Improving on our construction practices to promote sustainable development in engineering and to promote eco-friendly living is vital in the fight against global warming and associated problems. This study looked at one of the ways in which engineering can contribute to this fight through promoting the recycling of waste by-products such as fly ash (FA), on a larger scale in the cement and concrete industry, by utilizing the FA to the optimum. In this study concrete mixes of 25 MPa, 35 MPa and 50 MPa with FA partially substituting the cement at 30%, 40%, 50% and 60% were produced and numerous tests were performed to determine the optimum amount of FA that can be used and still obtain better or comparable concrete to ordinary concrete. Testing for concrete properties was conducted under laboratory conditions over a period of one year. In addition, a cost comparison between ordinary concrete and FA concrete was undertaken. The results obtained show that the increase in FA content influenced the rheological properties of fresh concrete favorable. The recorded slump increased with the increase of FA content. Increasing the FA content prolonged the setting of concrete, with the ordinary concrete taking 1 hour 45 min to set, compared to more than 2 hours for FA mixes. The FA increase had negligible effects on the air content of the concrete mixes. The drying shrinkage of concrete increased with the increase of FA content, with the strain ranging from 0,045% to 0,56%. The compressive strength results show that the control mixes with 30% FA content attained the highest compressive strength over a year. In some cases, the 40% FA strength was compatible to the 30% FA strength. The durability index results showed the control mix of 30% FA attaining better results for Oxygen Permeability Index and Sorptivity Index, with the 40% FA mix following closely. The higher FA content mixes (50% and 60%) attained better Chloride Conductivity results than the lower FA content mixes. Increasing the FA content does affect the performance of the concrete at early stages, however concrete with acceptable strength and good durability qualities can be produced even with 50% FA volume. Increasing the FA content can also significantly reduce the cost of producing and working with concrete. The practice of utilizing higher FA content in concrete can be beneficial for the South African cement and concrete industry without compromising the quality of the cement products concrete structures. / M

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This Master's Thesis focuses on the creation of business plan for the establishment of travel agency specialized in outbound tourism. The theoretical part introduces readers with the most definitions in such fields like business, business plan, legislation related to the travel agencies and principal definitions of tourism. The practical part proceeds from the knowledge gained in theoretical part and introduces the real business plan and verify feasibility of establishment and viability in the Czech travel agencies market. Evaluation of business plan viability was made by financial analysis, composition of SWOT analysis and calculation of break even point.

Global concrete production is increasing, which brings some environmental burden. A certain solution is the use of secondary raw materials, which has been a long-standing practice in the construction industry. One of the most widespread secondary raw materials is power fly ash. However, in recent years trends have been directed towards maximizing their utility properties. The aim of this work was to study the possibilities of activation of power plant fly ash as an active admixture in concrete. The thesis is divided into two parts, the theoretical and the practical part. The theoretical part describes in detail the possibilities of power plant fly ash activation for use as an active admixture in concrete. The practical part of the thesis is focused on mechanical activation, where the knowledge of the theoretical part is verified on various fly ash.

This thesis deals with the issue of influence of storage conditions on the quality of conventional fly ashes which are produced by combustion of lignite. These ashes were stockpiled for long time. A borehole for sampling was made in the fly ash stock-pile. Total depth of the borehole was 20 m. Samples of fly ashes taken from every single meter were analyzed and next mechanical properties and the volume stability of materials containing these fly ashes were tested. The quality of fly ashes especially with respect to the possibility to use them as components of pastes, mortars and concretes as pozzolanic admixture or fine filler was evaluated.

Memoria para optar al título de Geógrafo / En la comuna de El Quisco en la Región de Valparaíso, como en la mayoría de las comunas del país, no son ajenas las complicaciones que conlleva la gestión de los residuos, dichas complicaciones radican en el problema del florecimiento de microbasurales en diversos sectores del territorio comunal, que poseen ciertas características geográficas, sociales o sectoriales que pueden explicar su localización mediante el uso de los SIG. Sin embargo, la situación de los microbasurales no solo tienen explicaciones de su generación, sino que también suelen generar conflictos en la comunidad, el sector público y sectorialmente, como sucede con el turismo, principalmente en épocas estivales. Estos conflictos suelen expresarse de diversas formas y en distintas plataformas, pero tienden a invisibilizarse producto de la normalidad y de la cotidianeidad que estos han adquirido a través de los años y de la poca cultura ambiental que posee gran parte de la población nacional. De acuerdo a la ubicación, al tamaño, y a la población que habita los lugares donde se producen, algunos casos pueden generar tal cantidad de problemas graves, que se puede hablar de los microbasurales como generadores de un conflicto socioambiental. / In the commune of El Quisco in the Región de Valparaíso, as in most of the country's municipalities, are no stranger, the complications that involves the management of waste, this complications lies in the problem of the flowering of illegal dumping of waste in various sectors of the communal territory. Geography, social or sectoral networks can explain their location through the use of GIS. However, the situation of the illegal dumping of waste not only have explanations of their generation, but also often generate conflicts in the community, the public sector and sectorally, as it happens with tourism, mainly in the summer. These conflicts are usually a way of expressing the different forms and different platforms, but also a product of normality and everyday life that has been acquired over the years and the little environmental culture that has a large part of the national population. According to the location, the size, and the population that inhabits the places where they are produced, some cases can generate such amount of serious problems, that can talk about the fly-dumping as a socio-environmental conflict.

Structural and functional changes in the macroinvertebrate community of a fly ash receiving stream were investigated during the final year of fly ash basin operation and for 10 months after fly ash discharges to the stream were terminated. Minimal changes were observed in the benthic community until the basin reached 77% of capacity, at which time the number of macroinvertebrate taxa, density of organisms, diversity, and relative abundance of Ephemeroptera all declined sharply. Ephemeroptera (mayflies) exhibited the greatest sensitivity to the fly ash effluent, while the beetle, Psephenus herricki (Coleoptera) was very resistant to the effects of fly ash. Recovery responses of the macroinvertebrate community were observed one month after fly ash discharges to the stream ended, while full recovery required 10 months. Based on the results of the field study, the toxicity of fly ash constituents (fly ash particulates, pH excursions, and heavy metals) was examined in three species of aquatic insects: Stenonema pudicum (Ephemeroptera), Hydropsyche slossonae (Trichoptera), and Psephenus herricki. Fly ash particulates were not acutely toxic to the three species at concentrations of 4000 mg/l. Stenonema pudicum was consistently the most sensitive species to acidic and alkaline pH extremes and heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Zn, and a metal mixture), while Psephenus herricki was consistently the most resistant species tested. Alkaline pH extremes and elevated heavy metal concentrations are believed to be responsible for the observed changes in the macroinvertebrate community of the receiving stream during the final two months of basin operation, while elevated heavy metal concentrations were responsible for earlier perturbation of the stream community. / Ph. D.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly), Ceratitis capitata, is a highly invasive species throughout the world and considered as one of the most successful agricultural and economical pests. The increase of global trade in fruit and human travel combined with the biology of the medfly has allowed the species to spread from its proposed Afrotropical origin, to a number of locations throughout the world. In the Western Cape various control strategies have been implemented to control medfly populations, including insecticides and more environmentally-friendly techniques such as the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT). In order to be effective, however, an SIT program requires some knowledge of the population structure and the movement of individuals between pest-occupied sites. The identification of sites from which re-invasion is most likely to occur and knowledge regarding the primary routes through which pests are likely to re-establish are critical to ensure successful SIT programmes. To provide this important information to SIT and area-wide pest control programs in South Africa, sampling at two different spatial scales (regional- and fine-scale) in South Africa was undertaken. Regional scale sampling was done at 13 locations in the Western Cape and fine scale sampling was done at 13 locations within the Ceres-valley. All individuals were genotyped at 11 polymorphic microsatellite markers and selected individuals from the regional scale were sequenced for the mitochondrial gene COI. Our results show that populations at regional- and fine-scale in the Western Cape are characterized by high levels of genetic diversity (HEregional = 0.805; HEfine = 0.803). Little or weak population differentiation was detected at the regional- and fine-scales, suggesting overall high levels of gene flow among sampling locations. These findings were supported by coalescent based methods indicating sufficient levels of gene flow to prevent population differentiation between neighbouring (200m) and distant (350km) populations. However, natural dispersal in C. capitata has been shown to rarely exceed 10 km. As such, high levels of gene flow between distant populations are more likely the result of humanmediated dispersal, linked to the movement of fresh produce within South Africa. This high level of gene flow has important implications for pest management practices, as my results suggests that area-wide pest management should be undertaken at a regional scale, rather than on a farm or valley scale. My results are placed within a management framework, and I argue for more stringent control when fruit are transported within South Africa. Of particular interest for future studies is the investigation of gene flow at broader spatial scales (i.e. the whole of South Africa) and a comparison of the genetic diversity, population differentiation and gene flow patterns of C. capitata with that of Ceratitis rosa will be important to establish a successful pest management strategy in South Africa. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Mediterreense vrugtevlieg (medvlieg), Ceratitis capitata, is ‘n indringerspesie wêreldwyd en word beskou as een van die mees suksesvolle ekonomiese en landbou peste. Die medvlieg het ‘n Afrotropiese oorsprong, maar die toename in wêreldwye handel en reis, gekombineer met die biologie van die medvlieg het gelei tot die verspreiding van die spesie na ‘n groot aantal bestemmings regoor die wêreld. Die Wes-Kaap provinsie van Suid-Afrika implementeer tans verskeie strategieë om medvlieg bevolkings te beheer. Hierdie strategieë sluit in die gebruik van plaagdoders sowel as meer omgewingsvriendelike tegnieke soos die Steriele Insektegniek (SIT). Om ‘n effektiewe SIT program te implementeer vereis basiese kennis ten opsigte van die genetiese struktuur van die bevolking sowel as van die beweging van individue tussen verskillende pesvoorkomsgebiede. Die identifisering van areas van waar herkolonisering mees waarskynlik kan plaasvind en kennis in verband met die primêre roetes waardeur pes spesies hervestig, is van kritiese belang om ‘n suksesvolle SIT program te verseker. Medvlieg individue is op twee verskillende ruimtelike skale (streeks- en plaaslike-skaal) versamel om die nodige inligting aan SIT en area-wye pes beheer programme in Suid-Afrika te verskaf. Streeks-skaal individue is by 13 lokaliteite regoor die Wes-Kaap versamel en plaaslike-skaal individue by 13 lokaliteite in die Ceres-vallei. Alle versamelde individue is vir 11 polimorfiese mikrosatelliet merkers gegenotipeer en DNS volgordebepaling van geselekteerde individue vanuit die streek-skaal is gedoen vir die mitochondriale geen COI. My resultate toon dat bevolkings op beide skale gekarakteriseer word deur hoë vlakke van genetiese diversiteit (HEstreeks = 0.805; HEplaaslik = 0.803) en geen of swak bevolkings differensiasie. Hierdie resultate dui daarop dat daar hoë vlakke van geenvloei tussen bevolkings is. Hierdie bevindinge word verder ondersteun deur metodes gebaseer op die statistiese eienskappe van die genealogiese verhouding tussen allele onder sekere mutasie en demografiese modelle, wat voldoende vlakke van geenvloei aandui tussen nabye (200m) sowel as verafgeleë (350km) bevolkings om bevolkings differensiasie te verhoed. Natuurlike beweging in C. capitata is egter selde meer as 10 km, sodanig kan die hoë vlakke van geenvloei toegeskryf word aan die verspreiding van individue met menslike hulp, spesifiek in die vervoer van varsprodukte in Suid-Afrika. Hierdie hoë vlak van geenvloei het verreikende implikasies vir pes beheer praktyke, omdat my resultate voorstel dat area-wye pes beheer onderneem moet word op ‘n streeks-skaal eerder as op ‘n plaas-tot-plaas of vallei wye area. Ek plaas my resultate in ‘n bestuursraamwerk, waarin ek streng beheer van vrugtevervoer in Suid-Afrika beklemtoon. Verdere navorsing moet fokus op die ondersoek van geenvloei op ‘n landswye skaal (hele Suid-Afrika) in C. capitata, sowel as die vergelyking van die genetiese diversiteit, bevolkings differensiasie en geenvloei patrone van C. capitata met die van Ceratitis rosa om ‘n suksesvolle pes beheer strategie vir Suid-Afrika te formuleer.

Os experimentos de campo foram realizados em 2002 e 2003 em três pomares no município de Monte Alegre do Sul, SP, representados por uma coleção de linhagens de goiabeiras (janeiro a abril), uma coleção de cultivares de nespereiras (agosto a setembro) e uma coleção de cultivares de pessegueiros (setembro a outubro). Nos ensaios de infestação, foram utilizadas três linhagens de goiaba (Guanabara, L7P28 e 252), duas cultivares de nêspera (Precoce Campinas e a Precoce 264-54) e três cultivares de pêssego (Aurora 2, Dourado 1 e Régis). Para a determinação do período de infestação, aplicou-se o processo de ensacamento e desensacamento quinzenal e semanal da goiaba e nêspera, respectivamente, e apenas o ensacamento semanal no pêssego. Cada experimento iniciou-se com os frutos ainda no início de seu desenvolvimento (frutos verdes). Para o processo de desensacamento, no início dos experimentos foram ensacados 500 e 400 frutos de goiaba e nêspera, respectivamente. Em cada ensaio, desde o início (frutos verdes pequenos) até a completa maturação, quinzenalmente (goiaba) ou semanalmente (nêspera e pêssego) foi ensacada/desensacada uma amostra de 30 frutos, os comprimentos e diâmetro eram mensurados e retirava-se amostras para realização das análises físico-químicas em laboratório. Após o completo amadurecimento, os frutos foram colhidos e levados ao laboratório, onde foram pesados, medidos os diâmetro e comprimento e depois acondicionados individualmente em copos plásticos com areia+vermiculita até aproximadamente a metade e cobertos com "voil" preso com fita elástica. Para o conhecimento da flutuação populacional das moscas, foram instaladas três armadilhas modelo McPhail com torula (atraente alimentar) em cada pomar, de janeiro/2002 a janeiro/2004. Das moscas-das-frutas originadas dos frutos, foram identificadas cinco espécies de tefritídeos e oito espécies de lonqueídeos. Os parasitóides emergidos foram das famílias Braconidae e Figitidae, representados por cinco espécies de cada uma. Ceratitis capitata apresentou comportamento sazonal com picos populacionais durante o segundo semestre. Verificou-se que a população de moscas-das-frutas (Anastrepha spp. e lonqueídeos) se mantém na área dos pomares (goiaba, nêspera e pêssego) durante o ano todo. Os três hospedeiros sofreram o ataque de moscas-das-frutas nos seus primeiros estádios de desenvolvimento, a partir de 2 cm de diâmetro. Ao longo do desenvolvimento, em todos os hospedeiros (goiaba, nêspera e pêssego), a infestação foi ascendente, apresentando as maiores elevações no final do amadurecimento. Os parâmetros físicos (tamanho, firmeza, brix e cor) mostraram-se mais confiáveis para o prognóstico da suscetibilidade do fruto ao ataque das moscas-das-frutas do que os parâmetros químicos (pH, acidez e umidade) para todos os hospedeiros. Os aspectos ecológicos da infestação dos frutos pela moscas-das-frutas e a relação tritrófica (parasitóide/mosca/fruto) foram discutidos. / Field experiments were conducted in three orchards in Monte Alegre do Sul, SP, each containing either a collection of strains of peach (September to October), guava (January to April) or loquat (August to September), during 2002 and 2003. Three strains of guava (Guanabara, L7P28 and 252), two of loquat (Precoce Campinas and Precoce 264-54) and three of peach (Aurora 2, Dourado 1 and Régis) were used for infestation assessment. Guava and loquat fruits were bagged and unbagged biweekly and weekly, respectively, for the assessment of the infestation period and only weekly for the peach. In all cases, fruits were bagged at the beginning of their development, while still green. A sample of 30 bagged fruits were unbagged weekly (loquat and peach) or biweekly (guava) until fruits were completely ripe, from a total of 500 (guava) and 400 (loquat) fruits. Fruits were measured and a sample was taken for physicochemical analysis. Fruits were harvested once they were ripe, taken to the laboratory, weighted and measured. They were placed into plastic cups half-filled with sand and covered with a fine fabric to allow for field-collected fly development. Three McPhail traps containing Torula yeast (food attractant) were hung from January/2002 to January/2004 to assess the population fluctuation of fruit flies in each orchard. Five tephritids and eight lonchaeids species emerged from field-collected fruits maintained in the lab. Five species each of braconid and figitid fruit fly parasitoids were also observed emerging from these fruits. Ceratitis capitata showed a sazonal behavior with population density peaking at the second semester. It was also observed that Anastrepha spp. and lonchaeids remained in the orchards throughout the year. All three host fruits larger than 2 cm in diameter were infested by fruit flies at the early stages of development. Fruit infestation increased in all orchards as fruit development occurred with the highest infestation level observed at the end of the ripening. Physical parameters, such as size, firmness, brix and color were more reliable in estimating fruit susceptibility to fruit-flies than the chemical parameters evaluated (pH, acidity and humidity) for all three host fruits. The ecological aspects of the infestation of fruits by fruit flies and the tritrophic interactions (parasitoid/fruit fly/fruit) were discussed.

This report describes a 3 year study carried out to determine the effects of modern coal power generation technologies on the properties of fly ash and how these may affect the use of the material in concrete. A total of 18 fly ashes, from 11 different sources, produced under a range of conditions and technologies were investigated. These primarily included co-combustion, low NOx, supercritical and oxy-fuel technologies, although other available materials (run-of-station, air-classified, processed and stockpiled fly ashes) were included for comparison. The initial experimental work involved physical and chemical characterization of the fly ash samples. Thereafter, tests covering fresh properties, strength development and durability were carried out on selected concretes. A fly ash level of 30% was used with w/c ratios covering the practical range considered (0.35 to 0.65). Equal strength comparisons were also made where appropriate. Finally, granular (unbound fly ash) and monolithic (fly ash concrete) leaching tests were carried out to assess the environmental implications of using the fly ashes. The results from the physical and chemical characterization tests suggest that modern technologies used for coal fired power generation can have an influence on the properties of fly ash produced. The co-combustion, oxy-fuel and in-combustion low NOx fly ashes had reduced fineness and greater LOI, which had a negative effect on foam index and water requirement of the materials. However reactivity was largely unaffected. The post-combustion low NOx and supercritical fly ashes appeared to be unaffected by their production methods compared to that produced by conventional/establish means. Tests on fresh concrete properties showed that fly ashes with high LOI and low fineness required higher SP doses than the reference PC concrete. However, fly ashes with high fineness and low surface area were found to require a lower SP dose than the PC concrete. The concrete compressive strength tests indicate that, in general, finer fly ash concretes tended to have higher strengths than those containing coarser material. However, there did not appear to be any significant difference in performance between fly ash concretes, which suggests that, although modern technologies can have an impact on fly ash properties, if account is taken of these they should not have any significant influence on strength development. Comparison with an earlier study from the 1990s considering BS EN 450-1 fly ashes showed general agreement between the data. The durability study showed that finer, low LOI fly ashes had higher chloride resistance and at equal strength fly ash concretes performed better than those with PC. Equal strength fly ash concretes covering the modern technologies were found to have similar levels of durability for sulfate attack, abrasion and carbonation. High alkali concrete (following the BS 812-123 method) gave similar expansion levels and good resistance with respect to AAR. With air-entrainment, it was found that the fly ash concretes required high doses of AEA (relative to the PC concrete), with high LOI/BET fly ashes requiring greatest quantities. At equal strength, the fly ash concretes had poorer freeze-thaw scaling resistance than PC concrete. However, the majority of the fly ashes did manage to achieve acceptable scaling resistance according to the Swedish criteria. In general, the findings of the durability study are in agreement with the earlier study from the 1990s. Overall, no effect of production technology on the durability of concrete was observed. The leaching studies showed that, in general, in both granular and concrete form, modern fly ashes met the non-hazardous waste requirements in the WAC for all components tested except chromium. For the granular test, there were instances where elevated chromium levels were observed. Similarly, the fly ash concretes failed to meet the non-hazardous limit for chromium. However, chromium from the cement may have contributed to this, since the PC reference also failed to meet this requirement. Based on the results, there is no effect of production technology on the leaching characteristics of fly ash or concrete and the materials do not appear to pose a significant environmental risk. The practical implications of the study have been considered and overall, it has been shown that modern fly ashes behave in much the same way as traditional materials, and therefore, if these materials meet the requirements of BS EN 450-1, and their properties are taken into account in the proportioning of concrete, they should give satisfactory performance.