This study examines the party-controlled communication of the five most important political parties in the North West Province of South Africa during the 1999 general elections. The main assumption is that political parties in developing democracies have a normative obligation to do more than canvas for votes during an election campaign. Political parties should also be instrumental through their communication in fostering a democratic political culture. Central to this argument is the notion that a typical marketing approach is not suitable for an election campaign in a developing democracy. In accordance with the participatory approach to development, it is thus proposed that the two-way symmetrical model for public relations (as proposed by James Grunig) is a more appropriate approach to election campaigns. Especially relevant for this study is the two-way symmetrical model's emphasis on interaction and the establishment of long tern relationships with target publics. Through an extensive qualitative analysis of all relevant material (party manifests, newspaper advertisements, radio advertisements, pamphlets, posters and web pages), it was found that South African political parties placed much less emphasis on the "image" of the party or its leader compared to their American counterparts. However, that did not imply that the substance of the message was emphasised adequately. On the contrary, the political parties participating in the elections in the North-West province generally failed the normative criteria of informing voters and identifying democratic values adequately. Furthermore it was found that the cognitive and emotional campaign messages were not fully integrated. While the focus was on typical election issues (emotional message), these issues were not explained and contextualised within a developing democracy to the full extend (cognitive message). Therefore the emotional message was not utilised to focus the voter's attention on policy issues and democratic values. In conclusion it is argued that political parties should do much more than merely canvas for votes. They should also empower voters by informing them on their policy issues and highlighting democratic values in society. Only then the new South African democracy will be sustainable. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Communication Studies))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.

NiTi is the most commonly used shape memory alloy (SMA) and has been widely used for bio-medical, electrical and mechanical applications. Nickel rich NiTi shape memory alloys are coming into prominence due to their distinct superelasticity and shape memory properties as compared to near equi-atomic NiTi shape memory alloys. Besides, their lower density and higher work output than steels makes these alloys an excellent candidate for aerospace and automotive industry. Shape memory properties and phase transformation behavior of high Ni-rich Ni54Ti46 (at.%) polycrystals and Ni-rich Ni51Ti49 (at.%) single-crystals are determined. Their properties are sensitive to heat treatments that affect the phase transformation behavior of these alloys. Phase transformation properties and microstructure were investigated in aged Ni54Ti46 alloys with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to reveal the precipitation characteristics and R-phase formation. It was found that Ni54Ti46 has the ability to exhibit perfect superelasticity under high stress levels (~2 GPa) with 4% total strain after 550°C-3h aging. Stress independent R-phase transformation was found to be responsible for the change in shape memory behavior with stress. The shape memory responses of [001], [011] and [111] oriented Ni51Ti49 single-crystals alloy were reported under compression to reveal the orientation dependence of their shape memory behavior. It has been found that transformation strain, temperatures and hysteresis, Classius-Clapeyron slopes, critical stress for plastic deformation are highly orientation dependent. The effects of precipitation formation and compressive loading at selected temperatures on the two-way shape memory effect (TWSME) properties of a [111]-oriented Ni51Ti49 shape memory alloy were revealed. Additionally, aligned Ni4Ti3 precipitates were formed in a single crystal of Ni51Ti49 alloy by aging under applied compression stress along the [111] direction. Formation of a single family of Ni4Ti3 precipitates were exhibited significant TWSME without any training or deformation. When the homogenized and aged specimens were loaded in martensite, positive TWSME was observed. After loading at high temperature in austenite, the homogenized specimen did not show TWSME while the aged specimen revealed negative TWSME.

In order to engage employees effectively, organisations need to practice two-way communication within a symmetrical worldview. This will encourage employees to feel valued, to participate in decision-making and contribute to obtaining organisational goals. Practising two-way communication will help to build stronger relationships between employees and managers, leading to increased employee engagement. Thus, the better the communication between managers and employees, the more engaged employees will be. Furthermore, the selection of communication channels can impact on the success of the message that is sent. Research has shown that if the inappropriate communication channel is selected when communicating with employees, the message might not be effectively received and understood. New technology, specifically Facebook can be introduced to provide an open and transparent channel for communication. Facebook can also facilitate two-way communication, which can lead to increased employee engagement. The literature study conducted informed the interview schedules that were developed and used to conduct semi-structured interviews with managers and focus group interviews with employees within two organisations in the South African financial sector. This was done in order to understand their expectations regarding the use of Facebook as an internal communication channel to enhance employee engagement. In terms of the conclusions derived from the empirical research, it seems evident that Facebook could be used as an additional internal communication channel to enhance employee engagement. Trust remains a very important factor in that managers should trust employees to use the channel in an ethical manner and employees should trust the organisation and its managers that they may voice their opinion freely, without the fear of victimisation. Facebook can be used to promote engagement on a social level to build relationships inside the organisation. However, managers and employees can together create a contract of understanding that will form the outline for a policy that will govern the use of Facebook. The parties involved can then negotiate the terms of this contract of understanding to ensure that all expectations regarding the use Facebook are met. / MA (Communication Studies), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

In order to engage employees effectively, organisations need to practice two-way communication within a symmetrical worldview. This will encourage employees to feel valued, to participate in decision-making and contribute to obtaining organisational goals. Practising two-way communication will help to build stronger relationships between employees and managers, leading to increased employee engagement. Thus, the better the communication between managers and employees, the more engaged employees will be. Furthermore, the selection of communication channels can impact on the success of the message that is sent. Research has shown that if the inappropriate communication channel is selected when communicating with employees, the message might not be effectively received and understood. New technology, specifically Facebook can be introduced to provide an open and transparent channel for communication. Facebook can also facilitate two-way communication, which can lead to increased employee engagement. The literature study conducted informed the interview schedules that were developed and used to conduct semi-structured interviews with managers and focus group interviews with employees within two organisations in the South African financial sector. This was done in order to understand their expectations regarding the use of Facebook as an internal communication channel to enhance employee engagement. In terms of the conclusions derived from the empirical research, it seems evident that Facebook could be used as an additional internal communication channel to enhance employee engagement. Trust remains a very important factor in that managers should trust employees to use the channel in an ethical manner and employees should trust the organisation and its managers that they may voice their opinion freely, without the fear of victimisation. Facebook can be used to promote engagement on a social level to build relationships inside the organisation. However, managers and employees can together create a contract of understanding that will form the outline for a policy that will govern the use of Facebook. The parties involved can then negotiate the terms of this contract of understanding to ensure that all expectations regarding the use Facebook are met. / MA (Communication Studies), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

This study examines the party-controlled communication of the five most important political parties in the North West Province of South Africa during the 1999 general elections. The main assumption is that political parties in developing democracies have a normative obligation to do more than canvas for votes during an election campaign. Political parties should also be instrumental through their communication in fostering a democratic political culture. Central to this argument is the notion that a typical marketing approach is not suitable for an election campaign in a developing democracy. In accordance with the participatory approach to development, it is thus proposed that the two-way symmetrical model for public relations (as proposed by James Grunig) is a more appropriate approach to election campaigns. Especially relevant for this study is the two-way symmetrical model's emphasis on interaction and the establishment of long tern relationships with target publics. Through an extensive qualitative analysis of all relevant material (party manifests, newspaper advertisements, radio advertisements, pamphlets, posters and web pages), it was found that South African political parties placed much less emphasis on the "image" of the party or its leader compared to their American counterparts. However, that did not imply that the substance of the message was emphasised adequately. On the contrary, the political parties participating in the elections in the North-West province generally failed the normative criteria of informing voters and identifying democratic values adequately. Furthermore it was found that the cognitive and emotional campaign messages were not fully integrated. While the focus was on typical election issues (emotional message), these issues were not explained and contextualised within a developing democracy to the full extend (cognitive message). Therefore the emotional message was not utilised to focus the voter's attention on policy issues and democratic values. In conclusion it is argued that political parties should do much more than merely canvas for votes. They should also empower voters by informing them on their policy issues and highlighting democratic values in society. Only then the new South African democracy will be sustainable. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Communication Studies))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.

This work is turned to a structural element with a large number of scientific studies, waffle slab. The aim of this study was to elucidate two recommendations of the Brazilian codes that have different values of international codes. The first concerns the accidental loading to garage floor recommended by the Brazilian code, where there is not recommending the use of concentrated loads, the same being recommended by international codes. The second is related to the different recommendations between the Brazilian code and international codes regarding the calculation of the bending of the table of waffle slabs. To meet the objectives of this work, some numerical simulations of floors containing a single waffle slab, modeled as one-way waffle slab and two-way waffle slab, were made using the finite element method and grillage analysis using specific software. The focus of structural analysis turned to determining the maximum bending moments acting on the flange of waffle slabs and arrows. The answers to these simulations showed that for garage floors, it is important to consider concentrated loads (vehicles). As utilization in structural designs of concentrated loads is a process slow and complicated, were defined values of distributed loads to provide arrows and moments in the ribs equal to those generated by the concentrated loads. On the analysis of bending on the table of waffle slabs, some recommendations were found, some of these one being equal to the Brazilian code, and other to international codes and some different compared to all codes. / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / Este trabalho está voltado para alguns pontos em aberto sobre verificações de serviço e dimensionamento das lajes nervuradas moldadas no local. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar e elucidar duas recomendações das normas brasileiras que apresentam valores diferentes das normas internacionais. A primeira diz respeito ao carregamento acidental para pavimentos garagem recomendado pela norma brasileira, onde não existe recomendação do uso de carregamentos concentrados, sendo o mesmo recomendado em normas internacionais. A segunda está relacionada às diferentes recomendações existentes entre a norma brasileira e as normas internacionais, no que tange ao cálculo da flexão da mesa das lajes nervuradas. Para atender aos objetivos deste trabalho, algumas simulações numéricas de pavimentos contendo uma única laje nervurada, lançadas como lajes nervuradas unidirecionais e bidirecionais, foram feitas, utilizando o método dos elementos finitos e grelha através de programas de análises específicos. O foco da análise estrutural, voltou-se para a determinação dos momentos fletores máximos atuantes nas mesas das lajes nervuradas e as flechas. As respostas dessas simulações mostraram que, para pavimentos garagem, considerando os carregamentos dos veículos atuais é necessária a consideração de carregamento acidental de cargas concentradas (veículos). Como a utilização em projetos estruturais dos carregamentos de cargas concentradas é um processo lento e complicado, foram definidos valores de carregamentos distribuídos que fornecessem flechas e momentos máximos nas nervuras iguais aos gerados, utilizando o carregamento acidental de cargas concentradas. Sobre as análises da flexão na mesa das lajes nervuradas, chegou-se a algumas recomendações, sendo parte destas em igualdade com a norma brasileira, outras com as normas internacionais e algumas diferentes em relação a todas as normas.

Une des problématiques majeures dans l’industrie des bioprocédés réside dans l’extrapolation des procédés biologiques à grande échelle. On observe généralement à l’échelle industrielle des écarts de rendement de croissance de la biomasse, ainsi que la formation de sous-produits comparativement à l’échelle du laboratoire. La formation de gradients de concentration à l’échelle des bioréacteurs est souvent évoquée. Dans ce travail, les interactions entre micromélange et assimilation du substrat sont abordées à l’échelle du microorganisme. Un modèle couplant transport et assimilation à l’échelle d’un microorganisme est proposé. L’existence de régimes physique et biologique, limitant l’assimilation du substrat est mise en lumière. Une approche basée sur le suivi Lagrangien de particules dans un champ de turbulence homogène isotrope est ensuite retenue. Les effets des hétérogénéités de concentration vues par les microorganismes, sont traduits à l’échelle de la population entière. Une loi analytique permettant de construire la distribution de flux reçus par les microorganismes à partir de la distribution de concentration en substrat dans le fluide, est proposée. Partant de cette distribution de concentrations vues, l’adjonction d’un modèle métabolique simplifié permet d’expliquer les baisses de vitesse spécifiques de croissance et la formation de sous-produits observées expérimentalement. Enfin, de premiers résultats sur le couplage inverse biologique sont présentés. L’effet des microorganismes sur le champ de concentration est caractérisé et une étude paramétrique sur les propriétés dynamiques et biologiques est réalisée. / The scale-up of biological process is a critical issue in the bioprocess industry. When passing from a laboratory to an industrial scale, the conversion yield of substrate into biomass is often overestimated and by-products are formed. Different existing works attempt to predict the effect of mixing on biomass growth and the emergence of substrate concentration gradients at the reactor scale are a first explanation of the degraded performances. In this work the interactions between micro-mixing and substrate assimilation are addressed at the microorganism scale. A coupled transport-assimilation model is proposed for an isolated microorganism. The emergence of physical and biological regimes limiting the substrate assimilation is enlightened. An approach based on the Lagrangian tracking of microorganisms in a homogeneous isotropic turbulent field is then chosen. The effects of local concentration heterogeneities seen by microorganisms are observed at the population scale. An analytical expression is proposed for the assimilated substrate flux distribution by the microorganisms, based on the substrate concentration distribution in the fluid. From these concentrations encountered by microorganisms, we coupled a simplified metabolic model that explains the decreased specific growth rate, and the by-products formation often observed in many experiments. Finally, first results on the biological two-way coupling are proposed. The effect of microorganisms on the substrate field is characterised and a parametric study on the dynamics as well as biological parameters is realised.

Ce travail de thèse est consacré à l'étude des écoulements diphasiques dispersés turbulents gaz/gouttes et plus particulièrement à la modélisation du phénomène de dépôt de gouttes en canal horizontal, dont la compréhension et la prédiction sont essentielles pour de nombreuses applications industrielles. Les gouttes sont supposées de taille plus petite que les échelles de longueur caractéristiques de l'écoulement de gaz turbulent, avec une masse volumique grande devant celle de la phase continue, les forces qui agissent sur les gouttes se limitent ainsi à la traînée, à la poussée d'Archimède et à la gravité. Le taux de présence de la phase dispersée est suffisamment important pour tenir compte de l'influence des gouttes sur la turbulence du gaz (couplage à deux sens), mais suffisamment faible pour pouvoir négliger les collisions entre les gouttes. En écoulement horizontal, le dépôt des gouttes en paroi est piloté par deux mécanismes principaux qui agissent en parallèle : la gravité et la diffusion turbulente/vol libre. Cette physique du dépôt est déclinée en deux volets, avec une première étude à l'échelle 3D locale et une seconde étude à l'échelle système 1D. Dans chacune de ces approches, un modèle pour la vitesse de dépôt de gouttes en paroi est développé, puis validé par comparaison à des données expérimentales. Le modèle de dépôt local, établi sous l'hypothèse d'un film liquide infiniment mince et absorbant, est implanté dans le code de simulation numérique NEPTUNE_CFD, puis validé par comparaison aux données expérimentales de Namie & Ueda, qui étudient le dépôt des gouttes en canal horizontal. Une analyse des équations de transport des principales grandeurs moyennes de l'écoulement, ainsi que des transferts d'énergies entre phases, est menée afin de mettre en évidence les phénomènes de couplage et leurs influences sur la turbulence de la phase continue. Le modèle unidimensionnel, développé dans le cadre d'un besoin industriel, est implanté dans le code CATHARE-3 et est confronté aux données de l'expérience REGARD du CEA Grenoble. / Droplets dispersion and deposition in turbulent duct flows are important processes, occurring in numerous environmental and industrial applications. This work is devoted to the study of gas-droplets flows and, more particularly, the objective is to improve the droplets deposition modeling in horizontal flows. Droplets are supposed to be smaller than the Kolmogorov scale, with a density large compared to the density of the gas phase. Under these assumptions, the motion of a droplet is considered to be governed by the drag force, the buoyancy force, and the gravity. Dilute incompressible and isothermal gas-droplets flows are studied, so inter-particle collisions are neglected but two-way coupling is retained, which means that modulation of turbulence by the particles is accounted for. In horizontal flow, droplets reach the wall under the actions of the gravitational settling and the turbulent diffusion. Two approaches will be used in developing this deposition physics with a first study at the 3D local scale and a second one at the 1D scale, realized for an industrial need. For each case, a model is developed for the mean deposition velocity of the droplets, with is implemented in a numerical simulation tool and then validated by comparison to experimental data. The local deposition model is established under the assumptions that the liquid film is extremely thin and perfectly absorbing and is implemented in the Neptune_CFD code. The experience carried out by Namie & Ueda, which consist in small droplets deposition from a turbulent dispersed flow in a horizontal rectangular duct, is simulated. An analysis of the interphase transfer terms in the kinetic energy equations shows the interactions between the dispersed phase and the continuous one and the impact of these phenomena on the turbulence of the gas phase is pointed out. The 1D deposition model is developed for the CATHARE-3 code and experimental data from the REGARD facility of the CEA Grenoble are used for validation.

Submitted by Geandra Rodrigues (geandrar@gmail.com) on 2017-12-20T18:44:42Z No. of bitstreams: 1 lierciofeitalmottajr.pdf: 12311012 bytes, checksum: fed882b800dc53c0a497d3bda1094a0e (MD5) / Rejected by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br), reason: Favor corrigir no título: Higway Safety Manual on 2017-12-21T10:39:55Z (GMT) / Submitted by Geandra Rodrigues (geandrar@gmail.com) on 2017-12-21T11:54:23Z No. of bitstreams: 1 lierciofeitalmottajr.pdf: 12311012 bytes, checksum: fed882b800dc53c0a497d3bda1094a0e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2017-12-22T11:59:40Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 lierciofeitalmottajr.pdf: 12311012 bytes, checksum: fed882b800dc53c0a497d3bda1094a0e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-12-22T11:59:40Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 lierciofeitalmottajr.pdf: 12311012 bytes, checksum: fed882b800dc53c0a497d3bda1094a0e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-10-27 / No presente trabalho, é realizada a aplicação do modelo de previsão de acidentes do Higway Safety Manual – HSM, publicado pela American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASTHO) no ano de 2010, à rodovia de mão dupla e pista simples, BR–116, que corta perímetros urbanos de cidades no segmento entre Caratinga e Leopoldina, Minas Gerais. Busca-se avaliar a pertinência de sua utilização como ferramenta de sistemas de gestão de segurança rodoviária. Foram coletados dados de acidentes ocorridos nos trechos de estudo referentes ao intervalo entre 2011-2015, dados sobre o volume de tráfego, além de dados geométricos da via e das suas características ambientais. Foram analisadas as aplicações do modelo em sua condição base, calibrada e refinada pelo método empírico de Bayes. Como resultado da aplicação na condição base observou-se uma discrepância entre os valores de acidentes ocorridos e previstos pelo modelo, inviabilizando a utilização direta desta aplicação. A aplicação do modelo calibrado apresentou resultados mais próximos aos reais valores de acidentes, porém ainda não sendo possível a sua utilização como modelo de previsão de acidentes. No entanto, os valores obtidos pela aplicação do modelo do HSM refinado pelo método empírico de Bayes aproximam-se de maneira satisfatória dos valores de acidentes reais ocorridos, permitindo agora a sua utilização como modelo de previsão de acidentes, tendo sua aplicação como ferramenta de sistemas de gestão de segurança rodoviária. Apesar de ainda serem necessários estudos para melhoria da calibração e da condição base, às características especificas presentes no ambiente do perímetro urbano cortado por rodovias, o modelo aplicado neste trabalho pode ser utilizado como modelo de previsão de acidentes para estes trechos. / In the present work, the Higway Safety Manual - HSM, published by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASTHO), is applied to the double-lane and single-lane highway BR-116, which cuts urban in the segment between Caratinga and Leopoldina, Minas Gerais. The aim of this study was to evaluate the pertinence of its use as a tool for road safety management systems. Data were collected on accidents occurring in the study sections referring to the interval between 2011-2015, data on traffic volume, as well as geometric data of the road and their environmental characteristics. The applications of the model were analyzed in their base condition, calibrated and refined by Bayes' empirical method. As a result of the application in the base condition it was observed a discrepancy between the values of accidents occurred and foreseen by the model, making it impossible to use this application directly. The application of the calibrated model presented results closer to the actual values of accidents, but it is not yet possible to use them as an accident prediction model. However, the values obtained by applying the HSM model refined by the empirical method of Bayes approach satisfactorily the values of real accidents occurred, allowing now its use as an accident prediction model, having its use as a tool of systems of road safety management. Although still necessary studies to improve the calibration and the base condition, to the specific characteristics present in the environment of the urban perimeter cut by highways, the model applied in this work can be used as a predictive model of accidents for these stretches.

Cette thèse traite le sujet du micro-actionnement multistable employant des radiations optiques pour atteindre les différentes positions offertes par le micro-actionneur. Dans le cadre des travaux réalisés, un mécanisme bistable reposant sur un principe de doubles poutres préformées situées en position antagoniste est proposé, et, sur cette brique élémentaire, un micro-actionneur quadristable a été conçu. Afin de valider le principe de fonctionnement de micro-actionneur, des procédés de fabrication Laser (sur le matériau « médium - MDF») puis DRIE (sur un wafer SOI de silicium) ont été utilisés. Sur le prototype en silicium, permettant une réduction des courses du rang interne et du rang externe du micro-actionneur, celles-ci ont été fixées à 300 µm et 200 µm respectivement. L’actionnement à distance de ce micro-actionneur a été prouvé en utilisant le chauffage laser d’un élément actif en Nitinol structuré par un dépôt de SiO2, ceci générant un effet « deux sens » de l’élément actif permettant d’annuler la charge sur les poutres du micro-actionneur une fois celui-ci déclenché puis en position stable. L’utilisation d’un banc expérimental incluant une membrane MEMS de balayage laser a permis de démontrer la quadristabilité du micro-actionneur sur 90 000 cycles. Afin de réduire davantage la course de ce micro-actionneur, des concepts de dispositifs de réduction de course ont été développés pour démontrer, à partir de prototypes fabriqué en MDF par usinage laser, la capacité à atteindre une course de 1 µm. Enfin, à la suite de ces travaux de réduction de course, un concept de nano-actionneur multistable a été proposé. Ce nano-actionneur est composé de quatre modules bistables liés et disposés en parallèle pour offrir 16 positions discrètes sur une course rectiligne. Les simulations de cet actionneur montrent la possibilité d’atteindre les 15 positions espacées de 10 nm sur une course de 150 nm. / In this work, a bistable mechanism based on antagonistic pre-shaped double beams was proposed. Employing the proposed bistable mechanism, a quadristable micro-actuator was designed. ln order to validate the quadristability of the device, a meso-scaled prototype was fabricated from MDF by laser cutting. After the quadristability was experimentally confirmed, a quadristable micro-actuator was realized on SOl wafer using DRIE technique. Strokes for inner row and outer row were reduced to 300 µm and 200 µm respectively. For the actuation of the quadristable micro-actuator,laser heated SMA elements with deposited Si02 layer were used to realize the optical wireless actuation. With the help of a laser beam steering micro-mirror, both inner row and outer row were successfully actuated. ln order to further reduce the stroke, a bistable actuator with stroke reducing structure was designed and a prototype eut from MDF was tested. Bistability was validated and a stroke of 1µm was experimentally achieved. Based on this bistable module, a multistable nano-actuator, which contains four parallel coupled bistable modules,was designed and simulated. The simulated result have indicated that it was capable of outputs 16 discrete stable positions available from 0 nm to 150 nm with a step of 10 nm between two stable positions.