Global ETD Search

71	Conversion of Landfill Gas to Liquid Hydrocarbon Fuels: Design and Feasibility Study Kent, Ryan Alexander 24 March 2016 (has links) This paper will discuss the conversion of gas produced from biomass into liquid fuel through the combination of naturally occurring processes, which occur in landfills and anaerobic digesters, and a gas-to-liquids (GTL) facility. Landfills and anaerobic digesters produce gases (LFG) that can be converted into syngas via a Tri-reforming process and then synthesized into man-made hydrocarbon mixtures using Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. Further processing allows for the separation into liquid hydrocarbon fuels such as diesel and gasoline, as well as other middle distillate fuels. Conversion of landfill gas into liquid fuels increases their energy density, ease of storage, and open market potential as a common “drop in” fuel. These steps not only allow for profitable avenues for landfill operators but potential methods to decrease greenhouse gas emissions. The objective of this paper is to present a preliminary design of an innovative facility which processes contaminated biogases and produces a valuable product. An economic analysis is performed to show feasibility for a facility under base case scenario. A sensitivity analysis is performed to show the effect of different cost scenarios on the breakeven price of fuel produced. Market scenarios are also presented in order to further analyze situations where certain product portions cannot be sold or facility downtime is increased. This facility is then compared to traditional mitigation options, such as flaring and electricity generation, to assess the effect each option has on cost, energy efficiency, and emissions reduction. Tri-reforming Fischer Tropsch Synthesis Gas to Liquids Landfill Gas (LFG ) to Liquid Fuels Landfill Gas Recovery Recovering Energy from Waste Digestion Waste to Energy Chemical Engineering Oil, Gas, and Energy
72	The relationship between adolescent depressive symptomology and substance abuse Blore, Lynda Gail 10 1900 (has links) This study examines the relationship between adolescent depressive symptomology and substance abuse. From a literature study six hypotheses were developed. A quantitative empirical study, undertaken in a South African high school, investigated the level of adolescent depressive symptomology and substance abuse, as well as the relationship between the two. The influence of various moderator variables was also examined. In line with most international studies, the relationship between adolescent depressive symptomology and substance abuse was found to be significant. This research has shown that adolescent depressive symptomology is significantly and positively correlated with earlier age of onset of substance abuse as well as frequency of usage. There appear to be gender differences in the way adolescents deal with their depression in terms of substance abuse. In addition, risk factors for depression and substance abuse were confirmed. Recommendations have been made based on these results. / Psychology of Education / M.Ed. (Guidance and Counselling) Adolescent Depressive symptomology Substance abuse Depression Age of onset of substance abuse Rates of substance abuse Risk factors Gender differences 362.29170835 Substance abuse -- South Africa Drug abuse -- South Africa Depression
73	The relationship between adolescent depressive symptomology and substance abuse Blore, Lynda Gail 10 1900 (has links) This study examines the relationship between adolescent depressive symptomology and substance abuse. From a literature study six hypotheses were developed. A quantitative empirical study, undertaken in a South African high school, investigated the level of adolescent depressive symptomology and substance abuse, as well as the relationship between the two. The influence of various moderator variables was also examined. In line with most international studies, the relationship between adolescent depressive symptomology and substance abuse was found to be significant. This research has shown that adolescent depressive symptomology is significantly and positively correlated with earlier age of onset of substance abuse as well as frequency of usage. There appear to be gender differences in the way adolescents deal with their depression in terms of substance abuse. In addition, risk factors for depression and substance abuse were confirmed. Recommendations have been made based on these results. / Psychology of Education / M.Ed. (Guidance and Counselling) Adolescent Depressive symptomology Substance abuse Depression Age of onset of substance abuse Rates of substance abuse Risk factors Gender differences 362.29170835 Substance abuse -- South Africa Drug abuse -- South Africa Depression
74	Discursos sobre o crack: análise das representações sociais de usuários, familiares e profissionais do CAPS Silva, Naiara França da 20 September 2013 (has links) Due to the speed at which the crack has earned place in society and because it has been considered, nowadays, a major social problem, this work aimed to analyze the social representations assigned to the users of crack and its use in the perspective of users, their families and health professionals. The study was conducted according to the referential of the Theory of Central Core. The survey was conducted in four CAPS, where thirty crack users, twenty relatives and thirty health professionals were interviewed. Data collection used an interview with evocative questions. The data were organized and processed by the EVOC software and the socio demographic data were analyzed by the software SPSS. In the group of users, the most significant representations regarding crack relate to the issue of dependency, as well as in the group of relatives, although using different terms. In turn, health professionals held to the motivation for the consumption and the consequences that this use entails. It was found that the groups, in general, define crack as a drug that destroys the person in various spheres of life and is highly addictive. About inductive term crack users, the most significant representations concern the care, focusing on the need of assistance this user has, given that its destructive power hinders its abandonment. However, there were some specifics among groups. The results indicate the hopelessness of users finding support from people to confront this drug. Similarly, the family presented negative evocations, although not directed to the user, but to changes in the family caused by the problems arising from the use of crack. In professional discourses, the difficulty in daily contact with these users prevailed, which limit its work with them. It was noted, finally, the absence of changes prospect with regard to the future of crack users between the groups and a noticeable disbelief in relation to their recovery. These results indicate important concerns, such as the challenges faced by health professionals concerning their performance against the dependence of the crack and the difficulties of treatment and prevention measures. Therefore, it is expected that this study provides support for establishing future studies in social psychology and mental health, and the creation of new shares that increase attention to these users, as well as their adherence to treatment. / Pela velocidade com que o crack tem ganhado lugar na sociedade e por ser considerado, hoje, como um grande problema social, este trabalho tomou como objeto de estudo as representações sociais acerca do usuário de crack. O postulado da Teoria das Representações Sociais é apreendido pelas diversas áreas de conhecimento, tornando-se eixo de pesquisas importantes para a revelação da realidade, possibilitando a investigação de fenômenos com abrangência social, como a drogadição. Desse modo, a pesquisa buscou analisar as representações sociais acerca do usuário de crack atribuídas por usuários em acompanhamento, familiares e profissionais que os acompanham no CAPS. Pretendeu-se, ainda, analisar a relação entre essas representações e as práticas do serviço do CAPS no acompanhamento dos usuários de crack. O estudo com abordagem quanti-qualitativa foi desenvolvido de acordo com o referencial da Teoria do Núcleo Central. A pesquisa foi realizada em quatro CAPS, sendo três localizados no interior do estado de Sergipe e um na capital, Aracaju. Participaram do estudo trinta usuários de crack, trinta profissionais e vinte familiares. Para coleta de dados, elaborou-se um roteiro para uma entrevista aberta com temas norteadores. Foi utilizada ainda, a técnica de evocação livre. Para análise de evocações, os dados foram organizados e processados através do software EVOC. Para análise discursiva foi utilizado o software Alceste, desenvolvido por Max Reinert. Os resultados da pesquisa servirão como contribuição para estudos futuros na área da psicologia social e da saúde mental, visando um maior entendimento da substância psicoativa crack, suas implicações e repercussões. Psicologia social Representações sociais Drogas Crack (Droga) Pessoal da área médica Toxicômanos Viciados em recuperação Usuários de drogas Usuários de crack Crack (Drug) Drug addicts Drugs of abuse Medical personnel Recovering addicts Social psychology Social representations
75	Discursos sobre o crack: análise das representações sociais de usuários, familiares e profissionais do CAPS Silva, Naiara França da 20 September 2013 (has links) Due to the speed at which the crack has earned place in society and because it has been considered, nowadays, a major social problem, this work aimed to analyze the social representations assigned to the users of crack and its use in the perspective of users, their families and health professionals. The study was conducted according to the referential of the Theory of Central Core. The survey was conducted in four CAPS, where thirty crack users, twenty relatives and thirty health professionals were interviewed. Data collection used an interview with evocative questions. The data were organized and processed by the EVOC software and the socio demographic data were analyzed by the software SPSS. In the group of users, the most significant representations regarding crack relate to the issue of dependency, as well as in the group of relatives, although using different terms. In turn, health professionals held to the motivation for the consumption and the consequences that this use entails. It was found that the groups, in general, define crack as a drug that destroys the person in various spheres of life and is highly addictive. About inductive term crack users, the most significant representations concern the care, focusing on the need of assistance this user has, given that its destructive power hinders its abandonment. However, there were some specifics among groups. The results indicate the hopelessness of users finding support from people to confront this drug. Similarly, the family presented negative evocations, although not directed to the user, but to changes in the family caused by the problems arising from the use of crack. In professional discourses, the difficulty in daily contact with these users prevailed, which limit its work with them. It was noted, finally, the absence of changes prospect with regard to the future of crack users between the groups and a noticeable disbelief in relation to their recovery. These results indicate important concerns, such as the challenges faced by health professionals concerning their performance against the dependence of the crack and the difficulties of treatment and prevention measures. Therefore, it is expected that this study provides support for establishing future studies in social psychology and mental health, and the creation of new shares that increase attention to these users, as well as their adherence to treatment. / Pela velocidade com que o crack tem ganhado lugar na sociedade e por ser considerado, hoje, como um grande problema social, este trabalho tomou como objeto de estudo as representações sociais acerca do usuário de crack. O postulado da Teoria das Representações Sociais é apreendido pelas diversas áreas de conhecimento, tornando-se eixo de pesquisas importantes para a revelação da realidade, possibilitando a investigação de fenômenos com abrangência social, como a drogadição. Desse modo, a pesquisa buscou analisar as representações sociais acerca do usuário de crack atribuídas por usuários em acompanhamento, familiares e profissionais que os acompanham no CAPS. Pretendeu-se, ainda, analisar a relação entre essas representações e as práticas do serviço do CAPS no acompanhamento dos usuários de crack. O estudo com abordagem quanti-qualitativa foi desenvolvido de acordo com o referencial da Teoria do Núcleo Central. A pesquisa foi realizada em quatro CAPS, sendo três localizados no interior do estado de Sergipe e um na capital, Aracaju. Participaram do estudo trinta usuários de crack, trinta profissionais e vinte familiares. Para coleta de dados, elaborou-se um roteiro para uma entrevista aberta com temas norteadores. Foi utilizada ainda, a técnica de evocação livre. Para análise de evocações, os dados foram organizados e processados através do software EVOC. Para análise discursiva foi utilizado o software Alceste, desenvolvido por Max Reinert. Os resultados da pesquisa servirão como contribuição para estudos futuros na área da psicologia social e da saúde mental, visando um maior entendimento da substância psicoativa crack, suas implicações e repercussões. Psicologia social Representações sociais Drogas Crack (Droga) Pessoal da área médica Toxicômanos Viciados em recuperação Usuários de drogas Usuários de crack Crack (Drug) Drug addicts Drugs of abuse Medical personnel Recovering addicts Social psychology Social representations
76	The relationship between adolescent depressive symptomology and substance abuse Blore, Lynda Gail 31 October 2002 (has links) This study examines the relationship between adolescent depressive symptomology and substance abuse. From a literature study six hypotheses were developed. A quantitative empirical study, undertaken in a South African high school, investigated the level of adolescent depressiVe symptomology and substance abuse, as well as the relationship between the two. The influence of various moderator variables was also examined. In line with most international studies, the relationship between adolescent depressive symptomotogy and substance abuse was found to be significant. This research has shown that adolescent depressive symptomology is significantly and positively correlated with earlier age at onset of substance abuse as well as frequency of usage. There appear to be gender differences in the way adolescents deal with their depression in terms of substance abuse. In addition, risk factors for depression and substance abuse were confirmed. Recommendations have been made based on these results / Educational Studies / M.Ed. Adolescent Depressive symptomology Substance abuse Depression Age of onset of substance abuse Rates of substance abuse Risk factors Gender differences 362.29170835 Substance abuse -- South Africa Drug abuse -- South Africa Reality therapy -- South Africa
77	Healing the dragon : heroin use disorder intervention Santos, Monika Maria Lucia Freitas dos 30 June 2008 (has links) The history of heroin use disorder intervention has been characterised by fads and fashions. Some of the treatments that have been used have been, at best ineffective, and at worst harmful, and occasionally even dangerous. It is a sad reflection upon the field that practices and procedures for the treatment of heroin use disorders can so easily be introduced and applied without (or even contrary to) evidence. In South Africa, the field of heroin use disorder intervention has been `in transition' since the outbreak of the heroin epidemic. Yet despite growing evidence of an association between heroin dependents use of supplementary intervention services (such as psychosocial and pharmacological/medical care) and intervention outcomes, and the fact that international emerging standards for substance use disorder intervention have called upon treatment intervention providers to enhance traditional substance use disorder services with services that address clients' psychological and social needs, heroin use disorder intervention programmes in South Africa generally fail to meet these research-based intervention standards. Much of what is currently delivered as intervention is based upon current best guesses of how to combine some science-based (for example, cognitive-behavioural therapy and pharmacotherapies) and self-help (12-step programmes) approaches into optimal intervention protocols. As progression is made in the twenty-first century, scientific information is now beginning to be used to guide the evolution and delivery of heroin use disorder care internationally. Regrettably, a scarcity of heroin use disorder intervention research is noted in South Africa. The present study delved into the insights of ten heroin use disorder specialists, and synthesised the findings with the results of a previous study undertaken by the author relating to forty long-term voluntarily abstinent heroin dependents. In terms of theory and practice, findings of the study suggest that the field is less in transition now than it was in 1995. It is an imperative that law-enforcement action be followed by an integrated programme of psychological, social and pharmacological outreach. These programmes will have to be expanded to address new demands and will need to include specialised skills training. Many interventions and procedures have begun to be integrated routinely into clinical practice. / Psychology / (D. Phil. (Psychology)) South African context Iervention Recovery Heroin dependence Heroin Heroin use disorder Drug control -- South Africa Drug abuse -- South Africa -- Prevention Drug addiction -- South Africa
78	Healing the dragon : heroin use disorder intervention Santos, Monika Maria Lucia Freitas dos 30 June 2008 (has links) The history of heroin use disorder intervention has been characterised by fads and fashions. Some of the treatments that have been used have been, at best ineffective, and at worst harmful, and occasionally even dangerous. It is a sad reflection upon the field that practices and procedures for the treatment of heroin use disorders can so easily be introduced and applied without (or even contrary to) evidence. In South Africa, the field of heroin use disorder intervention has been `in transition' since the outbreak of the heroin epidemic. Yet despite growing evidence of an association between heroin dependents use of supplementary intervention services (such as psychosocial and pharmacological/medical care) and intervention outcomes, and the fact that international emerging standards for substance use disorder intervention have called upon treatment intervention providers to enhance traditional substance use disorder services with services that address clients' psychological and social needs, heroin use disorder intervention programmes in South Africa generally fail to meet these research-based intervention standards. Much of what is currently delivered as intervention is based upon current best guesses of how to combine some science-based (for example, cognitive-behavioural therapy and pharmacotherapies) and self-help (12-step programmes) approaches into optimal intervention protocols. As progression is made in the twenty-first century, scientific information is now beginning to be used to guide the evolution and delivery of heroin use disorder care internationally. Regrettably, a scarcity of heroin use disorder intervention research is noted in South Africa. The present study delved into the insights of ten heroin use disorder specialists, and synthesised the findings with the results of a previous study undertaken by the author relating to forty long-term voluntarily abstinent heroin dependents. In terms of theory and practice, findings of the study suggest that the field is less in transition now than it was in 1995. It is an imperative that law-enforcement action be followed by an integrated programme of psychological, social and pharmacological outreach. These programmes will have to be expanded to address new demands and will need to include specialised skills training. Many interventions and procedures have begun to be integrated routinely into clinical practice. / Psychology / (D. Phil. (Psychology)) South African context Iervention Recovery Heroin dependence Heroin Heroin use disorder Drug control -- South Africa Drug abuse -- South Africa -- Prevention Drug addiction -- South Africa
79	The relationship between adolescent depressive symptomology and substance abuse Blore, Lynda Gail 31 October 2002 (has links) This study examines the relationship between adolescent depressive symptomology and substance abuse. From a literature study six hypotheses were developed. A quantitative empirical study, undertaken in a South African high school, investigated the level of adolescent depressiVe symptomology and substance abuse, as well as the relationship between the two. The influence of various moderator variables was also examined. In line with most international studies, the relationship between adolescent depressive symptomotogy and substance abuse was found to be significant. This research has shown that adolescent depressive symptomology is significantly and positively correlated with earlier age at onset of substance abuse as well as frequency of usage. There appear to be gender differences in the way adolescents deal with their depression in terms of substance abuse. In addition, risk factors for depression and substance abuse were confirmed. Recommendations have been made based on these results / Educational Studies / M.Ed. Adolescent Depressive symptomology Substance abuse Depression Age of onset of substance abuse Rates of substance abuse Risk factors Gender differences 362.29170835 Substance abuse -- South Africa Drug abuse -- South Africa Reality therapy -- South Africa
80	Action in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: an Enactive Psycho-phenomenological and Semiotic Analysis of Thirty New Zealand Women's Experiences of Suffering and Recovery Hart, M J Alexandra January 2010 (has links) This research into Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) presents the results of 60 first-person psycho-phenomenological interviews with 30 New Zealand women. The participants were recruited from the Canterbury and Wellington regions, 10 had recovered. Taking a non-dual, non-reductive embodied approach, the phenomenological data was analysed semiotically, using a graph-theoretical cluster analysis to elucidate the large number of resulting categories, and interpreted through the enactive approach to cognitive science. The initial result of the analysis is a comprehensive exploration of the experience of CFS which develops subject-specific categories of experience and explores the relation of the illness to universal categories of experience, including self, ‘energy’, action, and being-able-to-do. Transformations of the self surrounding being-able-to-do and not-being-able-to-do were shown to elucidate the illness process. It is proposed that the concept ‘energy’ in the participants’ discourse is equivalent to the Mahayana Buddhist concept of ‘contact’. This characterises CFS as a breakdown of contact. Narrative content from the recovered interviewees reflects a reestablishment of contact. The hypothesis that CFS is a disorder of action is investigated in detail. A general model for the phenomenology and functional architecture of action is proposed. This model is a recursive loop involving felt meaning, contact, action, and perception and appears to be phenomenologically supported. It is proposed that the CFS illness process is a dynamical decompensation of the subject’s action loop caused by a breakdown in the process of contact. On this basis, a new interpretation of neurological findings in relation to CFS becomes possible. A neurological phenomenon that correlates with the illness and involves a brain region that has a similar structure to the action model’s recursive loop is identified in previous research results and compared with the action model and the results of this research. This correspondence may identify the brain regions involved in the illness process, which may provide an objective diagnostic test for the condition and approaches to treatment. The implications of this model for cognitive science and CFS should be investigated through neurophenomenological research since the model stands to shed considerable light on the nature of consciousness, contact and agency. Phenomenologically based treatments are proposed, along with suggestions for future research on CFS. The research may clarify the diagnostic criteria for CFS and guide management and treatment programmes, particularly multidimensional and interdisciplinary approaches. Category theory is proposed as a foundation for a mathematisation of phenomenology. action Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Chronic Immune Deficiency Syndrome enaction social enaction social enactivism enactive psycho-phenomenological psychophenomenological vipassana groundlessness mind-body korper leib co-generative Focusing co-creative environment Antonio Damasio reciprocal constraints Pierre Vermersch Claire Petitmengin Antione Lutz narrative discourse phenomenal invariants Evan Thompson Merleau-Ponty Algirdis Julien Greimas Husserl first-person Fransisco Varela modelling invariants Natalie Depraz isotope John Boyd OODA loop Jonathan Shear Shaun Gallagher Arthur Kleinman Humberto Maturana second-person Alva Noe Dan Zahavi stages Embodied Mind Canterbury Wellington New Zealand non-dual non-reductive embodied phenomenological third-person graph-theoretical cluster analysis cognitive science experience solution subject-specific categories universal categories universal categories self energy illness process intersubjectivity Mahayana Buddhism contact narrative recovered making sense recursive loop perception dynamical decompensation neurology diagnosis empathy treatment management neurophenomenological neurophenomenology consciousness veracity agency multidimensional interdisciplinary category theory enculturation mathematisation of phenomenology interview nomenclature diagnostic criteria incidence prevalence coping strategy etiology epidemiology psychosomatic medicine meaning women girl female anthropology sociology cognitive behavioral therapy exercise therapy recovery mindful awareness suffering symbolisation Prasangika no-self aggregates wheel of karma cognition basic element analysis mental factors operational closure stereotypes enactive ontologically fragile self grief process-knowledge epoche phenomenal invariants textual invariants compound meaning saturation formalisation cluster analysis inter-session review inter-individual validation explicitation interview intricacy confidence psychophenomenology self-esteem sanction self dis-integration permanence continuity ego-self emotion surrender semiotic square meditation empathy semiotic compassion existential feelings goal obstruction movement transformation change somatic Giovanna Colombetti agoraphobia panic anxiety psychotherapy sleep rest pain weakness strength stamina Diego Cosmelli heaviness food chemicals allergy recovering despair frustration helplessness fear efference valence afference as-if-body-loop consciousness representation attention recovery intention sustainable sustainability neurasthenia existential feelings asthenia hysteria mononucleosis samatha-vispasnya prajna vijnana Eugene Gendlin Abhidharma dukkha shamatha interdependence vipashyana

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