The school to post-school transition has been identified as a time when young people with Additional Support Needs (ASN) need extra support. This thesis focuses on the school to post-school transition planning and preparation process for young people with ASN in Scotland. In particular, the author scrutinised the collaborative planning and preparation that takes place amongst professionals to support young people with ASN and their families during this transition. The author also examined the influence of the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 upon the process. A mixed-methods research design was used to undertake three studies. Study 1 was a national on-line survey of professionals involved in post-school transition planning and preparation. Study 2 was a longitudinal study in which professionals involved in transition planning and preparations from one local authority were interviewed at 2 time periods (2004 before the implementation of the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 and 2010). Minutes of transition meetings from both periods were also examined. Study 3 was a case study of a further education college undertaken in the same local authority as Study 2, to understand the experiences of transition planning and preparation from the perspectives of the young people with ASN who had experienced post-school transition and their families, along with school and college professionals. Participants (young people, parents and professionals) were interviewed. Visual resources were developed by the author to support the interviews with the young people. Data in all the studies were analysed using a thematic analysis approach. Finally, the findings of the three studies are presented and discussed. These include the perception that transition planning and preparation has become more young person centred since the Act was introduced. Implications for policy makers, practitioners, and future research are also discussed.

Orientador: Fernando Braz Tangerino Hernandez / Resumo: A citricultura brasileira exerce participação importante no mercado internacional agrícola. Atualmente o país é o maior exportador do suco destas frutas no mundo. A participação dos sistemas de irrigação na citricultura vem sendo cada vez mais acentuada, entretanto pesquisas com as aplicações do sensoriamento remoto, especialmente do algoritmo SAFER (Simple Algorith for Evapotranspiration Retrieving), e análises comparativas entre sistemas de irrigação em citros são escassas. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram detectar diferenças de temperatura de superfície entre os sistemas de irrigação (autopropelido, pivô central, microaspersão e gotejamento) e verificar a evapotranspiração atual de diferentes copas dos citros, utilizando o sensoriamento remoto, com o algoritmo SAFER, aplicado a fazendas comerciais cultivadas em diferentes idades - diferenciadas em adultas (plantas com 3 ou mais anos desde o plantio) e jovens (inferiores a 3 anos de plantio) - e tipos de copas de citros - laranjeiras, tangerineiras e limeira ácida Thaiti - no Noroeste Paulista. Após a aplicação da metodologia, foi verificada diferença significativa na temperatura de superfície dos pomares irrigados por diferentes sistemas de irrigação e encontrou-se uma copa com maior potencial para consumo de água entre os cítricos. / Abstract: Brazilian citriculture has a significant stake in the international agricultural market. Currently the country is the biggest exporter of the juice in the world. The participation of irrigation systems in citriculture has been increasing steadily. However, research with the applications of remote sensing, especially the SAFER algorithm, and comparative analyzes between irrigation systems in citrus are scarce. The objective of this work was to detect differences in surface temperature between irrigation systems (self-propelled, center pivot, micro sprinkler and drip) and to verify the current evapotranspiration of different citrus canopies, using remote sensing with the SAFER algorithm applied to farms (plants with 3 years or more since planting) and young (less than 3 years of planting) - and citrus canopy types - orange, tangerine and Thaiti acid lime trees - in the Northwest region of São Paulo. After the application of the methodology, a significant difference in the surface temperature of orchards irrigated by different irrigation systems was verified, and a canopy with greater potential for water consumption among citrus was found. / Mestre

Over the past decade a large amount of research has been dedicated in academic literature to improving the technical capabilities of improved cookstoves; primarily the performance efficiency and reduction of emissions. Unfortunately, as published literature has highlighted, the trade-offs that result from placing such a concentrated emphasis on these technical objectives is that improved cookstoves lack the same level of usability as traditional cookstoves. Thus, users often return to using their traditional stoves and the potential impact of the improved cookstoves is never fully realized. In order for improved cookstoves to have greater impact, there must be better balance between the two competing design objectives of technical capabilities and usability. This research explores the challenges and benefits associated with achieving the appropriate balance, and provides guidance on how to more effectively achieve this. A list of the most common customer needs from around the world is provided for cookstoves. Interestingly, there are needs that are common to all cookstove users (global needs), and needs that apply to only a subset of users (local needs). Due to the diversity of such needs, there are many unique challenges that come with trying to satisfy these in the design process. A design methodology is presented that accounts for these challenges and helps balance the competing design objectives. This methodology is demonstrated through the modification of a traditional cookstove used in the Tambogrande region of Peru. This modification includes an inexpensive set of pot skirts that integrates directly with the traditional stove. These pot skirts allow for varying sizes and number of pots, and the use of traditional fuels. Laboratory testing, using the Water Boiling Test (WBT), identified the skirts' technical improvements: 41.7% increased thermal efficiency, 32.7% decreased fuel consumption, 28.8% decreased time to boil. Field testing was performed to determine the pot skirts' acceptance and compatibility with the traditional cookstoves, with over 75% of the participants recognizing some type of benefit. Although the technical improvements of these pot skirts are less than other cookstoves on the market, the higher levels of usability are likely to lead to a more positive end-user reaction, which could potentially lead to higher rates of adoption and impact. Though this research is primarily focused on the application of improved cookstoves, the need for more balance between technical and user objectives is applicable to nearly all products being designed for the developing world.

Acutely ill patients, across the age continuum, often present with complex communication needs (CCN) due to motor, sensory, cognitive and linguistic barriers they may experience during their hospital encounter. While hospital administrators recognize the importance of improving communication among the healthcare team members to increase quality and safety measures, few have focused on improving the patient-provider communication process, especially for patients with CCN. Recent Joint Commission standards mandates hospitals and healthcare providers improve communication for patients with CCN across all points of the care continuum. The study investigated the effectiveness of AAC training protocols for acute care nurses and ancillary healthcare providers using an on-line instructional medium for clinical skills teaching. The study design allowed for the measurement of learning following exposure to the tutorial and the analysis of possible clinical skill application. The current study invited a total of 377 nurses and graduate students to participate. Eight-three participated in the study and were divided randomly into two groups. Seventeen (20.5%) were assigned to in the control group, and 66 (79.5%) participants were into the test group. Both groups were directed to complete a pre-test measure. This was followed by exposure to the tutorial for the test group. The groups then were instructed to complete a post-test measure. For all participants in the test condition, the mean difference score (post-pre) was 19.2. The average pre-test score was 60.8 with a standard deviation of 12.4 while the average post-test score was 80.1 with a standard deviation of 11.3. This difference was significant (p

This thesis evaluated training groups for adoptive parents of special-needs children. It was hypothesized that training would influence parenting stress, stress symptoms, and marital satisfaction, and that helpfulness of training sections would depend upon the status of the participants' children (i.e., foster, adopted, or adoption in process). Data were collected from 15 participants who were sampled through agencies that typically interact with adoptive parents. Repeated measures ANOY As were computed to compare scores on the PSI/SF Parental Distress Subscale, OQ-45, and RDAS across three time intervals. No significant differences were found. Data from a scale of helpfulness were analyzed using descriptive statistics. There was a general trend such that foster parents reported the training groups as least helpful, adoptive parents reported them as more helpful, and participants in the process of adoption reported the highest ratings of helpfulness. Explanations for results are discussed along with implications and recommendations for future research.

Few things occupy as central a place in our lives as money. Although the study of money has a long history in the behavioral sciences, others have only recently begun examining this important topic. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between basic human need levels and money attitudes in a university-age cohort utilizing a theory of hierarchical needs. Needs theory, introduced by Abraham Maslow, suggests that as we interact with the environment we accumulate specific needs that motivate us to respond to life experiences. Three hundred thirty-eight college students attending Utah State University satellite campuses responded to a measure designed to examine an individual's attitudes toward money and achievement of needs (Maslow). Pilot study results validated the selection of modified versions of both Lim and Teo's Attitudes Toward Money Scale and Lester's Need Satisfaction Inventory as reliable instruments in assessing money attitudes and need achievement. Results confirmed relationships between money attitudes and human needs. Specifically, all of Maslow's needs appear to be strongly related to the money attitudes of evaluation and anxiety. In addition, men's and women's needs are highly correlated with obsession, budget, anxiety, and particularly evaluation. Associations of money attitudes with demographic variables such as gender, age, and income were also supported. For example, gender was statistically related to money attitudes of obsession, power, budget, and achievement. Age shared a strong relationship with obsession, budget, anxiety, and retention. Finally, power and evaluation were the money attitudes explaining the bulk of the variance in income. The findings of the study support the literature and point to the importance of understanding a client's money attitudes and level of need satisfaction. particularly from a counseling standpoint. Implications of the results and possible areas for future research are discussed.

Previous investigators have indicated that low socio-economic students have difficulty experiencing success on tests heavily loaded with verbal material. Differences in personality characteristics between students of high and low creativity have also been found. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the influence of manifest needs and anxiety on creative thinking. The Taylor Manifest Anxiety Scale, which determines anxiety level, the Edwards Personal Preference Schedule, which measures manifest needs, and the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking, which provides an index of creativity were administered to Spanish-American, Anglo-American, Negro, and Navaho high school students, who constituted the 1967 Upward Bound population at Utah State University. The total sample, composed of the four ethnic backgrounds, was administered the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking. The students were ranked on the basis of their total creativity score, and high and low creativity groups were extracted at the median. The results indicate that Upward Bound students are significantly higher in figural than in verbal creativity. No significant differences between high and low creativity students were found on anxiety or manifest needs, although a negative trend between anxiety and creativity was suggested.

The purpose of this study was to determine the service needs being met and the needs not being met as perceived by the chronically homeless who call the park their home. The authors thought this an important study to examine to better understand the service needs of the homeless. The study used a qualitative design for collecting data which involved face-to-face interviews with ten of the homeless people at the park. Four primary themes, three of which had two subthemes each, were identified through a thematic analysis. The primary theme of mistrust of services had subthemes of safety and restrictions and ineffective services. The primary theme of services needed was subdivided into problem identified and potential solutions. The families theme contained subthemes fractured families and park community as family. The theme of hopelessness did not have any subthemes. It was concluded that research should continue in this field and funding should be used to focus on providing services as specified through these themes.

The purpose of this study was to explore the various challenges and needs single Latino fathers faced in different areas such as the parent-child relationship, personal, physical, mental, and the financial aspect. It also explored the father’s perspectives and needs of formal and informal systems. This study used qualitative design using face -to- face interviews. This study found that single Hispanic fathers had a really good relationship with their children despite cultural factors that would enable them to have a challenging relationship such as the lack of acculturation, machismo, and the different fatherhood values between Hispanic and American culture. Another major theme that came up was the use of family support and the need for more formal support from local and state agencies and organizations. This study will help social workers and other professionals learn and understand the needs and challenges single Hispanic fathers face which will help social workers be competent to work with this specific population. It is recommended that more formal support such as access to counseling centers, support groups, and father-child community activities are needed to support and sustain Latino single fathers.

This research study focuses on gathering data on stress among caregivers caring for an individual with special needs. The participants selected were from three agencies in Southern California. Once the participants were selected, an interview was conducted using an audio recording device to gather and analyze the data collected. The researcher dictated the responses provided during the interview if the participants did not wish to be recorded. All participants received a $5 Starbucks gift card for their participation. This study was conducted to inform clinicians and any reader on the daily struggles and challenges caregivers face by caring for individuals with a disability. This study had a sample size of eight participants. Themes that were used were service utilization, social support systems, mental and physical health and self-care. Social workers working with individuals who care for individuals with special needs should be knowledgeable in coping strategies.