I denna uppsats behandlar vi ämnen som relationer, emotioner och sociala band som är baserar på verksamheter inom vården i Västra Götalandsregionen. Vi har undersökt hur man som sjuksköterska, undersköterska och läkare förhåller sig till patienter som är dödligt sjuka på ett professionellt och medmänskligt sätt. Vi vill belysa hur sjuksköterska, undersköterska och läkaren hanterar eventuella svåra emotioner i mötet med sjuka patienter. Ytterligare en aspekt på vår studie är förhållandet mellan individ och gruppnivå i dessa yrken samt hur stödet mellan kollegorna ser ut när det gäller ventilering av emotioner. Vi har även studerat hur arbetsliv och privatliv interagerar med vartannat i detta fall. Vi har undersökt området genom åtta kvalitativa intervjuer med individer som arbetar med människor som är dödligt sjuka inom vården. Vi har använt oss av den hermeneutiska ansatsen vilket innebär att vårt förhållningssätt att tolkning och förståelse snarare än att etablera sanningar. Detta innebär att de resultat och reflektioner som vi grundar vår studie på är baserade på det empiriska material vi har fått genom intervjuerna. Alla svar är grundade på informanters egna upplevelser, tankar och emotioner. Genom våra semi-strukturerade intervjuer har vi sedan analyserat dessa utifrån följande teorier: Skam och stolthet av Thomas Scheff, Rolltagande av Erving Goffman, Hänsynsemotionssystemet av Thomas Scheff, Yt och djupagerande av Arlie Hochschild, Emotionellt arbete av Arlie Hochschild och Över och under differentiering av Tomas Scheff. Resultatet av vår studie visar att yrkesroll och privatpersonen är svåra att särskilja för de som arbetar inom vården i mötet med döende patienter. Enligt vår studie blir det extra svårt för exempelvis en onkolog att distansera sig till patienten om denne har blivit behandlad av läkaren under en längre period. Studien visar också att stödet bland kollegorna är väldigt viktigt där kollegorna över lag känner en stor samhörighet, bland annat genom att de ventilerar negativa känslor och erfarenheter i sina arbeten. Oftast kommer man patienten för nära emotionellt men i vissa sammanhang kan det också vara svårt att inte ha en för stor del distans till patienten om man exempelvis nyligen har börjat behandla denne. Det har visat sig att vissa patienter gör mindre intryck på vårdpersonalen även om man har träffat denne under flera år. Differentieringen och relationen till patienten beror också på personkemi samt hur personliga läkare och patienter är gentemot varandra. / In this paper we threat topics such as relationships, emotions, and social ties that are based on activities in health care in the Västra Götaland region. We have examined how nurses’ and a doctor relate to patients who are terminally ill in a professional and humane manner. We want to illustrate how nurses’ and the doctor handle any difficult emotion when meeting patients. Another aspect of our study is the relationship between the individual and group levels in these professions and how the support of their colleagues will look like when it comes to venting of emotions. We have also studied how the workplace and the private life interact with each other in this case. We have investigated the field by eight qualitative interviews with individuals who work with people who are terminally ill in hospitals. We made use of the hermeneutic approach, which means that our approach to interpreting and understanding rather than establishing truths. This means that the findings and reflections that we base on our study on are based on the empirical material we have received through the interviews. All answers are based on informants’ own experiences, thoughts and emotions. Through our semi-structured interviews, we then analyzed them based on the following theories: Shame and pride by Thomas Scheff, Role-taking by Erving Goffman, The deference-emotion system by Thomas Scheff, Surface- and deep acting by Arlie Hochschild , Emotional labour by Arlie Hochschild and Over- and under differentiation by Thomas Scheff . The results of our study show that the role and the private person are difficult to distinguish for those working in health care in the face of dying patients. According to our study, it is especially difficult for example; an oncologist to distance himself or herself to the patient if the doctor has treated him or her for a longer period. The study also shows that support among colleagues is very important and that colleagues generally feel a great affinity, including through venting negative feelings and experiences in their jobs. Most often the doctor gets too close emotionally to the patient but in some contexts it may also be hard not to have too large distance to the patient if, for example he or she recently have begun to treat the patient. It has been shown that some patients make less impression on the nursing staff even if they 've met them several years. The differentiation and relationship with the patient also depends on personal chemistry and how personal physicians and patients are to each other.

Inferring Genetic Regulatory Networks (GRN) from multiple data sources is a fundamental problem in computational biology. Computational models for GRN range from simple Boolean networks to stochastic differential equations. To successfully model GRN, a computational method has to be scalable and capable of integrating different biological data sources effectively and homogeneously. In this thesis, we introduce a novel method to model GRN using Cost-Based Abduction (CBA) and study the relation between CBA and Bayesian inference. CBA is an important AI formalism for reasoning under uncertainty that can integrate different biological data sources effectively. We use three different yeast genome data sources—protein-DNA, protein-protein, and knock-out data—to build a skeleton (unannotated) graph which acts as a theory to build a CBA system. The Least Cost Proof (LCP) for the CBA system fully annotates the skeleton graph to represent the learned GRN. Our results show that CBA is a promising tool in computational biology in general and in GRN modeling in particular because CBA knowledge representation can intrinsically implement the AND/OR logic in GRN while enforcing cis-regulatory logic constraints effectively, allowing the method to operate on a genome-wide scale.Besides allowing us to successfully learn yeast pathways such as the pheromone pathway, our method is scalable enough to analyze the full yeast genome in a single CBA instance, without sub-networking. The scalability power of our method comes from the fact that our CBA model size grows in a quadratic, rather than exponential, manner with respect to data size and path length. We also introduce a new algorithm to convert CBA into an equivalent binary linear program that computes the exact LCP for the CBA system, thus reaching the optimal solution. Our work establishes a framework to solve Bayesian networks using integer linear programming and high order recurrent neural networks through CBA as an intermediate representation.

AIM Poor iron status and under–nutrition among children are of concern not only in South Africa but worldwide. Both independent and combined associations between poor iron status, under–nutrition and cognitive development and function have been investigated. This mini–dissertation investigated possible associations between iron status indicators, anthropometric nutritional status and cognitive performance in the Beverage Fortified with Micronutrients (BeForMi) study population (black South African children aged 6–11 years in the North–West province of South Africa). METHODS The study was cross–sectional and based on the BeForMi study baseline data. Primary school children (n = 414) with the highest serum transferrin receptor (STR) and zinc protoporphyrin (ZnPP) levels were included. Anthropometric z–scores - BMI–for–age (BAZ), height–for–age (HAZ), and weight–for–age (WAZ) - and iron status indicators - haemoglobin (Hb), serum ferritin (SF), STR and ZnPP - were determined. The Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children, Second edition (KABC–II) was used to generate cognitive scores. RESULTS Fourteen percent of children were underweight (WAZ <= 2 SDs), 12.8% stunted (HAZ <= 2 SDs) and 8.4% wasted (BAZ <= 2 SDs). Of the children, 7.1% were anaemic (Hb < 11.5 g/dL), 13% iron depleted (Hb < 11.5 g/dL and SF < 12 ug/L) and 2.7% had iron deficiency anaemia (Hb < 11.5 g/dL and SF < 12 ug/L). Low iron stores (SF < 12 ug/L) were observed in 15.7% of the children. Positive correlations were found between SF and WAZ (r = 0.1, p = 0.047), Hb and HAZ (r = 0.13, p = 0.007) and WAZ (r = 0.13, p = 0.009). Positive correlations with small effect sizes were observed between some cognitive scores and z–scores (p < 0.05, r–value range 0.10 – 0.24). Negative correlations with small effect sizes were observed for the subtests Triangles and Rover (both subtests on simultaneous processing) with Hb (p = 0.008, r = –0.13) and SF (p = 0.04, r = –0.1) respectively. Higher HAZ, WAZ and education level of the head of household were all significantly associated with the likelihood that a child would fall within the upper quartile of Hb values in our study group (p = 0.036, p = 0.032 and p = 0.036 respectively). CONCLUSION The results suggested that under–nutrition was positively associated with poor iron status and lower cognitive scores in this study population. Further research, investigating specific effects of poor iron status at different stages of growth and the relationship with cognitive function later in life may help explain the negative correlations observed between current iron status indicators and cognitive scores. / Thesis (M.Sc (Dietetics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

As building transcribed speech corpora for under–resourced languages plays a pivotal role in developing automatic speech recognition (ASR) technologies for such languages, a key step in developing these technologies is the effective collection of ASR data, consisting of transcribed audio and associated meta data. The problem is that no suitable tool currently exists for effectively collecting ASR data for such languages. The specific context and requirements for effectively collecting ASR data for underresourced languages, render all currently known solutions unsuitable for such a task. Such requirements include portability, Internet independence and an open–source code–base. This work documents the development of such a tool, called Woefzela, from the determination of the requirements necessary for effective data collection in this context, to the verification and validation of its functionality. The study demonstrates the effectiveness of using smartphones without any Internet connectivity for ASR data collection for under–resourced languages. It introduces a semireal– time quality control philosophy which increases the amount of usable ASR data collected from speakers. Woefzela was developed for the Android Operating System, and is freely available for use on Android smartphones, with its source code also being made available. A total of more than 790 hours of ASR data for the eleven official languages of South Africa have been successfully collected with Woefzela. As part of this study a benchmark for the performance of a new National Centre for Human Language Technology (NCHLT) English corpus was established. / Thesis (M.Ing. (Electrical Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

AIM Poor iron status and under–nutrition among children are of concern not only in South Africa but worldwide. Both independent and combined associations between poor iron status, under–nutrition and cognitive development and function have been investigated. This mini–dissertation investigated possible associations between iron status indicators, anthropometric nutritional status and cognitive performance in the Beverage Fortified with Micronutrients (BeForMi) study population (black South African children aged 6–11 years in the North–West province of South Africa). METHODS The study was cross–sectional and based on the BeForMi study baseline data. Primary school children (n = 414) with the highest serum transferrin receptor (STR) and zinc protoporphyrin (ZnPP) levels were included. Anthropometric z–scores - BMI–for–age (BAZ), height–for–age (HAZ), and weight–for–age (WAZ) - and iron status indicators - haemoglobin (Hb), serum ferritin (SF), STR and ZnPP - were determined. The Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children, Second edition (KABC–II) was used to generate cognitive scores. RESULTS Fourteen percent of children were underweight (WAZ <= 2 SDs), 12.8% stunted (HAZ <= 2 SDs) and 8.4% wasted (BAZ <= 2 SDs). Of the children, 7.1% were anaemic (Hb < 11.5 g/dL), 13% iron depleted (Hb < 11.5 g/dL and SF < 12 ug/L) and 2.7% had iron deficiency anaemia (Hb < 11.5 g/dL and SF < 12 ug/L). Low iron stores (SF < 12 ug/L) were observed in 15.7% of the children. Positive correlations were found between SF and WAZ (r = 0.1, p = 0.047), Hb and HAZ (r = 0.13, p = 0.007) and WAZ (r = 0.13, p = 0.009). Positive correlations with small effect sizes were observed between some cognitive scores and z–scores (p < 0.05, r–value range 0.10 – 0.24). Negative correlations with small effect sizes were observed for the subtests Triangles and Rover (both subtests on simultaneous processing) with Hb (p = 0.008, r = –0.13) and SF (p = 0.04, r = –0.1) respectively. Higher HAZ, WAZ and education level of the head of household were all significantly associated with the likelihood that a child would fall within the upper quartile of Hb values in our study group (p = 0.036, p = 0.032 and p = 0.036 respectively). CONCLUSION The results suggested that under–nutrition was positively associated with poor iron status and lower cognitive scores in this study population. Further research, investigating specific effects of poor iron status at different stages of growth and the relationship with cognitive function later in life may help explain the negative correlations observed between current iron status indicators and cognitive scores. / Thesis (M.Sc (Dietetics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

As building transcribed speech corpora for under–resourced languages plays a pivotal role in developing automatic speech recognition (ASR) technologies for such languages, a key step in developing these technologies is the effective collection of ASR data, consisting of transcribed audio and associated meta data. The problem is that no suitable tool currently exists for effectively collecting ASR data for such languages. The specific context and requirements for effectively collecting ASR data for underresourced languages, render all currently known solutions unsuitable for such a task. Such requirements include portability, Internet independence and an open–source code–base. This work documents the development of such a tool, called Woefzela, from the determination of the requirements necessary for effective data collection in this context, to the verification and validation of its functionality. The study demonstrates the effectiveness of using smartphones without any Internet connectivity for ASR data collection for under–resourced languages. It introduces a semireal– time quality control philosophy which increases the amount of usable ASR data collected from speakers. Woefzela was developed for the Android Operating System, and is freely available for use on Android smartphones, with its source code also being made available. A total of more than 790 hours of ASR data for the eleven official languages of South Africa have been successfully collected with Woefzela. As part of this study a benchmark for the performance of a new National Centre for Human Language Technology (NCHLT) English corpus was established. / Thesis (M.Ing. (Electrical Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

The aim of the study is to investigate how clinicians in psychiatric care for adults consider borderline personality disorder to be manifested in men and women, respectively. Could there be a tendency to over-diagnose women and under-diagnose men? In addition, the purpose of the study is to bring clarity to the reasons for gender differences within borderline personality as perceived by the clinicians. The study is based on an inductive approach, in which interviews have been conducted with twelve clinicians working with borderline personality disorders to gain a deeper understanding of how the clinicians consider the manifestations of gender differences. The clinicians described tendencies for women to deliberate self-harm, have mood swings and problems in relations. Men with borderline personality disorders are described as having a higher degree of e.g. aggressiveness, addiction and criminal behaviour than women with the same diagnosis. Half of the informants think men are under- diagnosed for borderline personality disorders. This may indicate that other diagnoses are given to men instead or that men end up in other treatments. Possible explanations to the gender differences are discussed, such as societal factors, gender roles or criteria for diagnosis based on gender.

No description available.

The problem of under-utilized spaces has become an important problem of cities during the last decades. In rapidly urbanizing cities, especially in the city centers where the early city settlement or old town was situated, many urban and industrial functions have moved out leaving behind abandoned or under-utilized. These spaces, due to political, economical, cultural and spatial reasons, could neither undergo healthy urban transformation process nor be reused. Such spaces pose problems to contemporary urban planning and architecture. This thesis takes up the problem of under-utilized space exemplified in the inner city of Ankara, where a large stock of land is public property. The thesis defines the problem of under-utilized space and analyzes the causes for their emergence. The aim of the study is to understand the urban character of under-utilized part of the old industrial district, which is one of the most important districts in the city center of Ankara, and develop urban transformation approaches in particular for the old industrial district as well as for similar urban areas. The thesis focuses on the urban design dimension of transformation process. Urban design as a public policy makes important contributions in solving urban problems. The thesis develops some urban design principles in accordance with some spatial, functional and social concerns in order to redevelop the old industrial district. With this contribution the study emphasizes the importance of urban design as a tool which can be utilized in the urban transformation process by urban planners and architects.

Systems are becoming more complicated, complex, and interrelated. Designers have recognized the need to develop systems from a holistic perspective and design them as Systems-of-Systems (SoS). The design of the SoS, especially in the conceptual design phase, is generally characterized by significant uncertainty. As a result, it is possible for all three types of uncertainty (aleatory, epistemic, and error) and the associated factors of uncertainty (randomness, sampling, confusion, conflict, inaccuracy, ambiguity, vagueness, coarseness, and simplification) to affect the design process. While there are a number of existing SoS design methods, several gaps have been identified: the ability to modeling all of the factors of uncertainty at varying levels of knowledge; the ability to consider both the pernicious and propitious aspects of uncertainty; and, the ability to determine the value of reducing the uncertainty in the design process. While there are numerous uncertainty modeling theories, no one theory can effectively model every kind of uncertainty. This research presents a Hybrid Uncertainty Modeling Method (HUMM) that integrates techniques from the following theories: Probability Theory, Evidence Theory, Fuzzy Set Theory, and Info-Gap theory. The HUMM is capable of modeling all of the different factors of uncertainty and can model the uncertainty for multiple levels of knowledge. In the design process, there are both pernicious and propitious characteristics associated with the uncertainty. Existing design methods typically focus on developing robust designs that are insensitive to the associated uncertainty. These methods do not capitalize on the possibility of maximizing the potential benefit associated with the uncertainty. This research demonstrates how these deficiencies can be overcome by identifying the most robust and opportunistic design. In a design process it is possible that the most robust and opportunistic design will not be selected from the set of potential design alternatives due to the related uncertainty. This research presents a process called the Value of Reducing Uncertainty Method (VRUM) that can determine the value associated with reducing the uncertainty in the design problem before a final decision is made by utilizing two concepts: the Expected Value of Reducing Uncertainty (EVRU) and the Expected Cost to Reducing Uncertainty (ECRU).