Purpose: The purpose of this research study is to investigate the extent to which banks are using risk management practices in dealing with various risks and to compare risk management practices between Islamic and Conventional banks operating in Pakistan. Methodology: This is an empirical research study which has employed quantitative research methods. This study has used two sources of data, i.e. primary and secondary data. Secondary data is collected by using content analysis through annual reports of five Islamic and conventional banks for the six year time period from 2008 to 2013. The content analysis was performed by using frequency analysis and un-weighted index scoring. And primary data was collected through questionnaire from the senior managers, risk managers and CRO of Islamic and conventional banks. The sample size was consisting of 150 respondents from banks. The data was analysed by using descriptive statistics, regression analysis and Mann-Whitney U test. Findings: Islamic banks are found to be significantly different from their conventional counterparts in risk identification, risk management practices, liquidity risk analysis and risk governance. Moreover, risk identification, risk assessment and analysis, credit risk analysis and risk governance are most influencing and contributing variables in risk management practices of banks operating in Pakistan. Also, credit, liquidity, market and operational risk are found to be the most important risks faced by both conventional and Islamic banks. Practical Implication: Considering the importance of risk management practices in Islamic and conventional banks; Bankers, investors, regulators, and policymakers are likely to benefit from the results of the study as a guide, when developing and reforming the existing risk management practices. Originality: This study has extended the risk management practices model of banks by incorporating two more variables, i.e. liquidity risk analysis and risk governance into the model. Also, it is adding value methodologically, as data triangulation is used to draw a valid inference. So, this study will add value to literature and will be useful for Islamic banks, conventional banks, practitioners as well as for academic point of view.

The Electrochemical Activation (ECA) of water is introduced as a novel refinement of conventional electrochemical processes and the unique features and attributes are evaluated against the universal principles that have described the electrolytic processes to date. While the novel and patented novel reactor design retains the capacity to generate products common to conventional electrolysis, it also manipulates the properties of the reagent solutions to achieve an anomalous Oxidation-Reduction potential (ORP or REDOX) that cannot be replicated by traditional chemical and physical interventions. As a contemporary development in the field, the technology continues to undergo rigorous assessment and while not all of its theoretical aspects have been exhaustively interrogated, its undisputed biocidal efficacy has been widely established. Microbial vitality has been shown to be directly dependent upon the confluence of a diverse variety of physical and chemical environmental conditions. Fundamentally important in this regard is the electronic balance or REDOX potential of the microbial environment. The intricate balance of metabolic pathways that maintain cellular integrity underwrites the measures of irritability required for sustained viability. Aside from the direct effects of the conventional electrolysis products, overt electronic disruption of the immediate microbial environment initiates a cascade of secondary and largely independent autocidal molecular events which compromise the fundamental integrity of the microbe and leads to cell death. The distinctive capacity to impart unique physicochemical attributes to the ECA derived solutions also facilitates the characterisation of the same outside of the conventional physicochemical and gravimetric measures. These adjunct measures display a substantial relationship with the predictability of antimicrobial effect, and the direct relationship between inactivation of a defined microbial bioload and the titratable measures of REDOX capacity have been shown to describe a repeatable benchmark. The use of ultra-microscopy to investigate the impact of the ECA products on bacterial cell structures has shown this tool to have distinctive merit in the imaging and thus refined description of the consequences of exposure to biocidal solutions. The distinctive differences of the ECA solutions relative to conventional antibacterial compounds would suggest a heightened suitability for application in conditions where the efficacy of conventional biocidal compounds had been limited. Aeroslisation of the ECA solutions for the decontamination of airspaces challenged with tuberculosis pathogens revealed that despite initial success, further refinements to the application model will be required to meet the unresolved challenges. The health care benefits associated with the application of the ECA solutions in a medical environment substantiate the merits for the adoption of the technology as a complementary remedy for the management of nosocomial infections. The relative novelty of the technology in the commercial domain will raise questions regarding the potential for resistance development, and it has been proposed that the distinctive mechanism of biocidal action will not contribute to diminished bacterial susceptibility, as it does not reveal any cross- or co-resistance when assessed against multiple antibiotic resistant strains. These benefits are further reinforced by the capacity to install the technology for both onsite and on-demand availability, and being derived from natural ingredients (salt and water) the ECA solutions are regarded as safe and compatible for general in-contact use. Notwithstanding the multiple benefits that the technology may provide, further assessments into materials compatibility as well as potential by-products formation following environmental exposure are imperative before the unfettered adoption of this technology as a cost-effective, safe and reliable alternative to conventional disinfection can be promoted. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Microbiology and Plant Pathology / unrestricted

To assess the performance and future possibilities of catalytic microwave pyrolysis, laboratory-scale experiments were conducted on a widely available biomass feedstock, Eucalyptus grandis. Non-catalysed microwave pyrolysis was conducted under varying conditions to determine important factors of the microwave pyrolysis process and to conduct a basic performance evaluation. Future possibilities of microwave pyrolysis were determined by comparison to available technologies. Calcined Mg-Al LDH clay (layered double oxide or LDO) was used as catalyst to improve the quality of the pyrolysis process and its products. The heating and reaction mechanisms for microwave pyrolysis show that it offers distinct advantages over conventional pyrolysis. The main advantages are rapid and efficient volumetric heating, as well as acceptable yields at lower temperatures (much lower than those required by conventional pyrolysis), which can possibly lead to significant energy savings. Comparing the performance of a modified domestic microwave to an off-the-shelf microwave unit (Roto Synth) proved that cheap and comparative microwave research is possible. The yields from the domestic microwave products compared very closely to those of the Roto Synth unit, each having yields for char, oil and gas of 47.9%, 33.2%, 18.9% and of 46.8%, 32.7%, 20.55% respectively. The cost of the modified domestic setup was ~1% of that of the off-the-shelf unit. The use of a quartz reactor and slight adjustments to the stepper motor driver and thermocouple are recommended for future use. The pyrolysis process was found to be very dependent on power and power density. Higher powers increase the liquid and gas yields and a critical power density was identified between 800W and 1000W. The effects of power density were interesting and led to conclusions regarding the penetration depth of microwaves which could possibly play a significant role in the scale-up of microwave pyrolysis technology. Microwave pyrolysis undeniably has several advantages over conventional pyrolysis. However, for it to become competitive, microwave fast pyrolysis technologies need to be developed through the use of mixed bed reactors that can achieve fast heating rates. Possible candidates include rotating cone and fluidised bed reactors. Hybrid technology also provides unique advantages and has huge potential. Comparison of pyrolysis technologies is difficult without good data on continuous microwave pyrolysis reactors, and therefore the development of such reactors is recommended for future research. Catalysis of microwave pyrolysis with LDO proved effective. The catalyst promoted the formation of volatiles (gas and liquid), even when present in small ratios. It also promoted the formation of esters and even anhydrides and small fractions of hydrocarbons at high catalyst ratios. The catalyst activity led to increased water yields. This indicated that it removes oxygen from the pyrolysis products, thereby improving their quality. The catalyst was believed to be limited by the low temperatures used in this investigation and higher temperatures might increase the release of CO2 and should be investigated. Significant reduction in the total acid number (TAN) and an improved dry-basis heating value were also achieved by the addition of the catalyst. The water content increased from 50% to 70%, the TAN reduced from 174 mg KOH/(g oil) to 72 mg KOH/(g oil), and the calorific value increased from 19.1 MJ/kg to 21.5 MJ/kg. / Dissertation (MEng)--University of Pretoria, 2017. / Chemical Engineering / MEng / Unrestricted

The aim of this study was to investigate the viability of laparoscopic testicular artery ligation as an alternative to the more conventional castration methods in equids. Twelve intact male donkeys varying in age from 5 months to 13 years were used in this study. Two of these donkeys were castrated by means of an open technique. The remaining donkeys underwent testicular artery ligation under laparoscopic guidance. Ligation of the testicular artery was achieved by application of Filshie clips under laparoscopic visualisation. This was performed with the donkeys standing in stocks and sedated with a combination of detomidine hydrochloride and butorphanol tartrate. The ten donkeys which underwent testicular artery ligation were unilaterally castrated using an acceptable open castration technique on two separate occasions. The first testes were removed at a specific time period after testicular artery ligation, while the second testes were all removed on the same day 9 months after the first group of donkeys underwent laparoscopic assisted testicular artery ligation. The remaining two donkeys which acted as controls underwent a standard open bilateral castration procedure both testes being removed on the same day. All the testes removed, excluding one testis lost to the study, were evaluated histologically. Four testes were used as controls. Thirteen testes showed histological signs of ischaemic necrosis, degeneration and/or atrophy. Three testes showed histological tubular degeneration and atrophy as well as the presence of some normal tissue. The remaining three testes were histologically unchanged. One of the testes was accidentally misplaced at post mortem due to human error. Avascular necrosis of the testicular tissue was not successful in all the subjects. This technique shows promise but further research is required. / Dissertation (MMedVet)--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Companion Animal Clinical Studies / unrestricted

Water is an important natural resource and a building block to all life on earth. However, substantial increase in water demand and consumption has led to numerous nations, including South Africa, to face water scarcity. Improved water demand management strategies and water monitoring approaches are imperative. In South Africa, it's a legal requirement for all water supply points to be metered. Currently, water flow is primarily measured by conventional meters. However, substantial developments have been noted in the last two decades where conventional meters with added capabilities (such as communication capabilities) added have been introduced. These meters are known as advanced water meters. These capabilities offer functions such as leakage detection and more immediate consumption feedback. However, advanced meters also have significant disadvantages such as require high start-up capital and are susceptible to higher failure rates than conventional meters. It remains to be seen if advanced metering technology is an appropriate technology to be adopted in South Africa. Due to the different dynamics of South Africa's income level groups, the metering application and effects will differ for each income level group. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the feasibility of implementing advanced metering systems in high income areas in South Africa. An evaluation framework was developed to gauge the viability of implementing advanced metering systems on four performance criteria; technical, economic, environmental and social. The composite indicator framework template was selected as it was not tailor made for a specific reason and could be adapted for this research. The necessary framework input parameter data were acquired from practitioners in the field through questionnaires and from literature. Due to lack of advanced metering case studies in South Africa (except for prepaid meter), literature from developed countries were used as proxies. The input data entailed details of the current metering system, advanced metering system and new conventional metering system with the later used as a control for comparative purposes. The typical high-income scenario was derived from typical input data. For each input parameter, there were value ranges from the low parameter value to high parameter value. These ranges were used to conduct the sensitivity analysis on the framework to access critical input parameters to the success or failure of implementation Implementing advanced metering systems in high income areas in South Africa was found to be less economically viable than conventional meters. This is due to the lack of needed infrastructure for advanced metering as well as high initial capital costs and high operating costs. Advanced meters however proved to be more environmentally viable than conventional meters as they offered higher reduction in consumption. However, the manner in which faulty batteries are disposed could lead to environmental damage. Social factors were considered negligible for high income areas as revolts to introduction to new meters arises from financial constraints that those meters might induce. Further research with more South Africa based case studies and smaller scale advanced metering systems has been recommended.

The provision of school equivalency programme through Open and Distance Learning (ODL) has gained momentum in the 21st century through the establishment of open schools. Open schools has now become a model of choice for many young people and adults who do not want to pursue their secondary education journey through the conventional delivery system. Additionally, shrinking financial resources have made it impossible for governments especially in the developing world to expand education through the conventional system. Pityana (2007) claims that ODL is key in advancing the development agenda of many nations through programmes that accommodate the less privileged members of the society such as women, the unemployed, repeaters, out-of-school youth, disadvantaged and the displaced. Although open schools have made progress in increasing access, low throughput rates and high dropout rates remain the key challenges. The purpose of this study was therefore to explore the experiences and perceptions of learners when migrating from the conventional school system to the open and distance learning in general, and to Namibian College of Open Learning (NAMCOL) in particular. This study was driven by the assumption that change in the learning environment might be the most influential factor on learners’ ability to integrate into the new distance learning environment. The study mainly focused on the senior secondary (Grade 12) learners who transferred from the formal schools to NAMCOL to upgrade their grades. Moore’s (1883) theory of transactional distance and Tinto’s (1997a) theory of academic and social integration were used as the reference theoretical framework. The applicability of the two theories was assessed and compared with the findings of the study. A multi method research design was applied in data collection. The results of the study identified a gap between the learners’ expectations and the high ODL expectations and its demands. The learners in the study displayed a marginal understanding of the ODL mode of delivery. The study established certain factors that impede or accelerate the integration process and also identified technology mediated services as well as capacity building for staff as measures to facilitate learner integration in the ODL mode of delivery. The study reaffirms that meeting learners’ academic, social and psychological needs are important for successful learner integration. The findings have implications for policy makers, ODL practitioners and learners on the development of the most effective measures of increasing learner integration into open schools. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2017. / Education Management and Policy Studies / PhD / Unrestricted

This research proposes a structural retrofit of a reinforced concrete building older than 50 years. The structural system is dual using frames and walls, having an area of 1980 m2 and 4 levels with a total height of 15.50 m. There are three unconventional methods to retrofit this infrastructure. The first is to install steel jackets with bolt anchors. The second methodology is through the use of jackets and anchors of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymers (CFRP). The third alternative is through reinforcement of walls with 2 diagonal struts made with CFRP sheets as struts, also installing CFRP anchors at each end of both struts to ensure that these sheets work up to their high levels of tension. These anchors together with the diagonal plates contribute to give ductility to the wall and in turn resist the effects of sliding at the base, a fault that is very common in rigid structures such as walls. Each unconventional reinforcement methodology used in this research is validated using laboratory tests results of reinforced columns and walls retrofitted with every of the three innovative methods. Nonlinear static analysis - Pushover of each alternative was performed and compared with the demand for the 1974 earthquake in Lima, scaling 3 seismic records to a PGA of 0.45g, which is the acceleration of design in Lima. It is shown that these proposals are effective in providing levels of shear base and displacement capacity in the inelastic design. For the 0.40mx0.80m columns, the results show that both reinforcements increase ductility by more than 10%; on the other hand, the proposal of reinforcement in the walls of 40cm thick, produced even better results increasing ductility by 100% and shear base by 100%.

Please read the abstract in the dissertation / Dissertation (MEng)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / gm2014 / Chemical Engineering / unrestricted

<p>The results of previous studies generally show that organic production is more profitable than conventional production. However, as a source of these results, the trials are either of short duration or do not specifically examine the benefits during the transition period, suggesting that previous work may not have captured the full variability of crop net returns. The purpose of this study was to compare the net returns and risks of conventional, transition, and organic cropping systems using long-term crop budgets and stochastic simulations. Conventional crop rotations were represented by a corn / soybean rotation and a corn / soybean / wheat rotation. The organic crop rotation produced corn, soybean and wheat. Historical prices, crop budgets, and FINBIN data are used to develop the long-term crop budgets. The organic crop rotation included a three-year transition period. Ten-year enterprise budgets were created for each crop and rotation so that we could compare the net returns of the transition year of organic crop rotation and the year of organic production. This thesis summarizes the enterprise budget information for each crop in the conventional and organic cropping systems, and summarizes the information used for the simulation analysis. Using @ risk, differences in annual net returns to land between crop rotations were summarized. Results are as follows. First, the transition and organic cropping system was found to have higher net returns to land than the two conventional crop rotations under most of the simulation iterations. Second, the annual net returns during the transition period were relatively low. Third, the highest average annual net return was for organic corn.</p><div><br></div>

The dissertation lays the foundations for a naturalistic account of word meaning capable of addressing the conflicting intuitions that word meanings are both “out there”, world-involving and objective (the “objectivist” intuition) and in the heads of speakers, i.e. cognitive and perspectival (the “mentalist” intuition). The strong naturalization constraint endorsed in this project has it that the sought-after syncretic notion of word meaning must be nonmysterious and constitute a potential object for the natural sciences. The objectivist intuition is discussed within the framework of semantic externalism and the theory of semantic deference. Whereas the importance of the phenomenon of semantic deference (i.e. the fact that speakers defer to semantic standards for the fixation of the meaning of their words) is recognized, it is shown that taking the normativity of meaning evidenced by semantic deference at face value leads to embracing a form of meaning objectivism that is incompatible with naturalism. On the one hand, the objectivist/externalist commitment to independent meaning-determining realities could be stronger than the commitments actually undertaken by the natural sciences themselves. On the other hand, the degree of idealization inherent in the objectivist account makes it oddly disconnected from and ultimately irrelevant to actual linguistic practice. However, usage-based accounts – which have meanings determined by the way words are actually used rather than determined “from outside” – notoriously struggle to provide a satisfactory account of the normativity of meaning. The proposed move consists in biting the bullet and treating the inherent normativity of meaning as a form of cognitive illusion, albeit an unavoidable illusion and one which must be taken seriously in order to explain the properties of linguistic understanding. A strictly usage-based account is shown to be viable and even to be able to account for the objectivist explanandum, once it is coupled with biological functionalism. Word meanings “out there” turn out to be viable natural objects, yet quite unlike the apparent objects of our pre-theoretical intuitions. “Complete”, world-involving word meanings are complex functional kinds (like organs or artifacts) constituted (rather than determined) by speakers’ actual dispositions and relevant environmental factors. As such, complete meanings – whether at the communal level (conventional meanings) or at the level of the individual speaker (idiosyncratic patterns of use) – are essentially opaque to speakers and can only be identified from a theoretical point of view on the basis of functional considerations. Moreover, the environmental factors intuitively corresponding to the traditional notion of objective reference or extension cannot be considered independently of the other internal and relational meaning-constitutive factors. The view of meaning defended is thus supportive of a certain form of anti-realism, where reference and truth are relativized to evolved interests, yet it is not supportive of any global form of anti-realism, for the presuppositions of biological normativity still provide a realist anchor to natural-language meanings. From this theoretical perspective, the mentalist intuition is taken to concern the internal, cognitive sub-components of complete meanings. Internal meanings are the cognitive kinds associated with word types (lexical meanings) or word tokens (ways in which words are understood/interpreted on an occasion of use). It is argued that internal meanings – whether stable or occasion-specific – have an irreducible abstract dimension for which no naturalistically plausible worldly counterpart is to be found. The experience of aboutness of the concepts intuitively encoded and expressed by words is again to be treated as a cognitive illusion, on a par with the illusion of the inherent normativity of word meaning. However, the abstract nature of internal meanings explains some of the key properties of linguistic understanding – aboutness, compositionality, co-reference – without which productive thought and linguistic communication would be impossible. The proposed account thus makes room for compositional-extensional semantics and shared understanding, as long as these are fully internalized. The connection with the external components of complete meanings is indirect, mediated by procedures whose workings are to a large extent opaque to users. The main consequence of the proposed framework is the incommensurability of internal meaning and complete meaning, and therefore a rejection of the possibility of an articulation of internal meaning and complete meaning compatible with the commonsense view from which traditional accounts of semantic deference and semantic externalism are built.Cette thèse jette les bases d’une théorie naturaliste de la signification des mots à même de rendre compte de deux intuitions en apparence conflictuelles :d’une part, l’intuition selon laquelle les significations des mots ont une existence extérieure objective et impliquent le monde (l’intuition « objectiviste ») ;d’autre part, l’intuition selon laquelle les significations sont dans la tête des locuteurs, c’est-à-dire correspondent à des réalités cognitives et perspectivales (l’intuition « mentaliste »). La contrainte naturaliste assumée dans ce projet veut que la notion syncrétique de signification que l’on cherche à développer puisse constituer un objet potentiel d’investigation pour les sciences naturelles, c’est-à-dire qu’elle soit, au moins en principe, localisable dans le monde naturel. L’intuition objectiviste est débattue dans le cadre de l’externalisme sémantique et de la théorie de la déférence sémantique. Bien que l’importance du phénomène de la déférence sémantique (le fait que les locuteurs défèrent à des standards sémantiques pour la fixation de la signification des mots qu’ils emploient) soit pleinement reconnue, l’argument poursuivi mène à la conclusion que la normativité de la signification que semble imposer la déférence sémantique ne doit pas être prise pour argent comptant, sous peine d’épouser une forme d’objectivisme de la signification incompatible avec le projet de naturalisation stricte. D’une part, l’engagement ontologique objectiviste/externaliste vis-à-vis de réalités indépendantes déterminant les significations pourrait être plus fort que les engagements ontologiques implicites des sciences naturelles elles-mêmes. D’autre part, le degré d’idéalisation propre au point de vue objectiviste le rend étrangement détaché de la pratique linguistique effective, et en définitive sans pertinence pour rendre compte de celle-ci. Cela étant dit, les théories fondées sur l’usage – pour lesquelles les significations sont déterminées par la façon dont les mots sont effectivement employés plutôt que déterminées « de l’extérieur » – sont en général critiquées pour leur incapacité à rendre compte de la normativité de la signification. La proposition que fait la thèse consiste à assumer cette conséquence d’une théorie fondée sur l’usage et à considérer la normativité intrinsèque de la signification comme une forme d’illusion cognitive, bien qu’une illusion inévitable et devant être prise au sérieux s’il s’agit d’expliquer les propriétés remarquables de la compréhension linguistique. Une théorie strictement fondée sur l’usage est viable et même capable de rendre compte de l’intuition objectiviste, une fois que cette théorie est couplée avec un fonctionnalisme biologique. Les significations « extérieures » des mots sont bien des objets naturalisables, quoique fort différents des objets apparents de nos intuitions pré-théoriques. Les significations « complètes », c’est-à-dire impliquant le monde, correspondent à des espèces fonctionnelles complexes (à la manière des organes ou des artéfacts) qui sont constituées (plutôt que déterminées) par les dispositions effectives des locuteurs et les facteurs environnementaux pertinents. En tant que telles, les significations complètes – que ce soit au niveau de la communauté linguistique (significations conventionnelles) ou au niveau du locuteur individuel (usages idiosyncrasiques) – sont fondamentalement opaques pour les locuteurs et ne peuvent être identifiées qu’à partir d’un point de vue théorique externe et sur base de considérations fonctionnelles. En outre, les facteurs environnementaux correspondant intuitivement à la notion traditionnelle de référence ou d’extension objective ne peuvent être considérés indépendamment des autres facteurs internes et relationnels constitutifs de la signification. La théorie de la signification défendue suggère donc une certaine forme d’anti-réalisme, dans lequel la référence et la vérité sont relativisées à des intérêts spécifiques produits par l’évolution naturelle. Cette théorie ne sert pour autant guère d’appui à un quelconque anti-réalisme global, car les présupposés de la normativité biologique continuent à fournir un ancrage réaliste aux significations linguistiques. Une fois cette perspective théorique sur les significations impliquant le monde adoptée, on fait la supposition que l’intuition mentaliste concerne les sous-composantes internes et cognitives des significations complètes. Les significations internes sont les espèces cognitives associées avec les types lexicaux (significations lexicales) et avec les tokens lexicaux (façons dont les mots sont compris/interprétés lorsqu’ils sont employés). Il est avancé que les significations internes – qu’elles soient stables ou propres à une occasion d’usage – ont une composante abstraite irréductible à laquelle ne correspond aucune contrepartie mondaine acceptable d’un point de vue naturaliste. L’expérience de l’ « être-à-propos » (aboutness) des concepts intuitivement encodés et exprimés par les mots doit encore une fois être considérée comme une illusion cognitive, à l’instar de l’illusion de la normativité intrinsèque de la signification. Cependant, la nature abstraite des significations internes explique certaines des propriétés centrales de la compréhension linguistique – être-à-propos, compositionnalité, co-référence – sans lesquelles la pensée productive et la communication proprement linguistique seraient impossibles. La théorie proposée fait donc une place à la sémantique compositionnelle-extensionnelle et à la compréhension partagée, pour autant que celles-ci soient complètement internalisées. La connexion avec les composantes externes des significations complètes est indirecte, médiée par des procédures dont le fonctionnement est en grande partie opaque aux utilisateurs du langage. La conséquence principale du cadre proposé est l’incommensurabilité de la signification interne et de la signification complète et, partant, le rejet de la possibilité d’une articulation entre les deux types de signification qui soit compatible avec le point de vue de sens commun à partir duquel sont construites les théories traditionnelles de la déférence sémantique et de l’externalisme sémantique. / Doctorat en Langues et lettres / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished