Ce travail, qui a été réalisé dans le cadre d'un projet européen, avait pour objectif de faire la simulation numérique de l'injection d'un alliage d'aluminium (A356) à l'état semi-solide. Pour atteindre cet objectif, nous avons travaillé sur deux principaux axes qui sont l'expérience et la simulation numérique. Sur le plan expérimental, l'objectif était de trouver une loi de comportement et ses paramètres pour caractériser le comportement de notre alliage à l'état semi-solide. Cette étude nous a conduit d'une part à passer en revue les différentes classes de loi disponibles dans la bibliographie et à utiliser une loi de comportement viscoplastique, et d'autre part à réaliser un nouveau test rhéologique, le test de l'écoulement de Stephan. Les résultats expérimentaux ont été satisfaisants et l'identification des paramètres a pu être faite, en utilisant une stratégie de type essai-erreur. Ceci nous a permis de trouver pour notre cas des paramètres en concordance avec ceux trouvés dans la bibliographie et d'obtenir un accord raisonnable entre simulation numérique et mesures sur l'ensemble des essais effectués. Sur le plan purement numérique, nous avons dans un premier temps adapté le code de calcul R3 à la mise en forme à l'état semi-solide. Ce travail nous a conduit à y introduire un module de contact matière/matière et à développer le module de contact matière/outil existant. Nous avons alors été confrontés au problème de préconditionnement de la matrice hessienne, dont le conditionnement est fortement dégradé par l'ajout de la condition de non-interpénétration du contact matière/matière. Ce problème a été résolu grâce à l'utilisation du préconditionneur par factorisation incomplète de Crout. Nous avons ensuite travaillé sur la formulation eulérienne lagrangienne arbitraire et sur la procédure de remaillage automatique. Malheureusement, ces travaux ne nous ont pas permis de pouvoir simuler jusqu'au bout le remplissage de pièces industrielles. Nous sommes alors passés dans un deuxième temps à une formulation eulérienne en utilisant le code de calcul Rem3D, initialement développé pour l'injection de thermoplastiques. Nous y avons introduit les termes d'inertie, ainsi que notre loi de comportement. Ce dernier code de calcul nous a alors permis de simuler l'injection de notre alliage d'aluminium à l'état semi-solide. Les résultats obtenus montrent une bonne concordance avec le procédé industriel et le logiciel peut constituer un outil précieux d'aide à la conception.

Cette thèse est située dans le cadre du projet FUI OASIS ayant comme objectif la modélisation d'un processus d'emboutissage optimisé. Le travail consiste essentiellement au développement des algorithmes de contact plus appropriés à ce type de mise en forme. Dans la littérature et pour plusieurs codes de calcul industriels, l'approche NTS (nœud à segment) demeure la plus utilisée pour la résolution d'un problème de contact. Dans certaine configuration, cette méthode présente des insuffisances et un manque de précision. On la remplaçant par l'approche mortier, on arrive à résoudre une gamme assez large de problèmes de contact. La méthode mortier, utilisée au initialement pour un calcul avec décomposition de domaine, a été le centre d'intérêt de plusieurs travaux de recherche pour la modélisation du contact. Dans ce travail, on va regrouper plusieurs méthodes de gestion du contact en les combinant avec l'approche mortier. L'algorithme de résolution, les éléments d'implémentation ainsi quelques exemples de validation présentant une critique des avantages et les limites de chaque techniques sont détaillés dans ce travail afin d'obtenir un support technique pour tous travail ultérieurs avec la méthode mortier. Le principal avantage de la méthode mortier se manifeste dans l'application des conditions de contact sous forme d'intégrale dans l'interface. Bien que cette méthode permette de réduire la différence des contraintes dans l'interface de contact d'un élément à un autre pour obtenir une meilleure continuité de la pression de contact, elle demeure insuffisante dans certaines applications en particulier pour les problèmes en grande déformation. Le lissage des surfaces de contact, qu'on peut appliquer par différentes techniques, présente une solution classique à ce genre de problème en mécanique de contact. L'originalité de ce travail, c'est la combinaison de l'utilisation des courbes B-Spline cubiques pour la description presque exacte de la surface de contact d'un côté avec une formulation avec l'approche mortier pour l'application des conditions de contact d'un autre côté. Cette combinaison forme un duo gagnant permettant de résoudre un problème de contact en grandes déformation. Les termes permettant l'implémentation des différentes techniques de lissage pour la résolution d'un problème de contact sont détaillés. Une attention particulière est accordée au lissage avec les B-Spline Cubiques.Tous les algorithmes détaillés dans ce travail sont implémentés dans un code maison FiEStA. C'est un code de calcul par éléments finis libre en langage C++. Certains développements concernant la loi de comportement hyper-élastique et l'intégralité du module du contact sont développés dans ce travail de thèse. / This thesis is situated in the FUI OASIS project which the objective is the modeling of an optimized stamping process. The work mainly involves the development of the most appropriate contact algorithms such formatting. In the literature and several industrial computing codes, the NTS approach (node to segment) remains the most used for the resolution of a contact problem. In certain configuration, this method has shortcomings and a lack of precision. We replacing it with mortar approach, we manage to solve a broad range of contact problems. The mortar method, used for the initial for calculation using domain decomposition, was the focus of several research projects for the modeling of the contact. In this work, we will consolidate multiple contact formulation methods in combination with mortar approach. The resolution algorithm, the elements of implementation and some examples of validation with a review of the advantages and limitations of each technique are detailed in this work in order to get technical support for subsequent work with the mortar method. The main advantage of the mortar method is in the application of the contact conditions in integral form in the interface. Although this method reduces the difference of the stresses in the contact interface of a component to another to obtain a better continuity of the contact pressure, it is still insufficient in some applications, particularly for large deformation problems. The smoothing of contact surfaces, which can be applied by various techniques, presents a classic solution to this problem in mechanical contact. The originality of this work is the combination of using cubic B-Spline curves for the almost exact description of the contact surface on one side with the use of the mortar approach to the application of the contact conditions on the other hand. This combination forms a winning combination for solving a contact problem in large deformation. The terms allowing the implementation of the different smoothing techniques for solving a problem of contact are detailed. Particular attention is paid to smoothing with Cu bic B-Spline. All algorithms detailed in this work are implemented in a house code 'Fiesta'. This is a free finite elements computer code in C ++. Some developments in the law of hyper-elastic behavior and completeness of the contact module are developed in this thesis.

In 2003, Winter, Watson, Gillman-Smith, Gilbert and Acton criticised the DSM-IV’s psychiatric conceptualisation of BPD, proposing a set of alternative descriptions based on Kelly’s (1955) Personal Construct Psychology (PCP) and diagnostic constructs. According to Winter et al. (2003), PCP offers not only a less “pre-emptive” stance towards BPD but is more clinically useful given its intrinsic implications for treatment. This correlational research study aimed to determine whether BPD symptomatology is associated with these proposed characteristics of construing. In addition, it was hypothesised that those with a belief that BPD was a part of their identity and untreatable would display higher levels of hopelessness. Ten participants with an existing diagnosis of BPD completed the following measures: a) Personal Construct Inventory (PCI; Chambers & O’Day, 1984); b) Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory, Third Edition, (MCMI-III, Millon, 1994); and c) Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS; Beck & Steer, 1988). Participants were also asked to complete a repertory grid and a Likert Scale indicating the extent of their belief that: a) BPD is an intrinsic part of them; and b) BPD is a treatable condition. Two of the participants are presented as case examples. The most significant finding related to the hypothesis that greater BPD symptomatology would be associated with a higher degree of change in self-construction over time (‘slot-rattling’). Contrary to our prediction, similarity of construing of the elements ‘Me Now’ and ‘Me in the Past’ was correlated with greater BPD symptomatology. This may indicate a belief among participants that they are unable to change or may represent Kellian hostility. Construing one’s mother and father similarly to one’s therapist was associated with greater BPD symptomatology, as was construing one’s father and partner similarly, suggesting, as hypothesised, that those diagnosed with BPD tend to construe current relationships in the same terms as early relationships. Pre-emptive construing and poorly elaborated self-construction were also found to be associated with increased BPD symptoms as predicted. Content analyses performed on elicited constructs revealed that emotion regulation is the most salient area for participants. While the majority of participants considered that BPD was a part of their identity, most were uncertain as to whether BPD is treatable although these findings were not significantly correlated with levels of hopelessness. Participants’ feedback about their experiences of being diagnosed with BPD raises important ethical questions. Further hypotheses are generated based on the study findings and suggestions are made for a revision of the way in which psychological distress is conceptualized, with a particular emphasis on the utility of the PCP approach towards BPD. Clinical implications, limitations of the study and possibilities for further research are discussed.

The study explores the role of management control systems in a strategy formulation process, this by viewing management control systems as a package and addressing its role in the Value Based Health Care (VBHC) strategy formulation process at Uppsala University Hospital. Previous studies exploring the relationship between management control systems and strategy have found the relationship to be interrelated and that management control systems can take either an interactive or diagnostic role. However, these studies are limited in their approach as they do not address management control systems as a package, thus failing to capture the importance of informal control systems and the impact separate controls have on each other. Applying a case study design using semi-structured interviews, the study partly supports the findings of earlier studies emphasizing how management control systems can be classified and used for both interactive as well as diagnostic purposes. The study however, expands the view of earlier research by emphasizing how diagnostic controls should be further classified as either enforcing or reinforcing control systems, as well as emphasizing the importance of timing for understanding the different roles of management control systems in a strategy formulation process.

Thesis (MCur)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Recent escalation of medical costs, cost containment and decreasing public funds, drew attention to the importance of formulation and evaluation of standards of nursing care. Practice experience and consultations with nurse managers indicated a great need for standards to evaluate the quality of care in the pediatric units of the big hospitals in Swaziland. A non-experimental, explorative and descriptive study was conducted in the four regional hospitals in Swaziland. Checklists were developed by the researcher to evaluate standards of care relating to the structure, process and outcome dimension of care. Structure standards refer to minimum requirements regarding the facilities, equipment, supplies, and availability of generic documents and staff. Process standards are mainly concerned with the specific nursing procedures and practices, while the Outcome standards evaluate the parents' satisfaction with the nursing care of their child, the amount of information received prior to discharge and the level of communication between the parents and the nursing staff. The most important results are: .:. None of the hospitals met the pre-set requirement to be considered as delivering a satisfactory level of care for any of the three dimensions of care . •:. Critical nursing procedures were often performed ineffectively and inefficiently . •:. Most parents viewed their communication with the nursing staff negatively. Recommendations include the development and implementation of a formalized quality improvement programme on all levels of care, auditing of records and patient care and in-service education for all personnel regarding quality care. Keywords: Quality care, formulation and evaluation of standards - pediatric patients / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die onlangse verhoging in mediese koste, kostebesparings en verminderde openbare fondse, het die aandag gevestig op die belang van formulering en evaluering van standaarde vir verpleegsorg. Praktykervaring en konsultasies met verpleegbestuurders het aangedui dat daar 'n groot behoefte bestaan vir standaarde om die gehalte van verpleegsorg in pediatriese eenhede in die groot hospitale van Swaziland, te evalueer. 'n Nie-eksperimentele, verkennende en beskrywende studie is onderneem in die vier streekshospitale in Swaziland. Kontrolelyste is deur die navorser ontwikkel om standaarde van sorg te evalueer ten opsigte van die struktuur-, proses-, en uitkomsdimensie van sorg. Struktuurstandaarde verwys na die minimum vereistes ten opsigte van die fasiliteite, toerusting en voorrade, die beskikbaarheid van generiese dokumentasie en die personeel. Prosesstandaarde hou hoofsaaklik verband met spesifieke verpleegprosedures en praktyke terwyl Uitkomsstandaarde die ouers se tevredenheid met die verpleging van hulle kind, die hoeveelheid inligting ontvang voor ontslag en die vlak van kommunikasie tussen die ouers en die verpleegpersoneel evalueer. Die belangrikste resultate is: .:. Geen hospitaal het ten opsigte van enige van die drie dimensies van sorg, aan die voorafbepaalde vereiste voldoen om beskou te word dat hulle 'n bevredigende vlak van sorg lewer nie . •:. Kritiese verpleegprosedures is dikwels oneffektief en ondoeltreffend uitgevoer. .:. Die meeste ouers het fn negatiewe siening gehad ten opsigte van die kommunikasie met die verpleegpersoneel. Aanbevelings sluit in die ontwikkeling en implementering van fn geformaliseerde gehalte verbeteringsprogram op alle vlakke van sorg, oudit van rekords en pasiëntsorg en indiensopleiding vir alle personeel ten opsigte van gehaltesorg. Sleutelwoorde: Gehaltesorg, formulering en evaluering van standaarde - pediatriese pasiënte

Microneedle (MN) enhanced drug delivery is a safe, effective and efficient enhancement method for delivery of drug molecules across the skin. The “poke (press) and patch” approach employs solid stainless steel MN to permeablize the skin prior to application of a regular drug patch over the treated area. It has been previously shown that MN can be used to deliver naltrexone (NTX) at a rate that provides plasma concentrations in the lower end of the therapeutic range in humans. The drug delivery potential of this technique is, however, limited by the re-sealing of the micropores in a 48-72h timeframe. The goal of the current research was to optimize the formulation for a 7 day MN enhanced delivery system for NTX either by adding a second active pharmacological moiety or by optimizing formulation characteristics alone. Three different formulation strategies were explored: formulation pH optimization with NTX; a codrug approach with NTX and a nonspecific cyclooxygenase inhibitor, diclofenac (DIC); and a topical/transdermal approach with NTX and an enzyme inhibitor of the cholesterol synthesis pathway, fluvastatin (FLU). The results indicated that formulation pH cannot be used to extend micropore lifetime, although formulation optimization leads to enhanced transport and thus drug delivery across MN treated skin. The codrug approach was successful in extending the micropore lifetime and further screening of codrug structures and formulation optimization helped in selection of a codrug candidate suitable for evaluation in animal pharmacokinetic studies. Local treatment with FLU helped to keep the micropores open and enabled delivery of NTX for an extended period. The pores re-sealed on removal of treatment within a 30-45 minute timeframe, indicating that infection/irritation should not be a major issue, as in the case of other topical chemical enhancers. Thus, overall it can be concluded that different formulation strategies can be utilized to extend micropore lifetime and enhance delivery of drug molecules across the skin.

With the advance of combinational chemistry and high throughput screening, an increasing number of pharmacologically active compounds have been discovered and developed. A significant proportion of those drug candidates are poorly water-soluble, thereby exhibiting limited absorption profiles after oral administration. Therefore, advanced formulation and processing technologies are demanded in order to overcome the biopharmaceutical limits of poorly water-soluble drugs. A number of pharmaceutical technologies have been investigated to address the solubility issue, such as particle size reduction, salt formation, lipid-based formulation, and solubilization. Within the scope of this dissertation, two of the pharmaceutical technologies were investigated names thin film freezing and hot-melt extrusion. The overall goal of the research was to improve the oral bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs by producing amorphous solid dispersion systems with enhanced wetting, dissolution, and supersaturation properties. In Chapter 1, the pharmaceutical applications of hot-melt extrusion technology was reviewed. The formulation and process development of hot-melt extrusion was discussed. In Chapter 2, we investigated the use of thin film freezing technology combined with template emulsion system to improve the dissolution and wetting properties of itraconazole (ITZ). The effects of formulation variables (i.e., the selection of polymeric excipients and surfactants) and process variables (i.e., template emulsion system versus cosolvent system) were studied. The physic-chemical properties and dissolution properties of thin film freezing compositions were characterized extensively. In Chapter 3 and Chapter 4, we investigated hot-melt extrusion technology for producing amorphous solid dispersion systems and improving the dissolution and absorption of ITZ. Formulation variables (i.e., the selection of hydrophilic additives, the selection of polymeric carriers) and process variables (i.e., the screw configuration of hot-melt extrusion systems) were investigated in order to optimize the performance of ITZ amorphous solid dispersions. The effects of formulation and process variables on the properties of hot-melt extrusion compositions were investigated. In vivo studies revealed that the oral administration of advanced ITZ amorphous solid dispersion formulations rendered enhanced oral bioavailability of the drug in the rat model. Results indicated that novel formulation and processing technologies are viable approaches for enhancing the oral absorption of poorly water-soluble drugs. / text

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Thesis (M.M. (Public and Development Management))--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, Graduate School of Public and Development Management, 2015. / Development aid plays a significant role on the African continent in a number of ways which include, but is not limited to, financing budget deficits, conflict resolution and humanitarian assistance. South Africa, China, India and Brazil are among the “four main South powers” emerging on the global scene with aid policies designed at providing development aid to African Countries [Tjønneland, 2013: 1]. This study has examined the establishment and implementation of the African Renaissance and International Co-operation Fund (ARF) by analysing the policy processes that led to its creation and operation, from 2000 to 2009. The principle behind the development of such an act was South Africa’s desire to show its commitment in assisting in resolving Africa’s socio-economic challenges that impede development in Africa. ARF has suffered inconsistency in policy making and implementation. The study has found that the challenges in ARF policy processes were attributed to governance issues, issues of accountability, temptation to be used as a state fund for political interest, weakness in the institutional framework, absence of autonomy in management, absence of monitoring and evaluation, political power and poor administration systems.

No description available.