Literature shows that HIV/AIDS greatly affects the self-esteem of HIV/AIDS directly affected learners (these affected learners are either directly infected, or one or both parents are or had been infected). Studies also show that appropriate motor activities can have a positive influence on a child's self-esteem. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of an appropriate motor development programme on the large muscle skills and the self-esteem of 4 to 6 year old HIV/AIDS directly-affected learners. Eight gross motor and perceptual motor skills, as well as self-esteem was evaluated among 28 directly-affected HIV/AIDS (HIV/AIDS-infected as well as - affected) learners in a pre-primary school for terminally sick children in Promosa, a township of Potchefstroom, South Africa. Evaluation took place before and after the implementation of a 12-week long appropriate large muscle development programme. A co-variance analysis (ANCOVA) was done on post-test scores to correct possible differences between pre-test scores in order to achieve a statistical more significant comparison between the experimental and control groups. The motor scores as well as the self-esteem scores of the experimental group showed statistically significant (p≤0.05) improvements after the programme, in contrast with the scores of the control group which showed no significant improvements after completion of the large muscle development programme. These improvements entailed certain fundamental locomotor and balance skills, and self-perceived competence with reference to certain movement skills, as well as peer acceptance. The results imply that by improving the gross motor and perceptual motor skills of HIV/AIDS directly-affected learners by means of an appropriate motor development programme, the self-esteem and related aspects of these learners may be enhanced. / Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

Bladder tumor is the most common tumor detected in patients presenting with gross hematuria. Early detection and treatment is crucial for good prognosis, however, delay in diagnosis and treatment is common. Routine work-up of gross hematuria includes cystoscopy and Computed Tomography Urography (CTU). If CTU has a high detection rate of bladder tumor, it can be used to direct further investigation of the patient, hopefully reducing delay to diagnosis and treatment. There is no consensus on which phase the bladder should be assessed at CTU. Assessment of the bladder in an early contrast-enhancing phase requires contrast material enhancement in bladder tumors and a bladder that is properly distended with urine. For patients younger than 50 years, the routine CTU protocol used for examining gross hematuria patients included unenhanced (UE), corticomedullary phase (CMP), and excretory phase (EP), with the start of the scan being enhancement triggered: patients aged 50 years or older followed the same protocol plus a nephrographic phase (NP). The CTU protocol was compared with flexible cystoscopy for detecting bladder tumors. Sensitivity for bladder cancer detection was equal for CTU and cystoscopy (0.87). Patients diagnosed with bladder cancer (n=50) were examined during UE, CMP, and EP, and 21 patients were additionally examined in NP. The highest mean tumor contrast enhancement was seen in CMP (37 HU). The CMP, NP, and EP in 106 patients were randomized into an evaluation order (n=318 different phases) and blindly reviewed by two uroradiologists. In CMP, sensitivity (0.95) and negative predictive value (0.99) were higher than in NP and EP. Four different preparation protocols for achieving bladder distension were compared. The protocol that included drinking 1 l of fluid during a two-hour period prior to examination without voiding during that period, gave satisfactory bladder distension without causing unacceptable patient discomfort and having the lowest compliance.   Gross hematuria patients should be primarily examined with CTU including UE, CMP and EP to direct further investigation of the patients. The patients should follow a preparation protocol including drinking 1 l of fluid during a two-hour period before examination and not voiding during that period.

Darbo tiklsas: įvertinti ikimokyklinio amžiaus mergaičių, kurioms kūdikystėje buvo nustatyti motorinės raidos sutrikimai, stambiąją ir smulkiąją motoriką. Pasirinktam darbo tikslui įgyvendinti buvo iškelti šie uždaviniai: 1. Įvertinti ikimokyklinio amžiaus mergaičių, kurioms kūdikystėje buvo nustatytas specifinis motorinės raidos sutrikimas, stambiąją motoriką ir palyginti su kontroline grupe. 2. Įvertinti ikimokyklinio amžiaus mergaičių, kurioms kūdikystėje buvo nustatytas specifinis motorinės raidos sutrikimas, smulkiąją motoriką ir palyginti su kontroline grupe. Tyrimas buvo vykdomas Lietuvos sveikatos mokslų universiteto Medicinos akademijos, Sporto institute bei viename Kauno lopšelyje darželyje. Tyrime dalyvavo 45 tiriamosios. Buvo vykdomi antropometriniai matavimai, stambiosios ir smulkiosios motorikos vertinimas. Išvados: 1. Įvertinus ikimokyklinio amžiaus mergaičių stambiosios motorikos gebėjimus nustatėme, kad tiriamųjų, kurioms kūdikystėje buvo diagnozuotas specifinis motorinės raidos sutrikimas, buvo prastesnė statinė pusiausvyra, šoklumas, manipuliacijos kamuoliu bei galūnės judesio greitis lyginant su mergaitėmis, kurioms nebuvo diagnozuoti raidos sutrikimai kūdikystės laikotarpiu (p<0,05). 2. Smulkiosios motorikos įvertinimas parodė, kad mergaitės, kurioms kūdikystėje buvo diagnozuotas specifinis raidos sutrikimas, pasižymėjo prastesne dinamine bei abipuse rankų koordinacija (p<0,05). / Objective of the work: to evaluate gross and fine motor of the preschool girls, who have had motor development disorder in infancy. Goals of the work: 1. To evaluate preschool girls, who have had motor development disorder in infancy, gross motor and to compare with control group. 2. To evaluate preschool girls, who have had motor disorder in infancy, fine motor and to compare with control group. The study was made in Lithuanian university of health science Medicine academy’s Sport institute and in one of Kaunas kindergarten nursery – school. The study examined 45 preschool girls. We investigated anthropometric measurements (weight, height), gross and fine motor. Conclusion: 1. The evaluation of preschool girls, who have had motor disorder in infancy, revealed that these girls showed worse results in such gross motor abilities like static balance, spring, manipulation with ball, extremity movement speed in comparison with the girls which didn’t had any motor disorders in infancy. 2. Fine motor evaluation showed that, girls, who have had motor disorder in infancy, had worse hand dynamic and bimanual coordination results (p<0,05).

This research aims to identify important factors contributing to a construction firm's profitability and to develop a prediction model which would help in determining the gross margin/profitability of a construction firm as a function of important parameters. All the data used in the research was taken from U.S Census Bureau reports. The novelty of the research lies on its focus at a state level, by dividing states into pertinent clusters and then analyzing the trends in each cluster independently. The research was divided into two phases. Phase 1 of the research focused on identification of the most important factors contributing to gross margin of a construction firm. The variables used were derived from the U.S Census Bureau data. Based on the independent variables and gross margin, all the states were divided into three clusters. Subsequently, a prediction model was developed for each cluster using step-wise backward elimination, thus, eliminating non-significant variables. Results of Model 1 gave impetus to developing Model 2. Model 1 clearly showed that labor productivity was the most important variable in determining gross margin. Model 2 was developed to predict gross margin as a function of single most important factor of labor productivity. Similar to Model 1, states were clustered based on their labor productivity and gross margin values. Prediction model was developed for each cluster. In this study, an excel embedded decision support tool was also developed. This tool would aid the decision-makers to view the state's level of gross margin and labor productivity at a glance. Decision support tool developed was in the form of color-coded maps, each of which was linked to a spreadsheet containing pertinent data. The most important conclusion of the research was that there exists a positive linear relationship between labor productivity and gross margin at a state level in the construction industry. The research also identified and quantified other important factors like percent of rental equipment used, percent of construction work sub-contracted out and percent of cost of materials, components and supplies which affect gross margin.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2006. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on April 29, 2009) Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Notre Dame, 2006. / Thesis directed by Nelson C.Mark for the Department of Economics and Econometrics. "July 2006." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 90-96).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Mississippi State University. Department of Finance and Economics. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, San Diego, 2000. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2009. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vii, 97 p. : ill. (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 91-97).

Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 2010. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 39-42). Also available on the World Wide Web.