Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2008. / Full text also available online. Scroll down for electronic link.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2010. / Full text also available online. Scroll down for electronic link.

Thesis (M. S.)--Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2010. / Committee Chair: Peter J. Webster; Committee Member: Judith A. Curry; Committee Member: Robert X. Black. Part of the SMARTech Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Collection.

Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2010. / Full text also available online. Scroll down for electronic link.

Latent class analysis explains dependency structures in multivariate categorical data by assuming the presence of latent classes. We investigate the specification of suitable priors for the Bayesian latent class model to determine the number of classes and perform variable selection. Estimation is possible using standard tools implementing general purpose Markov chain Monte Carlo sampling techniques such as the software JAGS. However, class specific inference requires suitable post-processing in order to eliminate label switching. The proposed Bayesian specification and analysis method is applied to the Hungarian heart disease data set to determine the number of classes and identify relevant variables and results are compared to those obtained with the standard prior for the component specific parameters.

This thesis examines the interactions between road users and the factors that contribute to the occurrence of traffic accidents, and discusses the implications of these interactions with regards to driver behaviour and accident prevention measures. Traffic accident data is collected on a macroscopic level by local police authorities throughout the UK. This data provides a description of accident related factors on a macroscopic level which does not allow for a complete understanding of the interaction between the various road users or the influence of errors made by active road users. Traffic accident data collected on a microscopic level analysis of real world accident data, explaining why and how an accident occurred, can further contribute to a data driven approach to provide safety measures. This data allows for a better understanding of the interaction of factors for all road users within an accident that is not possible with other data collection methods. In the first part of the thesis, a literature review presents relevant research in traffic accident analysis and accident causation research, afterwards three accident causation models used to understand behaviour and factors leading to traffic accidents are introduced. A comparison study of these accident causation coding models that classify road user error was carried out to determine a model that would be best suited to code the accident data according to the thesis aims. Latent class cluster analyses were made of two separate datasets, the UK On the Spot (OTS) in-depth accident investigation study and the STATS19 national accident database. A comparison between microscopic (in-depth) accident data and macroscopic (national) accident data was carried out. This analysis allowed for the interactions between all relevant factors for the road users involved in the accident to be grouped into specific accident segmentations based on the cluster analysis results. First, all of the cases that were collected by the OTS team between the years 2000 to 2003 were analysed. Results suggested that for single vehicle accidents males and females typically made failures related to detection and execution issues, whereas male road users made diagnosis failures with speed as a particularly important factor. In terms of the multiple vehicle accidents the interactions between the first two road users and the subsequent accident sequence were demonstrated. A cluster analysis of all two vehicle accidents in Great Britain in the year 2005 and recorded within the STATS19 accident database was carried out as a comparison to the multiple vehicle accident OTS data. This analysis demonstrated the necessity of in-depth accident causation data in interpreting accident scenarios, as the resulting accident clusters did not provide significant differences between the groups to usefully segment the crash population. Relevant human factors were not coded for these cases and the level of detail in the accident cases did not allow for a discussion of countermeasure implications. An analysis of 428 Powered Two Wheeler accidents that were collected by the OTS team between the years 2000 to 2010 was carried out. Results identified 7 specific scenarios, the main types of which identified two particular looked but did not see accidents and two types of single vehicle PTW accidents. In cases where the PTW lost control, diagnosis failures were more common, for road users other than the PTW rider, detection issues were of particular relevance. In these cases the interaction between all relevant road users was interpreted in relation to one another. The subsequent study analysed 248 Pedestrian accidents that were collected by the OTS team between the years 2000 to 2010. Results identified scenarios related to pedestrians as being in a hurry and making detection errors, impairment due to alcohol, and young children playing in the roadside. For accidents that were initiated by the other road user s behaviour pedestrians were either struck after an accident had already occurred or due to the manoeuvre that a road user was making, older pedestrians were over-represented in this accident type. This thesis concludes by discussing how (1) microscopic in-depth accident data is needed to understand accident mechanisms, (2) a data mining approach using latent class clustering can benefit the understanding of failure mechanisms, (3) accident causation analysis is necessary to understand the types of failures that road users make and (4) accident scenario development helps quantify accidents and allows for accident countermeasure implication discussion. The original contribution to knowledge is the demonstration that when relevant data is available there is a possibility to understand the interactions that are occurring between road users before the crash, that is not possible otherwise. This contribution has been demonstrated by highlighting how latent class cluster analysis combined with accident causation data allows for relevant interactions between road users to be observed. Finally implications for this work and future considerations are outlined.

There are numerous pre-existing fingerprint development techniques, however, often prints are difficult to develop, depending on their age or the surface upon which they have been deposited. Forensic scientists are relentlessly looking for new and better methods to enhance fingerprints. More recent technologies have higher sensitivity to very low levels of constituents present in residues and so are able to unearth significant details from a person's fingerprints at molecular level e.g. DNA, drug metabolites. Therefore, research continues in an attempt to generate novel, nondestructive processes that can enhance latent fingerprints. Exposing fingerprints to the p-block compounds selenium dioxide (SeO2), phosphorus sulfides (P4Sx) and phosphonitrilic chloride trimer (NPCl2)3, in the vapour phase resulted in latent prints being visualized on a range of media. Selenium dioxide revealed prints on metal surfaces (e.g. brass) which were enhanced further upon formation of a dark brown coating of copper-selenide formed on the surface when exposed to moisture, giving a better contrast. P4S3 vapour revealed a higher percentage of prints and samples had greater stability in air while although (NPCl2)3 was able to develop fingerprints, the low quality was undesirable. Initially it was thought that (NPCl2)3 has the potential for further derivatisation but was proven very difficult to interact with compounds especially those with the potential to induce fluorescence. However, all three compounds are commercially available and sublimation techniques are straightforward.

abstract: Current models of pain coping typically focus on how pain contributes to poor physical and psychological functioning. Researchers have argued that this focus on the negative consequences is too narrow and does not account for times when individuals are able to maintain meaningful functioning despite their pain. Thus, the current study sought to investigate the day-to-day processes that both help and hinder recovery from pain and persistence towards daily goals. Specifically, the present study tested: a) a two-factor model of risk and resilience “factors” that capture key processes across affective, cognitive and social dimensions of functioning, and b) whether the relation between morning pain and end-of-day physical disability is mediated by increases in these afternoon risk and resilience factors. Within-day study measures were collected for 21 days via an automated phone system from 220 participants with Fibromyalgia. The results of multi-level confirmatory factor analysis indicated that, consistent with prediction, risk and resilience do constitute two factors. Findings from multilevel structural equation models also showed resilience factor mediated the link between late morning increases in pain and end-of-day disability, in line with hypotheses. Although the vulnerability factor as a whole did not mediate the within-day link between pain and disability, pain-catastrophizing individually did serve as a significant mediator of this relation. This study was the first to empirically test a within-day latent factor model of resilience and vulnerability and the first to capture the multidimensional nature of the pain experience by examining mechanisms across affective, cognitive and social domains of functioning. The findings of the current study suggest that in addition to studying the processes by which pain has a negative influence on the lives of pain sufferers, our understanding of the pain adaptation process can be further improved by concurrently examining mechanisms that motivate individuals to overcome the urge to avoid pain and to function meaningfully despite it. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Psychology 2018

Submitted by Fabio Sobreira Campos da Costa (fabio.sobreira@ufpe.br) on 2016-08-18T14:35:26Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Dissertação_Bernardino_Versão_Final_13_04_2016VF_ATUAL (1).pdf: 1504145 bytes, checksum: 378eee47758feaa1664c834f3a789e0c (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-18T14:35:26Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Dissertação_Bernardino_Versão_Final_13_04_2016VF_ATUAL (1).pdf: 1504145 bytes, checksum: 378eee47758feaa1664c834f3a789e0c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-08-20 / O diagnóstico e o tratamento da infecção latente pelo Mycobacterium tuberculosis (ILTB) são indicados para grupos nos quais a prevalência da infecção latente é alta, em contactantes de casos novos de tuberculose (TB) e quando o risco de reativação é alto como em pessoas vivendo com HIV/AIDS (PVHA). Tanto o vírus da imunodeficiência humana (HIV) facilita a reativação da ILTB quanto o Mycobacterium tuberculosis contribui para a progressão da doença pelo HIV. O conhecimento acerca do diagnóstico e do tratamento da ILTB em PVHA torna-se fundamental visto que o Relatório Global de Controle da Tuberculose da Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS) indica que as PVHA estão 26 a 31 vezes mais propensas a desenvolver TB ativa quando comparadas à população geral. Além disso, a taxa de letalidade da TB em PVHA é 3 vezes maior do que a observada na população geral. Apesar de suas limitações, o teste tuberculínico (TT) continua sendo a principal ferramenta de diagnóstico da ILTB, entretanto, isso não parece refletir no número de TT solicitados e realizados e, consequentemente, no número de tratamentos prescritos para ILTB. No Brasil, e em particular na Paraíba, os dados sobre a solicitação e realização do TT e acerca da prescrição do tratamento para ILTB são pouco conhecidos. Esse estudo objetivou verificar a frequência de solicitação e de realização (inoculação do derivado protéico purificado (PPD) e leitura) do TT, a frequência de TT reator e a frequência da prescrição do tratamento para ILTB e caracterizar as PVHA atendidas em serviço de referência em HIV/AIDS e TB no estado da Paraíba quanto a aspectos sociodemográficos e laboratoriais, no período de janeiro de 2009 a dezembro de 2013. Para obtenção dos dados, utilizou-se formulário padronizado, preenchido, retrospectivamente, a partir das informações contidas na primeira consulta registrada nos prontuários dos pacientes atendidos no período do estudo. Dos 3.191 pacientes incluídos na pesquisa, 2.303 (72,2%) tiveram o TT solicitado. Destes, 2.047 (89,0%) foram submetidos a realização do TT que compreendeu a inoculação do PPD e a leitura da induração. Dos 2.047 pacientes que tiveram o PPD inoculado e submetidos a leitura da induração, 90 (4,4%) pacientes tiveram o TT reator sendo o tratamento para ILTB prescrito para todos. Os resultados da pesquisa sugerem que há uma excelente adesão à solicitação do TT e à prescrição do tratamento para ILTB entre os profissionais médicos e baixa prevalência de ILTB no local do estudo. Outrossim, acessibilidade adequada para realização e boa compreensão por parte dos pacientes quanto a sua importância no contexto da atenção à saúde das PVHA garantiram a frequência elevada de realização do TT. / The diagnosis and treatment of latent infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (LIMTb) are given to groups in which the prevalence of latent infection is high, in contacts of new cases of tuberculosis (TB) and when the risk of reactivation is high as in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA). Both the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) facilitates the reactivation of LIMTb as Mycobacterium tuberculosis contributes to the progression of HIV disease. The knowledge about the diagnosis and treatment for PLHA in LIMTb becomes critical as the Global Tuberculosis Control Report of the World Health Organization (WHO) indicates that PLHA are 26-31 times more likely to develop active TB compared the general population. In addition, the TB mortality rate PLHA is 3 times higher than that observed in the general population. Despite its limitations, the tuberculin skin test (TST) remains the primary diagnostic tool LIMTb, however, this does not reflect the number of TST ordered and carried out and, consequently, the number of prescription treatments for LIMTb. In Brazil, particularly in Paraiba, data on the application and realization of TST and for prescribing treatment for LIMTb are little known. Thus faces, this study aimed to verify the request frequency and achievement (inoculation of purified protein derivative (PPD) and reading of induration) of TST, the TST frequency of reactor and the frequency of prescription treatment for LIMTb and characterize the PLHA met in reference service on HIV/AIDS and TB in the state of Paraiba as the sociodemographic and laboratory aspects, from January 2009 to December 2013. To obtain the data, we used standardized form filled out retrospectively from information contained on the first visit recorded in the medical records of patients seen during the study period. Of the 3,191 patients included in the study, 2,303 (72.2%) had the TST requested. Of these, 2,047 (89.0%) underwent TST understood that inoculation of the PPD and the reading of induration. Of the 2,047 patients who had the PPD inoculated and subjected to reading of induration, 90 (4.4%) patients had TST reactor being treating LIMTb prescribed for everyone. The survey results suggest there is excellent adhesion to the request of the TST and prescription treatment for LIMTb among medical professionals and low prevalence of LIMTb in the study site. Likewise sufficient access for achievement and good understanding by patients and their importance in the context of attention to health of PLHA ensured the high frequency of TST realization.