Typescript (photocopy). / Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1979 G462 / Master of Science

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1979 M94 / Master of Science

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1984 D93 / Master of Science

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1984 G37 / Master of Science

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1985 V36 / Master of Science

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Biological & Agricultural Engineering / James K. Koelliker / This research provides a deterministic model of in-vessel composting, based on Monod’s growth kinetics, to mirror biological-mixture decomposition. Existing models predict temperature curves assuming a single temperature-range organism, using a soluble (simple sugar) substrate, with bacteria as the microorganism, and they ignore the different temperature range environments that impact the growth rates of mesophilic and thermophilic microorganisms. The new computer-simulated model, written in MATLAB® by The MathWorks, has six unique features. First, three major carbon chain substrate groups are utilized: soluble, hemicellulose/cellulose, and lignin. An additional substrate group is used for inert substrates. Second, three major microorganism groups are utilized: bacteria for soluble substrate, actinomycetes for cellulose substrate, and fungi for lignin substrate. Third, two temperature-range microorganisms are included: mesophilic and thermophilic. Fourth, the model accounts for the death of microorganisms as the temperature transitions between the temperature ranges. Most of the dead cellular mass is returned to soluble substrate for reutilization and a portion is considered resistant to biological decomposition and is added into the lignin substrate. Fifth, stoichiometric equations account for substrate and microorganism compositions, oxygen and nitrogen requirements, and carbon dioxide and water production. Sixth, the relationship between biological activity and water is better defined. Experimental research was conducted to validate the model. Laboratory analysis distinguished the substrate types. The results indicate the model did differentiate between different levels of substrate types, and the mesophilic and thermophilic microorganism types. Also, the model did differentiate between the bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi. The influence was small, however, because of the different maximum growth rates of the three types of microorganisms. Returning dead microbes to the substrate pools as a result of temperature transitions affected the model results positively. Additional research is needed to account for the influence of volume reduction, develop a better microbial growth curve, include particle size influence, add temporal temperature fluctuations to the external boundary conditions, incorporate pH and nitrogen availability, and develop a three-dimensional model. KEY WORDS. Aerobic composting, mathematical composting model, substrate types, microorganism types, microorganism temperature range, mesophilic, thermophilic, microbial death utilization, moisture composting relationship.

Published Article / The Water Administration System (WAS) is designed to be a management tool for irrigation schemes and water offices that want to manage their water accounts and supply to clients through canal networks, pipelines and rivers. The ultimate aim of WAS is to optimize irrigation water management and minimize management-related distribution losses in irrigation canals. This research project focus on the implementation of the water release module of the WAS program at the Vaalharts irrigation scheme. WAS consists of four modules that are integrated into a single program that can be used on a single PC, a PC network system (in use currently at Vaalharts) or a multi-user environment. These modules can be implemented partially or as a whole, depending on the requirements of the specific scheme or office. The four modules are an administration module, a water request module; water accounts module and a water release module. The first three modules are already implemented at Vaalharts, while module four is implemented only partially. This module links with the water request module and calculates water releases for the main canal and all its branches allowing for lag times and any water losses and accruals. Any researcher in this field should first understand where water comes from and how it will be utilized before any calculations are attempted. Only then manipulation of the release volume can commence. To precisely calculate this water release, accurate data is needed to ensure that the correct volume of water is released into the canal network. This can be done by verifying existing data with field data. To optimize the management of the irrigation scheme the fully implemented WAS program need to be installed and running at the scheme. A series of data and calculation verification needs to be executed. The exercise will show the adequacy and correctness of the available database WAS uses to do the release calculation from. This will ensure improved management of the irrigation scheme, catchment and water resource sustainability. It is planned that the information generated from this project will be used in the compilation of an integrated catchment management information system, currently underway in the school of Civil Engineering and Built Environment at the Central University of Technology, Free State, South Africa.

Published Article / A specific financial services organisation in South Africa realised that they had to join the innovation revolution in order to remain commercially competitive due to unexpected competitors entering the traditional financial services domain. The evaluation question asks whether employees in a financial services organisation can develop creative and innovative thinking and problem-solving skills through an intervention such as a workshop, and can a benefit for the business unit and organisation be identified. This qualitative study employed Utilisation Focused Evaluation (UFE) to address the evaluation question. Questionnaires, pen-and-paper tests and interviews were used to gather data. Descriptive statistics were applied to report the data. The most critical finding confirmed that individuals can acquire creative and innovative thinking and problem-solving skills. The acquisition of these skills though is not sufficient on its own to establish a culture supportive of creativity and innovation. The study culminated in the creation of The Triple I Creativity and Innovation Model. The Triple I Creativity and Innovation Model illustrates how a workshop with distinctive training design features can impact the individual, the business unit and the organisation in order to initiate, ideaneer and ignite creativity and innovation.

A dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for a Masters Degree in Technology, in the Department of Chiropractic at the Durban University of Technology, 2009. / Introduction: National Olympic Committees (NOCs) select medical personnel to support their athletes at the Olympic Games. To best support athletes the knowledge, perception and utilisation of all medical professions is assumed to be high, however literature seems to indicate that this is not so. Objective: To determine the knowledge, perception and utilisation of Chiropractic by NOCs in order to develop a better relationship so that more athletes can benefit from Chiropractic care. Methods: A questionnaire was emailed to the 205 NOCs worldwide. Respective executive committee and medical commission members were asked to complete the questionnaires. Results: 76 NOCs responded (37%), returning 27 questionnaires. 30% of the respondents were high ranking members. 93% were highly educated with a bachelor’s degree or higher and 33% had represented their country as an athlete. Both committees agreed on the importance of a post-graduate sports qualification and perceived the profession to be one of spinal care specialists. Overall knowledge of Chiropractic was poor. A trend was observed among the medical commissions in their choice of Medical Doctors or Physiotherapists over Chiropractors and other professionals. The executive committees in contrast seemed more open-minded in their choice of professionals. No association was found between the knowledge and perception of Chiropractic and use of Chiropractic Conclusion: There is confusion regarding the role and scope of practice of Chiropractic by NOCs. In order to achieve a greater level of acceptance and utilisation of Chiropractic in international sports medical teams the profession needs to clarify their role, better educate NOC members on the benefits of Chiropractic, and obtain sports specific post-graduate programmes that are recognised internationally.