The aim of my study was to explore and describe the possible effects of family rituals as an asset during the process through which children give meaning to their experiences. I undertook an empirical study of limited extent. My study was qualitative by nature and conducted from the interpretivist paradigm. I used an instrumental case study as research design and employed educational psychological assessment, semi-structured interviews, informal conversations, reflective journals by the participants and myself, visual data (photographs), observation and field notes as data collection and documentation methods. I selected two Afrikaans-speaking primary school children and their parents from a nuclear family as participants in the study. The findings of my empirical study are supported by relevant literature with regard to the main concepts guiding the study, namely family, ritual, routine and family ritual, asset, meaning giving and children. The main findings were that the five dimensions of family rituals (structure, meaning, persistence and commitment, adaptability and gender relations), as identified in existing literature, were present in the family’s rituals with the possibility of adding other dimensions to these mentioned, such as task completion, communication, roles, affective management, affective involvement and behaviour management. Furthermore I found that the family’s rituals, with some exceptions, positively impacted on the children’s giving of meaning to themselves and the family rituals. Asset-based outcomes were also evident in the meaning the children gave to their experiences following the practicing of family rituals. Lastly I found that the family’s rituals served as an asset within the family. / Dissertation (MEd (Educational Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Educational Psychology / unrestricted

Preface - Biotechnology is generally considered to be the wave of the future. To facilitate accurate and rapid development of medication and treatments, it is critical that we are able to simulate the human body. One section of this complex model would be the human energy system. Pharmaceutical companies are currently pouring vast amounts of capital into research regarding general simulation of cellular structures, protein structures and bodily processes. Their aim is to develop treatments and medication for major diseases. Some of these diseases are epidemics like cancer, cardiovascular diseases, stress, obesity, etc. One of the most important causes of these diseases is poor blood glucose control. Current management methods for insulin dependent diabetes are limited to trial and error systems: clearly ineffective and prone to errors. It is critical that better management systems be developed, to ease the diabetic epidemic. The blood glucose control system is one of the major systems in the body, as we are in constant need of energy to facilitate the optimum functioning of the human body. This study makes use of a developed simulation model for the human energy system to ease the management of Diabetes mellitus, which is a malfunction of the human energy system. This dissertation is presented in two parts: The first part discusses the human energy simulation model, and the verification thereof, while the second presents possible applications of this model to ease the management of Diabetes. The human energy system simulation model - This section discusses the development and verification of the model. It also touches on the causes, and current methods, of managing diabetes, as well as the functioning of the human energy system. The human energy model is approached with the conservation of energy in mind. A top down model is developed, using data from independent studies to verify the model. Application of human energy simulation model - The human energy simulation model is of little use if the intended audience cannot use it: people suffering from malfunctioning energy systems. These include people having trouble with obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, etc. To facilitate this, we need to provide a variety of products useable by this group of people. We propose a variety of ways in which the model can be used: Cellular phone applications, Personal digital assistants (PDAs) applications, as well as computer software. By making use of current technology, we generate a basic proof-of-concept application to demonstrate the intended functionality. / MIng (Mechanical Engineering) North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004

Preface - Biotechnology is generally considered to be the wave of the future. To facilitate accurate and rapid development of medication and treatments, it is critical that we are able to simulate the human body. One section of this complex model would be the human energy system. Pharmaceutical companies are currently pouring vast amounts of capital into research regarding general simulation of cellular structures, protein structures and bodily processes. Their aim is to develop treatments and medication for major diseases. Some of these diseases are epidemics like cancer, cardiovascular diseases, stress, obesity, etc. One of the most important causes of these diseases is poor blood glucose control. Current management methods for insulin dependent diabetes are limited to trial and error systems: clearly ineffective and prone to errors. It is critical that better management systems be developed, to ease the diabetic epidemic. The blood glucose control system is one of the major systems in the body, as we are in constant need of energy to facilitate the optimum functioning of the human body. This study makes use of a developed simulation model for the human energy system to ease the management of Diabetes mellitus, which is a malfunction of the human energy system. This dissertation is presented in two parts: The first part discusses the human energy simulation model, and the verification thereof, while the second presents possible applications of this model to ease the management of Diabetes. The human energy system simulation model - This section discusses the development and verification of the model. It also touches on the causes, and current methods, of managing diabetes, as well as the functioning of the human energy system. The human energy model is approached with the conservation of energy in mind. A top down model is developed, using data from independent studies to verify the model. Application of human energy simulation model - The human energy simulation model is of little use if the intended audience cannot use it: people suffering from malfunctioning energy systems. These include people having trouble with obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, etc. To facilitate this, we need to provide a variety of products useable by this group of people. We propose a variety of ways in which the model can be used: Cellular phone applications, Personal digital assistants (PDAs) applications, as well as computer software. By making use of current technology, we generate a basic proof-of-concept application to demonstrate the intended functionality. / MIng (Mechanical Engineering) North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004