Proefschrift--Groningen. / Summary in English. "Stellingen": [2] leaves inserted. "Errata" slip inserted. Bibliography: p. 64-65.

Speleothems (cave calcite) provide many different proxy indicators for palaeoclimatic changes during the Quaternary era. Generally, the occurrence of growing speleothems is a strong proxy for global palaeoclimate, both geographically and through time. A database of speleothem U-Th ages shows some evidence for an early transition from the penultimate glacial to the last interglacial at -140 Ka BP. The database suggests an age of 63 Ka BP for the maximum cold period within isotope stage 4. Isotope stage 3 contains three periods of increased number of growing speleothems, at 40,50 and 56 Ka BP mainly in low latitude caves. The start of growth, growth rate, oxygen isotopes, carbon isotopes and luminescence intensity in two speleothems from southern Ireland provide high-resolution records of rapid palaeoclimate changes in that region during the Late Glacial. Several of these palaeoclimate proxies appear to be linked. The Younger Dryas (YO) cold event is dated at between 12.5 and 11.4 Ka BP in both speleothem records. The dominant agent of palaeoclimatic variation during the YD is probably changes in North Atlantic ocean circulation. A Microsoft Excel spreadsheet is developed as a means of rapidly converting between 14C and calendar years and vice versa.

No description available.

Thesis (M.A.)--Boston University / PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis or dissertation. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you. / The Merrimack Embayment in the western Gulf of Maine is the site of three late-Quaternary paleodeltas. Each delta was deposited by the Merrimack River as its mouth migrated from west to east across the continental shelf during the post-glacial transgression and regression of the sea, In the Merrimack River Valley, a raised, glaciomarine ice-contact delta 33m above present sea level represents deposition of sediments by glacial meltwater at the transgressive marine limit about 13,000 yrs BP. An adjacent delta, preserved at 16m above present sea level, represents the deposition of sediments eroded from the 33m glaciomarine delta during the early stages of marine regression sometime after 13,000 yrs BP. A drowned delta, formed when sea-level was about 50m below present sea-level, is located offshore of the Merrimack River and represents deposition of sediments eroded from the 16m delta and from glacial deposits in the Merrimack Valley during the post-glacial maximum marine regression about 10,500 yrs BP. Major controls on the locations of the deltas include eastward shoreline translation induced by crustal rebound and relative sea-level lowering, and bedrock induced channel entrenchment. The orientation of the deltas and other paleoshoreline features, generally elongate to the south, indicates that a southerly alongshore current was a significant factor in the control of nearshore erosion and deposition. A similar configuration in the present Plum Island and linear sand ridges in the shallow, nearshore zone suggests that the alongshore current has influenced sediment distribution since the retreat of late-Wisconsinan ice from the area. / 2031-01-01

The role of the engineer in the late capitalist society of the last half century has been misunderstood at best. The lack of a consistent job description for engineers in various fields, a lack of job security, and a lack of respect from both industry and society have spawned severe angst in the engineering community. A classic remedy for this situation has been the rallying of engineering practitioners under a banner of increased professionalism. If engineers could make themselves more like doctors and lawyers — the respected members of professional society — they would gain similar respect and job satisfaction. This project analyzes current state of engineering practice as revealed in the self-image of the individual engineer. A survey of popular engineering literature is employed in order to develop a composite self-image of the engineer: the technical hired hand of industry. "Professionalization" is then demonstrated to be useless in the improvement of this situation and furthermore, undesirable in the late capitalist social and economic climate of the late twentieth century. Late professionalism—an alternative to a understanding of professionalism—is offered as a means by which to improve the job satisfaction of engineers in contemporary society. Suggesting that each engineer is free to negotiate the terms, conditions, and length of his/her own employment based on a personal understanding of the job requirements, late professionalism empowers the engineer to adopt a comfortable position in the late capitalist economy. A new metaphor—the commissioned engineer—is employed in support of the late professional understanding of the engineer's occupation. / Master of Science

Teilw. zugl.: Ljubljana, University, Diss., 2004.

<p>There is considerable confusion regarding the diagnosis of patients presenting with non-affective psychosis in the absence of a dementia or secondary to a general medical condition in the fifth decade and beyond. A number of different terms, diagnostic criteria and age-cut-offs have been applied to this presentation posing a challenge to clinicians and researchers alike. Despite diagnostic inconsistencies and conceptual uncertainty, a remarkably consistent clinical picture has emerged. However, many questions still remain with regards to its underlying etiopathophysiological mechanisms, treatment and prognosis, including whether it is distinct from schizophrenia and whether it might be a prelude to cognitive deterioration. Currently there is no official diagnostic designation for patients who develop a primary psychosis in late life, with patients being typically diagnosed as either schizophrenia or delusional disorder, although the validity of such a distinction has been questioned.</p> <p>The following prospective longitudinal study sets out to characterize the largest known group of patients (n=102) with first-episode, late-onset (>age 40) psychotic disorder on demographic, clinical, treatment and prognostic variables. Given that one of the most contentious issues in the characterization of these patients has been that of diagnostic classification, we examined whether the currently nosological distinction of schizophrenia (SCZ) from delusional disorder (DD) has validity and/or utility. Patients were classified as either SCZ (n=47) or DD (n=55) according to DSM-IV criteria, and were then compared on a number of validators proposed as part of the DSM-V development process. As predicted, there were no significant differences between the two groups. In conclusion, our analysis did not find the current diagnostic distinction of SCZ from DD in the late-onset population to be valid and/or useful. We recommend the use of the more general diagnostic term, “Late-Onset Psychotic Disorder”, to refer to all patients who develop a primary psychosis in their forties or beyond.</p> / Master of Science (MSc)

Adolescent pregnancy has been a global phenomenon of great concern for a considerable time. Adolescent pregnancy and parenting can lead to negative consequences for both adolescents and their infants in health, psychological, developmental and educational spheres. In South Africa recent media reporting has pointed out that adolescent pregnancy at times culminates in infant abandonment. Adolescence is a difficult transition period and the added stress of pregnancy and parenting creates specific challenges. Adolescent parents’ conflicting roles as adolescents, striving for independence, and as parents, who have to care for their children in a selfless manner, have been shown to complicate their lives significantly. Research has indicated that adolescent pregnancy mostly occurs in resource-poor, black, rural, or semi-rural communities. Support for pregnant and parenting adolescents in such communities seems to be minimal, and research on experiences of adolescent pregnancy and parenting in the South African context is scant. Therefore the aim of this study was to explore late adolescents’ (18-22) experiences of their pregnancy and parenting during early adolescence (12-18). The research context was a resource-poor community, namely Sir Lowry’s Pass Village in the Helderberg basin in the Western Cape. The researcher wanted to shed light on the particular challenges and strengths of participants, to inform practice and make suggestions so as to promote support for such parents. From the findings of this study it became clear that participants found adolescent pregnancy and parenting to be a challenging experience. They made mention of various factors complicating their experience of pregnancy and parenting, such as their socio-economic circumstances; stigma experienced from the community, family, peers, and educational and health-related systems; loss and sacrifices; lack of support; and feelings of powerlessness. They felt overwhelmed by their parenting experiences as a result of lack of parenting skills, and the fact that their parental rights were often not respected. However, pregnancy and parenting were also viewed as positive and inspiring in that adolescent parents viewed their children as a source of comfort. Furthermore, they indicated that parenting was more manageable with support, and that becoming parents rendered them more responsible individuals. These findings concur with prior research on adolescent pregnancy and parenting. This study adds value to the field of adolescent pregnancy and parenting in that prior findings were corroborated, and that an adolescent father’s perspective was included. Research on adolescent fathers in the South African context is limited. This study provides a clearer understanding of pregnant and parenting adolescents’ needs and what they find supportive, which could assist health care professionals, welfare organisations, schools, and significant others in supporting them more adequately. / MA (Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Adolescent pregnancy has been a global phenomenon of great concern for a considerable time. Adolescent pregnancy and parenting can lead to negative consequences for both adolescents and their infants in health, psychological, developmental and educational spheres. In South Africa recent media reporting has pointed out that adolescent pregnancy at times culminates in infant abandonment. Adolescence is a difficult transition period and the added stress of pregnancy and parenting creates specific challenges. Adolescent parents’ conflicting roles as adolescents, striving for independence, and as parents, who have to care for their children in a selfless manner, have been shown to complicate their lives significantly. Research has indicated that adolescent pregnancy mostly occurs in resource-poor, black, rural, or semi-rural communities. Support for pregnant and parenting adolescents in such communities seems to be minimal, and research on experiences of adolescent pregnancy and parenting in the South African context is scant. Therefore the aim of this study was to explore late adolescents’ (18-22) experiences of their pregnancy and parenting during early adolescence (12-18). The research context was a resource-poor community, namely Sir Lowry’s Pass Village in the Helderberg basin in the Western Cape. The researcher wanted to shed light on the particular challenges and strengths of participants, to inform practice and make suggestions so as to promote support for such parents. From the findings of this study it became clear that participants found adolescent pregnancy and parenting to be a challenging experience. They made mention of various factors complicating their experience of pregnancy and parenting, such as their socio-economic circumstances; stigma experienced from the community, family, peers, and educational and health-related systems; loss and sacrifices; lack of support; and feelings of powerlessness. They felt overwhelmed by their parenting experiences as a result of lack of parenting skills, and the fact that their parental rights were often not respected. However, pregnancy and parenting were also viewed as positive and inspiring in that adolescent parents viewed their children as a source of comfort. Furthermore, they indicated that parenting was more manageable with support, and that becoming parents rendered them more responsible individuals. These findings concur with prior research on adolescent pregnancy and parenting. This study adds value to the field of adolescent pregnancy and parenting in that prior findings were corroborated, and that an adolescent father’s perspective was included. Research on adolescent fathers in the South African context is limited. This study provides a clearer understanding of pregnant and parenting adolescents’ needs and what they find supportive, which could assist health care professionals, welfare organisations, schools, and significant others in supporting them more adequately. / MA (Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 26-29, 1992 / Town and Country Hotel and Convention Center, San Diego, California / Some Telemetry systems today receive a binary phase shift keying modulation format. Typically, to demodulate BPSK requires using a carrier synchronizer followed by a bit synchronizer. Demodulation of BPSK can be accomplished using digital signal processing techniques to implement both synchronizers. This paper describes a digital system that demodulates a 16 KHZ, 2KBPS BPSK signal. In order to evaluate these techniques, the theory of operation was evaluated. Additionally, a computer simulation of the demodulator was developed. The computer simulation was implemented using Pascal. The techniques were optimized to give maximum performance while requiring minimum hardware and power in an actual implementation.