Two of the challenges facing Africa in the 21st Century are effective use of restricted water resources and ensuring food security especially for poor communities. In line with these aims, the eThekwini municipality has introduced a multi-tier system of water supply ranging from full pressure reticulated systems along with flush toilets to standpipes and dry toilet systems. In the latter case, it was soon recognized that the disposal of greywater presented a problem. Bearing in mind that South Africa is already a water scarce region, research was initiated into finding means of using this water as a resource rather than as a waste. Initial on-site trials using the greywater to irrigate crops proved popular and it was then regarded as necessary to test the possible health effects on the communities of such a system. A controlled field trial using pot plantings of a selected range of edible vegetables was initiated at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Crops were tested both internally and externally for a range of indicator and potentially pathogenic organisms. Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA) techniques were used to assess the health risk to communities from growing and eating the greywater- irrigated vegetables. Although there was a health risk related to most of the activities, especially the handling of the greywater itself, the risks could be brought within the World Health Organisation guidelines of less than one case of disease per 10 000 people per year by the implementation of simple barrier interventions. The greywater irrigated crops themselves, did not present a statistically higher risk of infection than the crops irrigated with either hydroponic solution or tap water. These findings show the importance of applying QMRA to each case to determine health risk. This would allow the productive use of greywater and other water sources in the correct circumstances, thus providing food sustainability for people who currently do not have access to the levels of high purity water currently recommended for agriculture. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2010.

This study was an effort to uncover four major facts: (a) the predictive power ofthe proposed integrated model, which posits the influence of attitudes (ATT), subjectivenorms (SN), perceived behavior control (PBC), altruism, self-construal, and paperrecyclingknowledge on behavioral intentions; (b) the moderating effects ofindividualism-collectivism (I-C) on the attitudes-intentions relationship and thesubjective norms-intentions relationship; (c) the comparison of the predictive power ofthe TPB model and the proposed integrated model; and (d) the relationship between twointentions measures: behavioral intentions and implementation intentions.This cross-sectional research consisted of two phases: the TPB elicitation researchand the main study. Participants were undergraduate students recruited from two majorpublic universities in Thailand and the U.S. The sample size used in the main analysiscomprised 417 respondents from Thailand (representing a collectivistic society) and 432respondents from the U.S. (representing an individualistic society). Structural equationmodeling (SEM) was employed to investigate the predictability of the TPB model and theintegrated model. Multi-group SEM was implemented to examine the moderating effectsof I-C. Correlation analysis was conducted to detect the relationship between the twointentions measures.The results yielded some significant findings enhancing our understanding ofpaper-recycling intentions of college students in the two countries. First, TPBdeterminants, especially PBC and SN, were potential predictors of paper recycling.Although ATT was not a successful antecedent of intentions in Thailand, it predictedintentions of U.S. participants. Second, altruism was a significant factor explaining ATTand PBC for both samples; it also directly influenced intentions. Third, two types of selfconstrualsignificantly and distinctively affected ATT and SN. Fourth, paper-recyclingknowledge failed to predict either attitudes or intentions in either country. Fifth, althoughthe ratio difference of the model X2 and the R2 showed the TPB model to be slightly morepowerful than the integrated model, and TPB was more parsimonious, the integratedmodel advances our understanding of additional psychosocial and cultural factors withregard to paper recycling. Finally, the significant correlation between the behavioralintentionsand the implementation-intentions measures were positive and relatively high.Findings can benefit communication campaigns targeting audiences in different cultures.

According to the Constitution of South Africa, the government is required to make all the infor-mation in the ten indigenous languages of South Africa (excluding English), available to the public. For this reason, the government made the information, that already existed for these ten languages, available to the public and an effort is also been made to increase the amount of resources available in these languages (Groenewald & Du Plooy, 2010). This release of infor-mation further helps to implement Krauwer‟s (2003) idea that there is an inventory for the mini-mal number of language-related resources required for a language to be competitive at the level of research and teaching. This inventory is known as the "Basic Language Resource Kit" (BLARK). Since most of the languages in South Africa are resource scarce, it is of the best in-terest for the cultural growth of the country, that each of the indigenous South African languages develops their own BLARK. In Chapter 1, the need for the development of an implementable named entity recogniser (NER) for Afrikaans is discussed by first referring to the Constitution of South Africa’s (Republic of South Africa, 2003) language policy. Secondly, the guidelines of BLARK (Krauwer, 2003) are discussed, which is followed by a discussion of an audit that focuses on the number of re-sources and the distribution of human language technology for all eleven South African languages (Sharma Grover, Van Huyssteen & Pretorius, 2010). In respect of an audit conducted by Sharma Grover et al. (2010), it was established that there is a shortage of text-based tools for Afrikaans. This study focuses on this need for text-based tools, by focusing on the develop-ment of a NER for Afrikaans. In Chapter 2 a description is given on what an entity and a named entity is. Later in the chapter the process of technology recycling is explained, by referring to other studies where the idea of technology recycling has been applied successfully (Rayner et al., 1997). Lastly, an analysis is done on the differences that may occur between Afrikaans and Dutch named entities. These differences are divided into three categories, namely: identical cognates, non-identical cognates and unrelated entities. Chapter 3 begins with a description of Frog (van den Bosch et al, 2007), the Dutch NER used in this study, and the functions and operation of its NER-component. This is followed by a description of the Afrikaans-to-Dutch-converter (A2DC) (Van Huyssteen & Pilon, 2009) and finally the various experiments that were completed, are explained. The study consists of six experiments, the first of which was to determine the results of Frog on Dutch data. The second experiment evaluated the effectiveness of Frog on unchanged (raw) Afrikaans data. The following two experiments evaluated the results of Frog on “Dutched” Afrikaans data. The last two experiments evaluated the effectiveness of Frog on raw and “Dutched” Afrikaans data with the addition of gazetteers as part of the pre-processing step. In conclusion, a summary is given with regards to the comparisons between the NER for Afri-kaans that was developed in this study, and the NER-component that Puttkammer (2006) used in his tokeniser. Finally a few suggestions for future research are proposed. / MA (Applied Language and Literary Studies), North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2013

People of the modern world consume more than they ever used to do. Because of the close correlation between consumption and the amount of waste, the waste volume is also expected to increase. The purpose of this study is to examine if some measures in the recycling process from Sweden could be implemented in Indonesia. In fact, Indonesia is one of the countries in which the waste management system is struggling. Tetra Pak, one of the world leading producer of food packaging, is studied in this report. Tetra Paks recycling rate of their beverage cartons is relatively low, 8.42 %, in Indonesia compared with their recycling rate in other countries. To answer the purpose, information was collected from scientific reports, by interviews carried out in both Sweden and Indonesia and by study visits in Indonesia. The results of the study shows that there are measures which could be made in the recycling process to increase the recycling rate in Indonesia. School projects and deposit systems could increase the collection rate and a drumscreen and a buffertank could make the recycling process more profitable for the papermills. There is also some alternative end products which could make the whole recycling process more public visible. One of the conclusions of this study is that the paper mills should adjust their drumscreens, this to increase the fibre yield which is crucial for the recycling value. Another conclusions is that Tetra Pak should consider to initiate a recycling business by their own, in order to reduce the burden on the environment.

The City of Johannesburg is facing the simultaneous challenges of an increased generation of solid waste in the City, unemployment and the running out of land to dispose the waste. Of the solid waste that is generated, 50% is recyclable while only 10% is recycled (SOER, 2003: 69). Solid waste recycling is mainly performed through private sector initiatives in the City of Johannesburg. Consequently, there is no proper coordination with government initiatives. In order for South Africa to increase and sustain economic growth that would decrease unemployment, there should be a culture of entrepreneurship (Mass, G & Herrington M, 2006:7). Solid waste buy-back centres assist in addressing the challenges of dealing with the increased generation of solid waste and the scarcity of land for disposal. These centres also reduce the challenges of unemployment through promoting entrepreneurs to operate solid waste recycling businesses. Developed economies have managed to increase the rate of solid waste recycling to 60%. The problems associated with solid waste have been reduced by promoting recycling through a combination of legislation and setting-up of agencies to deal with solid waste recycling. South Africa has legislation and stated programmes to deal with solid waste recycling. Nevertheless, there has been complexity with implementing recycling. This is the result of a lack of co-ordination between the role-players involved in the value chain of solid waste recycling. In order for the City of Johannesburg to increase the recycling of solid waste from 10% to optimal rates of between 50% and 60%, there should be co-ordination of programmes amongst all the role players. In addition, there should also be skills provision to existing and potential entrepreneurs operating the solid waste buy-back centres. All spheres of government should promote solid waste recycling business to potential entrepreneurs and the public in order to recycle 40% of the recyclable solid waste that is not being recycled. The establishment of a solid waste buy-back centre in the City of Johannesburg is economically viable with some buy-back centre realising a net-profit of least R5 000 and some more than R30 000 per month. In order for the solid waste buy-back centre to realise a net-profit of more than R30 000 per month, there must be more than 40 tons of recyclable solid waste received by the buy-back centre per month. This study has indicated that solid waste buy-back centres rely on the economies of scale. This means that the more recyclable solid waste is received and sold by the solid waste buy-back centres, the more profitable it becomes. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2009.

The City of Johannesburg is facing the simultaneous challenges of an increased generation of solid waste in the City, unemployment and the running out of land to dispose the waste. Of the solid waste that is generated, 50% is recyclable while only 10% is recycled (SOER, 2003: 69). Solid waste recycling is mainly performed through private sector initiatives in the City of Johannesburg. Consequently, there is no proper coordination with government initiatives. In order for South Africa to increase and sustain economic growth that would decrease unemployment, there should be a culture of entrepreneurship (Mass, G & Herrington M, 2006:7). Solid waste buy-back centres assist in addressing the challenges of dealing with the increased generation of solid waste and the scarcity of land for disposal. These centres also reduce the challenges of unemployment through promoting entrepreneurs to operate solid waste recycling businesses. Developed economies have managed to increase the rate of solid waste recycling to 60%. The problems associated with solid waste have been reduced by promoting recycling through a combination of legislation and setting-up of agencies to deal with solid waste recycling. South Africa has legislation and stated programmes to deal with solid waste recycling. Nevertheless, there has been complexity with implementing recycling. This is the result of a lack of co-ordination between the role-players involved in the value chain of solid waste recycling. In order for the City of Johannesburg to increase the recycling of solid waste from 10% to optimal rates of between 50% and 60%, there should be co-ordination of programmes amongst all the role players. In addition, there should also be skills provision to existing and potential entrepreneurs operating the solid waste buy-back centres. All spheres of government should promote solid waste recycling business to potential entrepreneurs and the public in order to recycle 40% of the recyclable solid waste that is not being recycled. The establishment of a solid waste buy-back centre in the City of Johannesburg is economically viable with some buy-back centre realising a net-profit of least R5 000 and some more than R30 000 per month. In order for the solid waste buy-back centre to realise a net-profit of more than R30 000 per month, there must be more than 40 tons of recyclable solid waste received by the buy-back centre per month. This study has indicated that solid waste buy-back centres rely on the economies of scale. This means that the more recyclable solid waste is received and sold by the solid waste buy-back centres, the more profitable it becomes. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2009.

Cold in-place recycling with expanded asphalt mix (CIREAM) has become an accepted road rehabilitation technique in Ontario and other parts of the world given its advantages over regular cold in-place recycling (CIR) and other methods. Although CIREAM offers early strength advantages and extended paving periods among other benefits, late season CIREAM can be burdened by distresses such as ravelling, potholing and other moisture-induced damage. Limited information on the behaviour and failure mechanisms of CIREAM has also hindered its utilization in spite of the numerous benefits. This research investigated effects of additives on foam properties of roofing asphalt flux (RAF) binder in order to evaluate the suitability of the binder for CIREAM. The study also investigated how mixture variables and test protocols affect performance properties that relate to early strength and moisture resistance of CIREAM versus CIR. Indirect tensile strength testing with moisture conditioning was used to assess the effects of asphalt cement type (80, 300 pen grades and polymer modified asphalt), conditioning time, and additives such as Portland cement, foam stabilizers, polymers and fibers. Uniaxial cyclic compression with partial confinement was used to assess effect of additives on deformation resistance of recycled mixes. Although a siloxane-based stabilizer significantly improved the stability of RAF foam, the binder may not be suitable for CIREAM due to its limited expansion. The optimum binder content was found to be around 2 percent, which is significantly higher than the minimum 1 percent currently used in Ontario. Both Portland cement and the siloxane additive exerted significant positive effects on strength behaviour and moisture resistance of the recycled mixes. In regular CIR mixes, 2 percent binder content gave desirable early strength and strain performance compared to 1 percent. Application of controlled amounts of additives (e.g. Portland cement, foam stabilizers) and case-by-case evaluation can improve the performance properties of CIREAM and address the associated problems. The entire research effort described in this thesis was designed to provide advice on potential improvements in the CIREAM process as it is currently carried out in Ontario, and also help in developing quality control standards in CIREAM and other cold mix processes. / Thesis (Master, Chemistry) -- Queen's University, 2014-04-16 08:42:24.313

Lactobacillus panis PM1 is a novel microorganism isolated from thin stillage (TS), a major by-product resulting from bioethanol fermentation, and was selected as the focus of this thesis due to its ability to produce 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PDO) from glycerol. The purpose of this thesis was to understand the central and auxiliary metabolic pathways of L. panis PM1 and to metabolically-engineer strain PM1 based on the improved metabolic knowledge for industrial applications. The 16S rRNA sequence and carbohydrate fermentation pattern were used to classify L. panis PM1 as belonging to the group III lactobacilli; thus, strain PM1 exclusively fermented glucose to lactate, acetate, and/or ethanol, clearly suggesting that its primary metabolism occurred via the 6-phosphogluconate/phosphoketolase (6-PG/PK) pathway. In contrast to typical group III lactobacilli, for fructose fermentation, L. panis PM1 utilized both the 6-PG/PK and the Embden-Meyerhof pathways, showing distinct strain-specific characteristics (more lactate, less acetate, no mannitol, and sporadic growth). In the PM1 strain, auxiliary metabolic pathways governed end-product formation patterns along with central metabolism. Under aerobic conditions, a coupled NADH oxidase-NADH peroxidase system was a determinant for NAD+ regeneration and was regulated by oxygen availability; however, the accumulation of its major end-product, hydrogen peroxide, eventually resulted in oxidative stress. The citrate-to-succinate route was another important auxiliary pathway in L. panis PM1. This route was directly connected to central energy metabolism, producing extra ATP for survival during the stationary phase, and was regulated by the presence of citrate, acetate, and succinate and a transcriptional repressor (PocR). Lactobacilli panis PM1 produced 1,3-PDO via the glycerol reductive route; however, the absence of the glycerol oxidative route restricted the utilization of glycerol to solely that of electron acceptor. Lower ratio of glucose to glycerol, in combination with PocR, repressed the glycerol reductive route, resulting in less 1,3-PDO production. In an effort to metabolically engineer L. panis PM1, an artificial glycerol oxidative pathway was introduced, and the engineered PM1 strain successfully produced a significant amount of important platform chemicals, including 1,3-PDO, lactate, and ethanol, solely from TS. Overall, this thesis reveals the significant feasibility of utilizing L. panis PM1 for industrial fermentative applications.

<p>Bacteria recycle pre-existing peptidoglycan in order to minimize the de novo synthesis of peptidoglycan precursors. The recycling pathway is under study for its chemotherapeutic target potential. Anhydromuramic acid kinase (AnmK) is part of this recycling pathway and catalyzes the dual hydrolysis/phosphorylation of anhMurNAc to MurNAc-6-P. This enzyme has been discovered and introduced, but only minimally characterized. Therefore, the overarching goal of this work was to clone, express and purify AnmK to homogeneity; perform further kinetic characterization; solve the open, closed and transition state mimic-bound conformations of AnmK by x-ray crystallography; and develop a putative mechanism based on the accumulated research findings and <super>18</super>O-labeling studies.</p><p>The anmK gene was successfully cloned as a hexahistidine fusion protein and overexpression was optimized. After exhaustive trials, a final purification scheme was designed to yield homogeneous AnmK in three chromatographic steps and in less than 36 hours. Additionally, the synthesis of both anhMurNAc and a pseudosubstrate (anhGlcNAc) were carried out in 35% and 77% overall yield, respectively. The synthesis of these compounds allowed for both kinetic characterization and structural studies. </p><p>To this end, the structure of de novo AnmK was solved using SAD and high-resolution (1.9 &Aring;) data. Also, an ATP analog (ANP) and anhMurNAc substrate-bound, closed conformation structure (1.95 &Aring;) was solved. These structures elucidated an 11&deg; domain closure of the enzyme upon substrate binding and also revealed the active site geometry to be used to determine potential molecular determinants of specificity. </p><p>Insights into the kinetic mechanism of AnmK were then gathered using multiple techniques. First, the structure of AnmK (2.5 &Aring;) was solved the with a known transition state analog, the MgADP-vanadate complex. Following this structure, which sheds light on the potential importance of a residue other than the catalytic base (Asp187), isotopic labeling was performed with H₂<super>18</super>O. Using NMR and MS, the regiochemical selectivity of AnmK hydrolysis to impart the solvent derived oxygen at C1 was established. Additionally, this was carried out with stereochemical preference to create the &alpha;-anomer of the carbohydrate product. This regiochemistry and stereospecificity drove the design of our putative concomitant hydrolysis/phosphorylation mechanism but we are not able to rule out the formation of a transient phosphoenzyme intermediate.</p><p>This research can be applied to the immediate goal of understanding the function of a single, novel enzyme with unique chemistry and the clarification of the AnmK mechanism will facilitate future investigation into enzymes with dual hydrolase/kinase functionality. Furthermore, this research contributes to understanding of the complex bacterial peptidoglycan layer in order to harness new ideas for developing antibiotics.</p> / Dissertation

This thesis has been performed in Gaborone, Botswana, where all interviews and relevant research data collection took place. The main method of data collection was a semi-structured interviews with relevant parties involved in waste management and generation in Gaborone.This work is part of a larger feasibility study called “Gaborone Transfer and Recycling Station (GTARS)”. The main objective is to make waste management in Gaborone more sustainable, taking environmental, social and economic aspects into account. The aim of this master thesis is to investigate the waste flow rates and composition in the capital city of Botswana, Gaborone. Taking this into account, other factors which directly influence waste generation and composition are identified. The findings show that currently in the year 2014, the city of Gaborone is generating about 348 tons of solid waste per day.Further investigation showed that illegal dumping is a prominent practice in Gaborone, mostly due to the long distance to the landfill and generally low environmental awareness amongst the citizens of the city. The waste generation rates are increasing every year, because the city of Gaborone is expanding rapidly and economic conditions facilitate the increasing urbanization rate. The analysis done till the year 2024 indicate that waste amounts might reach up to 433 tons of solid waste generated per day. Waste composition analysis is constrained, because of the limited data sources available on this subject, but the analysis shows that paper, biodegradable waste and plastics are the main fractions found in the municipal waste stream. / Gaborone Transfer and Recycling Station (GTARS)