The aims of this study was to examine the perceived transition demands, resources, barriers, coping strategies, and consequences for two cases of transition, one successful and one unsuccessful transition – from junior to senior level in swimming. A qualitative study was executed on two swimmers from southern of Sweden. The instrument was a semi structured interview guide with the Sport Transition Career model as framework. The results showed that the athlete copes better with a balance between resources and demands exist and has a successful transition from junior to senior level. An unsuccessful transition were more likely to occur when the athlete had poor resources (internal and external), and the intervention with a therapist became ineffective. A further study is needed to find out if there are differences between the resources and the demands and the coping skills between female and male athletes.

This qualitative study investigated the experiences of family caregivers who cared for a stroke survivor throughout weekend passes from an in-patient rehabilitation facility. Following a Husserlian phenomenological perspective, I interviewed 15 family caregivers of stroke survivors on two separate occasions: within one week after their first scheduled weekend pass, and again two weeks after their final transition home. Interviews followed a semi-structured interview guide, and were audio recorded. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using the principles outlined by Giorgi (1997). Analysis of the caregivers’ descriptions of their experiences led to five themes: (i) Caregivers feel overwhelmed throughout the weekend pass, (ii) Access to supportive resources influences caregiving experiences, (iii) Caregivers adjust to the weekend pass throughout its subsequent use, (iv) Caregivers feel a responsibility and a need to be included by health professionals in the care of their family stroke survivor, and (v) Caregivers describe the weekend pass as a means towards recovery. This study has implications for future health services. By appropriately training and supporting caregivers throughout the weekend pass health care professionals can increase the positive experiences of caregivers, and optimize the opportunity to prepare caregivers and stroke survivors for the eventual transition home.

This qualitative study investigated the experiences of family caregivers who cared for a stroke survivor throughout weekend passes from an in-patient rehabilitation facility. Following a Husserlian phenomenological perspective, I interviewed 15 family caregivers of stroke survivors on two separate occasions: within one week after their first scheduled weekend pass, and again two weeks after their final transition home. Interviews followed a semi-structured interview guide, and were audio recorded. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using the principles outlined by Giorgi (1997). Analysis of the caregivers’ descriptions of their experiences led to five themes: (i) Caregivers feel overwhelmed throughout the weekend pass, (ii) Access to supportive resources influences caregiving experiences, (iii) Caregivers adjust to the weekend pass throughout its subsequent use, (iv) Caregivers feel a responsibility and a need to be included by health professionals in the care of their family stroke survivor, and (v) Caregivers describe the weekend pass as a means towards recovery. This study has implications for future health services. By appropriately training and supporting caregivers throughout the weekend pass health care professionals can increase the positive experiences of caregivers, and optimize the opportunity to prepare caregivers and stroke survivors for the eventual transition home.

With the use of photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy one can able to get a great deal of information about electronic structure and optical processes in semiconductors by the aid of optical characterization. Among various compound semiconductors, Cadmium Sulfide (CdS) and Gallium Selenide (GaSe) are interesting materials for their PL emissions. Particularly, due to its strong anisotropy, investigation of GaSe necessitates new experimental approaches to the PL technique. We have designed, fabricated and used new experimental set-up for this purpose. In this thesis, we have investigated the PL spectra of both CdS and GaSe as a function of temperature. We observed interesting features in these samples. These features were analyzed experimentally and described by taking the band structure of the crystals into account. From the excitonic emissions, we determined the bandgap energy of both materials. We studied various peaks that appear in the PL spectra and their origin in the material. We have found that donor acceptor transitions are effective in CdS at low temperatures. A transition giving rise to a red emission was observed and attributed to a donor level which is likely to result form an S vacancy in CdS crystal. The PL peaks with energy close to the bandgap were observed in GaSe. These peak were attributed to the bound excitons connected either to the direct or indirect band edge of GaSe. The striking experimental finding in this work was the PL spectra of GaSe measured in different angular position with respect to the crystal axis. We observed that PL spectra exhibit substantial differences when the angular position of the laser beam and the detector is changed. The optical anisotropy which is responsible for these differences was measured experimentally and discussed by considering the selection rules of the band states of GaSe.

Poorly executed transitions between health care settings can lead to poor outcomes and greater use of health care resources for older adults. Older adults with complex needs often receive care from many health care providers in multiple care settings, and face greater risk of experiencing fragmented care. System navigation roles have been suggested as an innovative strategy to address these challenges, yet there is a lack of consensus on the desired characteristics and effectiveness of the role. The goal of this research is to develop a framework for a system navigation role to enhance coordination of formal and community-based services to older persons with chronic disease through health care transitions. This research gathered information from multiple perspectives and a variety of data sources, including a systematic literature review, focus group interviews and in-depth interviews with a variety of health care consumers and providers. A critical analysis of collected data, using a frame derived from content analysis, sought to understand how older adults navigate the health care system, and subsequently to explore the potential of a “system navigator” role to facilitate successful transitions across care settings. Finally, following a grounded theory approach, a model was empirically derived to reflect what role system navigators may have on the experience of older adults navigating the health care system in Waterloo Wellington. This research study aimed to describe optimal care coordination practices across the continuum of care for complex, high-risk individuals, such as those with chronic disease or hip fracture. Ultimately, this study may lead to improved patient care coordination, safety and satisfaction during transitions and in accessing community services, which may assist patients to achieve a higher quality of life.

Thèse de doctorat : Génie des matériaux : Villeurbanne, INSA : 2002. / Titre provenant de l'écran-titre. Bibliogr. p.144-150.

Reproduction de : Thèse de doctorat : Énergétique et transferts : Toulouse, INPT : 2006. / Titre provenant de l'écran-titre. Bibliogr. 45 réf.

Reproduction de : Thèse de doctorat : Physique : Metz : 1989. / Titre provenant de l'écran-titre. Notes bibliographiques. Index.

Reproduction de : Thèse de doctorat : Physique : Metz : 1985. / Titre provenant de l'écran-titre. Notes bibliographiques. Index.

Reproduction de : Thèse de doctorat : Génie des procédés et de l'environnement : Toulouse, INPT : 2008. / Titre provenant de l'écran-titre. Bibliogr. 140 réf.