Introduction: Studies have shown that having a preterm infant may cause stress and powerlessness for parents. It is important to support parents around the feeding situation, and that the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) has appropriate space and place to help the family to bond to each other. For the healthcare professionals it is important to promote skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding; particularly for preterm infants. There are many studies on parent’s experiences of NICUs and a few studies on parent’s experiences of feeding their infant in the NICU. Objective: The objective of this study was to explore parents experiences of feeding their infant in the NICU. Design: The study was conducted using an ethnographic design. Results: A global theme of ‘The journey in feeding’ was developed from four organising themes: ‘Ways of infant feeding’; ‘Environmental influences’; ‘Relationships’ and ‘Emotional factors’. These themes illustrate the challenges mothers reported with different methods of feeding. The environment had a big impact on parent’s experiences of infant feeding. Some mothers felt that breastfeeding seemed unnatural because their infant was so tiny but breastfeeding and skin-to-skin contact helped them to bond to their infant. The mothers thought it was difficult to keep up with the milk production by only pumping. Routines were not inviting parents to find their own rhythm. They also felt stressed about the weighing. Healthcare professionals had positive and negative influences on the parents. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that while all parents expressed the wish to breastfeed, their ‘journey in feeding’ was highly influenced by method of feeding, environmental, relational and emotional factors. The general focus upon routines and assessing milk intake generated anxiety and reduced relationality. Midwives and neonatal nurses need to ensure that they emphasise and support the relational aspects of parenting and avoid over-emphasising milk intake and associated progress of the infant / Introduktion: Studier har visat att få ett prematurt barn kan orsaka stress och maktlöshet hos föräldrar. Det är viktigt att stödja föräldrarna runt matsituationen av barnet och att neonatalavdelningen har tillräckligt med plats för att hjälpa familjerna att knyta an till varandra. För sjukvårdspersonalen är det viktigt att främja hud-mot-hud och amning, särskilt för tidigt födda spädbarn. Det finns många studier om föräldrars upplevelser om neonatalavdelningar men få studier om föräldrars upplevelser av att mata sitt barn på neonatalavdelning. Syfte: Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka upplevelserna föräldrar hade av att mata sina barn på neonatalavdelning. Design: Studien genomfördes med en etnografisk metod. Resultat: Ett globalt tema av ’Matresan’ utvecklades från fyra olika organisationsteman: ’Olika sätt att mata barnet’, ’Miljöns påverkan’, ’Relationer’ och ’Känslomässiga faktorer’. Dessa teman visar på de olika utmaningar föräldrarna upplevde vid de olika matsituationerna av barnet. Miljön hade en stor inverkan på föräldrarnas upplevelser av matsituationerna hos barnen. En del mammor upplevde amning som onaturligt eftersom deras barn var så små men att amning och hud-mot-hud hjälpte dem att knyta an till deras barn. Mammorna tyckte att det var svårt att hålla igång mjölkproduktionen genom att endast pumpa. Rutinerna på avdelningen hjälpte inte föräldrarna att hitta sin egen rytm. De kände sig även stressade av att väga barnet. Sjukvårdspersonalen hade både positiv och negativ inverkan på föräldrarna. Slutsats: Den här studien visar att trots att alla föräldrar önskade att amma så påverkades matresan av val av mat-metod, miljön, relations- och känslomässiga faktorer. Det generella fokuset på rutiner och intaget av mängden bröstmjölk genererade i ångest och minskade anknytningen. Barnmorskor och neonatalsjuksköterskor måste lägga störst fokus på att stödja

This thesis focuses on how school textbooks and teachers present models of chemical bonding in upper secondary schools in Sweden. In science, as well as in science education, models play a central role, but research has shown that they often are difficult for students to understand. In science education, models are presented to students mainly through textbooks and teachers, and textbooks influence teachers’ teaching. The aim of this thesis was to investigate how textbooks and teachers present models of chemical bonding with respect to students’ difficulties in understanding. To analyze representations of models, an analytical framework based on research reports of students’ difficulties in understanding related to models in general and chemical bonding in particular was developed. The chapters of chemical bonding in five chemistry textbooks were analyzed. Further, ten Chemistry teachers’ lesson plans about chemical bonding and semi-structured interviews with the teachers concerning their teaching were analyzed. This analysis concerned teachers pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) of teaching chemical bonding, with focus on knowledge of students’ difficulties in understanding and teaching strategies that take these difficulties into account. The results show that the teachers could specify examples of students’ learning difficulties, but the teaching strategies to promote the students’ understanding were limited. This indicates a deficient interaction between knowledge of difficulties in understanding and teaching strategies, two essential components of teachers’ PCK. Further, the models of chemical bonding represented in the textbooks and by the teachers might cause students’ difficulties in understanding. This indicates a gap between research of students’ difficulties in understanding and teaching practices as well as textbooks’ development. Further, the teachers’ representations of models were strongly influenced by the textbooks. Implications for textbooks’ authors, pre-service as well as in-service teachers are addressed. / <p>Papper 2 "Upper secondary teachers knowledge..." ingick i lic.uppsatsen som manuskript med titeln: "Swedish upper secondary teachers’ pedagogical content knowledge to teach chemical bonding". Nu publicerad. </p>

This thesis expands our understanding of the role of several different mating behaviours in the process of forming and maintaining human mating pair-bonds. Chapter 2 investigated within-sex mating strategies and found that their distribution reflects the presence of two phenotypes, one favouring the pursuit of short-term mating and one the establishment of mating pair-bonds, each driven by prenatal testosterone exposure. Chapter 3 investigated the possible functional role of kissing in mating relationships, and found that it was utilised divergently by individuals pursuing different mating strategies, with those interested in short-term mating utilising it to assess the suitability of potential mates at initial relationship stages, and those interested in long-term mating using it to mediate pair-bond attachments. Chapter 4 examined female attitudes towards kissing across the menstrual cycle and found that attitudes varied with cycle phase, mediated by fluctuations in the hormone progesterone. This chapter also investigated the effects of kissing-related information on mate assessment and found that such information influenced mate desirability, even in the presence of typically dominant visual cues. Lastly, Chapter 5 investigated the cognitive effects of established pair-bonds, finding that individuals ‘in love’ with a mating partner show improved empathising abilities, particularly males when it comes to assessing negative emotional states in others. Using an evolutionary framework, each chapter of this thesis contributes novel insights to our understanding of these diverse behaviours. These results suggest that that future research must take into account within-sex phenotypic differences in order to truly understand human mating strategy decisions, and that different mating strategy phenotypes might adaptively utilise the same courtship behaviours in divergent ways. Furthermore, these results also suggest that pair-bonding in humans may be a relatively recent phenomenon, and that the formation of such pair-bonds can have adaptive cognitive effects for males within such bonded relationships.

Objective. To explore the impact of parent psychological distress and parental bonding on agreement between informants about adolescent emotional functioning. Methods. The study employed an observational design in which 87 pairs of mothers and their adolescent sons or daughters aged 12-17 completed proxyand self-report ratings on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Mothers also completed the Depression, Anxiety and Stress scale as a measure of their own psychological distress, and adolescents completed the Parental Bonding Instrument as a measure of their parenting experience. Moderation analyses using multiple linear regression were used to assess whether the association between maternal psychological distress and mother-adolescent agreement changed as a factor of parental bonding. Results. Kappa values indicated that mother-adolescent agreement was ‘fair’ for emotional problems. Mothers’ psychological distress and sub-optimal parenting were both associated with greater reporting discrepancies. Maternal psychological distress and perceived maternal were unique and combined predictors of reporting discrepancies. Perceived care moderated the relationship between maternal distress and agreement such that when care was rated as low, higher levels of maternal distress predicted poor agreement, but when care was rated as high no significant relationship was found between distress and agreement. Conclusions. Increased mother-adolescent agreement was associated with lower maternal psychological distress and higher ratings of perceived care. The effect of psychological distress on informant agreement varied as a factor of perceived maternal care. Results of this study support the need for multiinformant assessment and suggest that enquiry about mothers’ own psychological functioning could facilitate accurate assessment and intervention for adolescents who present at psychology services.

Thesis (MSc (Chemistry and Polymer Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / Co-crystals are excellent materials for studying intermolecular interactions in the solid-state and can be used to further our knowledge of the balance between strong and weak intermolecular interactions. The O–H∙∙∙∙∙∙Narom synthon was chosen as the focus of this investigation of hydrogen bonding motifs. The starting materials selected all have two hydrogen bond donor and/or acceptor sites for the formation of extended networks. All molecules are also aromatic such that the influence of weaker π∙∙∙∙∙∙π interactions can be included in the study. Two 3x3 grids of related co-crystals were produced from these starting materials and are reported in this thesis as part of an ongoing investigation into a broader set of co-crystals. A part of the work describes the investigation of co-crystals prepared by the combination of related benzenediol and diazine isomers taken from a 3x3 grid. The solid-state structures of each of the six starting materials are discussed briefly to describe the nature of intermolecular interactions involved in the single component crystals. Trends in hydrogen-bonding patterns as well as the weaker interactions identified in the starting materials, can be used to recognise those in the subsequent multi-component crystals. Thirteen co-crystal compounds were obtained, of which twelve structures are novel. Each of these co-crystal structures is discussed in terms of intermolecular interactions and packing in the solid state. Hydrogen-bonding patterns and structural similarities are highlighted in related co-crystal structures as well as between co-crystals and their respective starting materials. The combination of benzenediol isomers with benzodiazine isomers yielded seven novel co-crystal structures in a second 33 grid is reported. The structure of phthalazine, which has not yet been reported, is included in addition to these co-crystals, while the structures of quinazoline and quinoxaline that were retrieved from the CSD are discussed briefly. Co-crystal structures are discussed individually, focusing on the intermolecular interactions that are significant to the structural architecture of the compound. Certain co-crystals that display structural similarities with structures of the 3x3 grid, as well as with co-crystals presented in Chapter 3, are discussed in the relevant sections. Lastly, two extended pyridyl diyne ligands that were synthesised for use in future co-crystallisation studies similar to those reported earlier are briefly highlighted. The crystal structures of the pure compounds and of a hydrate of one of the ligands were obtained and discussed briefly. To date only one of these structures has been reported in the literature.

Thesis (MSc (Chemistry and Polymer Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The number of coordination complexes utilizing bis-pyridyl diamide ligands has increased significantly over the past decade. This is attributed to the relatively easy synthetic procedure of the ligands and interesting structural features such as helicity, water clusters and porosity that the coordination complexes possess. In the first part of this study, the following eight structurally related bis-pyridyl diamide ligands: • N,N'-bis(pyridin-4-ylmethyl)isophthalamide (ISO); • N,N'-bis(pyridyl-4-ylmethyl)terephthalamide (TER); • N,N'-bis(pyridin-4-ylmethyl)hexanediamide (ADI); • N,N'-bis(pyridin-4-ylmethyl)butanediamide (SUC); • N,N'-bis(pyridin-4-ylmethyl)biphenyl-4,4'-dicarbonyl dicarboxamide (DIP); • N,N'-dipyridin-2-ylpentanediamide (GLUT); • (2E)-N,N'-bis(2-pyridin-4-ylmethyl)but-2-enediamide (FUM); • 4-(pyridin-4-ylmethyl)aminocarbonyl benzoic acid (TER-A). were synthesized and characterized by NMR, FTIR, MS and SCD. In the second part, the synthesized ligands were reacted with a variety of transition metal salts to yield fifteen novel coordination polymers and one discrete complex. SCD analysis showed that of the sixteen complexes thirteen formed 1-D chains, two formed 2-D networks, and one formed a discrete unit. Hydrogen bonding interactions between water molecules, the counterions and the amide groups resulted in connection of the lower dimension entities into higher dimension networks. The synthesized ligands were co-crystallized with trimesic acid and a novel co-crystal consisting of ADI and trimesic acid was obtained. SCD analysis showed that the co-crystal featured the amide homosynthon as well as the pyridine/carboxylic acid heterosynthon. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die aantal koördinasie komplekse met dipiridieldiamied ligande het noemenswaardig vermeerder oor die afgelope dekade. Hierdie groei kan toegeskryf word aan die eenvoudige sintetiese prosedure en interessante strukturele eienskappe van dié koördinasie komplekse, wat o.a. helikse, waterbondels en poreuse materiale vorm. In die eerste deel van hierdie studie is die agt onderstaande struktureel verwante dipiridieldiamied ligande se sintese en karakterisering deur kernmagnetieseresonansie, Fourier transform infrarooi, massaspektrometrie en enkel kristal X-straal diffraksie (SCD) beskryf: • N,N'-bis(piridien-4-ielmetiel)isoftalamied (ISO); • N,N'-bis(piridien-4-ielmetiel)tereftalamied (TER); • N,N'-bis(piridien-4-ielmetiel)heksaandiamied (ADI); • N,N'-bis(piridien-4-ielmetiel)butaandiamied (SUC); • N,N'-bis(piridien-4-ielmetiel)bifeniel-4,4'-dikarbonieldikarboksamied (DIP); • N,N'-dipiridien-2-ielpentaandiamied (GLUT); • (2E)-N,N'-bis(2-piridien-4-ielmetiel)but-2-eendiamied (FUM); • 4-(piridien-4-ielmetiel)aminokarboniel bensoësuur (TER-A). In die tweede gedeelte is bg. ligande met 'n reeks oorgangsmetaalsoute gereageer om vyftien nuwe koördinasiepolimere, asook een diskrete kompleks, te lewer. SCD analise toon dat van hierdie sestien komplekse vorm dertien 1-D kettings, twee vorm 2-D netwerke en slegs een vorm 'n diskrete eenheid. Waterstofbindings tussen die water molekules, die teen-ione en die amied groepe het laer dimensie (1-D) eenhede verbind om hoër dimensionele netwerke (2-D) te vorm. Mede-kristallisasie van die gesintetiseerde ligande met trimesielsuur het 'n nuwe mede-kristal tussen ADI en triemesielsuur opgelewer. Enkelkristal diffraksie toon dat die mede-kristal beide die amied homosinton en die piridien/karboksielsuur heterosinton bevat.

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study explores patterns of separation and/or connection in the narratives of the respondent, a female farm worker living and working in the Western Cape, South Africa. The major objective of this qualitative case study is to examine the possible construction, co-existence and interaction of separation-connection themes in the reality of the respondent. Founded within the social constructivist tradition, an approach that assumes reality to be constructed through language and within relationships, a window on the respondent's narrative construction of her reality, relationships and separation-connection processes was obtained. To compliment the explorative nature and social constructionist approach of the study, Grounded Theory and Narrative Analysis were administrated. Through the analysis the two central themes, separation and connection, manifested on two different levels - firstly on a content level (what the participant has to say regarding the themes) and secondly on a process level (what is happening between participant and researcher). Findings provided a preliminary understanding of the techniques the respondent implores to construe a sense of separation and connection. Results confirmed the co-existence of separation-connection themes and indicated a possible interaction between the two constructs. Findings also provided a glimpse on the experiences and impact of the separation-connection process in the idiom of the respondent. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die studie belig patrone van binding en/of skeiding in die narratiewe van die respondent, In vroulike plaaswerker in die Wes-Kaap, Suid-Afrika. Dié kwalitatiewe gevallestudie is gerig op In ondersoek van die potensiële konstruksie, naasbestaan en interaksie van binding- en/of skeidingstemas soos wat die respondent dit beleef en verwoord. Deur die fundering van die navorsing in die sosiaal-konstruktivistiese tradisie, In benadering wat glo dat die realiteit in verhoudings via taal gekonstrueer word, is toegang tot die respondent se narratiewe konstruksie van haar realiteit, verhoudings en binding- en/of skeidingstemas verkry. In ooreenstemming met sosiaal-konstruktivistiese aannames, het die data-analise Narratiewe Analise en Grounded Theory metodiek behels. Met behulp van die ontleding het die twee sentrale konsepte, binding en skeiding, op twee vlakke gemanifesteer - eerstens op In inhoudsvlak (dit wat die respondent daaroor vertel) en tweedens op In prosesvlak (dit wat tussen die respondent en die onderhoudvoerder gebeur). Die resultate bied In voorlopige verstaan van die wyses waarop die respondent binding en/of skeiding konstrueer. Bevindings bevestig die naasbestaan van binding- en skeidingstemas en dui op In moontlike interaksie tussen dié twee konstrukte. Die studie verskaf ook In blik op die respondent se ervaring van die konstrukte in haar eie idioom.

Thesis (PhD (Chemistry and Polymer Science))—University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / This study describes the exploitation of numerous donor ligand possibilities presented by selected nitrogen-rich heterocyclic ligands towards gold(I). The preparation and structural characterisation of novel gold(I) complexes, apart from conventional gold(I) bonding possibilities, also encompassed a study of bi- and polytopic bonding modes within a range of multifunctional ligands.

With the recent increase in Gold (Au) wire cost Copper (Cu) wire becomes an attractive way to manage overall package cost. On the other hand, Copper wire bonding introduces much higher mechanical impact to underlying BEoL structures and actives because of the higher stiffness and lower ductility of Copper compared to Gold. These trends are accompanied by the application of new porous or nano-particle filled materials like low-k and ultra low-k materials for Back-end of Line (BEoL) layers of advanced CMOS technologies. As a result, higher delamination and cracking risks in BEoL structures underneath bonded areas represent an increasing challenge for the thermo-mechanical reliability requirements. To overcome the related reliability issues the authors performed a two level nonlinear FEM-simulation approach. Initially nonlinear axi-symmetric modeling and simulation of the copper bonding process are coupled with a spatial simulation model of the whole BeoL and bond pad structure. Cracking and delamination risks are estimated by a surface based cohesive contact approach and the utilization of a crushing foam constitutive material model for ultra low-k materials.

published_or_final_version / Chemistry / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy