Proefschrift Universiteit Maastricht. / Met bibliogr., lit. opg. - Met samenvatting in het Nederlands.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 1999. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 275-283). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.

The effect of sustained Gz acceleration ("high G") upon endocrine function has been investigated in man using a human centrifuge. Five male volunteers were exposed to accelerations of up to 6Gz for one minute without G protection. No effect of acceleration was observed on the peripheral blood levels of growth hormone, prolactin, thyrotropin and the gonadotrophins. In contrast, cortisol levels increased in a "dose-related" manner following acceleration i.e. the higher the acceleration, the greater the response. The unusual specificity of these endocrine changes is discussed. In a second experiment on the same subjects exposed to 6Gz for one minute, the modification of this cortisol response by two methods of G protection, the anti-G suit and the reclined seat, was investigated. Noradrenaline, adrenaline and arginine vasopressin were also measured and shown to increase rapidly after acceleration. These endocrine changes were all reduced by the anti-G suit but reductions were not clearly observed with seat reclination until an angle of 80° from the vertical was reached. The mechanisms underlying the release of these hormones are discussed in terms of the circulatory disturbances produced by acceleration. Finally, the endocrine effects of positive pressure breathing (PPB), with and without counterpressure (CP) have been compared with the use of an anti-G suit alone in subjects exposed to +6Gz for one minute. Arterial oxygen saturation (SaO[2]) was monitored continuously by ear oximetry. SAO[2] fell during +Gz acceleration with only anti-G suit protection but this was ameliorated significantly by PPB. Further benefit was obtained with CP. No differences in endocrine responses were observed between these three conditions which suggested that hypoxia was not the stimulus for hormonal responses to high G. This assertion was confirmed by the failure of hypoxia, induced by breathing a gas mixture of low oxygen content, to induce hormonal changes in the subjects.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:26:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2009-09-14Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:54:34Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 paiva_sb_me_mar.pdf: 406127 bytes, checksum: 9965bbaab7224e923a3cedcf24b941b4 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Investigamos em que medida as ações de mediação da informação e de leitura podem influenciar na aceitação de novos suportes de informação por parte dos idosos. Este foi um dos pressupostos tratados por esta pesquisa. Para tanto foi discutido a forma como o sujeito conhece e como interage com o mundo. Assim, percebemos a construção de conceitos acerca dos sujeitos, neste caso, os idosos e como eles podem ter sua vida influenciada pela reconstrução do seu papel social. A leitura e as ações de mediação perpassam por todos os contextos descritos na pesquisa, assegurando que, independente do suporte informacional, é a ação do sujeito que determina o papel do suporte no grupo e na comunidade. Assim, entendemos que os suportes atuam como atratores iniciais, mas que são suprimidos pelos processos criativos que emergem a partir da ação coletiva dos sujeitos / We investigate to what extent the actions of mediation of information and reading can influence the acceptance of new media information to the elderly. This was one of the conditions treated by this research. Thus, we discussed how the subject knows and how it interacts with the world. Thus, we see the construction of concepts about the subject, in this case, the elderly and how they can have their lives affected by the reconstruction of its social role. Reading and the actions of mediation permeate all the contexts described in the research, ensuring that regardless of informational support, is the individual's action that determines the role of the support group and community. Thus, we believe that the media act as attractors stages, but are suppressed by the creative processes that emerge from the collective action of individuals

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The Child Support Grant was introduced to address poverty alleviation in the sense of supplementing the provision of basic needs of children. When the grant was initiated it catered for children under the age of seven, and is currently assisting children up until 18 years of age. Even though the children are supposed to be benefitting from the grants, reports from social workers and selected research findings question whether some children do indeed receive the benefits of the grant. Previous studies have predominantly focused on the experiences of caregivers/beneficiaries. The goal of this exploratory-descriptive study was to explore and describe selected social workers’ experiences regarding the utilization of the child support grant by beneficiaries. The population comprised of social workers who have two years of experience working with families receiving the Child Support Grant and who work for the Department of Social Development and Special Programmes, Afrikaanse Christelike Vroue VerenIging, and Child Welfare South Africa in Somerset East.

The purpose of this study has been to review desertion legislation; and to examine social work participation in the administration of desertion laws. The key question posed is: Does legislation work in dealing with cases of desertion? In order to gather answers to the key question, pertinent legislation is reviewed. Included is: (a) The Canadian Criminal Code; (b) maintenance legislation of the provinces of Ontario, Saskatchewan and British Columbia; (c) common law remedies; and (d) certain English and American laws which pertain to desertion. To gain an understanding of the policies and problems of administering desertion legislation, interviews were held with those who are working daily with eases of desertion and non-support. Interviewed were; Judges of the Family Court, Magistrates, police, probation officers, provincial and municipal social welfare administrators, and social workers. The Family Court is the acknowledge authority in dealing with problems of desertion. Because of this, its policies were used as a guide in reviewing the procedures followed by other social welfare agencies throughout British Columbia. This study suggests that; (a) certain minor revisions would strengthen the British Columbia Wives' and Children's Maintenance Act; (b) desertion Is as much a social problem as a legal problem; (c) social workers would be well advised to consider taking a more active part in court cases involving desertion; (d) in the final analysis a man cannot be forced to support his dependents if he wilfully refuses; and (e) skillful social work help can assist many deserters to assume their maintenance responsibilities. / Arts, Faculty of / Social Work, School of / Graduate

Context: Rectal cancer treatment decisions involve tradeoffs between outcomes like living with a permanent stoma versus long-term bowel dysfunction. The needs of rectal cancer patients and practitioners to partake in shared decision making are unknown. For such a complex decision, a patient decision aid that prepares patients to make informed, values-based decisions is warranted. Methods: 1) A systematic review, to characterize the prevalence of long-term dysfunction 2) Needs assessments, conducted with rectal cancer patients and practitioners, 3) Development of a decision aid. Results: 1) Significant variability exists in reporting rectal cancer outcomes. The rate of bowel dysfunction is high. 2) Rectal cancer patients recall little of the outcomes discussed preoperatively. They do not perceive having any surgical options. Practitioners are inconsistently engaging patients in shared decision-making. 3) A patient decision aid was developed that a) incorporated systematic review results and; b) addressed the needs, barriers and facilitators raised. Conclusions: Shared decision-making in rectal cancer surgery is limited. A decision aid to improve patient decision-making was developed.

A mini dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Education in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Environmental Education In the Mathematics, Science & Technology Education Department at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2008. / The study sought to explore the impact that exemplary curriculum materials called "We Care" had made on the classroom practice of the recipients, namely educators in rural areas. It also explored the ways in which the recipients put the materials to use. The materials in question introduced the educators to the practice of integrating Environmental Education (EE) into the teaching of the Natural Sciences. The materials also provided suggestions with regard to learner-centred actrvrty-based ideas for learning programme development Teaching experiences of educators using "We Care" were recorded mainly by means of videotaped lessons, which were transcribed and analyzed. Results showed that all the educators found the materials informative and interesting to use. "We Care" materials generated collegiality among the educators and inspired them to work together and share ideas. Analysis of the videotaped lessons, however, revealed that the participants often lacked adequate content to explain science concepts clearly. Group work was also handled poorly, with the result that the objectives of group activities were not being achieved. A general weakness in handling the outcomes-based approach was evident, despite the participants' expressed conviction that "We Care" had helped them to demystify OBE. The study's value manifested in the identification of good practice among the participants and in the opportunity that it provided to discuss exemplary practice.