Flexible and goal-driven behaviour requires a process by which the appropriate task-set is selected and maintained in a privileged state of activation. This process can be conceptualised as loading a task-set into a procedural working memory (PWM) buffer. Task switching experiments, which exercise this process, reveal “switch costs”: increased reaction times and error rates when the task changes, compared to when it repeats. The process of loading a task-set into PWM may be one source of these costs. The switch cost is reduced with preparation, suggesting that at least some of the processes involved in a successful change of task can be achieved in advance of the stimulus. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the properties of PWM, and its contribution to task-set control. One account of PWM distinguishes between the level at which recently exercised (but currently irrelevant) task-sets are represented, and the level at which only the currently relevant task-set is maintained in a most active state. To distinguish between these levels of representation, and to assess the extent to which the process of getting a task-set into a most-active state (loading it into the PWM buffer) is subject to a capacity limit at each level, the experiments varied the number of tasks participants switched among (Experiments 1 and 2), and the complexity of individual task-sets (Experiments 3-6) in a task-cueing paradigm. In Experiments 1 and 2, participants switched among three or five tasks, in separate sessions. There was no effect of the number of tasks on the switch cost, or its reduction with preparation, provided that recency and frequency of task usage were matched. When recency and frequency were not matched, there appeared to be a larger switch cost with five tasks at a short preparation interval, suggesting that the time consumed by getting a task-set into a most active state is influenced by its recency and frequency of usage, not the number of alternatives per se. However, Experiment 3 showed that the time required to select an S-R mapping within a task-set does increase as a function of the number of alternatives (even when stimulus frequency and recency are matched), suggesting that representation of the most active task-set in a PWM buffer is subject to a strict capacity limit. Experiments 4-6 further investigated the capacity limit of this PWM buffer, and found that task-set preparation was more effective for task-sets that are less complex (i.e. specified by fewer S-R rules). These findings suggest that only very few S-R rules can be maintained in a most active state in the PWM buffer. Finally, Experiments 7-9 investigated whether S-R rules are represented phonologically for task-set maintenance and preparation, by manipulating the phonological properties of the stimulus terms. But task-cueing performance was not affected by the name length (Experiment 7) or phonological similarity (Experiments 8 and 9) of the stimulus terms. These results suggest that phonological representations of S-R rules do not make a functional contribution to task-set control, possibly because the rules are compiled into a non-linguistic PWM. The results of these experiments are discussed in terms of a procedural working memory which is separate from declarative working memory, and distinguishes between two levels of task-set control: the level of task-sets, which are maintained in a capacity unlimited state of representation, and the level at which the currently relevant task-set is maintained in a most-active but highly capacity limited state of representation.

No description available.

During the last 9 years I have completed 2300 confinement cases in general practice in a working class district in Edinburgh. During this period I resolved to keep a correct record of every case in a book kept for the purpose and written in every instance immediately after the birth has taken place and while the facts were fresh in my memory. The object then of the thesis is to 1. Contrast it with analysis of other records 2. To give a faithful account as to the manner and success with which I did my work 3. To make suggestions which such an experience may indicate.

This is a study of the organisational change to self-managed team working in UK-based manufacturing organisations. There are few models to guide research into the organisational change to team working and this study focuses on the under-researched area of the implementation process. Descriptions of team development models imply a smooth, linear change process. Yet this strategic change involves major restructuring at an operational level and in reality is a complex and political transition process that unfolds in unpredictable directions. This research proposes a processual framework to explore team development and to increase understanding of the ways in which this transition is shaped at critical junctures. This research was based on case study data collected over periods of up to five years in four brownfield, manufacturing organisations. This data provided detailed illustrations of the major challenges facing organisations in the transition to self-management. Specifically, the research findings indicated that the change to self-managed team working was an unfolding, non-linear process and that its success was shaped not only by the congruence between team design and production setting, but also by the congruence between new work structures and supporting organisational arrangements. Senior management commitment was pivotal to the success of the change process, as were clear definitions of operational roles and required actions and behaviours. Finally, the research indicated the importance of key players adopting appropriate change-driver roles and of paying attention to political tensions and perceived threats associated with changes to traditional role demarcations. This research increases understanding of the implementation and development of self managed work teams at an operational level and the results may be of considerable practical use for organisations in determining their strategies for organisational change and development.

Chapter I includes a description of the Chartist Movement and discusses the criteria found in John W. Bowers and Donovan J. Och's Rhetoric of Agitation and Control that were used to analyze the agitation and control groups of the movement. Chapter II describes the ideologies of both groups. Chapter III analyzes the rhetorical strategies of the agitation group: petition, solidification, promulgation, polarization, non-violent resistance, and confrontation-escalation, and the strategies of the control group: avoidance and suppression. Chapter IV concludes that Chartist agitators effectively used rhetorical strategies; however, the control strategy of suppression was stronger and brought about the demise of Chartism.

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1986 L437 / Master of Science / Chemical Engineering

M.Comm. (Business Management) / Changes in the corporate landscape and an increase in female participation rates in corporate workforces necessitate a better understanding of female career paths and how organisations can accommodate them better. The purpose of this study is to identify the most appropriate work-life balance benefits organisations can offer to female employees to assist them in achieving greater work-life balance. The study further aims to identify learning and development opportunities that females who have exited from their professions can follow to remain relevant and up to date in their fields. Through the literature review the study examines the need for women in corporate workforces, and inspects reasons for the underrepresentation of women in workforces. It further investigates alternative career models female professionals often embark on in an attempt to gain more balance between family responsibilities and career demands and subsequently discusses the costs associated with losing female talent. It then explores how organisations can assist female employees by offering work-life balance benefits. The study was conducted by using an online questionnaire and respondents were selected by employing a snowball sampling method. In this study research found that the most appropriate work-life balance benefits are flexible working hours, on-site childcare facilities, parental leave, part-time work, mobile working and virtual or cyber working. Conversely, the most inappropriate work-life balance benefits are weekend work, shift work, overtime, temporary or casual work, term-only working and fixed term contracts. It further found that employees who have exited from their professions can follow certain learning and development opportunities to assist them to remain relevant and up-to-date in their fields and assist them to return to full-time employment. The following learning and development opportunities were listed as being most appropriate: Attending continuous professional development courses and workshops, reading and further studies, keeping in touch with colleagues to stay updated with new developments at the office and the organisation, attending seminars and doing ad hoc, private, part-time or consulting work.

M.Ing. / The instability of partially stiffened stainless steel compression members due to local buckling of the flange element or flange and lip interaction has not been studied before. In this investigation the critical local buckling and post-buckling behavior of cold-formed partially stiffened stainless steel compression elements are studied in order to determine the applicability of the current design specification ...

Most sleep deprivation studies show increased body mass, increased hypertension, increased Type 2 Diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular issues and even death. There is a paucity of research in sleeping patterns of first time Caucasian mothers of babies between six and twelve months old in South Africa. The objective was to determine the impact of long-term partial sleep deprivation on metabolism and mood in these mothers. A qualitative and quantitative study using a small sample of thirty one mothers was undertaken. Interviews assessed age, education, anthropometric data, family history, medication use, and baby sleeping habits. Participants were also asked to complete the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Becks Depression Inventory II (BDI-II)to assess the mothers sleep quality and depressive state. Medication use significantly decreased sleep quality. Oral contraceptive use and depression (BDI-II score 14-40) were associated with a significantly higher PSQI score and significantly decreased number of hours sleep and sleep efficiency. Oral contraceptive users were significantly more depressed. The six mothers on antidepressants had significantly higher PSQI scores than those not on antidepressants, but hours of sleep and sleep efficiency were not significantly different. This study showed that sleep deprivation did not impact mothers anthropometry. Interestingly medication use affected sleep quality more than baby arousals.

Faculty of Humanities School of Language and literature 0005333p PHP@worldonline.co.za / This research report consists of two parts: a theoretical introduction and a creative project. In the theoretical introduction I have examined various pregnancy and child-care manuals together with popular literature in an attempt to explore some of the representations of motherhood. The areas I touched on include: pregnancy, labour pain, natural birth, breastfeeding, postnatal depression, working mothers and child care. The creative project incorporates all these different facets of motherhood and consists of two chapters of a novel written in the popular form referred to as “chick lit”.