New unsaturated coupled models have been developed for fluid transport in deformable rock by using modified mixture theory rather than a fully mechanics-based approach. These models include the following: an unsaturated hydro-mechanical coupled model for both non-swelling and swelling materials, in which a new coupled formulation for hydration swelling rock has been included; and an unsaturated hydro-mechanical-chemo coupled model, incorporating a new coupled formulation including osmosis flow and an unsaturated version of Darcy's law which has been extended by including osmosis effects.Modified mixture theory is mainly based on non-equilibrium thermodynamics. Helmholtz free energy is used to give the energy relationship between the fluids and solid and, by using the Gibbs-Duhem equation, the interactions between different fluids such as gas, water and chemical can be obtained. In this research, general coupled formulations for both large small and deformations have been obtained. For swelling rocks, the water between the clay platelets can be modeled by including the difference between the free energy of whole domain and that of the pore water plus the solid skeleton. By assuming small deformations, the final equations can be compared with those derived using the mechanics approach.The new coupled models have been tested by carrying out simple benchmark numerical simulations using finite elements. Problems analyzed include: (1) the consolidation of saturated swelling rocks in which the hydration swelling effects on consolidation have been analysed in detail; (2) the desaturation and resaturation of seasonally affected rocks around tunnels; (3) the desaturation stage for swelling rocks used in the containment of nuclear waste disposal; (4) chemical transport in very low permeability rock used for nuclear waste disposal, in which particular attention has been focused on osmosis flow and chemical consolidation. In summary, this thesis extends modified mixture theory and develops new coupled formulations which can be applied to deep nuclear waste disposal, including tunnelling, drilling and chemical transport in low permeability host rock.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / It has been noticed that many countries around the world have started making the construction and development of industrial SMEs one of the critical driving forces for economic growth of their countries. The SMEs industry has shown growth and good performance in East and Southeast Asia (South Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan). Many researchers have undertaken research on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in South Africa, including the development of rural entrepreneurship. Despite numerous articles and numerous past research surveys conducted on SMEs in South Africa, Brazil, Nigeria, Ukraine, Tanzania, Botswana, China, Taiwan, UK, Australia, USA including many other developing countries, the understanding of the determinants of survival and growth of rural SMEs in rural areas, with specific reference to KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and the existence of a growth model remain largely unknown. Since rural businesses operate in different environments from those in urban areas, it is essential to have a broad understanding and knowledge of business characteristics of small and medium enterprises of rural entrepreneurs, including their personal attitudes, rural entrepreneurial orientation growth of business, external/internal environmental dynamics, as well as rural entrepreneurial resources. In recent times, rural entrepreneurship has had a huge impact on many issues, including economic development, employment, food supply and social safety. With more and more people moving from the rural areas to urban areas due to a lack of employment opportunities and the complexity of running their own business, the problem of potential social unrest and many other problems become more and more real. Thus, it is very important that researchers, especially in those countries with large numbers of people living in the rural areas to investigate this problem and provide ways of how to solve it. The assumptions and the confusion, surrounding rural SMEs owners/managers awareness, perceptions and the understanding of various determinants of survival and growth of rural SMEs in their areas, highlights a need and creates interest for academics to conduct more research in this particular area. There are a number of other important reasons, such as the failure rate of SMEs that also need to be investigated. This study was conducted within the rural areas of the southern region of KZN province, using quantitative research methods. The sample for the study consisted of 150 owners/managers of SMEs. The respondents were selected using quota sampling and required to complete a research questionnaire, with an interviewer present to assist. The research instrument consisted of a close–ended, questionnaire made up of a 5 point Likert scale with the questionnaires distributed to five selected areas in the rural southern region of KZN province. The research findings indicate that the size of the local market is very small for selling SMEs products; poor infrastructure has an impact on their business growth and lack of financial support as well as tough government regulations adversely affect SME growth. This study provides both theoretical and practical implications for rural entrepreneurs and policy-makers. The study presents a number of recommendations, including a conceptual growth model for rural SMEs.

The use of mobile technologies has permeated the business arena rapidly over the last decade. Research has been conducted to understand the nature of these mobile technologies and their adoption into business. With the ever growing importance of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in countries such as South Africa, there is need to better understand the impact of mobile technologies on SMEs. The objective of this study is to assess the impact of mobile technologies on the business models of SMEs. A theoretical definition of a business model is used to understand the impact of mobile technologies on the customer value proposition, the profit formula, key resources and the value chain of SMEs. The study takes into account some of the challenges that SMEs face, namely limited resources, low levels of productivity and small management teams. SMEs registered with the Pietermaritzburg Chamber of Business (PCB) are used as a sample to assess the impact of mobile technologies. The results show that mobile technologies have a significant impact on the profit formula and certain aspects of key resources. Specifically, mobile technologies are used to firstly cut costs and then to enhance the utilisation of assets, improve knowledge management while ensuring adequate governance structures. The outcome of this study can be used by SMEs to plan for the adoption of mobile technologies and measure their impact on the business. Mobile technology companies can consider the development of mobile technologies tailored for the SME environment. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems are software programs designed to integrate the functional requirements, and operational information needs of a business. Pressures of competition and entry standards for participation in major manufacturing supply chains are creating greater demand for small business ERP systems. The proliferation of new offerings of ERP systems introduces complexity to the selection process to identify the right ERP business software for a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME). The selection of an ERP system is a process in which a faulty conclusion poses a significant risk of failure to SME’s. The literature reveals that there are still very high failure rates in ERP implementation, and that faulty selection processes contribute to this failure rate. However, the literature is devoid of a systematic methodology for the selection process for an ERP system by SME’s. This study provides a methodological approach to selecting the right ERP system for a small or medium-sized enterprise. The study employs Thomann’s meta-methodology for methodology development; a survey of SME’s is conducted to inform the development of the methodology, and a case study is employed to test, and revise the new methodology. The study shows that a rigorously developed, effective methodology that includes benchmarking experiences has been developed and successfully employed. It is verified that the methodology may be applied to the domain of users it was developed to serve, and that the test results are validated by expert users and stakeholders. Future research should investigate in greater detail the application of meta-methodologies to supplier selection and evaluation processes for services and software; additional research into the purchasing practices of small firms is clearly needed.

The medium format photographs created in conjunction with my senior thesis exhibit, Everyday Decay, use texture, line, intimate framing, warm color palettes, and layering to explore an aspect of the everyday landscape that we interact with often but generally ignore. The choice of medium and subject of decay creates a sense of the past, aided by the warm tones that imply affinity and nostalgia.

Title: Internal control in unlisted medium-sized manufacturing companies, A qualitative interview study on how medium-sized unlisted manufacturing companies work with internal control.                         Authors: Marc Neemeh Attaalla, Sajjad Ameen and Mojeb Abdul Majed Supervisor/ Tutor: Pia Nylinder, Martin HolgerssonDate: May 2021 Background and Problem discussion: Interna control in companies have become more relevant than ever in the recent decade. In US and Sweden, it is statutory to have an effective internal control in listed companies. The COSO- framework and an effective internal control is also well known among large companies. This created a curiosity to study how the internal control works in medium- sized companies that are not listed.    Purpose:The purpose of the study is to create a deeper understanding of how the unlisted medium-sized manufacturing companies work with internal control. Method:A qualitative interview study is the method that is used to fulfil the purpose of the research. The interviews were held with individuals in leading positions in seven different medium sized companies that were unlisted in the stock market. The interviews were conducted in themes based on COSO-frameworks five components.  Conclusion:All unlisted medium sized companies are working with the internal control. Companies are in large parts using COSO- frameworks five components unknowingly. We have also been able to identify similarities in difficulties regarding the interna control in the medium sized companies that have been studied.

In this thesis, we study the nonlinear diffusion equation especially Porous Medium Equation (PME). u_t= \Delta(u^m) + f(u), Parameter m>1 in the case of slow diffusion, m=1 means linear model and $0

Rhizoctonia solani causes damping-off, and root and crown rot of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) and overwinters as sclerotia and mycelia. Research was conducted to determine how best to produce large quantities of sclerotia and mycelia in vitro, and compare their pathogenicity with traditionally used colonized barley grains to sugar beet in vitro and in vivo. The greatest number of sclerotia was produced on amended clarified V8 medium and sclerotia caused more disease compared to barley inoculum in the greenhouse. The bio-control potential of Penicillium pinophilum on R. solani AG2-2 on sugar beet was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. Results showed that the presence of P.pinophilum with R.solani reduced damping-off by 75% and thus have the potential to be developed as a bio-control agent for this pathogen.

Therapeutic intervention with children relies on the use of play materials as medium for communication. Within Gestalt play therapy play materials are utilised with the assumption that children will project their thoughts and feelings onto the play materials. Projection creates a sense of safety that allows children to discuss information that they generally would not raise. The use of puppets as play technique has many advantages in the therapeutic context. One of the key characteristics of puppets as play technique, is that it tends to enhance communication in the therapeutic context. Puppets are suitable for intervention in individual and group contexts. The goal of this study was to determine the influence of puppets as medium for communication in group work with children in middel childhood. Educational groups that focused on bullying as a topic of discussion were implemented with two groups of children in middle childhood. Bullying has a significant effect on may school-age children and was regarded as an appropriate topic for the groups. The research was based on a mixed methods research approach, with applied research as the type of research. A dominant less dominant research design was followed. A multi-group post-test research design was used for the quantitative research, whereas a collective case study design was used for the qualitative part of the study. Quantitative data collection focused on the communication and the interaction patterns during group sessions where puppets were utilised compared to sessions without the use of puppets. Data were collected by means of structured observation with the use of an observation schedule. Qualitative data collection focused on the responsents? experience of the use of puppets during group work. Semi-structured interviews that were guided by a semi-structured interview schedule were used to collect the qualitative data. A total of 10 respondents were selected by means of purposive sampling from children in middle childhood who attended a after school centre. Simple random sampling were used to divide the respondents into two groups of five respondents each. The two groups were exposed to the same group work programme. The research findings indicate that the use of puppets generally showed positive results in respect of the communication and interaction patterns in the two groups. The use of puppets resulted in an increase of contributions and in the initiation of discussions by the respondents. Furthermore, the respondents showed greater involvement in the group and tended to more readily include other group members in the group discussion. When using puppets, the respondents were were less likely to follow the opinion of other group members. Most of the respondents indicated that they enjoyed talking through the puppets. The use of puppets did however not enhance discussions of sensitive topics that focused on negative elements. Some of the respondents found it difficult to concentrate on the group discussion and manipulate the puppet at the same time and some exhibited more attention seeking behaviours when using the puppets in the group session. The study can be regarded as an exploratory study with a limited number of respondents. The conclusion is made that the use of puppets could benefit the communication and the interaction patterns during group work with children. Due to the promising results, the researcher recommends that further research be conducted on using puppets as medium for communication during group work. / Terapeutiese intervensies met kinders steun op die gebruik van spelmateriale as gespreksmedium. In Gestaltspelterapie word spelmateriale benut met die aanname dat kinders hul denke en gevoelens op die spelmateriale projekteer. Projeksie skep n gevoel van veiligheid wat daartoe bydra dat kinders inligting bespreek wat hul andersins nie sou opper nie. Handpoppe is n speltegniek wat verskeie voordele in die terapeutiese konteks inhou. Een van die uitstaande kenmerke van handpoppe as speltegniek, is dat dit kommunikasie in die terapeutiese konteks kan bevorder. Handpoppe kan tydens individuele intervensie en in groepsverband gebruik word. Die doel van hierdie studie was om die invloed van handpoppe as gespreksmedium tydens groepwerk met kinders in die middelkinderjare te bepaal. Vir die doel van die navorsing is opvoedkundige groepe wat op afkouery as onderwerp fokus met twee groepe kinders in die middelkinderjare geïmplementeer. Afknouery het n groot invloed op talle skoolkinders en is as n gepaste onderwerp vir die groepe beskou. In die studie is n gemengde navorsingsbenadering gevolg, met toegepaste navorsing as die tipe navorsing. n Dominante minder dominante navorsingsontwerp is gevolg. n Multi-groep na-toets navorsingsontwerp is vir die kwantitatiewe navorsing gebruik, terwyl n kollektiewe gevallestudie-ontwerp vir die kwalitatiewe deel van die navorsing gebruik is. Kwantitatiewe data het gefokus op die kommunikasie en interaksiepatrone tydens groepsessies waar handpoppe gebruik is teenoor dié sonder die gebruik van handpoppe. Data is deur middel van gestruktureerde observasie aan die hand van n observasieskedule ingesamel. Kwalitatiewe data het gefokus op die respondente se ervaring van die benutting van handpoppe tydens groepwerk. Semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude met die benutting van n semi-gestruktureerde onderhoudskedule is gebruik om laasgenoemde data in te samel. n Totaal van 10 respondente is op grond van doelgerigte steekproefseleksie vanuit kinders in die middelkinderjare wat n naskoolsentrum bygewoon het, geselekteer. Eenvoudige ewekansige steekproefseleksie is gebruik om die respondente in twee groepe van vyf respondente elk in te deel. Dieselfde groepwerkprogram is aan albei groepe aangebied. Die navorsingsbevindinge toon aan dat die benutting van handpoppe oor die algemeen voordelig vir die kommunikasie en interaksiepatrone in die twee groepe was. Dit het tot n verhoging van bydraes en van die inisiëring van gesprekke in die groepe gelei. Die respondente het groter betrokkenheid by die groep getoon en was meer geneig om ander groeplede in die groepsgesprek in te sluit. Respondente was ook minder geneig om bloot die mening van ander te volg wanneer handpoppe gebruik is. Die meeste respondente het aangetoon dat hulle dit geniet het om deur die handpoppe te praat. Die benutting van handpoppe het egter nie daartoe bygedra dat sensitiewe onderwerpe met negatiewe elemente meer geredelik bespreek is nie. Sommige respondente het dit moeilik gevind om gelyktydig op die groepsgesprek en op die manipulering van die handpoppe te fokus, terwyl ander meer geneig tot aandagsoekendende gedrag was wanneer handpoppe gebruik is. Die studie kan as n eksploratiewe studie met n beperkte aantal respondente beskou word. Die gevolgtrekking word gemaak dat die benutting van handpoppe wel die kommunikasie en die interaksiepatrone tydens groepwerk met kinders kan bevorder. Weens die belowende resultate stel die navorser voor dat verdere navorsing oor die benutting van handpoppe as gespeksmedium tydens groepwerk gedoen word. / Mini Dissertation (MSW)--University of Pretoria, 2016. / Social Work and Criminology / MSW / Unrestricted

The ability of coated particles of enriched uranium dioxide (UO2) fuel to withstand high temperatures and contain the fission products in the case of a loss of cooling event is a vital passive safety measure over traditional nuclear fuel requiring active safety systems to provide cooling. As a possible solution towards enhancing the safety of light-water reactors (LWRs), it is envisaged that the fuel in the form of loose-coated particles in a helium atmosphere can be introduced inside Silicon-Carbide nuclear reactor fuel cladding tubes of the fuel elements. The coated particles in this investigation were treated as a bed from where heat was transferred to the cladding tube by means of helium gas and the gas movement was by natural convection. Hence, it is proposed that light-water reactors (LWR) could be made safer by redesigning the fuel in the fuel assembly (see Fig. 1.3b). As a first step towards the implementation of this proposal, a proper understanding of the mechanisms of heat transfer, fluid flow and pressure drop through a packed bed of spheres during natural convection was of utmost importance. Such an understanding was achieved through a review of existing literature on porous media. However, most heat transfer correlations and models in heated packed beds are for forced convectional conditions and as such characterise porous media as a function of Reynolds number only rather than expressing media heat transfer performance as a function of thermal properties of the bed in combination with the various components of the overall heat transfer. The media heat transfer performance considered as a function of thermal properties of the bed in the proposed design is found to be a more appropriate approach than the media as a function of Reynolds number. The quest to examine the particle-to-fluid heat transfer characteristics expected in the proposed new fuel design led to implementing this research work in three phases, namely experimental, theoretical and numerical simulation. An experimental investigation of fluid-to-particle natural convection heat transfer characteristics in packed beds heated from below was carried out. Captured data readings from the experiment were analysed and heat transfer characteristics in the medium evaluated by applying the first principle heat transfer concept. A basic unit cell (BUC) model was developed for the theoretical analysis and applied to determine the heat transfer coefficient, h, of the medium. The model adopted a concept in which a single unit of the packed bed was analysed and taken as representative of the entire bed; it related the convective heat transfer effect of the flowing fluid with the conduction and radiative effect at the finite contact spot between adjacent unit cell particles. As a result, the model could account for the thermophysical properties of sphere particles and the heated gas, the interstitial gas effect, gas temperature, contact interface between particles, particle size and particle temperature distribution in the investigated medium. Although the heat transfer phenomenon experienced in the experimental set-up was a reverse case of the proposed fuel design, the study with the achievement in the validation with the Gunn correlation aided in developing the appropriate theoretical relations required for evaluating the heat transfer characteristics in the proposed nuclear fuel design. A slender geometrical model mimicking the proposed nuclear fuel in the cladding was numerically simulated to investigate the heat transfer characteristics and flow distribution under the natural convective conditions anticipated in beds of randomly packed spheres (coated fuel particles) using a commercial code. Random packing of the particles was achieved by discrete element method (DEM) simulation with the aid of Star CCM+ while particle-to-particle and particle-to-wall contacts were achieved through the combined use of the commercial code and a SolidWorks CAD package. Surface-to-surface radiative heat transfer was modelled in the simulation reflecting real-life application. The numerical results obtained allowed for the determination of parameters such as particle-to-fluid heat transfer coefficient, Nusselt number, Grashof number and Rayleigh number. These parameters were of prime importance when analysing the heat transfer performance of a fixed bed reactor. A comparison of three approaches indicated that the application of the CFD combined with the BUC model gave a better expression of the heat transfer phenomenon in the medium mimicking the heat transfer in the new fuel design / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2016. / Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering / PhD / Unrestricted