Structural engineering is facing an extraordinarily challenging era. These challenges are driven by the increasing expectations of modern society to provide low-cost, architecturally appealing structures which can withstand large earthquakes. However, being able to avoid collapse in a large earthquake is no longer enough. A building must now be able to withstand a major seismic event with negligible damage so that it is immediately occupiable following such an event. As recent earthquakes have shown, the economic consequences of not achieving this level of performance are not acceptable. Technological solutions for low-damage structural systems are emerging. However, the goal of developing a low-damage building requires improving the performance of both the structural skeleton and the non-structural components. These non-structural components include items such as the claddings, partitions, ceilings and contents. Previous research has shown that damage to such items contributes a disproportionate amount to the overall economic losses in an earthquake. One such non-structural element that has a history of poor performance is the external cladding system, and this forms the focus of this research. Cladding systems are invariably complicated and provide a number of architectural functions. Therefore, it is important than when seeking to improve their seismic performance that these functions are not neglected. The seismic vulnerability of cladding systems are determined in this research through a desktop background study, literature review, and postearthquake reconnaissance survey of their performance in the 2010 – 2011 Canterbury earthquake sequence. This study identified that precast concrete claddings present a significant life-safety risk to pedestrians, and that the effect they have upon the primary structure is not well understood. The main objective of this research is consequently to better understand the performance of precast concrete cladding systems in earthquakes. This is achieved through an experimental campaign and numerical modelling of a range of precast concrete cladding systems. The experimental campaign consists of uni-directional, quasi static cyclic earthquake simulation on a test frame which represents a single-storey, single-bay portion of a reinforced concrete building. The test frame is clad with various precast concrete cladding panel configurations. A major focus is placed upon the influence the connection between the cladding panel and structural frame has upon seismic performance. A combination of experimental component testing, finite element modelling and analytical derivation is used to develop cladding models of the cladding systems investigated. The cyclic responses of the models are compared with the experimental data to evaluate their accuracy and validity. The comparison shows that the cladding models developed provide an excellent representation of real-world cladding behaviour. The cladding models are subsequently applied to a ten-storey case-study building. The expected seismic performance is examined with and without the cladding taken into consideration. The numerical analyses of the case-study building include modal analyses, nonlinear adaptive pushover analyses, and non-linear dynamic seismic response (time history) analyses to different levels of seismic hazard. The clad frame models are compared to the bare frame model to investigate the effect the cladding has upon the structural behaviour. Both the structural performance and cladding performance are also assessed using qualitative damage states. The results show a poor performance of precast concrete cladding systems is expected when traditional connection typologies are used. This result confirms the misalignment of structural and cladding damage observed in recent earthquake events. Consequently, this research explores the potential of an innovative cladding connection. The outcomes from this research shows that the innovative cladding connection proposed here is able to achieve low-damage performance whilst also being cost comparable to a traditional cladding connection. It is also theoretically possible that the connection can provide a positive value to the seismic performance of the structure by adding addition strength, stiffness and damping. Finally, the losses associated with both the traditional and innovative cladding systems are compared in terms of tangible outcomes, namely: repair costs, repair time and casualties. The results confirm that the use of innovative cladding technology can substantially reduce the overall losses that result from cladding damage.

Masters of Science / Viral genomes consist of either deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or ribonucleic acid (RNA). The viral RNA molecules are responsible for two functions, firstly, their sequences contain the genetic code, which encodes the viral proteins, and secondly, they may form structural elements important in the regulation of the viral life-cycle. Using a host of computational and bioinformatics techniques we investigated how predicted secondary structure may influence the evolutionary dynamics of a group of single-stranded RNA viruses from the Picornaviridae family. We detected significant and marginally significant correlations between regions predicted to be structured and synonymous substitution constraints in these regions, suggesting that selection may be acting on those sites to maintain the integrity of certain structures. Additionally, coevolution analysis showed that nucleotides predicted to be base paired, tended to co-evolve with one another in a complimentary fashion in four out of the eleven species examined. Our analyses were then focused on individual structural elements within the genome-wide predicted structures. We ranked the predicted secondary structural elements according to their degree of evolutionary conservation, their associated synonymous substitution rates and the degree to which nucleotides predicted to be base paired coevolved with one another. Top ranking structures coincided with well characterized secondary structures that have been previously described in the literature. We also assessed the impact that genomic secondary structures had on the recombinational dynamics of picornavirus genomes, observing a strong tendency for recombination breakpoints to occur in non-coding regions. However, convincing evidence for the association between the distribution of predicted RNA structural elements and breakpoint clustering was not detected.

This thesis examines the discourse of political documentaries. It show how documentary films have developed and notes the changes of structural elements resulting from this development. The aim is to characterize the discourse of political documentaries, using the method of critical discourse analysis of contemporary documentaries focusing on the persona of George W. Bush, terrorist attacks and the war in Iraq.

Thesis (Ph.D. (Afrikaans en Nederlands))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

Fracture of layer structural elements depends on fracture of different layers and interlayer zones. Cases of layer structural elements fracture are ana-lysed in this research. Due to materials heterogeneity and technologies of manufacturing, medium layer (interlayer) appears. This layer influences defor-mation, stresses distribution and fracture of the structure. Often medium layer is weakest link of structural layer element and interlayer fracture called delamina-ting can appear.

This study attempts to highlight the novella from a practical Creative Writing point of view. The establishment of Creative Writing as a teachable university discipline in South Africa is characterised by Creative Writing tutoring in various genres. However, there are voids to be filled in tutoring the nature of a novella and the writing thereof. The objective of this investigation into the novella is to propose a practical writing and theoretical novella approach for application in tutoring Creative Writing. The concept of a genre is investigated to place the novella within the genre categorisation, followed by research of literary sources to determine the origins, nature and historical development of the novella. This background information is essential for Creative Writing students (particularly on tertiary level) to gain knowledge of the literary tradition of the novella. The classical and modern novellas enjoy attention, while confusing terminology for the novella is placed in perspective as far as possible. Some novella definitions from different periods are presented to determine the common characteristics of the novella. These characteristics are important to describe the novella as part of my novella approach. It is essential to look at densification techniques that a writer may apply in order to highlight the novella with its concentrated structure as a particular genre. The four creative elements, event, character, time and space indicated in the title of the thesis, serve as point of departure as these elements are essential in all prose types. Based on this, the creative elements cannot define the novella specifically in their own right. A deeper insight into the writing techniques that the writer may use in the application of the creative elements to obtain the compressed structure of the novella is essential. The densification techniques are discussed based on the deduced techniques in Veldslag (1965) by Karel Schoeman. A personally created new millennium novella, Die Here III, is contained in Chapter 6 as a practical application of the densification techniques and a discussion thereof. As a time and culturally bound genre the prominence of event, character, time and space are subject to changes. Some of these changes revealed in the creative elements of Veldslag and Die Here III, are shown individually according to a sliding scale for each novella. The conclusion in Chapter 7 contains a proposed practical approach to the novella that the tutor in Creative Writing may apply. The approach to the novella involves three components: densification techniques for aspirant writers, possible shifts in the prominence of the creative elements and a description of a novella that also relates to the new millennium novella. It is important to emphasise that the approach to the novella does not contain fixed rules for the writing of a successful novella. The term novel approach hopefully disbands the idea of a fixed recipe. The same applies to the description of a novella in stead of a more closed novella definition by Karel Schoeman. A personally created new millennium novella, Die Here III, is contained in Chapter 6 as a practical application of the densification techniques and a discussion thereof. As a time and culturally bound genre the prominence of event, character, time and space are subject to changes. Some of these changes revealed in the creative elements of Veldslag and Die Here III, are shown individually according to a sliding scale for each novella. The conclusion in Chapter 7 contains a proposed practical approach to the novella that the tutor in Creative Writing may apply. The approach to the novella involves three components: densification techniques for aspirant writers, possible shifts in the prominence of the creative elements and a description of a novella that also relates to the new millennium novella. It is important to emphasise that the approach to the novella does not contain fixed rules for the writing of a successful novella. The term novel approach hopefully disbands the idea of a fixed recipe. The same applies to the description of a novella in stead of a more closed novella definition. / This study attempts to highlight the novella from a practical Creative Writing point of view. The establishment of Creative Writing as a teachable university discipline in South Africa is characterised by Creative Writing tutoring in various genres. However, there are voids to be filled in tutoring the nature of a novella and the writing thereof. The objective of this investigation into the novella is to propose a practical writing and theoretical novella approach for application in tutoring Creative Writing. The concept of a genre is investigated to place the novella within the genre categorisation, followed by research of literary sources to determine the origins, nature and historical development of the novella. This background information is essential for Creative Writing students (particularly on tertiary level) to gain knowledge of the literary tradition of the novella. The classical and modern novellas enjoy attention, while confusing terminology for the novella is placed in perspective as far as possible. Some novella definitions from different periods are presented to determine the common characteristics of the novella. These characteristics are important to describe the novella as part of my novella approach. It is essential to look at densification techniques that a writer may apply in order to highlight the novella with its concentrated structure as a particular genre. The four creative elements, event, character, time and space indicated in the title of the thesis, serve as point of departure as these elements are essential in all prose types. Based on this, the creative elements cannot define the novella specifically in their own right. A deeper insight into the writing techniques that the writer may use in the application of the creative elements to obtain the compressed structure of the novella is essential. The densification techniques are discussed based on the deduced techniques in Veldslag (1965) by Karel Schoeman. A personally created new millennium novella, Die Here III, is contained in Chapter 6 as a practical application of the densification techniques and a discussion thereof. As a time and culturally bound genre the prominence of event, character, time and space are subject to changes. Some of these changes revealed in the creative elements of Veldslag and Die Here III, are shown individually according to a sliding scale for each novella. The conclusion in Chapter 7 contains a proposed practical approach to the novella that the tutor in Creative Writing may apply. The approach to the novella involves three components: densification techniques for aspirant writers, possible shifts in the prominence of the creative elements and a description of a novella that also relates to the new millennium novella. It is important to emphasise that the approach to the novella does not contain fixed rules for the writing of a successful novella. The term novel approach hopefully disbands the idea of a fixed recipe. The same applies to the description of a novella in stead of a more closed novella definition. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Afrikaans en Nederlands))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

This study attempts to highlight the novella from a practical Creative Writing point of view. The establishment of Creative Writing as a teachable university discipline in South Africa is characterised by Creative Writing tutoring in various genres. However, there are voids to be filled in tutoring the nature of a novella and the writing thereof. The objective of this investigation into the novella is to propose a practical writing and theoretical novella approach for application in tutoring Creative Writing. The concept of a genre is investigated to place the novella within the genre categorisation, followed by research of literary sources to determine the origins, nature and historical development of the novella. This background information is essential for Creative Writing students (particularly on tertiary level) to gain knowledge of the literary tradition of the novella. The classical and modern novellas enjoy attention, while confusing terminology for the novella is placed in perspective as far as possible. Some novella definitions from different periods are presented to determine the common characteristics of the novella. These characteristics are important to describe the novella as part of my novella approach. It is essential to look at densification techniques that a writer may apply in order to highlight the novella with its concentrated structure as a particular genre. The four creative elements, event, character, time and space indicated in the title of the thesis, serve as point of departure as these elements are essential in all prose types. Based on this, the creative elements cannot define the novella specifically in their own right. A deeper insight into the writing techniques that the writer may use in the application of the creative elements to obtain the compressed structure of the novella is essential. The densification techniques are discussed based on the deduced techniques in Veldslag (1965) by Karel Schoeman. A personally created new millennium novella, Die Here III, is contained in Chapter 6 as a practical application of the densification techniques and a discussion thereof. As a time and culturally bound genre the prominence of event, character, time and space are subject to changes. Some of these changes revealed in the creative elements of Veldslag and Die Here III, are shown individually according to a sliding scale for each novella. The conclusion in Chapter 7 contains a proposed practical approach to the novella that the tutor in Creative Writing may apply. The approach to the novella involves three components: densification techniques for aspirant writers, possible shifts in the prominence of the creative elements and a description of a novella that also relates to the new millennium novella. It is important to emphasise that the approach to the novella does not contain fixed rules for the writing of a successful novella. The term novel approach hopefully disbands the idea of a fixed recipe. The same applies to the description of a novella in stead of a more closed novella definition by Karel Schoeman. A personally created new millennium novella, Die Here III, is contained in Chapter 6 as a practical application of the densification techniques and a discussion thereof. As a time and culturally bound genre the prominence of event, character, time and space are subject to changes. Some of these changes revealed in the creative elements of Veldslag and Die Here III, are shown individually according to a sliding scale for each novella. The conclusion in Chapter 7 contains a proposed practical approach to the novella that the tutor in Creative Writing may apply. The approach to the novella involves three components: densification techniques for aspirant writers, possible shifts in the prominence of the creative elements and a description of a novella that also relates to the new millennium novella. It is important to emphasise that the approach to the novella does not contain fixed rules for the writing of a successful novella. The term novel approach hopefully disbands the idea of a fixed recipe. The same applies to the description of a novella in stead of a more closed novella definition. / This study attempts to highlight the novella from a practical Creative Writing point of view. The establishment of Creative Writing as a teachable university discipline in South Africa is characterised by Creative Writing tutoring in various genres. However, there are voids to be filled in tutoring the nature of a novella and the writing thereof. The objective of this investigation into the novella is to propose a practical writing and theoretical novella approach for application in tutoring Creative Writing. The concept of a genre is investigated to place the novella within the genre categorisation, followed by research of literary sources to determine the origins, nature and historical development of the novella. This background information is essential for Creative Writing students (particularly on tertiary level) to gain knowledge of the literary tradition of the novella. The classical and modern novellas enjoy attention, while confusing terminology for the novella is placed in perspective as far as possible. Some novella definitions from different periods are presented to determine the common characteristics of the novella. These characteristics are important to describe the novella as part of my novella approach. It is essential to look at densification techniques that a writer may apply in order to highlight the novella with its concentrated structure as a particular genre. The four creative elements, event, character, time and space indicated in the title of the thesis, serve as point of departure as these elements are essential in all prose types. Based on this, the creative elements cannot define the novella specifically in their own right. A deeper insight into the writing techniques that the writer may use in the application of the creative elements to obtain the compressed structure of the novella is essential. The densification techniques are discussed based on the deduced techniques in Veldslag (1965) by Karel Schoeman. A personally created new millennium novella, Die Here III, is contained in Chapter 6 as a practical application of the densification techniques and a discussion thereof. As a time and culturally bound genre the prominence of event, character, time and space are subject to changes. Some of these changes revealed in the creative elements of Veldslag and Die Here III, are shown individually according to a sliding scale for each novella. The conclusion in Chapter 7 contains a proposed practical approach to the novella that the tutor in Creative Writing may apply. The approach to the novella involves three components: densification techniques for aspirant writers, possible shifts in the prominence of the creative elements and a description of a novella that also relates to the new millennium novella. It is important to emphasise that the approach to the novella does not contain fixed rules for the writing of a successful novella. The term novel approach hopefully disbands the idea of a fixed recipe. The same applies to the description of a novella in stead of a more closed novella definition. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Afrikaans en Nederlands))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

This diploma thesis analyses the development of personal income tax as well as of corporate income tax since 1990 to 2000. Emphasis is put on changes of individual structural elements within amendments to the law. An individual chapter is devoted to brief characteristics of income taxation before 1990, which provides an interesting comparison. Due to the fragmentation of legal regulations, the information on the situation before 1993 is drawn largely from The Act No. 76/1952 Coll., on employment tax; The Act No. 172/1988 Coll., on agricultural tax; The Act No. 36/1965 Coll., on tax on literary and artistic work; and The Act No. 157/1989 Coll., on revenue tax. The remaining part of the thesis draws upon The Act No. 586/1992 Coll., on income taxes. In the final chapter, the entire development of the aforementioned taxation is clearly laid out and evaluated. The chapter specifically deals with the development of both aforementioned tax rates as well as of tax-deductible items, tax reliefs, and encashment.

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Metal buildings account for over 40% of low-rise construction in the US. Despite this, predictive fundamental period equations that were obtained empirically for mid-rise construction are used in seismic design. Analytical modeling of metal building frames implied that these equations significantly underpredict the period, which led to the development of a new predictive equation. However, experimental tests showed that these models may overestimate the measured period. In this work, further tests were carried out in order to single out possible causes. Buildings were tested during different stages of construction to evaluate how non-structural elements could affect the behavior. Both planar and three-dimensional models were developed to determine if design assumptions are accurate for the purpose of estimating the period. The results from tests showed that, unlike other single-story buildings, non-structural components seem to have negligible effect on the structural behavior. However, several buildings seemed to exhibit signs of fixed conditions at the column base. This assertion was corroborated by updating the analytical models. The two modeling approaches showed good agreement with each other as well, validating the use of planar models to predict the period. Finally, new predictive equations are proposed that take into account the type of cladding, as it was found to be an important variable not previously considered. However, low mass participation ratios coupled with the stiffness provided by the secondary framing put the use of the equivalent lateral force procedure into question. / Master of Science / When designing buildings for earthquake loads it is necessary to know their dynamic properties in order to define the equivalent forces that must be applied. Building codes provide predictive equations that were obtained empirically for typical mid-rise construction. Metal buildings do not fall within the range of buildings tested for their development, and so a new equation was proposed for them based on a database of planar models. However, previous tests implied that this equation was predicting larger periods than those obtained experimentally. In this work, further tests were carried out during different stages of construction to evaluate how non-structural elements could affect the behavior. Models were also created for each building in order to determine if the approach used to develop the metal building database was adequate for estimating the period. The results from tests showed that, unlike other single-story buildings, non-structural components seem to have negligible effect on the structural behavior, and the modeling assumptions within the database were validated. Further analysis showed that the type of cladding (concrete or metal sheeting) had a large influence on the properties of metal buildings. In consequence, a new set of predictive equations is proposed that takes this into account.