Remarkable progress with respect to the necessity of child participation has been observed in the Children's Act, act 38 of 2005. Article 10 of the Children's Act, act 38 of 2005, specifically provides for children‟s right to participate in any situation applicable to a child. Despite afore-mentioned progress in the legal field, the reality is that there are remarkable differences between children's rights to participate in society and society's experience of the role children play and the abilities they possess to do so. In this article the focus is on the responsibility of the social worker during the implementation of children's participation, according to the Children's act, act 38 of 2005. The successful implementation of children's participation by social workers ensures that the child is given a voice while important issues are being heard and discussed. This can actively contribute to the improvement of services offered to children and families with regard to effective intervention programmes and can ensure a positive outcome in terms of services provided. / Thesis (MSW (Forensic Practice))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

Parents, together with the learners, are the customers and therefore major stakeholders of schools. The management of performance is vital for these stakeholders to ensure the most effective application of their resources. Therefore, this research on how SGBs and SMTs in Section 21 Schools apply performance management, at school level, to ensure effective management of the school and its resources was undertaken. Other key questions were: Which performance management tools do these schools use and what are the perceived benefits, gained by the application of performance management at school level? The research was supported by a detailed literature review covering education in South Africa, performance management and the available frameworks to evaluate the application of performance management and to gain a base for the analysis of the empirical data. Qualitative research was chosen as the preferred method of research since this was an exploratory study and qualitative research allowed key factors to emerge. Purposive sampling was used to select the participants in order to obtain insight into the application of performance management and participants‟ perspective of the benefits gained by applying performance management. Interviews were conducted with the principals and a parent representative of each of the SGBs at these schools. An interview guide was used to guide the interviews. The findings showed that all the schools under investigation made use of the Integrated Quality Management System. Participants however agreed that this system was not adequate and they needed to add their own performance management tools in order to maintain their current performance and position as prestigious schools. Although all participating schools were using some form of benchmarking, setting goals and targets, measuring learners‟ performance on all activities and measuring learners‟ behaviour, the findings also revealed that most of the schools did not implement a formal system covering all the dimensions of a school. It was evident from the findings that most of the participating schools benefitted from the application of performance management in the form of effective management and personnel development. Findings from the evaluation of the performance management systems revealed that the implementation of performance management systems is seldom carried through to the final stages and information is not always used to draft strategy in order to improve performance. It was concluded that SGBs and SMTs of the participating schools complied with some requirements indicated in literature to apply performance management systems. However most of the methods or systems are not fully implemented and there are many shortcomings. The findings suggested that the Integrated Quality Management System is reviewed by the Department of Basic Education. Furthermore, it also suggested that schools need to create formal procedures and policies in order to ensure the complete and effective application of performance management and establish a clear link between performance measures and the overall strategy of the school. The study also suggested that the schools‟ management have to design a performance management system, incorporating all the dimensions of their school and refrain from focusing only on incentives. / MCom (Management Accountancy), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

It is the aim with this paper, to research the shortcomings experienced in the appeal procedures as contained in the Engineering Profession Act ("EPA"), in order to determine whether the process should be revised or if only certain relevant sections of the EPA should be rewritten. Due to the administrative nature of certain duties of the Council as authorised by the EPA, it makes it inevitable that appeals will follow. It is therefore imperative that the procedures to appeal, must be both functional and effective. The relevant sections of the EPA as well as the appeal procedures of the Health Professions Act's will be researched, taking into account the stipulations of the Constitution and the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act ("PAJA"). Relevant legal administrative principles and doctrines, court judgments, as well as the views of authors are also taken into account. Two major areas of concern in certain sections of the EPA have been identified: • The fact that the whole council has to decide on appeals, and • the fact that such hearings have to take place within a very limited time frame. Relevant court findings have made it clear that decisions made by authorities, have to comply with the requirements set out in the Constitution in coherence with PAJA. In conclusion, based on the Constitutional and the legal administrative requirements, it is found to be necessary to rewrite the relevant sections of the EPA, as well as the rules of appeal, as these do not make the grade at present. / Thesis (LL.M. (Public Law))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

The McTronX research group at the North–West University designs and develops Active Magnetic Bearings (AMBs). The group’s focus shifted to the design and development of AMB supported drive systems. This includes the electromagnetic and mechanical design of the electric machine, AMBs, auxiliary bearings as well as the development of the control system. The research group is currently developing an AMB supported high speed Induction Machine (IM) drive system that will facilitate tests in order to verify the design capability of the group. The research presented in this thesis describes the mechanical design and manufacturing of a high speed IM rotor section. The design includes; selecting the IM rotor topology, material selection, detail stress analysis and selecting appropriate manufacturing and assembly procedures. A comprehensive literature study identifies six main design considerations during the mechanical design of a high speed IM rotor section. These considerations include; magnetic core selection, rotor cage design, shaft design, shaft/magnetic core connection, stress due to operation at elevated temperatures and design for manufacture and assemble (DFMA). A critical overview of the literature leads to some design decisions being made and is used as a starting point for the detail design. The design choices include using a laminated cage rotor with a shrink fit for the shaft/magnetic core connection. Throughout the detail design an iterative process was followed incorporating both electromagnetic and mechanical considerations to deliver a good design solution. The first step of the iterative design process was, roughly calculating the material strengths required for first iteration material selection followed by more detailed interference fit calculations. From the detail stress analysis it became apparent that the stress in the IM rotor section cannot be calculated accurately using analytical methods. Consequently, a systematically verified and validated Finite Element Analysis (FEA) model was used to calculate the interferences required for each component. The detail stress analysis of the assembly also determined the allowable manufacturing dimensional tolerances. From the detail stress analysis it was found that the available lamination and squirrel cage material strengths were inadequate for the design speed specification of 27,000 r/min. The analysis showed that a maximum operating speed of 19,000 r/min can be achieved while complying with the minimum factor of safety (FOS) of 2. Each component was manufactured to the prescribed dimensional tolerances and the IM rotor section was assembled. With the failure of the first assembly process, machine experts were consulted and a revised process was implemented. The revised process entailed manufacturing five small lamination stacks and assembling the stack and squirrel cage afterwards. The end ring/conductive bar connection utilises interference fits due to the fact that the materials could not be welded. The process was successful and the IM rotor section was shrink fitted onto the shaft. However, after final machining of the rotor’s outer diameter (OD), inspections revealed axial displacement of the end rings and a revised FEA was implemented to simulate the effect. The results indicated a minimum FOS 0.6 at very small sections and with further analytical investigation it was shown that the minimum FOS was reduced to only 1.34. Although the calculations indicated the FOS was below the minimum prescribed FOS ? 2, the rotor spin tests were scheduled to continue as planned. The main reasons being that the lowest FOS is at very small areas and is located at non critical structural positions. The fact that the rotor speed was incrementally increased and multiple parameters were monitored, which could detect early signs of failure, further supported the decision. In testing the rotor was successfully spun up to 19,000 r/min and 27 rotor delevitation test were conducted at speeds of up to 10,000 r/min. After continuous testing a secondary rotor inspection was conducted and no visible changes could be detected. The lessons learnt leads to mechanical design and manufacturing recommendations and the research required to realise a 27,000 r/min rotor design. / Thesis (M.Ing. (Mechanical Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

The Q-weak experiment at Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (USA) will make a precision determination of the proton weak charge with approximately 4% combined statistical and systematic uncertainties via a measurement of the parity violating asymmetry in elastic electron-proton scattering at very low momentum transfer and forward angle. This will allow an extraction of the weak mixing angle at Q^2=0.026 (GeV/c)^2 to approximately 0.3%. The weak mixing angle is a fundamental parameter in the Standard Model of electroweak interactions. At the proposed accuracy, a measured deviation of this parameter from the predicted value would indicate new physics beyond what is currently described in the Standard Model. Without deviation from the predicted value, this measurement would place stringent limits on possible extensions to the Standard Model and constitute the most precise measurement of the proton's weak charge to date. The key experimental apparatus include a liquid hydrogen target, a toroidal magnetic spectrometer and a set of eight Cerenkov detectors. The Cerenkov detectors form the main detector system for the Q-weak experiment and are used to measure the parity violating asymmetry during the primary Q-weak production runs. The Cerenkov detectors form the main subject of this thesis. Following a brief introduction to the experiment, the design, development, construction, installation, and testing of this detector system will be discussed in detail. This is followed by a detailed discussion of detector diagnostic data analysis and the corresponding detector performance. The experiment has been successfully constructed and commissioned, and is currently taking data. The thesis will conclude with a discussion of the preliminary analysis of a small portion of the liquid hydrogen data.

It is the aim with this paper, to research the shortcomings experienced in the appeal procedures as contained in the Engineering Profession Act ("EPA"), in order to determine whether the process should be revised or if only certain relevant sections of the EPA should be rewritten. Due to the administrative nature of certain duties of the Council as authorised by the EPA, it makes it inevitable that appeals will follow. It is therefore imperative that the procedures to appeal, must be both functional and effective. The relevant sections of the EPA as well as the appeal procedures of the Health Professions Act's will be researched, taking into account the stipulations of the Constitution and the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act ("PAJA"). Relevant legal administrative principles and doctrines, court judgments, as well as the views of authors are also taken into account. Two major areas of concern in certain sections of the EPA have been identified: • The fact that the whole council has to decide on appeals, and • the fact that such hearings have to take place within a very limited time frame. Relevant court findings have made it clear that decisions made by authorities, have to comply with the requirements set out in the Constitution in coherence with PAJA. In conclusion, based on the Constitutional and the legal administrative requirements, it is found to be necessary to rewrite the relevant sections of the EPA, as well as the rules of appeal, as these do not make the grade at present. / Thesis (LL.M. (Public Law))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

The McTronX research group at the North–West University designs and develops Active Magnetic Bearings (AMBs). The group’s focus shifted to the design and development of AMB supported drive systems. This includes the electromagnetic and mechanical design of the electric machine, AMBs, auxiliary bearings as well as the development of the control system. The research group is currently developing an AMB supported high speed Induction Machine (IM) drive system that will facilitate tests in order to verify the design capability of the group. The research presented in this thesis describes the mechanical design and manufacturing of a high speed IM rotor section. The design includes; selecting the IM rotor topology, material selection, detail stress analysis and selecting appropriate manufacturing and assembly procedures. A comprehensive literature study identifies six main design considerations during the mechanical design of a high speed IM rotor section. These considerations include; magnetic core selection, rotor cage design, shaft design, shaft/magnetic core connection, stress due to operation at elevated temperatures and design for manufacture and assemble (DFMA). A critical overview of the literature leads to some design decisions being made and is used as a starting point for the detail design. The design choices include using a laminated cage rotor with a shrink fit for the shaft/magnetic core connection. Throughout the detail design an iterative process was followed incorporating both electromagnetic and mechanical considerations to deliver a good design solution. The first step of the iterative design process was, roughly calculating the material strengths required for first iteration material selection followed by more detailed interference fit calculations. From the detail stress analysis it became apparent that the stress in the IM rotor section cannot be calculated accurately using analytical methods. Consequently, a systematically verified and validated Finite Element Analysis (FEA) model was used to calculate the interferences required for each component. The detail stress analysis of the assembly also determined the allowable manufacturing dimensional tolerances. From the detail stress analysis it was found that the available lamination and squirrel cage material strengths were inadequate for the design speed specification of 27,000 r/min. The analysis showed that a maximum operating speed of 19,000 r/min can be achieved while complying with the minimum factor of safety (FOS) of 2. Each component was manufactured to the prescribed dimensional tolerances and the IM rotor section was assembled. With the failure of the first assembly process, machine experts were consulted and a revised process was implemented. The revised process entailed manufacturing five small lamination stacks and assembling the stack and squirrel cage afterwards. The end ring/conductive bar connection utilises interference fits due to the fact that the materials could not be welded. The process was successful and the IM rotor section was shrink fitted onto the shaft. However, after final machining of the rotor’s outer diameter (OD), inspections revealed axial displacement of the end rings and a revised FEA was implemented to simulate the effect. The results indicated a minimum FOS 0.6 at very small sections and with further analytical investigation it was shown that the minimum FOS was reduced to only 1.34. Although the calculations indicated the FOS was below the minimum prescribed FOS ? 2, the rotor spin tests were scheduled to continue as planned. The main reasons being that the lowest FOS is at very small areas and is located at non critical structural positions. The fact that the rotor speed was incrementally increased and multiple parameters were monitored, which could detect early signs of failure, further supported the decision. In testing the rotor was successfully spun up to 19,000 r/min and 27 rotor delevitation test were conducted at speeds of up to 10,000 r/min. After continuous testing a secondary rotor inspection was conducted and no visible changes could be detected. The lessons learnt leads to mechanical design and manufacturing recommendations and the research required to realise a 27,000 r/min rotor design. / Thesis (M.Ing. (Mechanical Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

In this study, a measurement of the production cross section of Standard Model Z bosons in proton-proton collisions in the decay channel Z to tau tau is performed with data of 1.34 fb-1 - 1.55fb-1 recorded by the ATLAS experiment at the LHC at a center-of-mass energy of 7 TeV. An event selection of the data is applied in order to obtain a sample enriched with Z to tau tau events. After background estimations using data and Monte Carlo (MC) simulations, the fiducial cross sections in the sub-channels Z to tau tau to e tau_h + 3nu and Z to tau tau to mu tau_h + 3nu are measured. Together with the geometrical and kinematical acceptance, A_Z, and the well known tau lepton branching fractions, these results are combined to a total inclusive Z to tau tau cross section. A_Z is obtained from MC studies only, and the combination of the channels is done including statistical and systematical uncertainties using the BLUE method. The result is a measured total inclusive cross section of 914.4 plus minus 14.6(stat) plus minus 95.1(syst) plus minus 33.8(lumi) pb. This is in agreement with theoretical predictions from NNLO calculations of 964 plus minus 48 pb and also with measurements previously performed by the ATLAS and CMS experiments. With the increased amount of data, the statistical uncertainty could be reduced significantly compared to previous measurements. Furthermore, a testbeam analysis is performed to study the operation of the electromagnetic and hadronic endcap calorimeters, EMEC and HEC, and of the forward calorimeter, FCal, in the high particle fluxes expected for the upgraded LHC. The high voltage return currents of the EMEC module are analysed in dependence of the beam intensity. The results are compared to model predictions and simulations to extract the point of critical operation. Overall, the results for the critical beam intensities and the critical high voltage currents are in agreement with the predictions, but the assigned uncertainties are rather large. The general behaviour of the high voltage current in dependence of the beam intensity above the critical intensity could be confirmed very well. The testbeam data show that the EMEC can be operated up to highest LHC luminosities, and that ATLAS conserves its excellent calorimeter performance in this detector area. / In dieser Studie wird eine Wirkungsquerschnittsmessung des Standardmodell-Z-Bosons im Zerfallskanal Z nach tau tau mit Kollisionsereignissen entsprechend 1.34 fb-1 bis 1.55 fb-1 aufgezeichneter Daten des ATLAS-Experiments am LHC bei einer Schwerpunktsenergie von 7 TeV durchgefuehrt. Hierbei kommt eine spezielle Ereignisselektion der Daten zum Einsatz, die zum Ziel hat, einen mit Z nach tau tau Ereignissen angereicherten Datensatz zu erhalten. Nach einer Untergrundabschaetzung mit Hilfe von experimentellen Daten und Monte-Carlo(MC)-Simulationen wird eine spezifische Wirkungsquerschnittsmessung in den Unterkanaelen Z nach tau tau nach e tau_h + 3nu und Z nach tau tau nach mu tau_h + 3nu erreicht, welche zunaechst nur Ereignisse in der geometrischen und kinematischen Akzeptanzregion umfasst. Zusammen mit der Selektionseffizienz dieser Akzeptanzregion, A_Z, und den bekannten Tau-Lepton-Verzweigungsverhaeltnissen koennen diese Ergebnisse zu einem totalen, inklusiven Z nach tau tau Wirkungsquerschnitt kombiniert werden. Hierbei wird A_Z ausschliesslich aus MC-Studien bestimmt und die Kombination unter Beruecksichtigung der statistischen und systematischen Fehler der Einzelkanaele mit der BLUE-Methode durchgefuehrt. Das Ergebnis ist ein totaler, inklusiver Wirkungsquerschnitt von 914.4 plus minus 14.6(stat) plus minus 95.1(syst) plus minus 33.8(lumi) pb. Dies stimmt innerhalb der Messunsicherheiten sowohl mit theoretischen Vorhersagen aus NNLO Rechnungen von: 964 plus minus 48 pb als auch mit Messungen, die zuvor im Zuge der ATLAS- und CMS-Experimente durchgefuehrt wurden, ueberein. Im Vergleich zu den bisherigen Messungen koennen die statistischen Fehler mit dem groesseren Datensatz deutlich reduziert werden. Weiterhin wird eine Teststrahlstudie zur Pruefung der Funktionalitaet der elektromagnetischen und hadronischen Endkappenkalorimeter, EMEC und HEC, und des Vorwaertskalorimeters FCal in den zukuenftigen, hohen Teilchenflussdichten des verbesserten LHC praesentiert. Die Hochspannungsstroeme des EMEC-Moduls werden in Abhaengigkeit von der Strahlintensitaet analysiert. Weiterhin werden die Ergebnisse mit Modellvorhersagen und Simulationen verglichen, um die Punkte nichtlinearen (kritischen) Betriebes zu extrahieren. Die Ergebnisse fuer die kritische Strahlintensitaet und die kritischen Stroeme stimmen mit Modellrechnungen und Simulationen ueberein, die jedoch mit grossen Unsicherheiten behaftet sind. Das vorhergesagte Verhalten der Hochspannungsstroeme in Abhaengigkeit von der Strahlintensitaet oberhalb der kritischen Intensitaet konnte sehr genau bestaetigt werden. Die Teststrahldaten zeigen, dass das EMEC bis zu den hoechsten LHC-Luminositaeten arbeiten kann und ATLAS in dieser Detektorregion seine exzellenten Kalorimetereigenschaften beibehaelt.

One of the dominant backgrounds in new physics searches at the Large Hadron Collider comes from the leptonic decays of Standard Model W and Z bosons recoiling off jets associated with the underlying event. The ratio of the W+jets and Z+jets cross sections, Rn, is predicted with high precision due to the similar masses and production mechanisms of the W and Z bosons. Any significant departures of Rn from predicted values would be an indication of new physics. This thesis studies a strategy to enhance the sensitivity of Rn to a specific type of signal. A measurement of the ratio Rn is presented, and its sensitivity to pair production of top quarks and leptoquarks is studied. Using a set of topology-discriminating variables, based upon calorimeter topoclusters, the sensitivity of Rn to top quark and leptoquark signals is enhanced using multivariate analysis techniques. / Graduate

ABSTRACT This thesis explores the R. v. Gladue (1999) decision and whether it is applicable to federal corrections and parole release. I outline a Cree relational approach—wahkotowin—that can be employed as a Gladue method of analysis to help us understand Cree history through a kinship relational lens. In Chapter 1, I share an overview of the teachings of wahkotowin, as taught by knowledge keeper and respected author Maria Campbell. With the help of her circle teachings diagrams, I outline our relationships and obligations to one another. I also outline the shattering of wahkotowin through imposed colonial and present-day policies, programs, and legislation, and the resulting inherited intergenerational trauma. Chapter 2 locates my personal story, exploring family and community history, and its connection with First Nations and Métis history on the prairies. Chapter 3 reviews the Supreme Court of Canada’s R. v. Gladue and R. v. Ipeelee (2012) decisions, the duty to properly consider the unique social history of Aboriginal peoples, and the applicability of Gladue to section 84 of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act. Chapter 4 outlines the qualitative data, including interviews with legal experts working with Aboriginal Legal Services of Toronto and the Gladue Court. The data explore best practices of interviewing, researching, and report writing necessary for obtaining Gladue evidence. In Chapter 5, I propose a Gladue-through-wahkotowin approach that explores how Gladue’s duty to consider social history evidence can be expanded to all phases of the criminal justice system, from sentencing to parole release, and can include a Cree relationship-based way of interviewing an offender, carrying out in-depth family and community interviews, attaining oral and documentary historical research, and applying a broad Indigenous approach to interviewing and the writing of Gladue Reports.