We show that Einstein’s gravitational field equations for the Friedmann- Robertson-Lemaître-Walker (FRLW) and for two conformal versions of the Bianchi I and Bianchi V perfect fluid scalar field cosmological models, can be equivalently reformulated in terms of a single equation of either generalized Ermakov-Milne- Pinney (EMP) or (non)linear Schrödinger (NLS) type. This work generalizes or presents an alternative to similar reformulations published by the authors who inspired this thesis: R. Hawkins, J. Lidsey, T. Christodoulakis, T. Grammenos, C. Helias, P. Kevrekidis, G. Papadopoulos and F.Williams. In particular we cast much of these authors’ works into a single framework via straightforward derivations of the EMP and NLS equations from a simple linear combination of the relevant Einstein equations. By rewriting the resulting expression in terms of the volume expansion factor and performing a change of variables, we obtain an uncoupled EMP or NLS equation that is independent of the imposition of additional conservation equations. Since the correspondences shown here present an alternative route for obtaining exact solutions to Einstein’s equations, we reconstruct many known exact solutions via their EMP or NLS counterparts and show by numerical analysis the stability properties of many solutions.

No description available.

Thesis (MScAgric (Soil Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / Includes bibliography. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The topic of landscape heterogeneity has captured the imagination of ecologists and agriculturists alike and has been extensively investigated in this dissertation. Heuweltjies are landscape features putatively created by the termite Microhodotermes viator through their burrowing and nest-building activities. They have been closely examined in the natural veld of the Western Cape in the recent past and are the focus of many ecological studies. However, the effect of heuweltjies in cultivated landscapes (e.g. vineyards, orchards and wheat lands) remains unexplored. This study contributes significantly to our understanding of soil modifications associated with heuweltjies, as well as the physiology of vines growing on and off heuweltjies and wine made from these vines. It was hypothesized that heuweltjies occurring in cultivated areas can significantly affect crop yield and quality, thereby establishing itself as a potentially important role player in the agricultural economy of the Western Cape. This study was conducted in two climatic regions of the Western Cape, Stellenbosch (Mediterranean climate, Cabernet Sauvignon) and Robertson (semi-arid climate, Shiraz) to better understand how differences in heuweltjie characteristics correspond to differences in rainfall and temperature. In both study areas, heuweltjie soils were compared to non-heuweltjie soils with respect to physical and chemical. Grapevines associated with these heuweltjies were also compared to those growing on the adjacent, non-heuweltjie soils to determine any variation in vine vigour, physiology, phenology, berry characteristics and wine quality. Through the use of ANOVA's and Fisher's LSD posthoc tests to indicate statistical significance in soil and grapevine characteristics, it was apparent that heuweltjies induce substantial changes in soil and vine properties. Significant differences in the water content exist between the soils of the heuweltjies and non-heuweltjie areas. Heuweltjie soils exhibited higher values in comparison to the non-heuweltjie soils in the Stellenbosch study area, with opposite results in Robertson. Heuweltjie soils also displayed higher exchangeable calcium and magnesium and higher total carbon and total nitrogen values than non-heuweltjie soils in both study areas. Differences in physiology were more subtle, but vine vigour was severely altered on the heuweltjie-associated vines, exhibiting excessive vegetative growth in Stellenbosch, leading to variations in berry characteristics on and off the heuweltjies. Again, the opposite was observed for Robertson. Lower sugar and alcohol percentages and higher titratable as well as malic acid concentrations were observed in the wines emanating from the heuweltjies in Stellenbosch. Sensory analyses proved significant, as lower astringency and alcohol burn were detected in the Cabernet Sauvignon heuweltjie wines than the non-heuweltjie wines in the Stellenbosch study area. Chemical differences in the wines from the Robertson study are were insignificant. However, a significantly lower fruitiness was observed in the Shiraz heuweltjie-wines when compared to the non-heuweltjie wines. Differences in soil water content between heuweltjies and its adjacent soils was the most influential factor in this study, and affected all of the soil-grapevine interactions to a large extent. Further research need to be conducted to better understand and clarify the reasons behind these variations, as well as possible effects of global warming on heuweltjie functioning in different climatic regions of the Western Cape. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die onderwerp van landskap heterogeniteit het die verbeelding van beide ekoloë en landboukundiges aangegryp en is op `n omvangryke wyse ondersoek in hierdie tesis. Heuweltjies is landskap eienskappe geskep deur die uitgrawe en nesbou aktiwiteite van die termiet Microhodotermes viator. Heuweltjies in die natuurlike veld is intensief bestudeer in die onlangse verlede en is die fokus van `n verskeidenheid ekologiese studies. In bewerkte landskappe (bv. wingerde, vrugteboorde en koringlande) is daar egter `n groot tekort aan navorsing oor die invloed van heuweltjies. Hierdie studie dra grotendeels by tot ons begrip van heuweltjie-geassosieërde grondverandering, asook die fisiologie van wingerd wat groei op en af van heuweltjies, sowel as die wyn afkomstig van hierdie wingerdstokke. Hipoteties sal heuweltjies in bewerkte areas die gewasopbrengs asook –kwaliteit betekenisvol beïnvloed en word so dus gevestig as `n potensieël belangrike rolspeler in die landbou-ekonomie van die Wes-Kaap. Die studie was onderneem in twee klimaatstreke van die Wes-Kaap, Stellenbosch (Mediterreënse klimaat, Cabernet Sauvignon) en Robertson (semi-ariede klimaat, Shiraz) om vas te stel hoe verskille in heuweltjie eienskappe ooreenstem met verksille in reënval en temperatuur. In beide studie areas is heuweltjie gronde met nie-heuweltjie gronde vergelyk met betrekking tot fisiese en chemiese eienskappe. Wingerdstokke geassosieër met heuweltjies is ook vergelyk met dié wat heuweltjies omring om enige variasie in groeikrag, fisiologie, fenologie, druifkorrel eienskappe en wynkwaliteit te bepaal. Deur gebruik te maak van ANOVA's en Fisher se LSD posthoc toetse om statistiese betekenisvolheid in grond- en wingerdeienskappe aan te dui, was dit duidelik dat heuweltjies wesenlike veranderinge in dié eienskappe teweegbring. Betekenisvolle verskille heers in die waterinhoud tussen die heuweltjie en nie-heuweltjie gronde. Heuweltjie gronde het hoër waardes getoon in vergelyking met die nie-heuweltjie gronde in die Stellenbosch studie area, met teenoorgestelde bevindings in Robertson. Heuweltjie gronde het ook `n hoër konsentrasie uitruilbare kalsium en magenesium, en totale koolstof en stikstof in vergelyking met nie-heuweltjie gronde. Verskille in fisiologie was baie meer subtiel, maar wingerd groeikrag was beduidend verskillend op die heuweltjie-geasossieërde wingerdstokke, met oormatige vegetatiewe groei in Stellenbosch wat lei tot `n verskil in druifkorrel eienskappe op en af van die heuweltjie. Weereens is die teenoorgestelde waargeneem in Robertson. Laer suiker en alkohol persentasies, asook hoër titreerbare - en appelsuur konsentrasies was te bespeur in die wyne afkomstig van die heuweltjies in Stellenbosch. Sensoriese analise het betekenisvolle verskille bewys, met `n laer vrankheid en alkohol-brand sensasie waargeneem vir die Cabernet Sauvignon heuweltjie wyne as die nie-heuweltjie wyne in die Stellenbosch studie area. Chemiese verskille in die wyne vanaf Robertson was onbeduidend. Sensoriese analise het egter anders bewys, met `n betekenisvolle laer vrugtigheid te bespeur in die nie-heuweltjie wyne as die heuweltjie wyne in die Robertson studie area. Verskille in die grondwaterinhoud tussen heuweltjies en omringende gronde was die mees invloedryke faktor in hierdie studie en beïnvloed tot `n groot mate al die grond-wingerdstok interaksies. Verdere navorsing is nodig om helderheid te verskaf agter die redes vir hierdie variasies, sowel as moontlike gevolge van aardverwarming op funksionering van heuweltjies in verskillende klimaatstreke van die Wes-Kaap.

The subject of this thesis is the by now traditional grouping of certain innovative works of historiography produced in eighteenth-century Britain and France; namely the historical works of Voltaire, and the historical writings of the philosophes; and, in Britain, the histories of Hume, Robertson, and Gibbon. This thesis gives a historical and expository analysis of the individual strategies of literary self-fashioning and generic appropriation which underlie this impression of resemblance. It particularly demonstrates that the major characteristics of the contemporary vision of philosophic historiography – the idea of a European history of manners or l’esprit humain, and the insistence on the rejection of the practices of the érudits – which have become incorporated within scholarly definitions of ‘Enlightenment historiography’, are well-established generic tropes, adapted and affected in France as in Britain, by authors of diverse ambitions. The invitation to assume inauthentic connections contained within the practice of philosophic historiography is shown to be embraced by Gibbon, in a notable literary challenge to the paradigms of intellectual history. This study contrasts the textual evidence of these authors’ experience of literary, personal, and political challenges regarding the definition of their role as public, intellectual writers, to the acquired image of an ideal of ‘Enlightenment writing’. It considers the Frenchness of philosophie, and the potential Britishness of Hume, Robertson, and Gibbon. As part of its wider analysis of the practice of intellectual writing with a historical focus, its scope includes the writings of British clerics and writers on religion; of French academicians; and of the late philosophe Volney, and Shelley his interpreter. The major conclusion of this thesis is that eighteenth-century British and French history writing does not support any synthesis of an Enlightenment historical philosophy, narrative, or method; while it is suggested that one of the costs of the construct of ‘Enlightenment’, has been the illusion of familiarity with eighteenth-century intellectual culture, in France as well as Britain.

As a teacher of American literature in high school, I have become conscious of the importance of teaching students of that age level the lore and poetry of their native state. Poems of nature or local color in their own country will hold their interest when material from more distant points seems dull and uninteresting. Through my teaching I have become interested in the poetry of the Southwest and have enjoyed reading the poetry and knowing the poets through personal interview or correspondence.

Drawing from observation, autoethnography, ethnographic research and audio-taped interviews, this thesis explores the complicated and emotionally charged relationship between homosexuality and Christianity. The current culture war being waged in the media between the Religious Right and members of the LGBT community often results in the isolation and rejection of those who would define themselves as gay Christians. This thesis explores the role of the Bible as it informs and catalyzes this war and other foundational beliefs used as weapons in this rhetorical conflict. Additionally, this thesis analyzes the current battle between the church and the social movement for change in light of the historical battles fought over similar movements. The rhetoric of Christianity, specifically Fundamentalist rhetoric, has been emphatically defended and then dramatically changed in every such battle. Is this a possible resolution for today’s current battle? The thesis explores the historical basis and current application of rhetorical effects on this conflict through the author’s insight as a veteran of both worlds, interviews with major players in the battle such as Randy Thomas and Kristin Tremba of Exodus International and interviews with people who step on the battlefield everyday as pastors, congregants or observers in the fight. With each interview or rhetorical analysis, the viability of dialogue between these two groups is questioned and investigated.

No description available.

On 10 February 1964 during naval night exercises off the south coast of Australia, the destroyer HMAS Voyager was lost after colliding with the aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne. 82 men were killed. Following the collision, there were two Royal Commissions that sustained a political controversy that lasted for over four years. This thesis examines the loss of Voyager as a watershed in the operational and administrative history of the RAN and as a major event in Australian national history. This study has four broad objectives: to describe the loss of Voyager and the long running controversy that accompanied the disaster; to offer a convincing explanation of the causes of the collision and why two royal commissions concluded that the causes for the disaster were inexplicable; to assess the effect on the RAN, in terms of specific reforms and its influence on Service culture and professional ethos, of the disaster and the inquiries that followed; and finally, to analyse the loss of Voyager as a media and political cause celebre in Australian history. As so little has been written about Voyager using primary sources, this thesis was committed to detailed description of events as well as analysis of themes. This thesis draws upon an extensive body of primary source material in the form of official naval and Royal Commission records to which complete access was given; several large collections of private papers; over one hundred interviews with principal participants; and comprehensive files of press cuttings. The discussion seeks to demonstrate that a series of naval accidents preceding the loss of Voyager contributed in a substantial way to shaping the public reaction to, and political handling of, the disaster; that the method of inquiry played a major role in generating public and political disquiet; that the collision was both a catalyst and stimulus to change in naval operations and reform in naval administration; that the inability of two Royal Commissions to ascertain the causes of the collision and then to public suspicion of a cover-up; and, that the collision was most probably caused by the incorrect relaying of a tactical signal on the bridge of Voyager. The loss of HMAS Voyager appears to be a key event in the development of the RAN, not as a direct result of the collision or its causes, but as a consequence of its long and controversial aftermath.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 1944. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: No Abstract Available / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geen Opsomming Beskikbaar

No description available.