In this master thesis a small modular sodium-cooled metal-fuelled pool-type fast reactor design, called SPARC - Safe and Passive with Autonomous Reactivity control, has been designed. The long term reactivity changes in the SPARC are managed by implementation of the the Autonomous Reactivity Control (ARC) system, which is the novelty of the design. The overall design is mainly based on the Integral Fast Reactor project (IFR), which experimentally demonstrated the passive safety characteristics of a metal fuelled, sodium-cooled, pool-type reactor system. Whilst mimicking the passive safety features of the IFR, the vision of the SPARC design is a battery type reactor, which can operate with minimum interference from human actors. In this thesis, two reactor examples have been developed which operate using different fuel compositions. One reactor operates on recycled nuclear waste from today's nuclear power plants, and the other reactor operates on enriched uranium. Both reactors have a thermal power of 150 MW, and are meant to operate for 30 years without refuelling. The design was developed using the ADOPT software, and was simulated in Serpent. Using Serpent, criticality analyses were carried out which show that the ARC system is able to control the long term reactivity changes of the reactors.

An emergency reaction is required in Africa because HIVIAIDS is a reality which may be regarded as a developing crisis and a catastrophe. Approximately a third of all women in the North-West Province are HIV positive. Because of their vulnerability against HIVIAIDS there arose a need for health service provision to the HIV positive woman to focus specifically on the reduction of the transmission of HIVIAIDS from mother to child. Mother to child transmission is the biggest cause of HIV infection among children. Almost all HIV positive children are infected during pregnancy, labour, childbirth or breastfeeding. Without the necessary preventative measures as many as 25-35% of the children of HIV positive mothers may be infected. The biggest percentage of infections, however, takes place during labour and the birth process. In first world countries the mother has access to choices and facilities to make an informed decision about antiretroviral therapy, as well as the method of birth. In the North-West Province not all these options and facilities are available, and therefore the knowledge and skills of midwives must be deployed to reduce vertical transmission of HIV during the intrapartum practice. It is important that midwives have the necessary knowledge about intrapartum practices and vertical transmission of HIV, in order to distinguish between risky and safe intrapartum practices. The purpose of this research was to determine whether midwives in the Southern region of the North-West Province have sufficient knowledge of intrapartum practices to reduce vertical transmission of HIV, as well as to determine the intrapartum practices in the Southern region of the North-West Province. The ultimate goals, then, were to determine how the national policy should be adapted and implemented in the Southern region of the North-West Province to reduce HIV transmission during intrapartum practices. A quantitive survey design was used. For the data collection a questionnaire and a control list were used. The questionnaire and the control list, which are adapted and based on literature, were submitted to research and subject specialists, after which they were adapted. Permission was obtained for this research from the Department of Health in the North-West Province, the ethics committee of the PU for CHE as well as each provincial hospital in the Southern region in the North-West Province to conduct the research. A purposeful availability sample of midwives working in the Southern region of the North-West Province was used and a random sample was used for auditing the obstetric records. A total of 31 midwives participated as respondents, and 401 obstetrical records were audited. Data analysis was performed by means of a frequency analysis, effect sizes and cross reference. Based on these findings it was concluded that the midwives do have basic knowledge regarding vertical transmission of HIV, but that this knowledge is not reflected in the intrapartum practice. There is uncertainty about certain aspects where the latest research about intrapartum practices are not implemented in practice. Recommendations were accordingly formulated for nursing education, research and practice. This research particularly focused on improving midwives' knowledge about intrapartum practices to reduce the vertical transmission of HIV, so that this knowledge may result in improved intrapartum practice. Recommendations are also made as to how the national policy may be adapted and implemented in the Southern region of the North-West Province. / Thesis (M.Cur.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.

In an era of rapidly growing maritime trade, national and international efforts to prevent marine environmental disasters have taken various dimensions, including vessel safety mandates, traffic control measures and increased state inspections and control of ships. The advent of large modern tankers has generated new marine environmental risks. The customary right of access to a place of refuge for vessels in distress is becoming a complex issue of increasingly conflicting values reflecting humanitarian response and environmental conservation. A national ‘Places of Refuge’ policy is an essential component of Canada’s oceans management strategy. A cohesive and robust structure for conflict resolution will help assure the continued progress and development of ocean-based industries and minimize threats to Canada’s oceans and marine environment. The input of ship and port management personnel in the development of a national strategy and risk assessment procedure is vital for credibility and acceptance. The Canadian and international experience of ships in need of assistance and the lessons learned dictate that developing a ‘Places of Refuge’ policy and risk assessment procedure is not only prudent but imperative if Canada is to continue to be a major player in the global marketplace. This dissertation outlines a risk assessment procedure to categorize Canadian ports as places of refuge. This categorization of ports based on defined risk levels allows for the optimum allocation of resources for upgrading the refuge suitability of ports. Twenty-one ports on the east coast are evaluated for their suitability as places of refuge, based on their risk category. The measures suggested in this thesis propose elements of a Canadian national policy and risk assessment procedure for places of refuge which are comprehensive, pragmatic and flexible within the country’s existing command and control infrastructure.

<p>The Table Mountain Group (TMG) Formation is the lowest member of the Cape Supergroup which consists of sediments deposited from early Ordovician to early Carboniferous times, approximately between 500 and 340 million years ago. The Table Mountain Group (TMG) aquifer system is&nbsp / exposed along the west and south coasts of South Africa. It is a regional fractured rock aquifer that has become a major source of bulk water supply to&nbsp / meet the agricultural and urban water requirements of the Western and Eastern Cape Provinces of South Africa. The TMG aquifer system comprises of an approximately 4000 m thick sequence of quartz arenite and minor shale layers deposited in a shallow, but extensive, predominantly eastwest striking&nbsp / asin, changing to a northwest orientation at the west coast. The medium to coarse grain size and relative purity of some of the quartz arenites,&nbsp / together with their well indurated nature and fracturing due to folding and faulting in the fold belt, enhance both the quality of the groundwater and its&nbsp / exploitation potential for agricultural and domestic water supply purposes and its hot springs for recreation. The region is also home to some unique&nbsp / and indigenous floral species (fynbos) of worldwide importance. These and other groundwater dependent vegetation are found on the series of&nbsp / mountains, mountain slopes and valleys in the Cape Peninsula. The hydrogeology of the TMG consists of intermontane and coastal domains which&nbsp / have different properties but are interconnected. The former is characterized by direct recharge from rain and snow melt, deep groundwater circulation with hot springs and low conductivity groundwater. The coastal domain is characterized by shallow groundwater occurrence usually with moderate to&nbsp / poor quality, indirect recharge from rainfall of shallow circulation and where springs occur they are usually cold. The sustainable utilization of the TMG&nbsp / aquifer addressed the issues of the groundwater flow dynamics, recharge and discharge to and from the aquifer / challenges of climate change and climate variability and their potential impact on the aquifer system. The concept of safe yield, recharge and the capture principle and the integration of&nbsp / sustainable yield provided the basis for sustainable utilization with the adaptive management approach. Methodology used included the evaluation of&nbsp / recharge methods and estimates in the TMG aquifer and a GIS based water balance recharge estimation. The evaluation of natural discharges and&nbsp / artificial abstractions from the TMG aquifer system as well as its potential for future development. The Mann-Kendal trend analysis was used to test historical and present records of temperature and rainfall for significant trends as indication for climate variability and change. The determination of&nbsp / variability index of rainfall and standard precipitation index were additional analyses to investigate variability. The use of a case study from the Klein&nbsp / (Little) Karoo Rural Water Supply Scheme (KKRWSS) within the TMG study area was a test case to assess the sustainable utilization of TMG aquifers.&nbsp / Results show that recharge varies in time and space between 1% and 55% of MAP as a result of different hydrostratigraphic units of the TMG based on&nbsp / geology, hydrology, climate, soil, vegetation and landuse patterns however, the average recharge is from 1% to 5% of MAP. The TMG receives recharge&nbsp / mainly through its 37,000 km2 of outcrop largely exposed on mountainous terrain. Natural discharges from the TMG include 11 thermal and numerous&nbsp / cold spring discharges, baseflow to streams and reservoirs, and seepage to the ocean. Results from this study also show increasing temperature&nbsp / trend over the years while rainfall trend generally&nbsp / remain unchanged in the study area. Rainfall variability persists hence the potential for floodsand droughts in the region remain. Global and Regional Models predict about 10% to 25% reduction in rainfall and increase in variability in future. Impacts of&nbsp / his change in climate will affect the different types of aquifers in various ways. Increase in temperature and reduction in rainfall will increase&nbsp / evapotranspiration, reduce surface flows and eventually reduce shallow aquifer resources. Coastal aquifers risk upsurge in salinisation from sea level&nbsp / rise and increase in abstractions from dwindling surface water resources. While floods increase the risk of contamination to shallow aquifers droughts&nbsp / put pressure on all aquifers especially deep aquifers which are considered to be more reliable due to the fact that they are far removed from surface conditions. Future population growth and increase in freshwater demand will put more pressure on groundwater. Recharge to groundwater have been&nbsp / over-estimated in certain areas in the past leading to high abstraction rates from boreholes causing extensive groundwater storage depletion evident by high decline in groundwater levels in these areas and hampering sustainable management of the aquifer resources. Over-abstraction have resulted in&nbsp / loss of stream flow and baseflow reduction to streams during summer, complete loss of springs and reduction of flow to others. Flow to wetlands,&nbsp / riparian vegetation, and sometimes loss and shifts in dependent ecosystems have also resulted from over-abstraction. Sustainability has spatial and&nbsp / temporal implications due to changing climate and demand. The study recommends adaptive management practices in which several factors are&nbsp / considered in managing groundwater together with surface water resources in order to maintain ecological and environmental integrity. The KKRWSS&nbsp / and other groundwater supply schemes in the Western and Eastern Cape Provinces demonstrate the huge potential of the TMG to provide freshwatersupply for domestic and irrigation water needs however, the huge decline in groundwater levels due to over-abstraction in the KKRWSS and&nbsp / other groundwater schemes underscores the need for sustainable utilization of the TMG groundwater resources for present and future generations with&nbsp / minimal impacts on the quality, dependent hydrological and ecosystems as well as the environment.</p>

Thesis (MPhil (Industrial Psychology. Africa Centre for HIV/AIDS Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The vulnerability of female adolescents to HIV/AIDS has been widely documented with little effort being made to investigate the obstacles that these female adolescents actually face in translating HIV knowledge and attitudes into HIV preventive behaviours. The researcher randomly selected 120 school going female adolescents aged between 14-19, from six secondary schools in the Gweru District in an effort to assess their levels of knowledge on HIV/AIDS and their attitudes towards HIV prevention. The study aimed to uncover the obstacles the female adolescents face in practicing HIV preventive sexual behaviours. Inferences drawn from the study point to the fact that although female adolescents may have high levels of knowledge on HIV/AIDS and positive attitudes towards HIV prevention, there are cultural and religious values that promote male dominance in patriarchal societies and female docility thereby leaving little or no room for females to negotiate HIV prevention in sexual relationships. Poverty- driven economic dependency on men, orphan hood, peer pressure, lack of support from parents and guardians on issues to do with their sex and sexuality, lack of skills to be assertive and negative attitudes of health service providers were some of the barriers the female adolescents face as they try to pave their way in to safe motherhood. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die kwesbaarheid van vroulike adolessente aan MIV/vigs is wyd gedokumenteer met min moeite wat gemaak word die struikelblokke te ondersoek dat hierdie vroulike adolessente werklik gesig in die vertaling van MIV kennis en gesindhede in MIV voorkomende gedrag. Die navorser lukraak gekies 120 skoolgaande vroulike adolessente tussen die ouderdomme van 14-19, van ses sekondêre skole in die Gweru-distrik in 'n poging om hulle vlakke van kennis oor MIV / vigs en hul houding teenoor MIV-voorkoming te evalueer. Die studie is daarop gerig om die struikelblokke ontbloot die vroulike adolessente gesig in die beoefening van MIV voorkomende seksuele gedrag. Gevolgtrekkings waartoe die studie verwys na die feit dat alhoewel vroulike adolessente kan 'n hoë vlakke van kennis oor MIV / vigs en 'n positiewe houding teenoor MIV-voorkoming, is daar kulturele en godsdienstige waardes wat die bevordering van manlike oorheersing in patriargale samelewings en vroulike handelbaarheid daardeur sodat daar min of geen ruimte vir vrouens MIV-voorkoming in seksuele verhoudings te onderhandel. Armoede-gedrewe ekonomiese afhanklikheid van mans, wees kap, groepsdruk, gebrek aan ondersteuning van ouers en voogde op die kwessies te doen het met hul seks en seksualiteit, gebrek aan vaardighede om selfgeldend en negatiewe houdings van gesondheid diensverskaffers is 'n paar van die hindernisse die vroulike adolessente gesig soos hulle probeer om hul weg te baan in 'n veilige moederskap.

No abstract available. / Thesis (LL.M.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2005.

Bakgrund: Det finns väl rapporterat kunskap och teoribildningar om sjuksköterskans övergång från utbildningen till det praktiska yrkesutövandet. Den kunskap som saknas är bland annat hur den nyutexaminerade sjuksköterskan upplever sina förmågor i praxis, särskilt i relation till god vård och omvårdnad. Syfte: Studiens syfte var att belysa den nyutexaminerade sjuksköterskans upplevelser av sin kunskap i relation till kraven på säker vård och omvårdnad. Metod: Studien genomfördes som litteraturöversikt som bygger på nio vetenskapliga artiklar. Analysmetoden var deduktiv innehållsanalys (template analysis; Malterud,1998). Strukturen i analysmetoden byggde på modellen människa, teknik och organisation av Ödegård (2006). Resultat: Analysfynden formades efter kategorierna människa, teknik, organisation enligt Ödegårds modell. Dessa kategorier innehåller åtta subkategorier: fysisk påfrestning, förhindrad koncentration, känslomässig otillräcklighet, oförmåga till kritiskt tänkande inom omvårdnad; stödberoende vid akuta situationer, frustration vid invecklad och krånglande teknik; gäst i den dysfunktionella verkligheten och den svaga punkten – den ojämna bemanningen. Slutsats: Analysen av nio vetenskapliga arbeten med stöd av Ödegårds och Benners teoretiska begrepp har visat att övergången från sjuksköterskestudent till novis och avancerad nybörjare, det vill säga en övergång från teoretisk kunskap till praktisk handling, innefattar upplevelser av en samling av hinder. Hindren manifesteras tydligast i relation till sjuksköterskans upplevelser av sin kunskap enligt kategorin människa och måttligt enligt kategorierna teknik och organisation. Vad gäller den oerfarna sjuksköterskans kunskapsproblem i relation till kraven på säker vård och omvårdnad, visas i arbetet att dessa härrör främst från begreppen människa och organisation och endast sparsamt från begreppet teknik. / Background: A nurse graduate’s transition period in her profession is well illustrated from previous studies and theories. However, what has been overlooked is how the newly graduate perceives her ability in practice, especially in relation to what is actually required in good nursing care. Aim: The aim of this study was to elucidate the newly examined nurse’s experience of her conception of what is demanded of her in relation to a safe care. Method: This study was carried out as a literature review from nine scientific articles. The analysis method was a deductive content analysis (template analysis; Malterud, 1998). The structure of the analysis was based on the model Man -Technique-Organisation of Ödegård (2006). Results: in the analysis, originated from the categories – man– technique – organisation after the model of Ödegård, emerged eight subcategories: physical stress, distraction, emotional inadequacy, inability to objective thinking regarding nursing care; need of support in urgent situations, frustration in dealing with complicated and difficult technology; a guest in a dysfunctional reality, and the weak link – an imbalance in staffing. Conclusion : The analysis of nine scientific articles, with support of Ödegård’s and Benner’s theoretical concepts, has shown that the transition from a student nurse to novice and advanced beginner, i.e. a transition from the theoretical knowledge to the knowledge in practice, subsequently includes experiences of restraining aspects which leads to problem issues. The nurse’s inability in practice is manifested clearly according to the category person and moderately to the categories technology and organisation. Regarding the newly examined nurses’ experience of knowledge issues in relation to the demand in giving a good and safe nursing care, the results originate primarily from the concepts Man and Organisation, and only hardly from the concept, technology.

En contrôle non-destructif par ultrasons, la simulation présente un intérêt majeur en permettant à la fois d'optimiser les configurations de contrôle des pièces et de simplifier l'analyse des données acquises. Cette thèse traite de la modélisation de la propagation des ultrasons dans les matériaux composites tissés. Ces matériaux sont constitués de fibres de Carbone (micrométriques) regroupées en mèches (millimétriques) qui sont ensuite tissées pour former une couche de matériau : leur structure est donc hétérogène à deux échelles distinctes. L'étude à l'échelle du tissage nécessite la connaissance préalable des propriétés mécaniques des mèches. Nous proposons deux méthodes visant à effectuer l'homogénéisation dynamique du matériau à l'échelle microscopique. Une première consiste à identifier les rigidités complexes d'un milieu effectif représentatif de la mèche en comparant les nombres d'ondes des modes guidés s'y propageant à ceux calculés dans un milieu hétérogène de même géométrie ; nous avons développé un algorithme génétique permettant de faire correspondre les jeux de nombres d'onde, dont l'application permet d'identifier certaine des rigidités recherchées. La seconde consiste à étendre un modèle existant permettant d'homogénéiser la structure de la mèche en tenant compte de la diffraction multiple des ondes de volume par les fibres. Le modèle initial (modèle à trois phases) ne traitant que le cas de l'incidence normale aux fibres est étendu au cas plus complexe de l'incidence oblique : un calcul de la diffraction multiple en incidence oblique par un réseau dense de fibres et tenant compte de l'anisotropie des différents milieux est donc proposé. Comme pour la première méthode, on utilise un algorithme génétique pour effectuer l'identification des rigidités effectives. Les résultats obtenus nous amènent à remettre en cause certaines hypothèses de base faites pour effectuer cette homogénéisation dynamique ; particulièrement, la dépendance des résultats à l'angle d'incidence semble remettre en cause le choix de la loi de Hooke comme loi fondamentale pour effectuer une homogénéisation dynamique des composites à structures complexes.

An emergency reaction is required in Africa because HIVIAIDS is a reality which may be regarded as a developing crisis and a catastrophe. Approximately a third of all women in the North-West Province are HIV positive. Because of their vulnerability against HIVIAIDS there arose a need for health service provision to the HIV positive woman to focus specifically on the reduction of the transmission of HIVIAIDS from mother to child. Mother to child transmission is the biggest cause of HIV infection among children. Almost all HIV positive children are infected during pregnancy, labour, childbirth or breastfeeding. Without the necessary preventative measures as many as 25-35% of the children of HIV positive mothers may be infected. The biggest percentage of infections, however, takes place during labour and the birth process. In first world countries the mother has access to choices and facilities to make an informed decision about antiretroviral therapy, as well as the method of birth. In the North-West Province not all these options and facilities are available, and therefore the knowledge and skills of midwives must be deployed to reduce vertical transmission of HIV during the intrapartum practice. It is important that midwives have the necessary knowledge about intrapartum practices and vertical transmission of HIV, in order to distinguish between risky and safe intrapartum practices. The purpose of this research was to determine whether midwives in the Southern region of the North-West Province have sufficient knowledge of intrapartum practices to reduce vertical transmission of HIV, as well as to determine the intrapartum practices in the Southern region of the North-West Province. The ultimate goals, then, were to determine how the national policy should be adapted and implemented in the Southern region of the North-West Province to reduce HIV transmission during intrapartum practices. A quantitive survey design was used. For the data collection a questionnaire and a control list were used. The questionnaire and the control list, which are adapted and based on literature, were submitted to research and subject specialists, after which they were adapted. Permission was obtained for this research from the Department of Health in the North-West Province, the ethics committee of the PU for CHE as well as each provincial hospital in the Southern region in the North-West Province to conduct the research. A purposeful availability sample of midwives working in the Southern region of the North-West Province was used and a random sample was used for auditing the obstetric records. A total of 31 midwives participated as respondents, and 401 obstetrical records were audited. Data analysis was performed by means of a frequency analysis, effect sizes and cross reference. Based on these findings it was concluded that the midwives do have basic knowledge regarding vertical transmission of HIV, but that this knowledge is not reflected in the intrapartum practice. There is uncertainty about certain aspects where the latest research about intrapartum practices are not implemented in practice. Recommendations were accordingly formulated for nursing education, research and practice. This research particularly focused on improving midwives' knowledge about intrapartum practices to reduce the vertical transmission of HIV, so that this knowledge may result in improved intrapartum practice. Recommendations are also made as to how the national policy may be adapted and implemented in the Southern region of the North-West Province. / Thesis (M.Cur.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.

Den svenska skolan har genomgått stora förändringar, samhället ställer andra krav på dagens unga och internationella mätningar visar att svenska elever presterar sämre i skolan. Forskning har visat på att icke-kognitiva kunskaper spelar stor roll för framtidsutvecklingen samt för utvecklingen av kognitiva kunskaper. Vad är skolans uppdrag för att utveckla barn och ungas icke-kognitiva kunskaper? Genom en kvalitativ innehållsanalys granskas Skollagen, grundskolans läroplan och FN:s barnkonvention, med fokus på skolans uppdrag för barn och ungdomars utveckling av icke-kognitiva kunskaper, ungas rättigheter till en trygg skolmiljö och möjlighet till socialisering samt hur dokumenten fördelar ansvaret mellan skolan respektive hemmet i barnets utveckling. Studien har också granskat utbildningsplanen för grundskollärarutbildningen på Högskolan Väst för att klargöra lärares kunskapsområde och analyserat hur en socialpedagogisk referensram kan komplettera lärare i ovanstående ansvar och uppdrag i förhållande till hemmet. Den socialpedagogiska referensramen betonar vikten av att se helheten i ett barns situation och det viktiga i att barn och unga inkluderas i sociala gemenskaper och verksamheter för att utvecklas. För att utvecklas behöver barn få de grundläggande behoven i Maslows behovspyramid tillgodosedda. Vilket ger en förståelse för hur viktigt det är att ge barn och unga rätt förutsättningar för att utvecklas optimalt. Utifrån kategorierna socialisering, hemmet och skolan, trygg skolmiljö, icke-kognitiv kunskap och disposition framkommer bland annat att skolan har ett viktigt ansvar för barnets utveckling men att hemmet har det grundläggande ansvaret samt att skolan har ett ansvar för mer än bara kognitiva kunskaper. / The Swedish school has undergone great changes, society places different demands on today's youth's and international measurements show that Swedish pupils perform lower results in school. Research has shown that non- cognitive skills play a major role in the future progress and development of cognitive skills. What is the school's mission to develop children and young people's non- cognitive skills? Through a qualitative content analysis examines the Education Act, the compulsory school curriculum and the UNCRC, focusing on school assignments for child and adolescent development of non- cognitive skills, young people's rights to a safe school environment and the opportunity for socialization and how the document allocates responsibility between school and home in child development. The study also examines the curriculum for elementary teacher program at University West to clarify teachers' knowledge area and analyzed how a social pedagogical framework can supplement teacher in the above responsibilities and tasks in relation to home. The social pedagogical reference framework emphasizes the importance of seeing the big picture of a child's situation and that it´s important that young people are included in social communities and businesses to develop. To thrive, children need to get the basic needs in Maslow's needs pyramid satisfied. This gives an understanding of how important it is to give children and young people right conditions to develop optimally. Based on the categories of socialization, home and school, safe school environment, non- cognitive skills and disposition reveals among other things that the school has an important responsibility for the child's development but that the home has the primary responsibility and that the school is responsible for more than just cognitive skills.