Thesis (MPA) --University of Limpopo, 2008. / The Batho Pele principles provide a framework about how public services should be provided for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the Public Service. Adherence to these principles will guarantee the provision of excellent services that meet the people’s needs and expectations, enhance customer satisfaction, while upholding the government’s promise that access to decent public services is no longer a privilege to be enjoyed by a few, but the rightful expectation of all citizens. From the literature review, it was evident that improved public service delivery depends on several aspects ranging from Human Resource Development to performance measurement and accountability. The need for improving efficiency and effectiveness of the Public Service is emphasized through the various pieces of legislation. Interviews and questionnaires were used to gather data and to get an understanding of data from the point of view of the participants. Analysis of collected data revealed that there is an average compliance of 51, 5% to the principles. Batho Pele principles should be incorporated in the performance contracts of all employees in the department so that periodically performance against them is assessed and ultimately all employees will become Batho Pele champions.

We develop a new approach to classical gravity starting from Mach's principles and the idea that the local shape of spatial configurations is fundamental. This new theory, shape dynamics, is equivalent to general relativity but differs in an important respect: shape dynamics is a theory of dynamic conformal 3-geometry, not a theory of spacetime. Equivalence is achieved by trading foliation invariance for local conformal invariance (up to a global scale). After the trading, what is left is a gauge theory invariant under 3d diffeomorphisms and conformal transformations that preserve the volume of space. There is one non-local global Hamiltonian that generates the dynamics. Thus, shape dynamics is a formulation of gravity that is free of the local problem of time. In addition, the symmetry principle is simpler than that of general relativity because the local constraints are linear. Therefore, shape dynamics provides a novel new starting point for quantum gravity. Furthermore, the conformal invariance provides an ideal setting for studying the relationship between gravity and boundary conformal field theories. The procedure for the trading of symmetries was inspired by a technique called best matching. We explain best matching and its relation to Mach's principles. The key features of best matching are illustrated through finite dimensional toy models. A general picture is then established where relational theories are treated as gauge theories on configuration space. Shape dynamics is then constructed by applying best matching to conformal geometry. We then study shape dynamics in more detail by computing its Hamiltonian perturbatively and establishing a connection with conformal field theory.

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Photocatalysis is a promising technology that can effectively convert the solar energyinto sustainable green energy. However, theoretical studies on the molecular mechanisms of photocatalytic reactions are rare. This thesis is devoted to investigate several typical photocatalytic reactions on the surfaces of the most popular photocatalysis TiO2 with density functional theory. We start our study with the characterization of both the free and trapped hole on the surface generated by the light. The oxidation of physisorbed H2O molecule by the hole trapped at bridge oxygen on rutile TiO2(110) surface has been studied. The hole is found to transferto the molecule via the anti-bonding orbital as a result of the hybridization between the hole orbital and the HOMO of the molecule. The energy and symmetry mismatching between the trapped hole orbital and the HOMO of the molecule explains why the trapped hole cannot directly transfer to the chemisorbed H2O molecule. On the other hand, we have found that the chemisorbed H2O moleculecan be more efficiently oxidized by the free hole with a lower barrier and higher reaction energy compared to the oxidation by the trapped hole. In this reaction, the free hole is transferred to the chemisorbed H2O after the dissociation. This is different from the oxidation of chemisorbed H2O on anatase TiO2(101) surface by free hole, in which the hole is transferred concertedly with the dissociation of themolecule.     In order to understand the hole scavenger ability of organic molecules, the oxidation of three small organic molecules (CH3OH, HCOOH and HCOH) onanatase TiO2(101) surface has been systematically investigated. The concerted hole and proton transfer is found for all these molecules. The calculations suggestthat both kinetic and thermodynamic effects need to be considered to correctly describe the hole transfer process. The order of hole scavenging power is found tofollow: HCOH &gt; HCOOH &gt; CH3OH &gt; H2O, which agrees well with experiments.     Photo-selective catalytic reduction of the NO by NH3 and the photooxidationof CO by O2 are closely related to the environment application. Both reactionsinvolve the formation and/or breaking of non R–H bonds. The mechanism for the photoreduction of NO proposed by experiment has been verified by our calculations.The role of the hole is to oxidize the adsorbed NH3 into ·NH2 radical, which canform a NH2NO complex with a gaseous NO molecule easily. The photooxidation of CO by O2 is the first multi-step photoreaction we ever studied. By combining thepotential energy surfaces at the ground and excited state we have found that thehole and electron both take part in the reaction. A molecular mechanism which is in consistent with various experiments is proposed.     These studies show that density functional theory is a powerful tool for studying the photocatalytic reaction. Apparently, more work needs to be done in orderto improve the performance of the existing materials and to design new ones thatcan take advantage of the solar light more efficiently / <p>QC 20140522</p>

We develop a new approach to classical gravity starting from Mach's principles and the idea that the local shape of spatial configurations is fundamental. This new theory, shape dynamics, is equivalent to general relativity but differs in an important respect: shape dynamics is a theory of dynamic conformal 3-geometry, not a theory of spacetime. Equivalence is achieved by trading foliation invariance for local conformal invariance (up to a global scale). After the trading, what is left is a gauge theory invariant under 3d diffeomorphisms and conformal transformations that preserve the volume of space. There is one non-local global Hamiltonian that generates the dynamics. Thus, shape dynamics is a formulation of gravity that is free of the local problem of time. In addition, the symmetry principle is simpler than that of general relativity because the local constraints are linear. Therefore, shape dynamics provides a novel new starting point for quantum gravity. Furthermore, the conformal invariance provides an ideal setting for studying the relationship between gravity and boundary conformal field theories. The procedure for the trading of symmetries was inspired by a technique called best matching. We explain best matching and its relation to Mach's principles. The key features of best matching are illustrated through finite dimensional toy models. A general picture is then established where relational theories are treated as gauge theories on configuration space. Shape dynamics is then constructed by applying best matching to conformal geometry. We then study shape dynamics in more detail by computing its Hamiltonian perturbatively and establishing a connection with conformal field theory.

This is a cross-cultural study of Indigenous legal traditions in Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN), a political territorial organization in northern Ontario. By analyzing NAN’s resolutions (passed by NAN Chiefs-in-Assembly to direct NAN’s mandate), I identify legal principles. As law arises from worldviews, law’s function is to protect the values of that worldview. This study discusses two values (creation and interdependence) as analytic tools, used to recognise legal principles. Context grounds the conclusions, as they relate to specific people and land. Four legal principles are identified: earthbound need, sacred/natural supremacy, gifted responsibility and relational jurisdiction. These principles together reveal that law in NAN is focused on the protection of life. Overarching the results is a broader purpose, to take up the educative work previously shouldered by NAN alone. The duty to learn is more than political obligation, but as I argue, is a matter of life itself. / Graduate / 2019-05-11

Kyoto University (京都大学) / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(工学) / 甲第16854号 / 工博第3575号 / 新制||工||1540(附属図書館) / 29529 / 京都大学大学院工学研究科材料工学専攻 / (主査)教授 田中 功, 教授 邑瀬 邦明, 教授 中村 裕之 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当

D.Ed.