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Experiences Of Women Before And After Bariatric Surgery, Janet Followell Jan 1995

Experiences Of Women Before And After Bariatric Surgery, Janet Followell

Other Faculty of Health Theses

Obesity has reached epidemic proportion in the United States. Results of diet, exercise regimens, and/or medications are discouraging for most individuals; therefore, bariatric surgery is on the rise. Patients undergoing bariatric surgery are overwhelmingly female. There is a plethora of research regarding improvement of co-morbidities, but little focus has been placed on the impact of bariatric surgery on positive as well as negative psychosocial outcomes. The purposes of this study were to explore experiences of women who have undergone bariatric surgery and to gain an understanding of the decision to have surgery. No qualitative research was found regarding individuals' life …

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Analysis Of The Impact Of East European Change Upon European Community And East European Liner Shipping, Gillian Deborah Ledger Jan 1995

Analysis Of The Impact Of East European Change Upon European Community And East European Liner Shipping, Gillian Deborah Ledger

Other Faculty of Science and Engineering Theses

In its attempt to analyse the impact of East European change upon the European Community and East European liner shipping industries this thesis covers an extensive range of highly topical subject areas. The wide range of non uniform information gleaned from the research and the question of spurious objectivity form the main arguments behind the use of qualitative rather than quantitative assessment throughout. The diverse study area also necessitated a narrowing to the case of Polish Ocean Lines' North Atlantic operations to enable a meaningful analysis to be carried out. The early part of the thesis examines the background to …

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The Distribution And Transport Of Suspended Sediment In The Southern North Sea, Timothy Julian Moffat Jan 1995

The Distribution And Transport Of Suspended Sediment In The Southern North Sea, Timothy Julian Moffat

Other Faculty of Science and Engineering Theses

Observational studies have been undertaken in the southern North Sea with the aims of describing the seasonal cycle of suspended sediments in three dimensions, and comparing the results with other measured physical and biological parameters in order to investigate some of the processes that control the distribution and transport of suspended sediments in shelf seas. A systematic investigation of the horizontal and vertical suspended sediment distributions, and the inorganic and organic components, over a period of fifteen months, has described major features, including a high turbidity region off the East Anglian coast, low turbidity regions in the northern and central …

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The Process Of Disclosure Of Childhood Sexual Abuse: Older Adult Women: A Pilot Study, Katrina Laydon-Walters Jan 1995

The Process Of Disclosure Of Childhood Sexual Abuse: Older Adult Women: A Pilot Study, Katrina Laydon-Walters

Other Faculty of Science and Engineering Theses

A pilot study was conducted in response to the paucity of research describing the disclosure of childhood sexual trauma for older adult women. This research sought to provide a tentative base for an understanding of the process of disclosure of childhood sexual abuse for older adult women through a descriptive, client centred approach. In-depth interviews were carried out with ten participants. These included an older adult survivor of childhood sexual abuse, six health and social service practitioners who had received disclosures, and three who strongly suspected their clients had been sexually abused as children. Qualitative analysis of verbatim transcripts of …

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Artificial Intelligence Techniques Applied To Automatic Ship Guidance, Neil A.J. Witt Jan 1995

Artificial Intelligence Techniques Applied To Automatic Ship Guidance, Neil A.J. Witt

Other Faculty of Science and Engineering Theses

It has been estimated that over eighty per cent of marine accidents have been caused by operator error. The skills of the operator in the handling of the vessel are variable and are subject to external influences. Over the past seventy years many advances have been made in the field of ship control. Early developments on proportional controllers have led to today's modern control systems which have interfacing capabilities with electronic navigation equipment. This research investigates traditional control methodologies and introduces the concept of applying artificial intelligence (AI) methods to the ship guidance problem. Research into AI techniques has been …

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Doublecloth: History, Technique, Possibilities., Diane Marjorie Bell Jan 1995

Doublecloth: History, Technique, Possibilities., Diane Marjorie Bell

Other Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business Theses

The aim of this research is to analyse through practical and historical investigation the manner in which Doublecloth in the twentieth century has been transformed from a traditional woven technique to one of artistic innovation and challenge. The first series of woven samples and historic enquiry concerns the structure and pattern of doublecloth at a time when its industrial and craft-based use was for the production of decorative and utilitarian woven fabrics. The research focuses on the extent to which this technique was given aesthetic credibility by its altered profile at the Bauhaus and the subsequent influence of the writings …

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The Learn To Travel Project: A Case Study Of Curriculum Innovation In Primary Schools, Peter Mason Jan 1995

The Learn To Travel Project: A Case Study Of Curriculum Innovation In Primary Schools, Peter Mason

Plymouth Institute of Education Theses

This thesis is a case study of curriculum innovation in the primary school at a time of major change during the introduction of the National Curriculum. It involved a small number of primary schools, teachers and children. In particular the processes and impacts of the innovation were investigated. Action research methodology (Carr and Kemmis, 1986 McNiff, 1988) was employed and teachers' plans, classroom activities and children's responses were analysed. The research informs us about the nature and effects of opportunities created and constraints imposed by the National Curriculum. The case study indicates that teachers responded to the innovation as if …

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Nurses' Attitudes And Nurse-Patient Interactions On A Paediatric Ward, Elizabeth Anne Curtis Jan 1995

Nurses' Attitudes And Nurse-Patient Interactions On A Paediatric Ward, Elizabeth Anne Curtis

School of Psychology Theses

Despite the potentially very significant role of nurses in mitigating against the negative effects of hospitalisation on children, the attitudes and behaviour of paediatric nurses towards patients have been largely ignored within the literature. This study, therefore, aimed to consider paediatric nurses' attitudes and their interactions with patients and, in particular, to investigate the relationship between these two variables. However, in contrast with similar studies in other specialties, nurses' attitudes and behaviour were considered at a general and individual patient level. A general attitude measure, the Paediatric Attitude Scale (PAS), was developed during the first part of the study and …

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Pilot Study For An "Emotion" Training Package For Adults With Asperger Syndrome, Nadine Solveig Hobro Jan 1995

Pilot Study For An "Emotion" Training Package For Adults With Asperger Syndrome, Nadine Solveig Hobro

School of Psychology Theses

Asperger Syndrome (AS) is considered to belong to the spectrum of autistic disorders. Although people with AS are more cognitively able than many others with autism, they share a number of traits including the social impairments identified by Wing and Gould ( 1979). Problems with processing emotional information may underlie some of these social impairments. Reported difficulties in this area include perceptual deficits which interfere with processing visual cues offered by others, difficulties in matching emotional signals across modalities (e.g. visual, auditory, and contextual), and lack of comprehension about affective information. The present study aimed to investigate the above emotional …

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Design Practice In The Uk Car Industry: How Coventry University Is Addressing The Needs, Aj Robotham, R Perks, Rm Jones, Gn Blount Jan 1995

Design Practice In The Uk Car Industry: How Coventry University Is Addressing The Needs, Aj Robotham, R Perks, Rm Jones, Gn Blount

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

This paper considers the needs of the UK car industry and identifies specific situations that have serious implications upon design practice. The response at Coventry University to these needs is discussed and our PAKTS model for Design Education introduced.

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European Capital Structures And The Macroeconomic, Corporate And Taxation Environments, Jonathan Paul Tucker Jan 1995

European Capital Structures And The Macroeconomic, Corporate And Taxation Environments, Jonathan Paul Tucker

Plymouth Business School Theses

The objective of this thesis is to determine whether European firms exhibit firmspecific optimal capital structure solutions. If the capital structure of the firm is irrelevant then the finance manager should concentrate upon the maximisation of the returns from the firm's investment projects alone. Alternatively, if the capital structure is relevant then the finance manager should strive to attain the capital structure which minimises the cost of capital to the firm, and thus maximises the value of the firm. The firm is positioned within three environments: the macroeconomic environment, the taxation environment and the corporate environment, and it is with …

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Optimisation Models For Corporate Taxation In Capital Budgeting, Suzanne Victoria Farrar Jan 1995

Optimisation Models For Corporate Taxation In Capital Budgeting, Suzanne Victoria Farrar

Plymouth Business School Theses

In this study, mathematical programming models are developed which aim to determine simultaneously the optimum combination of investment decisions, financing methods and tax strategy for capital budgeting, taking into account tax-induced interactions between cash flows. The tax treatment of finance leases and the corporate group tax relief provisions are included. Shareholder risk considerations are taken into account in deriving an appropriate discount rate, using an iterative procedure based on the Capital Asset Pricing Model. The commercial mathematical programming software XPRESS-MP is utilised to achieve operational use of the models in complex tax situations. A mathematical analysis of certain patterns of …

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A Model Based Approach To The Design And Implementation Of Computer Aided Production Management Systems, Adam Matthew Weaver Jan 1995

A Model Based Approach To The Design And Implementation Of Computer Aided Production Management Systems, Adam Matthew Weaver

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics Theses

This work investigated the use of generic models in the early stages of the design and implementation of computer aided production management (CAPM) systems. A set of issues that affect the success of such CAPM systems was identified, using information obtained from literature and observations made by the author during an in-depth case study of the design and implementation of a CAPM system. The set of issues included the failure of many manufacturing companies to take a systemic perspective of CAPM and the importance of developing a thorough understanding of existing systems and how these systems are currently integrated. Requirements …

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An Evaluation Of The Mental Health Of Pre- And Post-Operative Coronary Artery Bypass Patients, Belinda Hacking Jan 1995

An Evaluation Of The Mental Health Of Pre- And Post-Operative Coronary Artery Bypass Patients, Belinda Hacking

School of Psychology Theses

Coronary artery disease and bypass surgery can have a major impact on many aspects of patients' lives. A substantial proportion of cardiac patients experience high levels of psychological morbidity and in many cases, this is not closely related to physical symptoms. From the current evidence it is not yet possible to reliably identify the factors that contribute to the development of patients' poor mental health. In this investigation, a detailed description of patients' social, psychological and medical history was gained both before and after surgery. Having had distressing experiences in the Intensive Care Unit was highly correlated with psychological morbidity …

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The Effect Of Patient Gender On Medical Decision Making: The Influence Of Decisional Stress, Antonietta Di Caccavo Jan 1995

The Effect Of Patient Gender On Medical Decision Making: The Influence Of Decisional Stress, Antonietta Di Caccavo

School of Psychology Theses

This research investigated the influence of patient gender as a nonclinical variable on treatment decisions made in general practice. Responses to exploratory interviews carried out with 34 GPs supported the relevance of decisional stress in general practice. Decisional conflict theory therefore provided a theoretical basis for predicting that gender differences in management would be most likely to occur under conditions of decisional stress. This is because GPs are likely to rely on gender stereotypes to simplify decision tasks as this allows them to selectively search and appraise information. Responses to interview questions regarding the influence of patient gender on decision …

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Stress And Coping In Siblings Of Children With Learning Disabilities, Elizabeth Gregory Jan 1995

Stress And Coping In Siblings Of Children With Learning Disabilities, Elizabeth Gregory

School of Psychology Theses

Past research investigating the siblings of children with learning disabilities has yielded inconsistent findings. Consequently, the assumption guiding present investigators is that while some children appear to be at risk psychologically, others adapt well and even benefit from the experience. This assumption may be interpreted as supporting the literature on stress and coping in children. Within this framework, variability is expected because not only are children faced with different stressors, they have a variety of resources available to protect them. A stress and coping framework was therefore adopted in the present study. It aimed to investigate the differential responses to …

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Mathematical Analysis Of Novel Magnetic Recording Heads, Hazel Anne Shute Jan 1995

Mathematical Analysis Of Novel Magnetic Recording Heads, Hazel Anne Shute

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics Theses

As a contribution to increasing the areal density of digital data stored on a magnetic recording medium, this thesis provides mathematical analyses of various magnetic recording heads. Each of the heads considered here is for use in a perpendicular recording system, writing to or reading from a multi-layer medium which includes a high magnetic permeability layer between the data storage layer and the substrate. The exact two-dimensional analysis is performed in each case by one of two methods: either Fourier analysis or conformal mapping. The types of heads analysed include conventional styles but particular emphasis is placed on the effects …

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Statistical Aspects Of Fetal Screening, Christine M Donovan Jan 1995

Statistical Aspects Of Fetal Screening, Christine M Donovan

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics Theses

This thesis discusses the current screening algorithm that is used to detect fetal Down's syndrome. The algorithm combines a model for predicting age related risks and a model for appropriately transformed serum concentrations to produce estimates of risks. A discriminant analysis is used to classify pregnancies as either unaffected or Down's syndrome. The serum concentrations vary with gestational age and the relationship between serum concentrations and gestational age is modelled using regression. These models are discussed and alternative models for these relationships are offered. Concentration values are generally expressed in terms of multiples of the medians for unaffected pregnancies, or …

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Control Techniques Applied To Integrated Ship Motion Control, Mohammed Tariq Sharif Jan 1995

Control Techniques Applied To Integrated Ship Motion Control, Mohammed Tariq Sharif

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics Theses

Fins stabilisers are devices which are fitted to the hull of a ship and utilised to ameliorate its rolling motions. They apply a regulated moment about the ship's axis of roll in order to oppose the sea induced disturbances. Recognising their unsurpassed performance, the Royal Navy, since the 1950's, equips all its vessels with fin stabilisers. It can be shown that the rudders, in vessels of appropriate size, also have the potential to be harnessed as roll stabilisers Rudder Roll Stabilisation (RRS) without degrading the ship's course-keeping. Thus creating a more stable platform for the human operators and equipment. The …

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Extension And Hardware Implementation Of The Comprehensive Integrated Security System Concept, Joseph Patrick Morrissey Jan 1995

Extension And Hardware Implementation Of The Comprehensive Integrated Security System Concept, Joseph Patrick Morrissey

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics Theses

The current strategy to computer networking is to increase the accessibility that legitimate users have to their respective systems and to distribute functionality. This creates a more efficient working environment, users may work from home, organisations can make better use of their computing power. Unfortunately, a side effect of opening up computer systems and placing them on potentially global networks is that they face increased threats from uncontrolled access points, and from eavesdroppers listening to the data communicated between systems. Along with these increased threats the traditional ones such as disgruntled employees, malicious software, and accidental damage must still be …

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Data Security In European Healthcare Information Systems, Steve Furnell Jan 1995

Data Security In European Healthcare Information Systems, Steve Furnell

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics Theses

This thesis considers the current requirements for data security in European healthcare systems and establishments. Information technology is being increasingly used in all areas of healthcare operation, from administration to direct care delivery, with a resulting dependence upon it by healthcare staff. Systems routinely store and communicate a wide variety of potentially sensitive data, much of which may also be critical to patient safety. There is consequently a significant requirement for protection in many cases. The thesis presents an assessment of healthcare security requirements at the European level, with a critical examination of how the issue has been addressed to …

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A Holistic Approach To Computer Integrated Manufacturing Architecture And Systems Design, David Thompson Jan 1995

A Holistic Approach To Computer Integrated Manufacturing Architecture And Systems Design, David Thompson

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics Theses

This work addresses the problem of finding an improved solution to Computer Integrated Manufacturing (ClM) Architecture and Systems Design. The current approaches are shown to be difficult to understand and use, over complex. In spite of their complexity of approach they lack comprehensiveness and omit many factors and dimensions considered essential for success in today's competitive and often global market place. A new approach to ClM Architecture and Systems Design is presented which offers a simpler, more flexible and more robust format for defining a particular ClM System within a general architectural framework. At the same time this new approach …

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Men With Learning Disabilities Who Sexually Offend And Staff Attributions About Sexually Abusive Behaviour, Caroline Yates Jan 1995

Men With Learning Disabilities Who Sexually Offend And Staff Attributions About Sexually Abusive Behaviour, Caroline Yates

School of Psychology Theses

This study was to designed, in two parts, to investigate: 1. Whether the attributions about sexually abusive behaviour, made by staff in learning disabilities services, differed according to whether or not the perpetrator had a learning disability, and if these attributions served to hinder the identification, acknowledgement and reporting of sexually abusive behaviour performed by men with learning disabilities. 2. The number of clients referred to therapists in learning disabilities services, over a two year period, for sexually abusive behaviour, client and offence characteristics, and the referral process. Information was sought regarding therapists' perceived reasons for delayed referrals, and the …

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The Flow Of Liquid Polymers Through Fibrous Reinforcements, Patrick Robert Griffin Jan 1995

The Flow Of Liquid Polymers Through Fibrous Reinforcements, Patrick Robert Griffin

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics Theses

Resin Transfer Moulding (RTM), at present, is a semi-automated, low volume production process for fibre reinforced plastics with much work being undertaken to achieve full automation and medium volume production. The efficient and consistent impregnation of thermosetting resin into a reinforcement pack are key requirements in the development of RTM. For mass production and automation accurate predictions of mould fill times are critical in order to plan production. At present, the fill times are predicted by assuming Darcy's law and using experimentally determined permeability value. Permeability measurements display a large amount of scatter which affects the accuracy of simulations of …

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Computer Models Of Corrosion In Passivating Systems, Simon Sebastian Phillips Jan 1995

Computer Models Of Corrosion In Passivating Systems, Simon Sebastian Phillips

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics Theses

Analysis of corrosion in marine and acid environments is a complicated task, involving the interaction of thermodynamic, kinetic and geometrical factors. Two mathematical models which predict corrosion behaviour have been implemented for personal computers. The first program uses an assumption of unidirectional current flow to simplify the prediction of potential distributions for systems of essentially cylindrical geometry containing natural seawater-based electrolytes of differing strength. Using experimentally determined electrochemical and flow rig data, experimental and theoretical results were compared. The correlation between the two was shown to be poor, and this is attributed to the unrepresentative nature of the electrochemical data …

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Towards The Development Of A Model Of Vision: An Investigation Into The Architectures And Mechanisms Of Visual Perception, Lucy Jane Troup Jan 1995

Towards The Development Of A Model Of Vision: An Investigation Into The Architectures And Mechanisms Of Visual Perception, Lucy Jane Troup

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics Theses

A conceptual model of visual perception has been developed using a multidisciplinary approach which combines both top-down and bottom-up descriptions of vision. Top-down psychological theories of visual perception have been investigated resulting in the development of a theory of perception which combines the best of existing accounts. Perception is defined in terms of a combination of "data driven" and "concept driven" explanations. Bottom-up neurophysiological descriptions have also been investigated to provide possible descriptions of structure and function for the development of a conceptual model based upon the theory. An attempt is made to provide a "complete" account of visual perception …

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Getting A Handle On Children's Drawings: A Cognitive Approach, Pamela Jane Sutton Jan 1995

Getting A Handle On Children's Drawings: A Cognitive Approach, Pamela Jane Sutton

School of Psychology Theses

Many researchers of children's drawings have concentrated on assessing how drawing develops through several stages. Around eight years of age the child progresses from producing drawings based on internal stereotypes of objects (intellectually realistic stage), to producing drawings which reflect an external view of these objects (visually realistic stage). This research has highlighted numerous variables which affect this developmental sequence and has shown that children as young as four can produce visually realistic drawings under certain circumstances. The present study firstly conducted a series of cross-sectional experiments to assess two of the variables highlighted by previous research, i.e. instructions and …

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Meaning In Methods Of Suicide, Georgia Catherine Jones Jan 1995

Meaning In Methods Of Suicide, Georgia Catherine Jones

School of Psychology Theses

It is possible to identify two broad approaches within research regarding suicide behaviour The first aims to clarify individual sociodemographic or psychological characteristics that identify "at risk" individuals The second recognises the importance of understanding the meaning that suicide behaviour has for the individuals concerned. This study aimed to elaborate recent research that has identified the importance of understanding the meaning that people give to using particular suicide methods. This study investigated the relationship between the meanings that suicide attempters give to suicide methods and the meanings that they attach to living and dying. Eight people who had made suicide …

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Sectioned Under The Mental Health Act, Kate Ross Jan 1995

Sectioned Under The Mental Health Act, Kate Ross

School of Psychology Theses

This project looks at the experience of being sectioned under the 1983 Mental Health Act for acute psychiatric patients. The view is taken that sectioning in itself is a major intervention and hence should be the subject of research scrutiny. The views of two groups of participants, sectioned and informal inpatients, are compared using a variety of survey techniques including standardised questionnaires, structured interviews and open ended questions. It was found that being sectioned did not have a major impact on patients' experience of hospital treatment or their understandings of mental health issues although the sectioned patients did place less …

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Performance Analysis And Prediction Of High Speed Planing Craft, John Bate Dec 1994

Performance Analysis And Prediction Of High Speed Planing Craft, John Bate

School of Biological and Marine Sciences Theses

A comprehensive and critical review of literature pertaining to the study of planing craft is given within this work. This study includes monohull design, analysis and performance prediction for flat water; many features of the planing characteristics, including dynamic stability, the use of stepped hullforms, re-entrant transoms and flow characteristics are detailed. Work on the rough water seakeeping analysis of planing craft is also given, and furthermore, literature pertaining to planing catamaran design and performance prediction, and on the ground effect is cited. Mathematical modelling approaches are discussed and it is explained that there is still much progress to be …

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