Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Queensland, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Queensland, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references.

Faculty of Health sciences School of Medicine 0420338r juneteare@yahoo.co.uk / This study, in non-human primates (Papio ursinus), evaluated the healing potential of recombinant human transforming growth factor-3 (rhTGF-3) when implanted in exposed periodontal furcation defects either by direct application to the defect or by transplantation of rhTGF-3-instigated heterotopic bone as source of autogenous bone. Class II furcation defects were surgically created bilaterally in the first and second molars of both the mandible and the maxilla of four clinically healthy adult baboons. Simultaneously, autogenous bone was induced bilaterally within the rectus abdominis muscle of the baboons using rhTGF-3. Forty days later, the periodontal defects were implanted with rhTGF-3 in Matrigel® as delivery system, or rhTGF-3 plus muscle tissue in Matrigel®, or with the harvested rhTGF-3-induced autogenous bone. Sixty days after periodontal implantation, the animals were euthanased and the molars harvested together with the surrounding tissue. Histological analysis was performed by light microscopy and digital imaging computer software. The extent of regeneration was assessed by measuring area and volume of new alveolar bone, height of new alveolar bone and height of new cementum. The results, compared to controls, showed pronounced periodontal tissue regeneration in experimental defects. The most noteworthy healing was observed in defects implanted with heterotopically induced autogenous bone as well as those implanted with rhTGF-3 plus muscle tissue. The findings of this study suggest that rhTGF-3 applied directly to a defect, or rhTGF-3-induced autogenous bone, transplanted to a defect, have significant regenerative capabilities in periodontal tissue regeneration of nonhuman primates Papio ursinus.

Environmental pathogens, such as Escherichia coli and Streptococcus uberis, are currently the major cause of mastitis within dairy herds. This leads to severe financial losses, lower production rates and deterioration of the general health of the herd. E. coli mastitis is becoming a major threat to high milk-producing dairy herds. This is because of its increasing resistance to antibiotics, rendering antibiotic treatment regimes against E. coli infections mostly ineffective. The aim of this study was to develop a method to select mastitis causing E. coli isolates for the formulation of effective herd specific vaccines. Two methods, namely a genotyping method (Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA; RAPD) and an antibiogram based method, were used. A dairy farm milking approximately 1000 Holstein cows in the Darling area, Western Cape Province, was selected for this study. The study was conducted over a period of 48 months and mastitis samples were analysed for mastitis pathogens. Antibiogram testing (disk diffusion method) and an in-house developed RAPD analysis method were used to analyse the E. coli isolates. A total of 921 milk samples were analysed from which 181 E. coli isolates were recovered. The number of all other common mastitis pathogens combined was 99 isolates (Streptococcus uberis 18, Streptococcus dysgalactiae 46, Streptococcus agalactiae 1, Staphylococcus epidermidis 21, Arcanobacterium pyogenes 13). All E. coli isolates, except for one, were resistant to at least three antibiotics. Antibiotic variance profiles were also highly erratic. The RAPD analysis revealed high levels of polymorphisms and clear epidemiological trends were observed over time. No similarities in the variance profiles between the antibiotic variance data and phylogenetic data were observed. Formalin inactivated autogenous vaccines were produced containing E. coli isolated from the herd. The vaccines were formulated using the RAPD or antibiogram data of the E. coli isolates. A total of 5 vaccines were formulated using RAPD data (Rvaccines) and one vaccine was formulated using antibiotic variance data (A-vaccine). The RAPD formulated vaccines were more effective than the antibiotic variance formulated vaccine. After each R-vaccination, the number of E. coli mastitis cases declined within the herd. The A-vaccinations seemed to have had no effect, which lead to a rise in E. coli mastitis cases. RAPD analysis on new emerging isolates was able to detect genetic variation from vaccine strains, which in turn facilitated the formulation of new updated vaccines with higher effectiveness than the previous vaccine. Mastitis data prior to and after the vaccination period revealed significant higher incidences of mastitis in the herd than during the vaccination period. This study demonstrated that sufficient sampling practices coupled with a reliable genotyping method, resulted in the formulation of updatable vaccines which were highly effective in controlling E. coli mastitis within the herd. / Thesis (M Environmental Sciences)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012

Student Number : 9806611F - PhD thesis - School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering - Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment / Modelling of comminution in tumbling mills is usually done using the selection and breakage function models. While this has been a success for ball milling it has not been the case with Autogenous and Semi- Autogenous mills where performance is easily affected by slight variations in operations. A numerical model, Discrete Element Method (DEM) a much more detailed model for the nonlinear behaviour of mill loads is proposed as a possible solution to this problem. The Discrete Element Method algorithm is a numerical technique for solving problems that involve a large number of interacting bodies. The dissipative forces (normal, tangential or frictional) at points of contact are modelled using a springslider- dashpot and the dynamics of the particles are modelled by applying Newton’s laws of motion. A record of information about contact events occurring during simulation is stored in the output files and can be thereafter applied for a wide range of purposes. The contact events and their corresponding energy levels derived from the simulation are applied to determine the particle failure rate in a mill. The probability of particle failure does however also depend on the inherent fracture properties of a material; hence particle fracture tests on the ore samples were conducted using the JK drop-weight impact test machine. Using this tool, data that related the probability of breakage to the energy input and the number of impact attempts were obtained and a model describing this relationship was derived. Using the energy spectra that resulted from the simulations of milling and the Breakage probability model, an attempt was made to predict the experimental results of a mill operating under a wide range of conditions. Good prediction was achieved after a careful choice of model parameters. A systematic approach of establishing the most suitable parameters is recommended for future work. These parameters would also compensate for conditions beyond the limits of the model such as particles being too small to simulate or having a complex shape. The predictions were based on two size fractions as a way of making this task more manageable. It is apparent that this work can be extended to do a full SAG and AG mill simulation.

Environmental pathogens, such as Escherichia coli and Streptococcus uberis, are currently the major cause of mastitis within dairy herds. This leads to severe financial losses, lower production rates and deterioration of the general health of the herd. E. coli mastitis is becoming a major threat to high milk-producing dairy herds. This is because of its increasing resistance to antibiotics, rendering antibiotic treatment regimes against E. coli infections mostly ineffective. The aim of this study was to develop a method to select mastitis causing E. coli isolates for the formulation of effective herd specific vaccines. Two methods, namely a genotyping method (Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA; RAPD) and an antibiogram based method, were used. A dairy farm milking approximately 1000 Holstein cows in the Darling area, Western Cape Province, was selected for this study. The study was conducted over a period of 48 months and mastitis samples were analysed for mastitis pathogens. Antibiogram testing (disk diffusion method) and an in-house developed RAPD analysis method were used to analyse the E. coli isolates. A total of 921 milk samples were analysed from which 181 E. coli isolates were recovered. The number of all other common mastitis pathogens combined was 99 isolates (Streptococcus uberis 18, Streptococcus dysgalactiae 46, Streptococcus agalactiae 1, Staphylococcus epidermidis 21, Arcanobacterium pyogenes 13). All E. coli isolates, except for one, were resistant to at least three antibiotics. Antibiotic variance profiles were also highly erratic. The RAPD analysis revealed high levels of polymorphisms and clear epidemiological trends were observed over time. No similarities in the variance profiles between the antibiotic variance data and phylogenetic data were observed. Formalin inactivated autogenous vaccines were produced containing E. coli isolated from the herd. The vaccines were formulated using the RAPD or antibiogram data of the E. coli isolates. A total of 5 vaccines were formulated using RAPD data (Rvaccines) and one vaccine was formulated using antibiotic variance data (A-vaccine). The RAPD formulated vaccines were more effective than the antibiotic variance formulated vaccine. After each R-vaccination, the number of E. coli mastitis cases declined within the herd. The A-vaccinations seemed to have had no effect, which lead to a rise in E. coli mastitis cases. RAPD analysis on new emerging isolates was able to detect genetic variation from vaccine strains, which in turn facilitated the formulation of new updated vaccines with higher effectiveness than the previous vaccine. Mastitis data prior to and after the vaccination period revealed significant higher incidences of mastitis in the herd than during the vaccination period. This study demonstrated that sufficient sampling practices coupled with a reliable genotyping method, resulted in the formulation of updatable vaccines which were highly effective in controlling E. coli mastitis within the herd. / Thesis (M Environmental Sciences)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012

Calcium aluminate cement (CAC) is a rapid hardening cementitious material often used in niche concrete repairs where high early-age strength and robust durability are required. This research project characterized the implications of the additions of various mineral and chemical admixtures to plain CAC to mitigate strength reductions associated with conversion, an inevitable strength reduction associated with the densification of metastable hydrates (CAH10 and C2AH8) to stable hydrates (C3AH6 and AH3). The effect of these admixtures on early-age strength development, volume change, and the correlation to macro-scale performance were reported in this dissertation. Various mixtures of CAC were investigated including: pure CAC, binary blends of CAC with fly ash (Class C) or CaCO3, and ternary blends of CAC with slag and silica fume. Characterization of the influence of these admixtures on hydration was completed using x-ray diffraction, isothermal calorimetry, and chemical shrinkage. Investigations on the implications of early-age volume change were conducted for autogenous deformation. In addition to laboratory testing, the final phase of the project was to correlate and elucidate the data generated in the laboratory to real-world field performance. Field trials were conducted to evaluate and monitor the behavior of CAC systems and investigate the link between laboratory generated research and actual large scale behavior. / text

Abstract Reduction of morbidity in osseous reconstruction of cranio-maxillofacial bony defects could come from development of less invasive bone graft harvesting techniques or by elimination of bone graft donor sites using a bone graft substitute. This work studies outcomes and morbidity associated with these two approaches. A power-driven trephine was used to harvest bone from the anterior iliac crest using a minimally invasive surgical technique. Initially the safety of the technique was evaluated in a cadaver model. Twenty-five freshly preserved adult cadavers had a total of 250 cancellous cores of bone harvested from 50 anterior iliac crest sites. Twenty intentional perforations were made to the maximum depth possible with the instrumentation tested. No encroachment upon the peritoneum was found. A total of 84 patients had 333 cores of cancellous bone harvested using the same approach with a complication rate of 3.6% and a patient satisfaction rate of 98.8%. In a further 76 patients the motorized trephine method was compared to traditional open iliac crest corticocancellous block harvesting. The trephine group ambulated earlier, required fewer days of hospital stay and had significantly lower pain scores than the open iliac crest group. Coral-derived granules were used as a xenograft bone graft substitute to treat bony defects in the cranio-maxillofacial skeletons of 36 patients with 54 sites and followed for 12 to 36 months. The augmentations produced satisfactory results with the following complications noted: overt wound infection 1.8%, wound irritation 3.8% and clinically evident resorption in 9.3% of augmented sites. Coral-derived granules were then used to treat 48 dento-alveolar defects in 21 growing patients with trauma induced tooth-loss in the anterior maxilla and elective ankylosed tooth removal in the posterior maxilla and mandible. Coral granules were significantly more efficacious in reconstructing alveolar defects in the posterior maxilla or mandible (93.5%), than the anterior maxilla (17.6%). The minimally invasive technique using a power driven trephine was successful at reducing morbidity from bone graft harvesting at the anterior iliac crest. Coral-derived granules can be used in selected situations as a bone graft substitute and minimize post surgical morbidity by eliminating the bone graft donor site.

The use of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) in commercial construction have been increasing over the last several decades as climate change and sustainability has been gaining global attention. Incorporation of SCMs into concrete mixtures provides several environmental benefits. Since most SCMs are waste by-products of other industries, their use in concrete reduces waste disposal. Additionally, cements substitution with SCMs reduces the carbon footprint of the construction industry. Cement production generates large amounts of CO2 emissions; the use of SCMs reduces the amount of cement in a concrete mixture thereby reducing emissions from its production. In addition to SCMs, modern concretes typically incorporate a combination of chemical admixtures. Adverse interaction of admixtures with cement, with or without the SCMs, or with each other is one of the most common reasons for early-age concrete issues. Since the possible combinations of admixtures are numerous and there is a variety of cements on the market, testing all possible chemical/mineral/cement admixture combinations is impractical. The aim of this research was to cover a broad base of admixture-related issues, each addressing a specific need of the construction industry. There is currently no explanation for why calcium chloride-based accelerator is not always effective when used with high tricalcium aluminate (C3A) cements. It was determined that increasing C3A or gypsum content alone did not appear to significantly affect acceleration; however, the presence of alkalis reduced the effectiveness of CaCl2 accelerator. When CaCl2-based accelerators are used in concrete, they are typically used in combination with other chemical admixtures, such as water-reducing and retarding admixtures (WRRA) to allow for the use of a low water-cementitious material ratio. In order to avoid premature hardening, CaCl2 accelerator is most often added onsite, rather than at the concrete batching plant. Onsite addition can lead to accidental overdose of accelerator. It was found that increasing dosages of calcium chloride-containing accelerating admixtures in the presence of WRRA has a non-linear effect on the pore size distribution and consequently a non-linear increase on the autogenous shrinkage, which can contribute to early-age concrete cracking. Water-reducing admixtures and superplasticizers are added to concrete to improve workability, which decreases not only with a decrease in water-cementitious material ratio, but also with addition of some SCMs. Silica fume and metakaolin are known to decrease workability; fly ash and slag addition improve it. The effect of SCM combinations on workability is typically assumed to be additive. However, this investigation revealed that combining SCMs does not have an additive effect on workability, measured in terms of apparent yield stress and plastic viscosity; consequently, these parameters cannot be estimated from their respective values. Cement replacement with SCMs affects not only workability, but also heat of hydration, and is commonly used to reduce concrete temperature rise in concrete. Prediction and control of concrete temperature rise due to cement hydration is of great significance for mass concrete structures since large temperature gradients between the surface and the core of the structure can lead to cracking thus reducing durability of the structure. A number of equations have been proposed to predict the heat of hydration of cement and cement/SCM blends. However, these equations do not include metakaolin, which is a relatively new mineral admixture. Based on statistical experimental design, an equation was developed to predict the reduction of total hydration heat at 24, 48 and 72 hours with addition of SCMs compared to a plain ordinary portland cement (OPC)-water mixture. The developed equation allows the evaluation of the contribution of Class F fly ash (FA), blast furnace slag (BFS), silica fume (SF) and metakaolin (MK) as well as their combinations. Since metakaolin has been on the market for only about 10 years, the current knowledge on its effect on hydration products and paste microstructure remains incomplete. The effect of MK on the nature of hydration products was evaluated through x-ray diffraction. Its effect on the microstructure was assessed by measuring porosity with nitrogen adsorption and determining nanoindentation modulus as well as the volume fraction of calcium silicate hydrates (C-S-H) with variable packing densities. No significant effect was observed on the nature of hydration products with MK or BFS addition. However, nitrogen-accessible porosity increased with MK and BFS addition, the increase being larger with BFS. The average indentation modulus for the hydration products decreased with addition of MK and BFS, which corresponded to increasing nitrogen accessible pores. The results of this study indicate that phase quantification by quantitative x-ray diffraction (QXRD) of the hydrated paste may not be sufficient to assess the impact of metakaolin or BFS addition on the hydrating cementitious systems, and a multi-technique approach that provides information not only on the amount of hydration products, but also their morphology is preferable.

The formation of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) (i.e. scale) in potable water systems has long been a concern in water treatment and distribution. A literature review reveals that CaCO3 scaling issues are re-emerging due to climate change, temperature increases in hot water systems and lower use of scaling and corrosion inhibitors. Moreover, we have gathered insights that suggest CaCO3 coatings can be beneficial and stop pipeline leaks via self-repair or clogging. Ironically, the actions we are taking to increase the lifespan of distribution systems (i.e. adding corrosion inhibitors) might have worsened leaks and pipe lifespans due to interference with self-repair. The increasing occurrence of scaling coupled with gaps in knowledge over CaCO3 formation in water systems make revisiting this topic timely. The concept of autogenous repair by clogging with inert particles was examined using silica and alumina. Small 250 m diameter pinhole leaks were simulated in bench-scale water recirculation systems. Silica and alumina particles were added to solutions ranging from high to low ionic strength to determine the impact of water quality on leak repair. Size distribution and zeta potential of the particles were measured. Silica particles were practically unchanged by the different solution chemistries while the size and zeta potential of alumina particles varied. The rate of clogging with silica particles was not impacted by water chemistry. Alumina particles with a positive charge clogged 100% of the leaks while negatively charged alumina could not clog 100%. Very small alumina particles (4.1 m) stayed suspended but were unable to clog leaks. / Master of Science