In this work, the application of boron-doped diamond electrodes with various surface pre- treatment were tested on selected oxidizable and reducible model compounds, specifically para and ortho cresols and 2'-deoxycytidine and 7-deazaadenosine labeled by 4-nitrophenyl triazole. The aim of the study was the investigation of electrochemical and adsorptive processes with respect to the development of electroanalytical methods of detection of the selected compounds, or utilization of boron-doped diamond electrodes as detectors in liquid-flow systems. Cresols were used as the model oxidizable compound. On O-terminated and polished boron- doped diamond electrodes, cresols provide oxidation signal owing to their oxidation to methylphenoxy radical at comparable potentials as on other carbon-based electrodes used as a reference in this work, i.e., glassy carbon electrode, pyrolytic graphite electrode, and carbon paste electrode. These carbon electrode materials show relatively high propensity to adsorption of reaction products, while such adsorption is minimal on boron-doped diamond. In situ anodic activation allows for a rapid regeneration of boron-doped diamond surface prior to each scan. A differential pulse voltammetric method that was developed with a detection limit of 0.61 mol∙l-1 to 2.97 mol∙l-1...

<p>Minimum cycle mean (MCM) is an important concept in directed graphs. From clock period optimization, timing analysis to layout optimization, minimum cycle mean algorithms have found widespread use in VLSI system design optimization. With transistor size scaling to 10nm and below, complexities and size of the systems have grown rapidly over the last decade. Scalability of the algorithms both in terms of their runtime and memory usage is therefore important. </p> <p><br></p> <p>Among the few classical MCM algorithms, the algorithm by Young, Tarjan, and Orlin (YTO), has been particularly popular. When implemented with a binary heap, the YTO algorithm has the best runtime performance although it has higher asymptotic time complexity than Karp's algorithm. However, as an efficient implementation of YTO relies on data redundancy, its memory usage is higher and could be a prohibitive factor in large size problems. On the other hand, a typical implementation of Karp's algorithm can also be memory hungry. An early termination technique from Hartmann and Orlin (HO) can be directly applied to Karp's algorithm to improve its runtime performance and memory usage. Although not as efficient as YTO in runtime, HO algorithm has much less memory usage than YTO. We propose several improvements to HO algorithm. The proposed algorithm has comparable runtime performance to YTO for circuit graphs and dense random graphs while being better than HO algorithm in memory usage. </p> <p><br></p> <p>Minimum balancing of a directed graph is an application of the minimum cycle mean algorithm. Minimum balance algorithms have been used to optimally distribute slack for mitigating process variation induced timing violation issues in clock network. In a conventional minimum balance algorithm, the principal subroutine is that of finding MCM in a graph. In particular, the minimum balance algorithm iteratively finds the minimum cycle mean and the corresponding minimum-mean cycle, and uses the mean and cycle to update the graph by changing edge weights and reducing the graph size. The iterations terminate when the updated graph is a single node. Studies have shown that the bottleneck of the iterative process is the graph update operation as previous approaches involved updating the entire graph. We propose an improvement to the minimum balance algorithm by performing fewer changes to the edge weights in each iteration, resulting in better efficiency.</p> <p><br></p> <p>We also apply the minimum cycle mean algorithm in latency insensitive system design. Timing violations can occur in high performance communication links in system-on-chips (SoCs) in the late stages of the physical design process. To address the issues, latency insensitive systems (LISs) employ pipelining in the communication channels through insertion of the relay stations. Although the functionality of a LIS is robust with respect to the communication latencies, such insertion can degrade system throughput performance. Earlier studies have shown that the proper sizing of buffer queues after relay station insertion could eliminate such performance loss. However, solving the problem of maximum performance buffer queue sizing requires use of mixed integer linear programming (MILP) of which runtime is not scalable. We formulate the problem as a parameterized graph optimization problem where for every communication channel there is a parameterized edge with buffer counts as the edge weight. We then use minimum cycle mean algorithm to determine from which edges buffers can be removed safely without creating negative cycles. This is done iteratively in the similar style as the minimum balance algorithm. Experimental results suggest that the proposed approach is scalable. Moreover, quality of the solution is observed to be as good as that of the MILP based approach.</p><p><br></p>

The purpose of this research study is to determine the factors influencing reproductive health choices of women living with HIV attending primary health care services. The need for this research study is evident in that most women attending health care services at primary health care clinics, and who are HIV positive report unintended pregnancy. The study sought to provide answers to factors influencing their reproductive choices. A quantitative, descriptive and cross-sectional research study was used in this study. The sample consisted of 83 females between the ages of 18 and 40. The findings of the research study provided the researcher with adequate evidence on the factors influencing reproductive health choices of women living with HIV attending primary health care services. The approach to reproductive health services was still acceptable but needs to be improved. Moreover, the identified factors therefore influenced one’s perceptions on reproductive health decisions among HIV-infected women. / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

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Several interesting findings emerged from this study. First, strong labour movements still failed to successfully bargain for employment protections due to resistance from employers to encroachments on their institutionalized managerial prerogatives. Second, governments favoured a policy of abstentionism and acquiescence to the collective-laissez-faire tradition until the critical juncture of the 1960s and 1970s. Third, the increasing power resources of trade unions and a deteriorating socio-economic climate created a window of opportunity for bold government action to improve industrial relations, albeit without the consent of employers, and at first, unions. Fourth, contrary to the liberalizing pressures one would expect to find in an archetypical free market economy, the UK has implemented far more statutory protections than deregulatory reforms. Fifth, in contrast to its traditional non-intervention in industrial relations and reputation for worker-protective regulations, Swedish governments have enacted numerous statutes, both restricting and freeing managerial prerogatives in the hiring and firing process. Sixth, statutory employment protections became an independent set of institutional power resources for unions in the long run, serving their organizational and representational interests in important ways. Seventh, unions and left parties consistently defended and advanced the policy preferences of their core constituencies in secure employment by privileging the job security of regular contracts. Eighth, employers and parties on the right of the political spectrum consistently opposed restrictions on the managerial capacity to hire and fire at will, especially for small businesses. Nineth, to increase flexibility without threatening the stability of regular contracts, reforms over the years had to foster atypical forms of work, creating a regulatory gap between permanent and temporary employment, particularly in Sweden. Tenth, differences exist between job security in the statute books and job security in action, particularly in the UK where this gap pervades all aspects of the unfair dismissal system. These findings suggest employment protection legislation has developed in ways far more complex, dynamic and contradictory than is commonly assumed by prominent theories of comparative political economy. / Dissertation / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / This thesis examines how and why employment protection legislation developed in the United Kingdom and Sweden in the ways that it did from its early beginnings to the present period. It hopes to offer answers to questions about the initial impetus for statutory regulation, the number, content and impact of significant legislative changes and the preferences of key stakeholders with material interests in the policymaking process. It does this by drawing on a variety of both primary and secondary source materials, including employment protection databases, parliamentary records and research publications. At the same time, it assesses the explanatory merit of dominant theories in the political economy literature by testing them against voluminous empirical evidence and provides a multi-factorial account to fill the gaps in the existing body of knowledge.

With power generation and consumption placed further away from each other, with for example increased offshore power production, the need for HVDC transmission systems increases. As voltage levels in the HVDC transmission system are raised, the losses can be decreased, enabling efficient power transfer over longer distances. Such an increase in voltage levels comes with questions regarding insulation performance due to increased electrical field stress in high voltage apparatus, particularly in and around cable terminations. Thus, physical measurements of electrical fields or voltage potentials in air are of interest to improve the understanding of the electrical fields around cable terminations as well as to verify and develop simulation models for use at ultra high voltage. In this thesis, different measurement systems and sensors for electrical field measurements are investigated, and their benefits and drawbacks are compared to a known previously implemented reference measurement system with known strengths and limitations. Two new conceptual measurement systems with a sensor concept and positioning system are developed and proposed for a set of given conditions, such as measurement around cable terminations in air. The first proposed system is based on a shutter field mill sensor placed on variable electric potential. The second system is based on the reference system's sensor design modified to remove the need for a large positioning system. The feasibility of the two measurement systems is investigated further utilizing a COMSOL model and a mechanical prototype. The simulation model is used for electrical field simulations around cable terminations in a 2D-axisymmetric geometry as well as a 3D geometry to verify the first measurement system. The mechanical prototype is utilized to test and verify the possibility of implementing the second system's positioning system. The two final proposed measurement systems can be further developed and used as a foundation for a future implemented measurement system. / Ökad elproduktion i form av exempelvis vindkraftsverk placerade till havs leder till elproduktion och konsumtion placerad med större avstånd från varandra, vilket skapar ett behov av HVDC transmissionssystemm. Genom att höja spänningsnivåerna i transmissionssystemet kan förluster minskar, vilket möjligör effektiv kraftöverföring över längre avstånd. En sådan ökning av spänningsnivåerna i transmissionssystemet kommer med obesvarade frågor angående isoleringsprestanda i högspänningsutrustningen på grund av en höjd elektrisk stress, med särskilt intresse gällande påverkan på kabelavslut. Därför är fysiska mätningar av elektriska fält eller potentialer i luft av intresse för att förbättra förståelsen av det elektriska fältet kring kabelavslut, samt att verifiera och utveckla simuleringsmodeller för användning vid ultrahög spänningspotentialer. I detta examensarbete har olika mätsystem och sensorer för elektriska fältmätningar utredits och deras fördelar och nackdelar jämförts med ett känt tidigare implementerat rereferensmätsystem med kända styrkor och begränsningar. Två nya konceptuella mätsystem med sensorkoncept med tillhörande positioneringssystem utvecklas och föreslås för en uppsättning givna förhållanden, som t.ex mätning kring kabelavslutningar i luft. Det första föreslagna systemet är baserat på en fältkvarnssensor placerad på variabel elektrisk potential. De andra systemet är baserat på referenssystemets sensordesign modifierad för att ta bort behovet av ett stort positioneringssystem. Genomförbarheten av de två mätsystem undersöks vidare med användning av en COMSOL-modell och en mekanisk prototyp. Simuleringsmodellen används för elektriska fält simuleringar kring ett kabelavslut i en 2D-axelsymmetrisk geometri samt i en 3D-geometri för att verifiera det första mätsystemet. Mekaniska prototypen används för att testa och verifiera möjligheten att implementera andra systemets positioneringssystem. De två föreslagna mätsystemen kan vidareutvecklas och användas som en grund för ett framtida implementerat mätsystem.

Contraceptives are available free of charge throughout South Africa. Nevertheless the number of requests for termination of pregnancy (TOP) services continues to increase. This research investigated challenges preventing women from using contraceptives effectively. Structured interviews were conducted with 47 women who requested TOP services. Gender and financial issues posed challenges for some women to access contraceptives as well as their reported inability to access contraceptives. Most (85,5%) of the respondents used contraceptives. They discontinued using contraceptives because they experienced side-effects, necessitating them to request TOPs. Knowledge about, access to, nor the actual use of contraceptive enabled these women to prevent unwanted pregnancies. More effective counselling about the side-effects of contraceptives and enhanced accessibility of contraceptives during weekends and lunch breaks could enable more women to prevent unwanted pregnancies and reduce the number of requests for TOPs in the Gert Sibande District (Mpumalanga). / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

The aim of this study was to describe the nurses‘ perception of termination of pregnancy and her perception of her conduct towards clients that request termination of pregnancy guided by Kings‘ Systems Approach and Goal Attainment Theory. A non-experimental quantitative descriptive correlational design was used. A non-probability purposive sampling method was used consisting of institutions in the Western Cape, available to participate in this study, which deliver termination of pregnancy services, gov ernment health care institutions (21) and Marie Stopes clinics (3). Non-probability convenience sampling was used consisting of registered nurses who are working in termination of pregnancy units in these facilities (N=82). Data were collected through the administration of a self-designed questionnaire. The main findings of the study indicate that respondents (personal system) appear to feel positive about the work they are doing. Formal improvement and development are however not utilised optimally. Regarding the interpersonal system, respondents also show a positive orientation to both the woman opting for termination of pregnancy and the foetus. The potential towards transaction and ultimately goal attainment reside within this system. The respondents are also positive about legislation, employers and policies (social system) relating to termination of pregnancy. This orientation creates a milieu that is conducive to transactions, interactions and goal attainment.The main recommendation is that three systems as proposed by King be continuously integrated within the termination of pregnancy setup through, amongst other measures: values clarification, management support, in service education, the inclusion of termination of pregnancy in undergraduate programmes, focus groups and the like. / Die doel van hierdie studie was om die verpleegkundige se persepsie van terminasie van swangerskap en haar persepsie van haar houding en gedrag teenoor kliёnte wat terminasie van swangerskap versoek, aan die hand van King se Sisteembenadering en Doelwitbereikingsteorie te ondersoek en te beskryf. `n Nie-eksperimentele kwantitatiewe beskrywende korrelasie navorsingsontwerp was gebruik. `n Nie-waarskynlike doelbewuste-steekproefneming van die staatsgesondheidsorg-instansies wat terminasie van swangerskapdienste aanbied, is geneem en wat beskikbaar vir hierdie studie was (21) asook die Marie Stopesdienste (3), in die Wes-Kaap. `n Nie-waarskynlike gerieflikheidsteekproefneming is van verpleegkundiges geneem wat swangerskappe in hierdie afdelings termineer of moet termineer (N=82). Data is met behulp van `n selfontwerpte vraelys ingesamel. Die hoofbevindings van die studie dui daarop dat respondente (persoonlike sisteem) positief voel oor hul werk. Formele ontwikkelingshulpbronne word egter nie optimaal deur die sisteem benut nie. Wat die interpersoonlike sisteem betref, toon respondente ook ‗n positiewe oriëntasie tot beide die vrou wat terminasie van swangerskap aanvra en die fetus. Die potensiaal tot transaksie-sluiting en uiteindelike doelwitbereiking is binne hierdie sisteem geleë. Die respondente is ook positief oor wetgewing en die werkgewer en beleid (sosiale siteem) ten opsigte van terminasie van swangerskap. Hierdie oriëntering laat ‗n milieu wat bevorderlik is vir transaksie-sluiting, interaksie en doelwitbereiking. Die hoofaanbeveling is dat voortdurend gepoog moet word na die integrasie van King se drie sisteme binne die terminasie van swangerskapafdelings deur onder meer: waarde-uitklaringswerkswinkels, ondersteuning van bestuur, indiensopleiding, die insluiting van terminasie van swangerskap in voorgraadse kurrikula, fokusgroepe en so meer. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Gesondheidstudies)

Les distributeurs sont des intermédiaires économiques car ils offrent sur le marché des produits ou services conçus, fabriqués ou exécutés par d’autres (les fournisseurs). Cette recherche démontre que le degré de protection accordé par le droit positif aux différents distributeurs n’est pas corrélé à leur degré de dépendance aux fournisseurs. Les qualifications de la dépendance sont multiples, incertaines, incohérentes et parfois artificiellement restrictives ou extensives, en droit du travail comme en droit économique. Des distributeurs connaissant un même degré de dépendance à leur fournisseur peuvent être traités de façon différente sans justification au regard des fondements des règles considérées. Il existe ainsi des inégalités de traitement. Il est donc proposé un nouveau droit de la dépendance des distributeurs, plus cohérent et égalitaire. Celui-ci se traduirait par un statut légal des distributeurs remplaçant les multiples statuts spéciaux existants, traçant une frontière plus nette avec le droit du travail et conciliant les intérêts des distributeurs avec la liberté des fournisseurs d’organiser la distribution de leurs produits et services. Dépassant la notion trop restrictive de contrat et les conflits de qualification, ce statut viserait la relation de distribution et prévoirait un régime appréhendant la complexité et l’évolutivité de la dépendance des distributeurs grâce à l’information, à une garantie de revenus et différentes indemnités de fin de relation. / Distributors are economic intermediaries because they offer on the market goods and services produced or served by others (the suppliers). This research demonstrates that the degree of protection offered by the Law to the various distributors isn’t correlated with their degree of dependence towards suppliers. The qualifications of dependence are numerous, incoherent and sometimes artificially restrictive or extensive, in labour law as in business law. Distributors experiencing a same degree of dependence towards their supplier can be treated differently without any justification regarding the grounds of the rules in question. Hence, appear inequalities towards the Law. Therefore, new legal rules are suggested. They would take the form of a statute ruling distributors and replacing the numerous statutes in force at the present time. It would draw a clearer line between labour law and business law and conciliate the distributors’ interests with the freedom of suppliers to organize the distribution of their goods and services. Going other the too restrictive notion of contact and the conflicts between qualifications, this statute would rule the relation of distribution and contain rules comprehending the complex and changing nature of dependence. It would ensure sufficient information of distributors and offer them an income guarantee and various compensations when the relation is terminated.