Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1986. / Vita. Bibliography: leaves [288]-303.

Thesis (Sc. D.)—Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 1980. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 264-270). / This electronic version was scanned from a copy of the thesis on file at the Speech Communication Group. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections.

No description available.

Report (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1994. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaf 31). Also available via the Internet.

Magister Philosophiae - MPhil / Infants and under 5 mortality have been universally researched and it reduction by twothird by 2015 has been announced as one of the millennium development goal of the United Nation. Continuous monitoring in form of studies on mothers related factors that determines infant, child and under 5 mortality appears to be a step towards achieving this goal. Therefore using the Eastern Cape Province as a case study, this study utilises the secondary data of the 1998 South Africa Demographic and Health Survey (SADHS) dataset for children to examine some specific mothers related socioeconomic and demographic determinants of infant and child mortality. As at the time this study is being conducted the SADHS 2003 survey datasets are not available. However, reports that summarize the survey and some preliminary results are available. In this study, infant and child mortality have been grouped into 0-12 months and 13-60 months age at death,which is taken as independent variable. Profiles of the distributions of the dependent and the independent variables are described with the aid of cross tabulation. Demographic factors examined include the age of the mother at the time of delivery, order of birth and birth interval, while the socioeconomic factors examined include working status of the mother, mother‟s work place (at home work at home or away) mothers‟ education level , and the place of residence. We found that demographic variables such as age of mothers at first birth, birth order, birth interval, and socioeconomic factors such as mothers‟ education level, and the place of birth, have a significant effect on the probability of child‟s survival. Therefore, the postponement of the female age at birth with an appropriate child spacing, nonetheless, the improvement mother‟s education will enhance the reduction of infant and child mortality. Steps that may be taken towards improving the health status of infant and child, including ways by which infant and child mortality may be reduced are recommended.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:33:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2001Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:23:23Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 rugolojunior_a_dr_botfm.pdf: 1524515 bytes, checksum: b2ec74b5e5edffce6e56137de1331d01 (MD5) / A incidência de displasia broncopulmonar (DBP) é alta em prematuros de muito baixo peso. Dentre os vários fatores implicados em sua patogênese tem-se destacado a deficiência de vitamina A como um importante fator contributivo. O presente estudo teve como objetivo determinar a condição de vitamina A em prematuros de muito baixo peso e avaliar a relação entre os níveis plasmáticos de retinol e a DBP. Após a obtenção do consentimento materno, foram coletadas amostras de sangue materno, do cordão umbilical e do recém-nascido com 3, 14 e 28 dias de vida, para as dosagens do retinol plasmático, que foram efetuadas por cromatografia líquida de alta resolução (HPLC). Foram estudados 34 recém-nascidos com peso de nascimento médio de 1156 g (± 248 g) e idade gestacional mediana de 30 semanas, os quais foram divididos em dois grupos: Sem DBP (n = 24) e Com DBP (n = 10). Nestes grupos analisou-se as características demográficas maternas e dos recém-nascidos, as condições de nascimento, a evolução clínica no período neonatal, os níveis plasmáticos de retinol e a oferta de vitamina A por via enteral e parenteral. Os resultados das variáveis clínicas foram analisados pelos testes t de Student e Mann-Whitney e comparados entre e dentro dos grupos pelo teste de associação de Goodman. Para a análise dos dados da vitamina A utilizou-se os testes de Wilcoxon (para 2 grupos e 2 momentos) e Freedman (para 2 grupos e 4 momentos). A correlação entre as variáveis foi feita pelo coeficiente de correlação de Pearson. O nível de significância foi de 5%. As características maternas e as condições... / The incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is high in preterm very low birthweight infants. Multiple factors have been implicated in its pathogenesis, and the deficiency of vitamin A has been described as an important contributing cause. Several studies have shown that premature infants have low vitamin A status at birth and this has been associated with increased risk of developing chronic lung disease, however many trails showed inconsistent effects of vitamin A supplementation on prevention of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. The purpose of this study was to determine vitamin A status in the very low birthweight infants and to evaluate the relationship between plasma retinol levels and BPD. After parental informed consent, the maternal and cord blood samples were obtained at delivery, and peripheral blood of the infants were drawn at day 3, 14 and 28 of life. Plasma retinol content was determined by high performance liquid chromatography. Thirty four infants (1156 g ± 248 mean birthweight and 30weeks median gestation age) were enrolled, and assigned to 2 groups as follows: BPD (n=10), No-BPD (n=24). The maternal and neonatal demographic data, birth condition... (Complete abstract, click electronic access below)

A controlling maternal feeding style can have negative consequences for child weight and eating style (Ventura & Birch, 2008). Mothers who breastfeed during the first year exert lower levels of control over child feeding (Farrow & Blissett, 2008). Explanations for this relationship speculate that experience of breastfeeding reduces control as breastfeeding requires an infant-led approach (Taveras et al. 2004) or alternatively that maternal attitudes predict both initiation of breastfeeding and later maternal control (Farrow & Blissett, 2006a). The nature of this relationship is explored in this thesis. Mothers reported their intended and actual feeding style during milk feeds when pregnant and at six months postpartum using a modified version of the Child Feeding Questionnaire (Birch, Fisher, Grimm-Thomas, Markey, Sawyer, & Johnson. 2001). Maternal use of control in the form of scheduling and encouraging milk feeds was evident. A high level of control was associated with a shorter breastfeeding duration (p < 0.001). Control beliefs were present prenatally with intended breastfeeding duration inversely associated with intended control. Furthermore, attitudes towards the infant-led nature of breastfeeding were associated with both breastfeeding duration and control. Breastfed infants need to be fed to infant demand and amount consumed is immeasurable whilst formula feeding is open to maternal manipulation. A belief that breastfeeding was inconvenient was associated with scheduling feeds whilst concerns over milk intake and low confidence were associated with encouraging feeds. Whilst scheduling feeds was a stable behaviour predictive from prenatal intention, encouraging feeds was fluid and related to maternal experience. Concerns about infant size or feeding difficulties increased use of encouraging feeds. Maternal desire for control may therefore drive breastfeeding duration, explaining the association between breastfeeding and later feeding style. The findings have important implications for breastfeeding duration, early programming of appetite and bodyweight and later maternal feeding style.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:22:51Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2004-03Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:49:08Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 bortolaia_ap_me_rcla.pdf: 1695131 bytes, checksum: 3b8502e6f7817be294f35326f50bbdfe (MD5) / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / O objetivo deste estudo foi examinar a organização das passadas do andar, em bebês com diferentes experiências no andar, durante a ultrapassagem de um obstáculo. Trinta bebês foram distribuídos de acordo com o tempo de aquisição do andar independente em 3 grupos: 1, 3 e 6 meses de experiência no andar. A tarefa consistiu em caminhar sobre uma passarela em 2 condições experimentais: sem e com um obstáculo de espuma com 2 cm de altura e 3 cm de largura. Marcas foram afixadas nos centros articulares dos membros inferiores dos bebês e o andar foi filmado no plano sagital para ambos os lados, simultaneamente. Três ciclos para o andar normal, três para a perna de abordagem e três para a perna de suporte foram digitalizados utilizando o sistema APAS. Com base nas informações espaciais e temporais, comprimento, duração, cadência, velocidade, duração das fases de suporte e de balanço e fase relativa entre os membros foram calculadas. Ainda, as distâncias horizontal e vertical entre pé e obstáculo foram calculadas para as pernas de abordagem e de suporte. Os resultados indicaram que os bebês do grupo 1 mostraram passadas mais curtas e mais lentas do que os bebês dos grupos 2 e 3. Ainda, bebês do grupo 1 mostraram fase de suporte maior do que bebês do grupo 2. Quando os bebês tiveram que ultrapassar o obstáculo, mostraram passadas mais curtas e mais lentas do que na situação sem obstáculo. Ainda, bebês dos grupos 2 e 3 apresentaram cadência menor durante a passada com obstáculo e fase de suporte e fase de suporte simples menores no momento da ultrapassagem e fase de segundo duplo suporte maior após a ultrapassagem do obstáculo para a perna de abordagem. Também diminuíram a porcentagem da fase relativa referente a coordenação intermembros para a perna de abordagem e mostraram pequenas alterações no padrão coordenativo... / The purpose of this study was to examine the step walking organization during obstacle avoidance in infants with different walking experience. Thirty infants were distributed into trree groups according with their independent walking experience: one, three and six months of walking experience. The task consisted of walking in a runway in two experimental conditions: without and with a foam obstacle with 2 cm high and 3 cm wide. Markers were placed on the joint centers in both infants' lower extremity and walking performances were videotaped in the sagittal plane for both sides, simultaneously. Three cycles for normal walking, three for supportive leg and three for approaching leg were digitized using the APAS system. Based on the espacial and temporal information, stride length, duration, cadence, velocity, duration of support and swing phases and relative phase between limb were calculated. The horizontal and vertical distances between foot and obstacle were also calculated for both supportive and approaching legs. The results indicated that the infants of group 1 walked with shorter stride length and slower velocity than the infants of group 2 and 3.The first group showed support phase greater than the second group. When infants had to step over the obstacle, they walked with shorter stride and slower velocity than when they did not have to step over the obstacle. Furthermore, the infants from group 2 and 3 showed lower cadence than infants from group 1 when stepping over the obstacle and smaller support and single support phases during stepping over the obstacle and second double support phase greater after stepping over the obstacle for the approaching leg. Also, the phase relative percentage regarding interlimb coordination for approaching limb was smaller and few variations in coordination pattern between the shank and thigh segments for approaching... (Complete abstract, click electronic address below)

Estudos recentes vêm demonstrando a capacidade de aprendizagem associativa e memória em bebês de três a quatro meses de vida, utilizando o paradigma do móbile. Partindo-se da premissa que a memória é essencial para o processo de aprendizagem, a realização desse estudo objetivou avaliar as habilidades de aprendizagem e memória em bebês sadios a termo, no período de um a dois meses de vida, utilizando como instrumento um móbile colorido. Ao todo foram avaliados 34 bebês, distribuídos em 3 grupos denominados, grupos A, B e C, que diferiam em termos de procedimento experimental. No grupo A o bebê mantinha uma fita atada ao tornozelo e fixada na haste do móbile, de modo que o movimento da sua perna exercia o movimento do móbile. No grupo B, o bebê foi apenas posicionado no berço e seu movimento não interferia no movimento do móbile. No grupo C, a pesquisadora promovia o movimento contínuo do móbile, independente do movimento do bebê. Foram realizadas três sessões, com duração máxima de dez minutos. No decorrer das sessões foi avaliado o comportamento do bebê, a taxa de chutes e o período de latência, esse último apenas no grupo A .Os resultados revelam que os bebês do grupo A apresentam mais o comportamento de emitir sons, maior taxa de chutes por minuto e associam o chute ao movimento do móbile de modo crescente e linear no decorrer das sessões. Bebês do grupo B apresentam mais o comportamento de irritabilidade. Tanto o grupo A quanto o grupo C revelam maior tempo de olhar o móbile. Esses dados, embora com a pequeno tamanho amostral, corroboram os resultados de estudos anteriores quanto a aprendizagem e memória em fases precoces do desenvolvimento. / Recent studies have shown associative learning and memory ability in babies at the age of three to four months, using the mobile paradigm. Considering that memory is essential for the learning process, this study aimed at assessing learning and memory abilities in health babies born at full term, within their first to two months of life using a color mobile as a tool. Overall 34 babies were assessed, distributed in 3 groups called groups A, B and C, who differed in terms of experimental procedure. In group A, babies had a ribbon tied around their ankle and fixed to the mobile, in such a way that the babies leg movement made the mobile move. In group B, babies were only placed in the crib and their movement would not interfere with the mobiles movement. In group C, the researcher made the mobile move continuously, regardless of the babies movement. Three sessions were held, which lasted no more than 10 minutes. Throughout the sessions babies behavior was assessed, the number of kicks and the latent period, the latter only with group A. Results show that group A babies make the more sounds, have a higher rate of kicks per minute and associate kicking to the mobile movement in a crescent and linear way during sessions. Group B babies show a more irritable behavior. Both group A and group C babies look at the mobile for a longer period of time. These data, however small the sample size, corroborate results of previous studies with regards to learning and memory in the early phases of development.

M.Cur. / A lot of mothers and babies are being discharged earlier from the hospital because of limits with the medical aids on the length of stay. In a few ofthese cases the mother and baby were readmitted because of health problems that persisted after they had been discharge. The question arises as to where the problem lies and what are the reasons so many patients are discharged with health problems and what can be done to prevent or reduce these problems. This study investigates the health status of the mother and their health problems on being discharged. The sample came from mothers with medical aids, in the post natal unit, in a selected clinic and ready to go home. Guidelines were developed to prevent these health problems or how to handle them differently. A literature study was undertaken on the normal physiological changes that take place with the birth of the baby and after the mothers have been discharged. According to this study changes and abnormalities could be identified. An instrument was developed to assess the mother's condition on discharge and to identify possible complications that could develop at home and obstruct health promotion. The results show that some of the mothers were discharged with one or other health problem that could cause severe problems at home. The biggest problem identified was with breast-feeding as well as oedema of the feet and hands. There were also a few mothers still unsure as to how to handle their babies. Guidelines were formed to help the nursing staff to supply information for the mother on early discharge and to help prevent health problems or to lessen them. The guidelines help the mothers to know how to look for the signs and symptoms of health problems at home Recommendations were made regarding future research on this issue.