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<p>The aim of this explorative study was to understand the experiences and challenges of primary caregivers providing palliative care to women with advanced breast cancer. This study was conducted within a qualitative research design framework underpinned by phenomenology. The significance of this study was to contribute to the knowledge that would help care professionals understand the experiences and challenges that primary caregivers face whilst providing palliative care to women with advanced breast cancer.</p>

<p>The aim of this study was to determine how effective a chewing gum regime is in treating the common minor complaints of third molar surgery. The efficacy of a six-day chewing gum regimen in reducing pain, swelling and trismus after third molar surgery was compared to no chewing gum therapy. Third molar surgery is an important part of any maxillofacial surgery practice. There is an ongoing quest to find new and innovative methods to treat the minor complaints of this procedure.</p>

Anaerobic co-digestion of organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW), with thickened waste activated sludge (TWAS) and primary sludge (PS) has the potential to enhance (biodegradation) of solid waste, increase longevity of existing landfills and lead to more sustainable development by improving waste to energy production. This study reports on mesophilic batch anaerobic biological methane potential (BMP) assays carried out with different concentrations and combinations (ratios) of OFMSW, TWAS (microwave (MW) pre-treated and untreated) and PS to assess digester stability and potential improved specific biodegradability and potential increased specific biogas production by digestion of OFMSW with PS and TWAS in various tri-substrate mixtures. Results indicated improvements in specific biogas production with concomitant improvements in COD and volatile solid (VS) removal for co-digestion of OMSW, TWAS and PS vs. controls. In terms of improvements in biogas production and digester stability the OFMSW:TWAS:PS:50:25:25 ratio with or without TWAS MW treatment was deemed best for further continuous digester studies. At a 15d HRT which is the regulatory policy in the province of Ontario for municipal mesophilic anaerobic TWAS:PS treatment, co-digestion of OFMSW:TWAS:PS, and OFMSW:TWASMW:PS resulted in a 1.38 and 1.46 fold relative improvement in biogas production and concomitant waste stabilization when compared to TWAS:PS and TWASMW:PS digestion at the same HRT and volumetric VS loading rate respectively. Treatment of OFMSW with PS and TWAS provides beneficial effects that could be exploited at MWWTP that are being operated at loading rates less than design capacity.

The thesis investigates the dynamics that surround participants' responses to questions about illicit drug activities. By examining the attributional and discursive literatures, the opening chapters (Chapters 1 and 2) outline the difficulties associated with assuming veridicality in question-answer dyads. Emphasis is placed on the essentially social and intentional foundations of the applied research procedure. The existing research on methodological effects in substance research is outlined at the start of Chapter 3. These form the foundation for the empirical investigations that constitute the remainder of the thesis. The studies carried out attempt to examine methodological issues in the context of applied research procedures that combine quantitative outcomes with qualitative considerations such as reflexive consideration of the role of the researcher and the status of the participant. The first investigation demonstrates the influence of treatment status on the discourse provided by adult substance users. Drug users in contact with treatment services provide drug-related explanations distinct from those given by users who are not in treatment. This distinction is assessed in terms of a theoretical model of addiction based on discursive criteria and contextual influence (Chapter 4). These contextual influences are further examined in the empirical studies presented in Chapters 4 and 5 in which the subjects are young people whose drug experiences are assessed in the context of drug education (Chapter 5) and treatment and service needs (Chapter 6). Each of these investigations attempts to demonstrate the sophistication of discourse that respondents exhibit in their drug-related conversations and the ways in which their attitudes and understandings of these topics are shaped by the context of the experiences they have had.

Hypersol-Macronet™ polymers have been evaluated for the adsorption of organic pollutants from aqueous solution. The adsorption performance of the polymers was compared with a commercial activated carbon, Chemviron F -400. Investigation into the physical structure of the adsorbents was performed using microscopy and the adsorption of nitrogen at liquid nitrogen temperatures. A critical analysis of the adsorption isotherm data reduction models is given. The polymers possess a bimodal pore size distribution of micropores, approximately l3A in diameter, and macropores, greater than 200A. The surface functionality of the Macronets, determined by diffuse reflectance IR, 13C NMR and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, is presented. Elemental analysis and direct titration techniques were also investigated. Relatively high concentrations of oxygen containing functional groups were observed on the polymers, attributed to ethers, alcohols and ketones formed during polymer production. Adsorption isotherms are given for the removal of phenol and three chlorophenols substituted in the ortho, meta and para position. The greater hydrophobicity of the chlorinated phenols resulted in stronger interaction energies and larger adsorption capacities. Batch kinetic data for the above adsorbates was modelled using the homogeneous surface diffusion correlations. Analytical techniques were developed and validated for the determination of trace levels (0.1 parts per billion) of five pesticides; atrazine, simazine, isoproturon, diuron and chlorotoluron. Single and multi-component adsorption isotherms are presented for trace concentrations of pesticides in aqueous solution. Mini-column breakthrough curves are presented for MN-200 and F-400. Selectivity of the polymers for the various pesticides was explained by differences in molecular size and the hydrophobicity of the adsorbates. The primary adsorption mechanism is hydrophobic interaction enhanced by hydrogen bonding. The negative influence of natural organic matter (NOM) on the removal of pesticides was investigated using batch and column techniques. The uptake of NOM on activated carbon is much greater than that on MN-200. Total regeneration ofMN-200 using a variety of organic solvents was achieved for high and low solid phase concentrations of pesticides. Regeneration of F-400 was ineffective. The breakthrough point of a regenerated mini-column containing MN-200 was identical to the virgin polymer data. The potential commercial application of the resin for the purification of drinking water is discussed.

Rapid gravity filters used in the treatment of drinking water are subject to small continuously occurring flow rate fluctuations known as surges. Large, step changes in the rate of flow have been shown to have a detrimental effect on filtrate quality. However, less is known about the effects of surging flow on rapid filter performance. Measurements by previous researchers have found that surges from 2 to 10 % of the flow rate are common and can occur as many as one hundred times per minute. It has been suggested that surging may significantly influence rapid filter performance but the effect has yet to be confirmed under well-controlled conditions and the mechanisms critically examined. Measurements taken by this author at local water treatment plants confirmed the presence of surging flow in the rapid gravity filters of a similar nature to other researchers' findings. Evidence suggested the degree of surging present was related to the design of the filtrate piping and some design recommendations are made on this basis. Two rapid gravity filters were developed in the laboratory to investigate the influence of surging flow on filter performance. The filters were constructed from Perspex pipe and comprised 600 mm of 0.5 to 1.0 mm filter sand. The filters were operated at 30°C at an approach velocity of 8.0 metres per hour with a test suspension of PVC particles. Reproducible performance was established before applying surges to one filter only. A range of surging characteristics similar to those observed at full-scale plants was applied during the test programme. Measurements of head loss and turbidity were taken at a range of depths within the filter media periodically during each test. Samples were collected for particle size distribution analysis from selected tests. The surging flow was found to inhibit the performance of the laboratory filters. The fluctuations in flow rate were found to reduce the removal efficiency of turbidity' and retard the rate of head loss development. The surges were found to inhibit the removal of all particle sizes present in the test suspension. The magnitude of the effect on filter performance was found to be dependent on the magnitude and frequency of occurrence of the surges applied. The experimental results obtained suggest that surging does have an effect on full- scale rapid filter performance and has implications for drinking water quality.