerge due to the non-modal growth. These so-called streaks are growing in amplitude until they reach high enough energy levels and breakdown into turbulent spots via their secondary instability. When control is applied in the form of wall blowing and suction, within the region that it is active, the growth of the streaks is delayed, which implies a delay of the whole transition process. Additionally, a comparison with experimental work is performed demonstrating a remarkable agreement in the disturbance attenuation once the differences between the numerical and experimental setup are reduced.

The response to civil disturbances has historically been the aggressive use of force or escalation with tactics such as the use of police dogs, armed federal troops during war protests, and police field forces. These types of tactics can escalate tensions between protestors and police and only add to the violence and destruction of the incident. To reduce the violence between protestors and the police and the destruction often associated with civil disturbances, it is necessary to examine the need to include de-escalation techniques in the responses. This study utilized 3 theoretical frameworks, the chaos theory, the behavioral decision theory and the strain theory, all which complement each other in interpreting the opinions and experiences of participants and civil disturbance responses. The research questions were used to determine the influence of experience, training, personal biases or external influences on decision making and elicit the opinions of respondents in how they would respond to a civil disturbance. Twenty-five respondents responsible for policy or response decisions regarding civil disturbances from southern U.S. state emergency management and law enforcement agencies took part in the survey. The results of a cross-tabulation analysis determined that there is a need for the inclusion of de-escalation techniques and that they would be effective in civil disturbances. The results also showed that an aggressive response was the preferred method to restoring or maintaining order, but there was a need to examine changes in response tactics. This study may be beneficial and provide a social impact through policy changes, which may lead to a lessening of the severity and scope of an incident.

Great Basin bristlecone pine (GBBP) (Pinus longaevaBailey) is one of the longest-lived organisms on Earth, and is one of the most highly fragmented high elevation conifer species. Throughout the Great Basin of the Intermountain West, GBBP are being impacted by changing disturbance regimes, invasive species, and climate change. To better understand the effects of climate variability and ecological disturbances in GBBP systems, three studies were designed and implemented. The first characterized the distribution of forest fuel in stands of GBBP and predicted how fuels may change under future climate scenarios. Using the Forest Inventory Analysis (FIA) plot variables of tree species, height, diameter at breast height (DBH), canopy base height (CBH), coarse (CWD) and fine (FWD) woody debris across elevational gradients, this study examined the effects of changes to fuel loading on predicted changes in fire behavior and severity. All classes of FWD decreased with elevation, and only 1000-hr fuels remained constant across elevational transects. This, combined with lower CBH and foliar moisture and increasing temperatures due to climate change, suggested increased fire potential at the GBBP treeline. The second study examined the role of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and tree chemistry and their response to the environment. VOCs and within needle chemistry were collected and analyzed along elevational gradients near the northern and southern limits of GBBP. Random Forest analysis distinguished elevation using VOCs, with 83% accuracy, and identified the compounds most important for classification. Ordination revealed that temperature, heat load index, and relative humidity were each significantly correlated with VOCs. Within-needle chemistry provided less predictive value in classifying elevation (68% accuracy) and was correlated only with heat load index. These findings suggest that GBBP VOCs are highly sensitive to the environment. The final study explored the role of VOCs in host selection of mountain pine beetle (MPB). Mountain pine beetles oriented toward VOCs from host limber pine (Pinus flexilis James) and away from VOCs of non-host GBBP using a Y-tube olfactometer. When presented with VOCs of both trees, females overwhelmingly chose limber pine over GBBP. While there were only a few notable differences in VOCs collected from co-occurring GBBP and limber pine, 3-carene and D-limonene were produced in greater amounts by limber pine. There was no evidence that 3-carene is important for beetles when selecting trees, however, addition of D-limonene to GBBP VOCs disrupted the ability of beetles to distinguish between tree species. Climate change will impact how forests are managed and this research could provide insight into the mechanisms underlying the incredible longevity of this iconic tree species.