A drug utilisation review of Isotretinoin in the management of acne
- Authors: Burger, Solé
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Acne -- Treatment , Isotretinoin
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPharm
- Identifier: vital:10147 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/673 , Acne -- Treatment , Isotretinoin
- Description: Acne is a common, chronic disorder that affects many adolescents. The most effective acne medication is systemic isotretinoin. It provides a permanent cure for many patients, but has various side effects. A South African Acne Treatment Guideline was introduced in 2005. Adherence to this guideline could lead to safer, more effective acne management. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the appropriateness of medications prescribed in the treatment of acne in South Africa, and to evaluate the safety and efficacy of systemic isotretinoin utilised by patients in the Nelson Mandela Metropole (NMM). A drug utilisation study (including 18 803 South African acne patients’ chronic prescription data between 2000 and 2005) and a patient questionnaire survey (including information from 57 patients in the NMM who used systemic isotretinoin) were conducted. Basic descriptive and interferential statistics were calculated. The drug utilisation study revealed that systemic antibiotics were the acne treatment prescribed to most (43.3 percent) patients, followed by 42.1 percent of patients on systemic isotretinoin, 33.2 percent on hormonal therapy and 18.9 percent on topical therapy. Topical retinoids were underused. The questionnaire survey indicated a lack of compliance by prescribers with guideline recommendations regarding the prescription (and accompanying counselling and monitoring) of isotretinoin. Incorrect cumulative doses were frequently prescribed, and a lack of proper implementation of pregnancy prevention measures was evident. The majority of isotretinoin patients reported a high efficacy of isotretinoin in clearing their acne.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Burger, Solé
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Acne -- Treatment , Isotretinoin
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPharm
- Identifier: vital:10147 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/673 , Acne -- Treatment , Isotretinoin
- Description: Acne is a common, chronic disorder that affects many adolescents. The most effective acne medication is systemic isotretinoin. It provides a permanent cure for many patients, but has various side effects. A South African Acne Treatment Guideline was introduced in 2005. Adherence to this guideline could lead to safer, more effective acne management. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the appropriateness of medications prescribed in the treatment of acne in South Africa, and to evaluate the safety and efficacy of systemic isotretinoin utilised by patients in the Nelson Mandela Metropole (NMM). A drug utilisation study (including 18 803 South African acne patients’ chronic prescription data between 2000 and 2005) and a patient questionnaire survey (including information from 57 patients in the NMM who used systemic isotretinoin) were conducted. Basic descriptive and interferential statistics were calculated. The drug utilisation study revealed that systemic antibiotics were the acne treatment prescribed to most (43.3 percent) patients, followed by 42.1 percent of patients on systemic isotretinoin, 33.2 percent on hormonal therapy and 18.9 percent on topical therapy. Topical retinoids were underused. The questionnaire survey indicated a lack of compliance by prescribers with guideline recommendations regarding the prescription (and accompanying counselling and monitoring) of isotretinoin. Incorrect cumulative doses were frequently prescribed, and a lack of proper implementation of pregnancy prevention measures was evident. The majority of isotretinoin patients reported a high efficacy of isotretinoin in clearing their acne.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
A feasibility study for improving Uganda's water to drinkable standards: lessons from Kampala
- Authors: Wasswa, Francis
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Water quality -- Uganda , Groundwater -- Uganda , Water-supply, Rural -- Uganda
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:9007 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/802 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1012068 , Water quality -- Uganda , Groundwater -- Uganda , Water-supply, Rural -- Uganda
- Description: An enthusiastic global campaign on intervention in water in the Lower Income Countries (LICs) was launched by the UN at the International Conference on Water and the Environment (ICEW), in Rio de Janerio, in January of 1992. In June of the same year, in Dublin, a plan of action was devised and a commitment to the water related goals highlighted in Rio de Janerio was made. Close to fifteen years on, there is little to show by way of success in the intended countries. Over 1.1 billion people in the LICs lack safe water. The direct impact of this is a higher risk of waterborne diseases. The waterborne diseases claim 42,000 lives every week in the LICs. By any standards this is a serious depletion of the human capital stock. Looked at in light of the fact that these countries still heavily rely on labour in production, amplifies the need to preserve health. The inherent danger posed by the poor quality water‐ as can be drawn from the above statistics‐ seems to suggest that improving the quality of water would go a long way in improving and preserving societal health in the LICs. By implication this would improve the productivity of the workers. Other benefits include cost mitigation, improved investor confidence as well as increased tourists’ confidence‐ all of which are vital for LICs’ growth prospects. It begs the question of why these countries have not improved their water quality. With specific reference made to Uganda, this research is bent on answering this question. In Uganda, there is consensus among scientists that the ground and open water sources are degraded to dangerous levels. Water quality parameters like turbidity, coliform count, and colour are all above the WHO minimum specifications for potable water and are on the rise in the country. This is indicative of water quality deterioration and it heightens the risk of waterborne diseases to the users. The waterborne burden of disease in Uganda is on the rise with a high fatality rate of 440 lives every week. The need to improve water quality in the country has been acknowledged. However, attempts to address the problem have only been undertaken on a small scale, most notable of these being the PuR home water treatment vii program. There is evidence in the country that the water quality would have apparent benefits. Strong correlations have been found between improved health in HIV patients and improved water quality in the country. In the economics of health, improving societal health inherently improves workers’ performance and productivity, leading to higher growth of the economy. There is an economic imperative therefore, as to why countries like Uganda should improve their water quality. In spite of this, even the country’s most urbanized setting‐ Kampala‐ lacks potable water. This study therefore investigates why, in a time when not only the global agenda is more supportive than ever and when the country’s water resources have been found to be risky to use, Uganda has not improved water quality. Kampala is used as the model district for this study. The district accounts for three quarters of users of treated water in the country. The problem is investigated by assessing the efficiency case of such a project (a water quality improving project) in the country; the methodology employed to this end is the Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA). The methodology compares the costs and benefits of a project, in monetary terms, in the same analysis, over its useful life. In the application of CBA one allows for the time value of money by using the discount rate to make the costs and benefits of the project occurring in different years comparable. In principle, the methodology is simple to apply‐ only that issues arise in the quantification of benefits and the determination of the discount rate. Benefits of the Kampala water quality, improving project include non‐market values and for this reason a non‐market valuation technique, the Contingent Valuation Method (CVM), was employed in their quantification. The CVM technique estimates the benefits by measuring the individuals’ willingness to pay for the improved scenario‐ in this case the scenario was one with a water quality‐improving project. The application of the CVM across many disciplines has invited a lot of criticism over the reliability of its estimates as a measure of value. A panel assembled by the North Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to investigate the reliability of the CVM resolved that as long as the CVM was well conducted, the generated results would reliably predict non‐market values. The Kampala CVM, for the benefits’ quantification, was conducted with the NOAA guidelines in mind. The final value of the project’s benefits was the WTP predicted for the viii median respondent namely Ushs 385.07/= per cubic meter of water. The discount rate was deemed to be the social opportunity cost of capital in the country, viz 12 percent, this being that rate of return foregone by investing in another sector. The project’s costs were arrived at through liaison with water engineers and consulting past data from Uganda’s Water suppliers. From this, the project’s fixed costs were predicted to be Ushs 1451/= per cubic meter of water and the operation and maintenance costs predicted to be Ushs 591.7/= per cubic meter of water. The project’s useful life was deemed to be the average life of a Ugandan, namely 52 years; this choice reflecting the belief that the benefits would last over the users’ whole life. The results of the Kampala water quality‐improving project indicate that the project would not be feasible. It did not matter what discount rate one employed, the project’s operating and maintenance (OM) costs exceed the benefits. The results offer an indication as to why water quality has not been improved in Uganda‐ because the paying population is unwilling to pay for the entire cost of the project. This deduction is not to suggest that the users do not recognize the benefits of the project. The unpleasant truth is that the users’ incomes are typically stretched so thin by other demands that a decision to make more deductions from these incomes is not an inviting one. However, there is a need to improve water quality in LICs like Uganda, as can be deduced from the analysis of the risks of not doing so and benefits of doing so. Accordingly, such projects have to be funded by mechanism that does not require the users to cover the whole cost, but only part of such a cost, with the remainder from other sources like NGOs and foreign aid.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Wasswa, Francis
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Water quality -- Uganda , Groundwater -- Uganda , Water-supply, Rural -- Uganda
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:9007 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/802 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1012068 , Water quality -- Uganda , Groundwater -- Uganda , Water-supply, Rural -- Uganda
- Description: An enthusiastic global campaign on intervention in water in the Lower Income Countries (LICs) was launched by the UN at the International Conference on Water and the Environment (ICEW), in Rio de Janerio, in January of 1992. In June of the same year, in Dublin, a plan of action was devised and a commitment to the water related goals highlighted in Rio de Janerio was made. Close to fifteen years on, there is little to show by way of success in the intended countries. Over 1.1 billion people in the LICs lack safe water. The direct impact of this is a higher risk of waterborne diseases. The waterborne diseases claim 42,000 lives every week in the LICs. By any standards this is a serious depletion of the human capital stock. Looked at in light of the fact that these countries still heavily rely on labour in production, amplifies the need to preserve health. The inherent danger posed by the poor quality water‐ as can be drawn from the above statistics‐ seems to suggest that improving the quality of water would go a long way in improving and preserving societal health in the LICs. By implication this would improve the productivity of the workers. Other benefits include cost mitigation, improved investor confidence as well as increased tourists’ confidence‐ all of which are vital for LICs’ growth prospects. It begs the question of why these countries have not improved their water quality. With specific reference made to Uganda, this research is bent on answering this question. In Uganda, there is consensus among scientists that the ground and open water sources are degraded to dangerous levels. Water quality parameters like turbidity, coliform count, and colour are all above the WHO minimum specifications for potable water and are on the rise in the country. This is indicative of water quality deterioration and it heightens the risk of waterborne diseases to the users. The waterborne burden of disease in Uganda is on the rise with a high fatality rate of 440 lives every week. The need to improve water quality in the country has been acknowledged. However, attempts to address the problem have only been undertaken on a small scale, most notable of these being the PuR home water treatment vii program. There is evidence in the country that the water quality would have apparent benefits. Strong correlations have been found between improved health in HIV patients and improved water quality in the country. In the economics of health, improving societal health inherently improves workers’ performance and productivity, leading to higher growth of the economy. There is an economic imperative therefore, as to why countries like Uganda should improve their water quality. In spite of this, even the country’s most urbanized setting‐ Kampala‐ lacks potable water. This study therefore investigates why, in a time when not only the global agenda is more supportive than ever and when the country’s water resources have been found to be risky to use, Uganda has not improved water quality. Kampala is used as the model district for this study. The district accounts for three quarters of users of treated water in the country. The problem is investigated by assessing the efficiency case of such a project (a water quality improving project) in the country; the methodology employed to this end is the Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA). The methodology compares the costs and benefits of a project, in monetary terms, in the same analysis, over its useful life. In the application of CBA one allows for the time value of money by using the discount rate to make the costs and benefits of the project occurring in different years comparable. In principle, the methodology is simple to apply‐ only that issues arise in the quantification of benefits and the determination of the discount rate. Benefits of the Kampala water quality, improving project include non‐market values and for this reason a non‐market valuation technique, the Contingent Valuation Method (CVM), was employed in their quantification. The CVM technique estimates the benefits by measuring the individuals’ willingness to pay for the improved scenario‐ in this case the scenario was one with a water quality‐improving project. The application of the CVM across many disciplines has invited a lot of criticism over the reliability of its estimates as a measure of value. A panel assembled by the North Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to investigate the reliability of the CVM resolved that as long as the CVM was well conducted, the generated results would reliably predict non‐market values. The Kampala CVM, for the benefits’ quantification, was conducted with the NOAA guidelines in mind. The final value of the project’s benefits was the WTP predicted for the viii median respondent namely Ushs 385.07/= per cubic meter of water. The discount rate was deemed to be the social opportunity cost of capital in the country, viz 12 percent, this being that rate of return foregone by investing in another sector. The project’s costs were arrived at through liaison with water engineers and consulting past data from Uganda’s Water suppliers. From this, the project’s fixed costs were predicted to be Ushs 1451/= per cubic meter of water and the operation and maintenance costs predicted to be Ushs 591.7/= per cubic meter of water. The project’s useful life was deemed to be the average life of a Ugandan, namely 52 years; this choice reflecting the belief that the benefits would last over the users’ whole life. The results of the Kampala water quality‐improving project indicate that the project would not be feasible. It did not matter what discount rate one employed, the project’s operating and maintenance (OM) costs exceed the benefits. The results offer an indication as to why water quality has not been improved in Uganda‐ because the paying population is unwilling to pay for the entire cost of the project. This deduction is not to suggest that the users do not recognize the benefits of the project. The unpleasant truth is that the users’ incomes are typically stretched so thin by other demands that a decision to make more deductions from these incomes is not an inviting one. However, there is a need to improve water quality in LICs like Uganda, as can be deduced from the analysis of the risks of not doing so and benefits of doing so. Accordingly, such projects have to be funded by mechanism that does not require the users to cover the whole cost, but only part of such a cost, with the remainder from other sources like NGOs and foreign aid.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
A framework for secure mobile computing in healthcare
- Thomas, Godwin Dogara Ayenajeh
- Authors: Thomas, Godwin Dogara Ayenajeh
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Mobile computing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9789 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/618 , Mobile computing
- Description: Mobile computing is rapidly becoming part of healthcare’s electronic landscape, helping to provide better quality of care and reduced cost. While the technology provides numerous advantages to the healthcare industry, it is not without risk. The size and portable nature of mobile computing devices present a highly vulnerable environment, which threaten the privacy and security of health information. Since these devices continually access possibly sensitive healthcare information, it is imperative that these devices are considered for security in order to meet regulatory compliance. In fact, the increase in government and industry regulation to ensure the privacy and security of health information, makes mobile security no longer just desirable, but mandatory. In addition, as healthcare becomes more aware of the need to reinforce patient confidence to gain competitive advantage, it makes mobile security desirable. Several guidelines regarding security best practices exist. Healthcare institutions are thus faced with matching the guidelines offered by best practices, with the legal and regulatory requirements. While this is a valuable question in general, this research focuses on the aspect of considering this question when considering the introduction of mobile computing into the healthcare environment. As a result, this research proposes a framework that will aid IT administrators in healthcare to ensure that privacy and security of health information is extended to mobile devices. The research uses a comparison between the best practices in ISO 17799:2005 and the regulatory requirements stipulated in HIPAA to provide a baseline for the mobile computing security model. The comparison ensures that the model meets healthcare specific industry requirement and international information security standard. In addition, the framework engages the Information Security Management System (ISMS) model based on the ISO 27000 standard. The framework, furthermore, points to existing technical security measurers associated with mobile computing. It is believed that the framework can assist in achieving mobile computing security that is compliant with the requirements in the healthcare industry.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Thomas, Godwin Dogara Ayenajeh
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Mobile computing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9789 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/618 , Mobile computing
- Description: Mobile computing is rapidly becoming part of healthcare’s electronic landscape, helping to provide better quality of care and reduced cost. While the technology provides numerous advantages to the healthcare industry, it is not without risk. The size and portable nature of mobile computing devices present a highly vulnerable environment, which threaten the privacy and security of health information. Since these devices continually access possibly sensitive healthcare information, it is imperative that these devices are considered for security in order to meet regulatory compliance. In fact, the increase in government and industry regulation to ensure the privacy and security of health information, makes mobile security no longer just desirable, but mandatory. In addition, as healthcare becomes more aware of the need to reinforce patient confidence to gain competitive advantage, it makes mobile security desirable. Several guidelines regarding security best practices exist. Healthcare institutions are thus faced with matching the guidelines offered by best practices, with the legal and regulatory requirements. While this is a valuable question in general, this research focuses on the aspect of considering this question when considering the introduction of mobile computing into the healthcare environment. As a result, this research proposes a framework that will aid IT administrators in healthcare to ensure that privacy and security of health information is extended to mobile devices. The research uses a comparison between the best practices in ISO 17799:2005 and the regulatory requirements stipulated in HIPAA to provide a baseline for the mobile computing security model. The comparison ensures that the model meets healthcare specific industry requirement and international information security standard. In addition, the framework engages the Information Security Management System (ISMS) model based on the ISO 27000 standard. The framework, furthermore, points to existing technical security measurers associated with mobile computing. It is believed that the framework can assist in achieving mobile computing security that is compliant with the requirements in the healthcare industry.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
A general genetic algorithm for one and two dimensional cutting and packing problems
- Authors: Mancapa, Vusisizwe
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Packaging -- Data processing , Genetic algorithms , Cutting stock problem , Packing for shipment , Manufacturing processes -- Planning
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9602 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/555 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1011727 , Packaging -- Data processing , Genetic algorithms , Cutting stock problem , Packing for shipment , Manufacturing processes -- Planning
- Description: Cutting and packing problems are combinatorial optimisation problems. The major interest in these problems is their practical significance, in manufacturing and other business sectors. In most manufacturing situations a raw material usually in some standard size has to be divided or be cut into smaller items to complete the production of some product. Since the cost of this raw material usually forms a significant portion of the input costs, it is therefore desirable that this resource be used efficiently. A hybrid general genetic algorithm is presented in this work to solve one and two dimensional problems of this nature. The novelties with this algorithm are: A novel placement heuristic hybridised with a Genetic Algorithm is introduced and a general solution encoding scheme which is used to encode one dimensional and two dimensional problems is also introduced.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Mancapa, Vusisizwe
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Packaging -- Data processing , Genetic algorithms , Cutting stock problem , Packing for shipment , Manufacturing processes -- Planning
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9602 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/555 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1011727 , Packaging -- Data processing , Genetic algorithms , Cutting stock problem , Packing for shipment , Manufacturing processes -- Planning
- Description: Cutting and packing problems are combinatorial optimisation problems. The major interest in these problems is their practical significance, in manufacturing and other business sectors. In most manufacturing situations a raw material usually in some standard size has to be divided or be cut into smaller items to complete the production of some product. Since the cost of this raw material usually forms a significant portion of the input costs, it is therefore desirable that this resource be used efficiently. A hybrid general genetic algorithm is presented in this work to solve one and two dimensional problems of this nature. The novelties with this algorithm are: A novel placement heuristic hybridised with a Genetic Algorithm is introduced and a general solution encoding scheme which is used to encode one dimensional and two dimensional problems is also introduced.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
A literature review of the factors impacting on objectivity in news journalism
- Authors: Yat, Gai Thurbil
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Journalism -- Objectivity
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8376 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/872 , Journalism -- Objectivity
- Description: Objectivity has been the most debatable issue in the history of journalism and there are, therefore, many different ways of looking at it. Media academics such as Gans (1979) and Tuchman (2000) refer to objectivity as an examination of contents of collected news materials. Glasser (1992) points out that objectivity is a balance of beliefs restructured by a journalist and presented against independent thinking. It is difficult to test the objectivity of journalists because it is the credibility of facts gathered by a journalist that lies at the heart of objectivity. In Glasser’s opinion, the “notion” of objectivity is flawed against the newsman’s mandate of reporting responsibly. Objectivity is therefore professional principle through which journalists write news responsibly and present it to their audience as a final product (Glasser, 1992). This study will discuss objectivity also in reference to the problems that journalists face when they cover news stories. It may be that journalists may have problems searching for stories not because they do not embrace journalistic principles of fairness, clarity and objectivity, but because of the way in which facts are presented to them by news sources (Fred and Wellman, 2003). There have been some cases whereby media audiences have wrongly been made to think that journalists are biased in their coverage. 2 For example, the 2003 Iraq invasion by US-led forces, where correspondents were made to practice embedded journalism is a good example of how circumstances could force a journalist to succumb to soldiers’ demands of keeping their war causalities away from their cameras. It is worth noting, however, that being biased for a journalist in such a war situation could be circumstantial in the sense that an American journalist covering a story in Iraqi’s capital, Baghdad, would be regarded as a spy by Iraqi’s troops. Likewise, an Iraqi journalist chasing stories in the coalition force’s camps in Iraqi’s capital would be treated as a traitor by the Iraqi people (Fred and Wellman, 2003:21). There is no doubt that in the situations described above objectivity in journalism can be affected. It is against such background that this study will investigate the factors that affect objectivity in the print media. It is vitally important to bear in mind that bias should not be confused with editorial columns that express the opinion of publishers, or editors for that matter. The question of objectivity goes back to the gatekeepers, whereby the editors as gatekeepers decide what to publish and what news stories reporters should gather. So the question of objectivity in the news can be dealt with by the editors who decide which story should be run by their respective newspapers. According to Fred and Wellman (2003:32), editors and media owners are the decision makers in the field of journalism.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Yat, Gai Thurbil
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Journalism -- Objectivity
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8376 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/872 , Journalism -- Objectivity
- Description: Objectivity has been the most debatable issue in the history of journalism and there are, therefore, many different ways of looking at it. Media academics such as Gans (1979) and Tuchman (2000) refer to objectivity as an examination of contents of collected news materials. Glasser (1992) points out that objectivity is a balance of beliefs restructured by a journalist and presented against independent thinking. It is difficult to test the objectivity of journalists because it is the credibility of facts gathered by a journalist that lies at the heart of objectivity. In Glasser’s opinion, the “notion” of objectivity is flawed against the newsman’s mandate of reporting responsibly. Objectivity is therefore professional principle through which journalists write news responsibly and present it to their audience as a final product (Glasser, 1992). This study will discuss objectivity also in reference to the problems that journalists face when they cover news stories. It may be that journalists may have problems searching for stories not because they do not embrace journalistic principles of fairness, clarity and objectivity, but because of the way in which facts are presented to them by news sources (Fred and Wellman, 2003). There have been some cases whereby media audiences have wrongly been made to think that journalists are biased in their coverage. 2 For example, the 2003 Iraq invasion by US-led forces, where correspondents were made to practice embedded journalism is a good example of how circumstances could force a journalist to succumb to soldiers’ demands of keeping their war causalities away from their cameras. It is worth noting, however, that being biased for a journalist in such a war situation could be circumstantial in the sense that an American journalist covering a story in Iraqi’s capital, Baghdad, would be regarded as a spy by Iraqi’s troops. Likewise, an Iraqi journalist chasing stories in the coalition force’s camps in Iraqi’s capital would be treated as a traitor by the Iraqi people (Fred and Wellman, 2003:21). There is no doubt that in the situations described above objectivity in journalism can be affected. It is against such background that this study will investigate the factors that affect objectivity in the print media. It is vitally important to bear in mind that bias should not be confused with editorial columns that express the opinion of publishers, or editors for that matter. The question of objectivity goes back to the gatekeepers, whereby the editors as gatekeepers decide what to publish and what news stories reporters should gather. So the question of objectivity in the news can be dealt with by the editors who decide which story should be run by their respective newspapers. According to Fred and Wellman (2003:32), editors and media owners are the decision makers in the field of journalism.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
A methodology for measuring and monitoring IT risk
- Authors: Tansley, Natalie Vanessa
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Electronic data processing departments -- Security measures , Business -- Data processing -- Security measures , Information resources management , Information technology -- Security measures
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9781 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/772 , Electronic data processing departments -- Security measures , Business -- Data processing -- Security measures , Information resources management , Information technology -- Security measures
- Description: The primary objective of the research is to develop a methodology for monitoring and measuring IT risks, strictly focusing on internal controls. The research delivers a methodology whereby an organization can measure its system of internal controls, providing assurance that the risks are at an acceptable level. To achieve the primary objective a number of secondary objectives were addressed: What are the drivers forcing organizations to better corporate governance in managing risk? What is IT risk management, specifically focusing on operational risk. What is internal control and specifically focusing on COSO’s internal control process. Investigation of measurement methods, such as, Balance Scorecards, Critical Success Factors, Maturity Models, Key Performance Indicators and Key Goal Indicators. Investigation of various frameworks such as CobiT, COSO and ISO 17799, ITIL and BS 7799 as to how they manage IT risk relating to internal control.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Tansley, Natalie Vanessa
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Electronic data processing departments -- Security measures , Business -- Data processing -- Security measures , Information resources management , Information technology -- Security measures
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9781 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/772 , Electronic data processing departments -- Security measures , Business -- Data processing -- Security measures , Information resources management , Information technology -- Security measures
- Description: The primary objective of the research is to develop a methodology for monitoring and measuring IT risks, strictly focusing on internal controls. The research delivers a methodology whereby an organization can measure its system of internal controls, providing assurance that the risks are at an acceptable level. To achieve the primary objective a number of secondary objectives were addressed: What are the drivers forcing organizations to better corporate governance in managing risk? What is IT risk management, specifically focusing on operational risk. What is internal control and specifically focusing on COSO’s internal control process. Investigation of measurement methods, such as, Balance Scorecards, Critical Success Factors, Maturity Models, Key Performance Indicators and Key Goal Indicators. Investigation of various frameworks such as CobiT, COSO and ISO 17799, ITIL and BS 7799 as to how they manage IT risk relating to internal control.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
A model for adaptive multimodal mobile notification
- Authors: Brander, William
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Mobile computing , Context-aware computing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10473 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/699 , Mobile computing , Context-aware computing
- Description: Information is useless unless it is used whilst still applicable. Having a system that notifies the user of important messages using the most appropriate medium and device will benefit users that rely on time critical information. There are several existing systems and models for mobile notification as well as for adaptive mobile notification using context awareness. Current models and systems are typically designed for a specific set of mobile devices, modes and services. Communication however, can take place in many different modes, across many different devices and may originate from many different sources. The aim of this research was to develop a model for adaptive mobile notification using context awareness. An extensive literature study was performed into existing models for adaptive mobile notification systems using context awareness. The literature study identified several potential models but no way to evaluate and compare the models. A set of requirements to evaluate these models was developed and the models were evaluated against these criteria. The model satisfying the most requirements was adapted so as to satisfy the remaining criteria. The proposed model is extensible in terms of the modes, devices and notification sources supported. The proposed model determines the importance of a message, the appropriate device and mode (or modes) of communication based on the user‘s context, and alerts the user of the message using these modes. A prototype was developed as a proof-of-concept of the proposed model and evaluated by conducting an extensive field study. The field study highlighted the fact that most users did not choose the most suitable mode for the context during their initial subscription to the service. The field study also showed that more research needs to be done on an appropriate filtering mechanism for notifications. Users found that the notifications became intrusive and less useful the longer they used them.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Brander, William
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Mobile computing , Context-aware computing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10473 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/699 , Mobile computing , Context-aware computing
- Description: Information is useless unless it is used whilst still applicable. Having a system that notifies the user of important messages using the most appropriate medium and device will benefit users that rely on time critical information. There are several existing systems and models for mobile notification as well as for adaptive mobile notification using context awareness. Current models and systems are typically designed for a specific set of mobile devices, modes and services. Communication however, can take place in many different modes, across many different devices and may originate from many different sources. The aim of this research was to develop a model for adaptive mobile notification using context awareness. An extensive literature study was performed into existing models for adaptive mobile notification systems using context awareness. The literature study identified several potential models but no way to evaluate and compare the models. A set of requirements to evaluate these models was developed and the models were evaluated against these criteria. The model satisfying the most requirements was adapted so as to satisfy the remaining criteria. The proposed model is extensible in terms of the modes, devices and notification sources supported. The proposed model determines the importance of a message, the appropriate device and mode (or modes) of communication based on the user‘s context, and alerts the user of the message using these modes. A prototype was developed as a proof-of-concept of the proposed model and evaluated by conducting an extensive field study. The field study highlighted the fact that most users did not choose the most suitable mode for the context during their initial subscription to the service. The field study also showed that more research needs to be done on an appropriate filtering mechanism for notifications. Users found that the notifications became intrusive and less useful the longer they used them.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
A model for integrating information security into the software development life cycle
- Authors: Futcher, Lynn Ann
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Computer security , Software maintenance
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9737 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/506 , Computer security , Software maintenance
- Description: It is within highly integrated technology environments that information security is becoming a focal point for designing, developing and deploying software applications. Ensuring a high level of trust in the security and quality of these applications is crucial to their ultimate success. Therefore, information security has become a core requirement for software applications, driven by the need to protect critical assets and the need to build and preserve widespread trust in computing. However, a common weakness that is inherent in the traditional software development methodologies is the lack of attention given to the security aspects of software development. Most of these methodologies do not explicitly include a standardised method for incorporating information security into their life cycles. Meaningful security can be achieved when information security issues are considered as part of a routine development process, and security safeguards are integrated into the software application throughout its life cycle. This, in turn, will lead to users being more confident to use software applications, and to entrust today's computer systems with their personal information. To build better or more secure software, an improved software development process is required. Security of a software application must be based on the risk associated with the application. In order to understand this risk, the relevant information assets need to be identified together with their threats and vulnerabilities. Therefore, security considerations provide input into every phase of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), from requirements gathering to design, implementation, testing and deployment. This research project presents a Secure Software Development Model (SecSDM) for incorporating information security into all phases of the SDLC, from requirements gathering to systems maintenance. The SecSDM is based on many of the recommendations provided by relevant international standards and best practices, for example, the ISO 7498-2 (1989) standard which addresses the underlying security services and mechanisms that form an integral part of the model.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Futcher, Lynn Ann
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Computer security , Software maintenance
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9737 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/506 , Computer security , Software maintenance
- Description: It is within highly integrated technology environments that information security is becoming a focal point for designing, developing and deploying software applications. Ensuring a high level of trust in the security and quality of these applications is crucial to their ultimate success. Therefore, information security has become a core requirement for software applications, driven by the need to protect critical assets and the need to build and preserve widespread trust in computing. However, a common weakness that is inherent in the traditional software development methodologies is the lack of attention given to the security aspects of software development. Most of these methodologies do not explicitly include a standardised method for incorporating information security into their life cycles. Meaningful security can be achieved when information security issues are considered as part of a routine development process, and security safeguards are integrated into the software application throughout its life cycle. This, in turn, will lead to users being more confident to use software applications, and to entrust today's computer systems with their personal information. To build better or more secure software, an improved software development process is required. Security of a software application must be based on the risk associated with the application. In order to understand this risk, the relevant information assets need to be identified together with their threats and vulnerabilities. Therefore, security considerations provide input into every phase of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), from requirements gathering to design, implementation, testing and deployment. This research project presents a Secure Software Development Model (SecSDM) for incorporating information security into all phases of the SDLC, from requirements gathering to systems maintenance. The SecSDM is based on many of the recommendations provided by relevant international standards and best practices, for example, the ISO 7498-2 (1989) standard which addresses the underlying security services and mechanisms that form an integral part of the model.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
A proposed strategy for the implementation of total productive maintenance at Continental Tyre South Africa
- Authors: Olivier, Christie
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Continental Tyre South Africa (Firm) , Total productive maintenance , Manufacturing industries
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8576 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/799 , Continental Tyre South Africa (Firm) , Total productive maintenance , Manufacturing industries
- Description: For a tyre manufacturing company to compete nationally and internationally, the maximum utilization of their equipment is extremely important. Thus, having a maintenance system in place that will ensure this will be essential. In today’s competitive environment, the need to go further than just scheduling maintenance in accordance with manufacturer’s recommendations as a method of improving productivity and product quality was quickly recognized by those companies who were committed to total quality management programmes. The objective of this study was to propose an appropriate strategy for the implementation of Total Productive Maintenance at Continental Tyre South Africa. To achieve this, the current Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) programme, in the steel stock preparation division in affiliated Continental plants in Otrokovice in the Czech Republic and Puchov in the Slovak Republic was evaluated. A comprehensive literature study was performed on Total Productive Maintenance programmes. A questionnaire was designed based on the guidelines in the literature study in order to establish the effectiveness of implemented TPM programmes. The researcher used the random sampling method of selection and distributed the questionnaire to 62 potential respondents via hand-outs from each plant’s respective heads of departments. 56 completed questionnaires were returned and these were processed and analyzed using Microsoft Office Excel 2003, running on the Windows XP suite of computer packages. The opinions of the various respondents were compared with the guidelines provided in the literature survey, in order to identify how to answer two main questions the author wanted to use as part of selecting an appropriate implementation approach for TPM at Continental Tyre South Africa. These were: • How much are the employees involved and empowered to perform their TPM tasks?; and • How effective is the implemented TPM programme? The following were the main recommendations and conclusions: • The experiences gained by plants like Otrokovice and Puchov must be used as a guideline for introduction and implementation; • The employees that will be required to perform the TPM tasks must be properly trained and they should receive the necessary tools to perform their tasks; • It is essential that everyone throughout the entire manufacturing organization is involved from the start in the development, improvement and maintenance of the TPM programme and that the driving force behind it should be a combination of maintenance, production and quality; and • TPM will achieve it’s objectives if: • The equipment effectiveness can be improved; • Autonomous maintenance is achieved; • Planned maintenance is in place; • Staff are trained in relevant maintenance skills; and • Early equipment management can be achieved.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Olivier, Christie
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Continental Tyre South Africa (Firm) , Total productive maintenance , Manufacturing industries
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8576 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/799 , Continental Tyre South Africa (Firm) , Total productive maintenance , Manufacturing industries
- Description: For a tyre manufacturing company to compete nationally and internationally, the maximum utilization of their equipment is extremely important. Thus, having a maintenance system in place that will ensure this will be essential. In today’s competitive environment, the need to go further than just scheduling maintenance in accordance with manufacturer’s recommendations as a method of improving productivity and product quality was quickly recognized by those companies who were committed to total quality management programmes. The objective of this study was to propose an appropriate strategy for the implementation of Total Productive Maintenance at Continental Tyre South Africa. To achieve this, the current Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) programme, in the steel stock preparation division in affiliated Continental plants in Otrokovice in the Czech Republic and Puchov in the Slovak Republic was evaluated. A comprehensive literature study was performed on Total Productive Maintenance programmes. A questionnaire was designed based on the guidelines in the literature study in order to establish the effectiveness of implemented TPM programmes. The researcher used the random sampling method of selection and distributed the questionnaire to 62 potential respondents via hand-outs from each plant’s respective heads of departments. 56 completed questionnaires were returned and these were processed and analyzed using Microsoft Office Excel 2003, running on the Windows XP suite of computer packages. The opinions of the various respondents were compared with the guidelines provided in the literature survey, in order to identify how to answer two main questions the author wanted to use as part of selecting an appropriate implementation approach for TPM at Continental Tyre South Africa. These were: • How much are the employees involved and empowered to perform their TPM tasks?; and • How effective is the implemented TPM programme? The following were the main recommendations and conclusions: • The experiences gained by plants like Otrokovice and Puchov must be used as a guideline for introduction and implementation; • The employees that will be required to perform the TPM tasks must be properly trained and they should receive the necessary tools to perform their tasks; • It is essential that everyone throughout the entire manufacturing organization is involved from the start in the development, improvement and maintenance of the TPM programme and that the driving force behind it should be a combination of maintenance, production and quality; and • TPM will achieve it’s objectives if: • The equipment effectiveness can be improved; • Autonomous maintenance is achieved; • Planned maintenance is in place; • Staff are trained in relevant maintenance skills; and • Early equipment management can be achieved.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
A railway terminus for the inner city of Port Elizabeth
- Authors: Scriba, Marco W
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Railroad terminals -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth -- Designs and plans , Terminals (Transportation) -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth -- Designs and plans
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MArch
- Identifier: vital:8154 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1016497
- Description: In the late 1980s people and businesses started to move out of Port Elizabeth's Central District (CBD). Businesses moved to the city's edge establishing new business zones, which in turn threatened the existence of the original CBD. Most inner city buildings became derelict and property prices dropped accordingly. Buildings were neglected and vandalized. This resulted in spaces which were unfit for human habitation and encouraged areas characterized by crime. The regeneration of Port Elizabeth's CDB is very important bacause of its historical value and key position. To build the Metropol the historical ideals of the CDB need to be revitalized, giving the city a administrative and cultural core which is both friendly and safe. A few proposals have been introduced to help uplift areas in the CDB. The latest initiative is the upgrading of Govan Mbeki Street lead by the firm The Matrix. Their aim is to create architecture that creates a more interactive, habitable environment. This would be achieved by more pedestrian orientated spaces, natural landscaping and facilitating vendors and craft markets. Future proposals are the removal of railway lines, the Tank Farm and finally the Ore Dumps to allow the city to expand eastwards. This will allow the city to grow and connect with the seafront and the existing harbour. Consequently the development of a new Railway Terminus is central to the establishment of a bay which is consistent with international standards of key marine cities in the modern world. The old station has a beautiful sense of place in Strand Street, as does the Campanile, which is at the gateway to the harbour. Together they offer a unique experience in this historiacal precinct. This offers new opportunities for tourism and trade and the old station would therefore form part of Port Elizabeth's CDB rejuvenation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Scriba, Marco W
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Railroad terminals -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth -- Designs and plans , Terminals (Transportation) -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth -- Designs and plans
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MArch
- Identifier: vital:8154 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1016497
- Description: In the late 1980s people and businesses started to move out of Port Elizabeth's Central District (CBD). Businesses moved to the city's edge establishing new business zones, which in turn threatened the existence of the original CBD. Most inner city buildings became derelict and property prices dropped accordingly. Buildings were neglected and vandalized. This resulted in spaces which were unfit for human habitation and encouraged areas characterized by crime. The regeneration of Port Elizabeth's CDB is very important bacause of its historical value and key position. To build the Metropol the historical ideals of the CDB need to be revitalized, giving the city a administrative and cultural core which is both friendly and safe. A few proposals have been introduced to help uplift areas in the CDB. The latest initiative is the upgrading of Govan Mbeki Street lead by the firm The Matrix. Their aim is to create architecture that creates a more interactive, habitable environment. This would be achieved by more pedestrian orientated spaces, natural landscaping and facilitating vendors and craft markets. Future proposals are the removal of railway lines, the Tank Farm and finally the Ore Dumps to allow the city to expand eastwards. This will allow the city to grow and connect with the seafront and the existing harbour. Consequently the development of a new Railway Terminus is central to the establishment of a bay which is consistent with international standards of key marine cities in the modern world. The old station has a beautiful sense of place in Strand Street, as does the Campanile, which is at the gateway to the harbour. Together they offer a unique experience in this historiacal precinct. This offers new opportunities for tourism and trade and the old station would therefore form part of Port Elizabeth's CDB rejuvenation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
A review of stakeholder interests and participation in the sustainable use of communal wetlands: the case of the Lake Fundudzi catchment in Limpopo Province, South Africa
- Authors: Silima, Vhangani
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Wetland ecology -- South Africa -- Limpopo Wetland management -- South Africa -- Limpopo Natural resources -- Management -- South Africa -- Limpopo Conservation of natural resources -- South Africa -- Limpopo Conservation of natural resources -- Citizen participation -- South Africa -- Limpopo Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Limpopo
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1745 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003629
- Description: Many rural South African people depend on natural resources for their survival. Wetlands provide some of those natural resources. These are presently are under pressure due to high demand, overexploitation and poor land management. The history of South Africa has been characterised by exclusion of local communities in the process of decision-making and general management of natural resources. Participation of all stakeholders is crucial for successful sustainable natural resource management. Various South African departments are engaged in a number of strategies for promoting meaningful participation of local communities. The South African laws promoting protection and sustainable use of natural resources incorporate democratic principles that require high level of participation from resource users, local communities in particular. Most of the participation techniques used are focused on satisfying political mandates and do not respond to the social context of the resource users. The aim of the study was to review the participation of stakeholders in the project of promoting the sustainable use and protection of the Lake Fundudzi catchment. The idea was to probe stakeholder interests more carefully, and to research tensions that arise in the participation process, using qualitative methodologies. Through the use of questionnaires, observations and document analysis stakeholders’ interests were identified to assess their influence in the process of participation of local stakeholders. The review of stakeholders’ participation in the Lake Fundudzi Project showed that stakeholders’ interests are crucial for meaningful local community participation, communication and education influence. They enable meaningful participation and empowerment. A multi-stakeholders approach enables stakeholders to share roles and responsibilities and the participation process offers an opportunity for local stakeholders to participate democratically in the Project. Power relations affect stakeholder participation, capital dependant participatory initiatives are likely to be at risk, participatory processes are likely to promote the empowerment and knowledge exchange amongst stakeholders, the views of local stakeholders are not always considered by outside support organisation and multi-stakeholder participatory approaches enable the initiative/activity/project to achieve its objectives.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Silima, Vhangani
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Wetland ecology -- South Africa -- Limpopo Wetland management -- South Africa -- Limpopo Natural resources -- Management -- South Africa -- Limpopo Conservation of natural resources -- South Africa -- Limpopo Conservation of natural resources -- Citizen participation -- South Africa -- Limpopo Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Limpopo
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1745 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003629
- Description: Many rural South African people depend on natural resources for their survival. Wetlands provide some of those natural resources. These are presently are under pressure due to high demand, overexploitation and poor land management. The history of South Africa has been characterised by exclusion of local communities in the process of decision-making and general management of natural resources. Participation of all stakeholders is crucial for successful sustainable natural resource management. Various South African departments are engaged in a number of strategies for promoting meaningful participation of local communities. The South African laws promoting protection and sustainable use of natural resources incorporate democratic principles that require high level of participation from resource users, local communities in particular. Most of the participation techniques used are focused on satisfying political mandates and do not respond to the social context of the resource users. The aim of the study was to review the participation of stakeholders in the project of promoting the sustainable use and protection of the Lake Fundudzi catchment. The idea was to probe stakeholder interests more carefully, and to research tensions that arise in the participation process, using qualitative methodologies. Through the use of questionnaires, observations and document analysis stakeholders’ interests were identified to assess their influence in the process of participation of local stakeholders. The review of stakeholders’ participation in the Lake Fundudzi Project showed that stakeholders’ interests are crucial for meaningful local community participation, communication and education influence. They enable meaningful participation and empowerment. A multi-stakeholders approach enables stakeholders to share roles and responsibilities and the participation process offers an opportunity for local stakeholders to participate democratically in the Project. Power relations affect stakeholder participation, capital dependant participatory initiatives are likely to be at risk, participatory processes are likely to promote the empowerment and knowledge exchange amongst stakeholders, the views of local stakeholders are not always considered by outside support organisation and multi-stakeholder participatory approaches enable the initiative/activity/project to achieve its objectives.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
A study of the conflict between maintenance and production functions in a manufacturing organisation in Port Elizabeth
- Authors: Petronio, Riccardo Vinicio
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Conflict management -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Organizational behavior -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Supervision of employees -- South AFrica -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8737 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/794 , Conflict management -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Organizational behavior -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Supervision of employees -- South AFrica -- Port Elizabeth
- Description: If manufacturing organisations are to improve their competitive positions in the global arena and increase profitability, their operations strategies need to be focused on: reducing cost, improving quality, increasing efficiency, improving the speed of delivery, developing and improving process flexibility, and ensuring that higher service levels are achieved and maintained. One of the critical success factors in implementing these strategies, within manufacturing organisations, is the relationship that exists between the maintenance and production functions. There is sufficient evidence to suggest that in many manufacturing organisations, the relationship that exists between these two functions is usually one of conflict, which if left unmanaged or unresolved has the potential to severely hamper effectiveness, productivity, creativity, and profitability of the organisation. The overall purpose of this research was to identify the interventions that manufacturing organisations can pursue, to effectively manage and resolve the conflict between the production and maintenance functions, in order to improve their competitive position in the global economy. The study was conducted in one particular manufacturing organisation in Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape. A research questionnaire was used as a means for collecting empirical data. The research questionnaire included various instruments used by previous conflict researchers, to identify and analyse the following dimensions of conflict within the organisation: conflict management styles used, the types of conflict perceived, and the amount of conflict perceived. The questionnaire was also designed to identify the sources of conflict, collect demographic information, identify issues relating to diversity, and indicate the respondents’ preferences to various organisational reporting structures. The results of the survey revealed key findings, which enabled the researcher to draw meaningful conclusions, and make recommendations as to how organisations can effectively manage and resolve the conflict that exists between maintenance and production functions.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Petronio, Riccardo Vinicio
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Conflict management -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Organizational behavior -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Supervision of employees -- South AFrica -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8737 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/794 , Conflict management -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Organizational behavior -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Supervision of employees -- South AFrica -- Port Elizabeth
- Description: If manufacturing organisations are to improve their competitive positions in the global arena and increase profitability, their operations strategies need to be focused on: reducing cost, improving quality, increasing efficiency, improving the speed of delivery, developing and improving process flexibility, and ensuring that higher service levels are achieved and maintained. One of the critical success factors in implementing these strategies, within manufacturing organisations, is the relationship that exists between the maintenance and production functions. There is sufficient evidence to suggest that in many manufacturing organisations, the relationship that exists between these two functions is usually one of conflict, which if left unmanaged or unresolved has the potential to severely hamper effectiveness, productivity, creativity, and profitability of the organisation. The overall purpose of this research was to identify the interventions that manufacturing organisations can pursue, to effectively manage and resolve the conflict between the production and maintenance functions, in order to improve their competitive position in the global economy. The study was conducted in one particular manufacturing organisation in Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape. A research questionnaire was used as a means for collecting empirical data. The research questionnaire included various instruments used by previous conflict researchers, to identify and analyse the following dimensions of conflict within the organisation: conflict management styles used, the types of conflict perceived, and the amount of conflict perceived. The questionnaire was also designed to identify the sources of conflict, collect demographic information, identify issues relating to diversity, and indicate the respondents’ preferences to various organisational reporting structures. The results of the survey revealed key findings, which enabled the researcher to draw meaningful conclusions, and make recommendations as to how organisations can effectively manage and resolve the conflict that exists between maintenance and production functions.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
A study of the teaching of reading in Grade 1 in the Caprivi region, Namibia
- Authors: Nzwala, Kenneth
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Reading (Primary) -- Namibia Teachers -- Attitudes -- Namibia Teaching -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1785 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003670
- Description: This study was conducted in order to understand how Grade 1 teachers teach reading in mother tongue with a focus, firstly, on teacher beliefs and how such beliefs influence teachers’ practice, and secondly, on the methods they use to teach reading. The study was carried out in the Caprivi Region of Namibia. It took the form of an interpretive case study. Three schools were selected for study: one urban, one peri-urban and one rural. The purpose of this sampling was to consider the influence of context on teachers’ practice. The data was gathered by using semi-structured interviews with open ended questions, as well as lesson observations and stimulated recall with the individual teachers after every lesson. This was important in order to have clarity on areas that were not clear during lesson presentations. The key findings are that the teachers I studied taught reading without using books, and there was an absence of shared reading with the learners. Other key findings are: teachers had great love for stories; they had a problem of language, and had no proper understanding of the concept ‘literacy’.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Nzwala, Kenneth
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Reading (Primary) -- Namibia Teachers -- Attitudes -- Namibia Teaching -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1785 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003670
- Description: This study was conducted in order to understand how Grade 1 teachers teach reading in mother tongue with a focus, firstly, on teacher beliefs and how such beliefs influence teachers’ practice, and secondly, on the methods they use to teach reading. The study was carried out in the Caprivi Region of Namibia. It took the form of an interpretive case study. Three schools were selected for study: one urban, one peri-urban and one rural. The purpose of this sampling was to consider the influence of context on teachers’ practice. The data was gathered by using semi-structured interviews with open ended questions, as well as lesson observations and stimulated recall with the individual teachers after every lesson. This was important in order to have clarity on areas that were not clear during lesson presentations. The key findings are that the teachers I studied taught reading without using books, and there was an absence of shared reading with the learners. Other key findings are: teachers had great love for stories; they had a problem of language, and had no proper understanding of the concept ‘literacy’.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Accelerated staff turnover among professional nurses at a district hospital
- Authors: Toni, Gladys Nosisana
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Labor turnover -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Nurses -- Employment -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Hospitals -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Personnel management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:10039 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/620 , Labor turnover -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Nurses -- Employment -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Hospitals -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Personnel management
- Description: The study emanated from the researcher’s experience and involvement in clinical nursing and nursing management. The researcher noted how heavy losses of recruited professional nurses might have had an influence on the quality of service delivery. It is a costly and time-consuming task to recruit enough nurses into the profession and retention of staff is especially difficult. There had been a significant increase in the number of professional nurses leaving the district hospitals either to primary health care service, private hospitals or other countries. Before the commencement of the study the turnover rate at the district hospital where the study was conducted, almost doubled the accepted norm, which was ten percent of the staff. For those reasons the researcher decided to conduct a study named, “Accelerated staff turnover among professional nurses at a district hospital.” The constant heavy losses of qualified nurses from the profession constitute one of the serious challenges for nursing managers. The researcher wanted answers to the following question: “What were your experiences of your job as a professional nurse at the district hospital?” The objectives of the study were: · to explore and describe factors leading to high staff turnover of professional nurses at a district hospital · to develop guidelines to help retain professional nurses. The design of this study, which was conducted in one of the district hospitals in the Makana Local Service Area in the Eastern Cape, is qualitative, descriptive and contextual. Informed permission for conducting the research was obtained from relevant authorities and participants were asked to sign a consent form before the researcher proceeded with the study. Participants that met the selection criteria were selected by means of purposive sampling. Data was obtained by means of semi-structured telephonic interviews that were audio-taped and later transcribed verbatim. To ensure trustworthiness of the study, the researcher applied the four strategies as proposed by Lincoln and Guba (De Vos, 2002:351) namely, credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability. Collected data was analysed according to the descriptive method proposed by Tesch (in Creswell, 1994:154). The services of an independent coder, who was provided with transcripts and a protocol to guide data analysis, were utilised. A consensus meeting was held between the researcher and the independent coder to discuss the identified themes and sub-themes. Following the data analysis, a literature control was undertaken to highlight the similarities to and differences in comparison between this and previous studies. Four major themes and sub-themes were identified through analysis.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Toni, Gladys Nosisana
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Labor turnover -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Nurses -- Employment -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Hospitals -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Personnel management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:10039 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/620 , Labor turnover -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Nurses -- Employment -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Hospitals -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Personnel management
- Description: The study emanated from the researcher’s experience and involvement in clinical nursing and nursing management. The researcher noted how heavy losses of recruited professional nurses might have had an influence on the quality of service delivery. It is a costly and time-consuming task to recruit enough nurses into the profession and retention of staff is especially difficult. There had been a significant increase in the number of professional nurses leaving the district hospitals either to primary health care service, private hospitals or other countries. Before the commencement of the study the turnover rate at the district hospital where the study was conducted, almost doubled the accepted norm, which was ten percent of the staff. For those reasons the researcher decided to conduct a study named, “Accelerated staff turnover among professional nurses at a district hospital.” The constant heavy losses of qualified nurses from the profession constitute one of the serious challenges for nursing managers. The researcher wanted answers to the following question: “What were your experiences of your job as a professional nurse at the district hospital?” The objectives of the study were: · to explore and describe factors leading to high staff turnover of professional nurses at a district hospital · to develop guidelines to help retain professional nurses. The design of this study, which was conducted in one of the district hospitals in the Makana Local Service Area in the Eastern Cape, is qualitative, descriptive and contextual. Informed permission for conducting the research was obtained from relevant authorities and participants were asked to sign a consent form before the researcher proceeded with the study. Participants that met the selection criteria were selected by means of purposive sampling. Data was obtained by means of semi-structured telephonic interviews that were audio-taped and later transcribed verbatim. To ensure trustworthiness of the study, the researcher applied the four strategies as proposed by Lincoln and Guba (De Vos, 2002:351) namely, credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability. Collected data was analysed according to the descriptive method proposed by Tesch (in Creswell, 1994:154). The services of an independent coder, who was provided with transcripts and a protocol to guide data analysis, were utilised. A consensus meeting was held between the researcher and the independent coder to discuss the identified themes and sub-themes. Following the data analysis, a literature control was undertaken to highlight the similarities to and differences in comparison between this and previous studies. Four major themes and sub-themes were identified through analysis.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
African customary law and gender justice in a progressive democracy
- Authors: Ozoemena, Rita Nkiruka
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Customary law -- Africa , Women's rights -- Africa , Human rights -- Africa , Sex discrimination against women -- Africa , Women and democracy -- Africa , Culture and law -- Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: vital:3692 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003207 , Customary law -- Africa , Women's rights -- Africa , Human rights -- Africa , Sex discrimination against women -- Africa , Women and democracy -- Africa , Culture and law -- Africa
- Description: The constant clash of African culture and traditions with human rights continue to militate against the adequate protection of women’s rights. Thus, African women constantly face challenges resulting from restrictions under customary laws of succession and inheritance, witchcraft violence, degrading treatment to widows, domestic violence; women killed by their partners, rape of women and children under all kinds of circumstances. This thesis was prompted by the issues raised in the Bhe case of the Constitutional Court of South Africa. In this landmark judgment, Ngcobo J dealt with the development of customary law, and how it must be approached by the courts in a manner that would have due regard to the rights of women on one hand and, on the other, would also accord customary law of its proper place, purpose and values within the African context. Against this background, the thesis focused on South Africa, Nigeria and Lesotho as excellent models of the broader challenges for women as well as governments; despite certain legislative measures put in place by the latter, the battle continues unabated for the balance of traditions and culture with women’s rights issues. Although South Africa is more progressive in terms of Constitution and practice than Nigeria and Lesotho, a lot still needs to be done particularly in the area of harmonization of laws. Regrettably, in Nigeria and Lesotho respect for the Constitution is superficial and lacks substantive policies that would promote women’s rights. To this extent, the balance of democratic values and promotion of women’s rights issues within the continent lie in women being partners in development rather than unduly suffering under intense burden of culture, tradition and societal stereotypes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Ozoemena, Rita Nkiruka
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Customary law -- Africa , Women's rights -- Africa , Human rights -- Africa , Sex discrimination against women -- Africa , Women and democracy -- Africa , Culture and law -- Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: vital:3692 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003207 , Customary law -- Africa , Women's rights -- Africa , Human rights -- Africa , Sex discrimination against women -- Africa , Women and democracy -- Africa , Culture and law -- Africa
- Description: The constant clash of African culture and traditions with human rights continue to militate against the adequate protection of women’s rights. Thus, African women constantly face challenges resulting from restrictions under customary laws of succession and inheritance, witchcraft violence, degrading treatment to widows, domestic violence; women killed by their partners, rape of women and children under all kinds of circumstances. This thesis was prompted by the issues raised in the Bhe case of the Constitutional Court of South Africa. In this landmark judgment, Ngcobo J dealt with the development of customary law, and how it must be approached by the courts in a manner that would have due regard to the rights of women on one hand and, on the other, would also accord customary law of its proper place, purpose and values within the African context. Against this background, the thesis focused on South Africa, Nigeria and Lesotho as excellent models of the broader challenges for women as well as governments; despite certain legislative measures put in place by the latter, the battle continues unabated for the balance of traditions and culture with women’s rights issues. Although South Africa is more progressive in terms of Constitution and practice than Nigeria and Lesotho, a lot still needs to be done particularly in the area of harmonization of laws. Regrettably, in Nigeria and Lesotho respect for the Constitution is superficial and lacks substantive policies that would promote women’s rights. To this extent, the balance of democratic values and promotion of women’s rights issues within the continent lie in women being partners in development rather than unduly suffering under intense burden of culture, tradition and societal stereotypes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
An action learning based reflection on participative drama as a tool for transformation of identity in the spirals programme
- Authors: Edlmann, Tessa Margaret
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Spirals Trust (South Africa) , Drama in education -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Participatory theater -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Active learning
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2159 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1008202
- Description: This thesis is a reflection on both the conceptual frameworks and the personal narratives that have shaped the development of the Spirals Programme. The Programme is a participatory drama and creative arts based initiative established in 2000 in Grahamstown, South Africa, to explore issues of identity in the emerging democratic context of South African society - and support both personal and contextual processes of transformation. Working within a poststructuralist and social constructionist paradigm, Spirals works with groups and communities to facilitate and enable experiential links between the drama based and performative nature of identity construction - and the possibilities for transformation and healing provided by participative drama methodologies. The structure of the thesis follows the principles of the Freirian based Action Learning praxis within which Spirals works. It begins with an account of the contextual dynamics and events that gave rise to the development of the Programme, followed by a reflection on the conceptual frameworks regarding both identity construction and participative drama methodologies that informed Spirals' development. These paradigms are then analysed in relation to the articulated experiences of three workshop participants using critical discourse analysis. The thesis concludes with an assessment of the issues emerging from this analysis - the aspects of the Programme that need to be strengthened and sustained, those that need to be changed and possible new strategies that could be developed. , Also known as: Edlmann, Theresa
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Edlmann, Tessa Margaret
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Spirals Trust (South Africa) , Drama in education -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Participatory theater -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Active learning
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2159 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1008202
- Description: This thesis is a reflection on both the conceptual frameworks and the personal narratives that have shaped the development of the Spirals Programme. The Programme is a participatory drama and creative arts based initiative established in 2000 in Grahamstown, South Africa, to explore issues of identity in the emerging democratic context of South African society - and support both personal and contextual processes of transformation. Working within a poststructuralist and social constructionist paradigm, Spirals works with groups and communities to facilitate and enable experiential links between the drama based and performative nature of identity construction - and the possibilities for transformation and healing provided by participative drama methodologies. The structure of the thesis follows the principles of the Freirian based Action Learning praxis within which Spirals works. It begins with an account of the contextual dynamics and events that gave rise to the development of the Programme, followed by a reflection on the conceptual frameworks regarding both identity construction and participative drama methodologies that informed Spirals' development. These paradigms are then analysed in relation to the articulated experiences of three workshop participants using critical discourse analysis. The thesis concludes with an assessment of the issues emerging from this analysis - the aspects of the Programme that need to be strengthened and sustained, those that need to be changed and possible new strategies that could be developed. , Also known as: Edlmann, Theresa
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
An analysis of bank risk management and its relevance for the non-bank corporate sector
- Authors: Dietrich, David Roland
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Bank management , Risk management , Corporations -- Finance , Financial institutions , Banks and banking
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:949 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002683 , Bank management , Risk management , Corporations -- Finance , Financial institutions , Banks and banking
- Description: This thesis, entitled “An analysis of bank risk management and its relevance for the non-bank corporate sector”, investigates the extent to which financial risk management by the banking sector can be applied to the non-bank corporate sector. As banks’ risk management techniques are more sophisticated than those of the non-bank corporate sector we have endeavoured to ascertain the applicability of these established risk management methods to the non-bank corporate sector. The main objectives of this study were to analyse the banking sectors’ risks and management thereof, and compare them to the risks faced by the nonbank corporate sector. This analysis was then used to present a theoretical financial risk management model for the corporate sector. This analysis was conducted using qualitative research. The thesis engaged in an in-depth investigation of financial risk management through a documentary, literature and media analysis. It was elucidated that not all companies face the same financial risks and therefore each company requires its own unique financial risk management model. Furthermore, it was established that there are several risks that both banks and non-bank corporates are subjected to. However, the management of these risks is not necessarily the same for these two types of institutes. This thesis concludes by putting forward a financial risk management model which presents all the possible financial risks that non-bank corporates may face.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Dietrich, David Roland
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Bank management , Risk management , Corporations -- Finance , Financial institutions , Banks and banking
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:949 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002683 , Bank management , Risk management , Corporations -- Finance , Financial institutions , Banks and banking
- Description: This thesis, entitled “An analysis of bank risk management and its relevance for the non-bank corporate sector”, investigates the extent to which financial risk management by the banking sector can be applied to the non-bank corporate sector. As banks’ risk management techniques are more sophisticated than those of the non-bank corporate sector we have endeavoured to ascertain the applicability of these established risk management methods to the non-bank corporate sector. The main objectives of this study were to analyse the banking sectors’ risks and management thereof, and compare them to the risks faced by the nonbank corporate sector. This analysis was then used to present a theoretical financial risk management model for the corporate sector. This analysis was conducted using qualitative research. The thesis engaged in an in-depth investigation of financial risk management through a documentary, literature and media analysis. It was elucidated that not all companies face the same financial risks and therefore each company requires its own unique financial risk management model. Furthermore, it was established that there are several risks that both banks and non-bank corporates are subjected to. However, the management of these risks is not necessarily the same for these two types of institutes. This thesis concludes by putting forward a financial risk management model which presents all the possible financial risks that non-bank corporates may face.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
An analysis of community participation in local government integrated development planning with reference to King Sabata Dalindyebo local municipality
- Authors: Mfenguza, Nomvakaliso
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Political participation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8237 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/788 , Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Political participation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: This study is about the analysis of Community Participation in Local Government Integrated Development Planning with reference to Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality. The focus on the study was on full participation of community in the IDP processes. This report presents the findings of a study conducted to identify the strategies and consultation structures used in the development of IDP processes, together with the measures of effectiveness of these strategies. This study was triggered by the non attendance of the communities in the IDP road shows, the complaints of non service delivery and little understanding of the IDP concept. The results of this study show that the communities do not fully participate in their development planning processes. The communities do not understand the purpose and existence of IDP document. The researcher hopes that this study will sensitize the community to participate in the affairs of their development that will change the quality of their lives. King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality should improve their strategies and consultation structures in their IDP processes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Mfenguza, Nomvakaliso
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Political participation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8237 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/788 , Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Political participation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: This study is about the analysis of Community Participation in Local Government Integrated Development Planning with reference to Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality. The focus on the study was on full participation of community in the IDP processes. This report presents the findings of a study conducted to identify the strategies and consultation structures used in the development of IDP processes, together with the measures of effectiveness of these strategies. This study was triggered by the non attendance of the communities in the IDP road shows, the complaints of non service delivery and little understanding of the IDP concept. The results of this study show that the communities do not fully participate in their development planning processes. The communities do not understand the purpose and existence of IDP document. The researcher hopes that this study will sensitize the community to participate in the affairs of their development that will change the quality of their lives. King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality should improve their strategies and consultation structures in their IDP processes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
An analysis of neural networks and time series techniques for demand forecasting
- Authors: Winn, David
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Time-series analysis , Neural networks (Computer science) , Artificial intelligence , Marketing -- Management , Marketing -- Data processing , Marketing -- Statistical methods , Consumer behaviour
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:5572 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004362 , Time-series analysis , Neural networks (Computer science) , Artificial intelligence , Marketing -- Management , Marketing -- Data processing , Marketing -- Statistical methods , Consumer behaviour
- Description: This research examines the plausibility of developing demand forecasting techniques which are consistently and accurately able to predict demand. Time Series Techniques and Artificial Neural Networks are both investigated. Deodorant sales in South Africa are specifically studied in this thesis. Marketing techniques which are used to influence consumer buyer behaviour are considered, and these factors are integrated into the forecasting models wherever possible. The results of this research suggest that Artificial Neural Networks can be developed which consistently outperform industry forecasting targets as well as Time Series forecasts, suggesting that producers could reduce costs by adopting this more effective method.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Winn, David
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Time-series analysis , Neural networks (Computer science) , Artificial intelligence , Marketing -- Management , Marketing -- Data processing , Marketing -- Statistical methods , Consumer behaviour
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:5572 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004362 , Time-series analysis , Neural networks (Computer science) , Artificial intelligence , Marketing -- Management , Marketing -- Data processing , Marketing -- Statistical methods , Consumer behaviour
- Description: This research examines the plausibility of developing demand forecasting techniques which are consistently and accurately able to predict demand. Time Series Techniques and Artificial Neural Networks are both investigated. Deodorant sales in South Africa are specifically studied in this thesis. Marketing techniques which are used to influence consumer buyer behaviour are considered, and these factors are integrated into the forecasting models wherever possible. The results of this research suggest that Artificial Neural Networks can be developed which consistently outperform industry forecasting targets as well as Time Series forecasts, suggesting that producers could reduce costs by adopting this more effective method.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
An analysis of the influence of phosphorus poisoning on the exhaust emission after treatement systems of light-duty diesel vehicles
- Authors: Toral del Rio, Maria Isabel
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Diesel motor -- Alternative fuels , Automobiles -- Pollution control devices , Automobiles -- Motors -- Exhaust gas , Motor fuels
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:10405 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/697 , Diesel motor -- Alternative fuels , Automobiles -- Pollution control devices , Automobiles -- Motors -- Exhaust gas , Motor fuels
- Description: Climate change has become a discussion topic of exponentially increasing urgency and importance amoung world leaders of all disciplines. These changes are brought about by the emission of so-called Greenhouse gases from various human activities. The primary cause of CO2 emissions is the burning of the Earth’s supply of nonrenewable natural fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas. The world first agreed on the prevention of “dangerous” climatic changes at the Earth Summit in 1992. The Kyoto Protocol of 1997 was the first step toward protection of the atmosphere and prescribes restrictions on emission pollutants. Since then the vehicle gas emissions are being controlled by means of different gas emissions norms, like the European Union Norm in Europe. The automotive manufacturers and suppliers are collectively working on reducing overall vehicle emissions. They are focusing on several different emission limiting possibilities, for example improved engine design, special fuel development and exhaust gas treatment systems. The exhaust gas treatment process requires continuous controlling and management of the exhaust gas emissions while driving a vehicle. Certain factors such as high emission temperatures have a negative influence on the life span of these systems. Their functionality and durability is also known to be reduced by the presence of chemical poisoning species like sulphur, phosphorus, zinc and calcium. The chemical poisoning species are produced during combustion of fuel and engine oil. They are therefore contained in the exhaust emissions and can poison the catalyst when passing over it. Phosphorous poisoning is particularly problematic and should be reduced considerably. This study involves the investigation of the phosphorous poisoning process and aims to provide clarity regarding the influences of different fuel and oil compositions on the severity of the process. Engine oil and biodiesel are two major sources of phosphorous poisoning. The phosphorus contained in biodiesel fuel is a natural component and can be minimized during the refining procedure. In contrast to others studies, the biodiesel fuel used during this project was SME (Soya Methyl Ester) with a 20% biodiesel content. This choice of fuel was made because of the increasingly important role that this type of biodiesel is playing in the European market and the future tendency to increase the percentage of biodiesel in the mixture with standard diesel fuel. The phosphorus contained in engine oil is a necessary additive to retain the antioxidant and anti-wear properties of the oil. This study examined the poisoning influences from the most commonly used phosphorus containing oil additive, Zinc Dithiophosphates (ZDDP), as well as a Zn-free, phosphorus containing anti-wear oil additive. This formulation provides information about the phosphorus poisoning process as caused by the engine oil in the absence of Zn in the oil additives. The results show how the phosphorus content in biodiesel fuel affects the functionality of the exhaust gas treatment systems and the importance of reducing the permitted content of phosphorus contained in the fuel. Reducing the phosphorus content in the fuel will conserve the functionality of the exhaust gas treatment systems during their operational life and thereby protect the environmental from emission pollutants. It also provides insight into the differences in the poisoning processes when the phosphorus deposited on the catalyst comes from biodiesel fuel and when it comes from the engine oil. Finally the results also illustrate the influence of different phosphorous forms contained in engine oil additives on the catalyst poisoning process. This information could be used for the development of new oil additive formulations.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Toral del Rio, Maria Isabel
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Diesel motor -- Alternative fuels , Automobiles -- Pollution control devices , Automobiles -- Motors -- Exhaust gas , Motor fuels
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:10405 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/697 , Diesel motor -- Alternative fuels , Automobiles -- Pollution control devices , Automobiles -- Motors -- Exhaust gas , Motor fuels
- Description: Climate change has become a discussion topic of exponentially increasing urgency and importance amoung world leaders of all disciplines. These changes are brought about by the emission of so-called Greenhouse gases from various human activities. The primary cause of CO2 emissions is the burning of the Earth’s supply of nonrenewable natural fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas. The world first agreed on the prevention of “dangerous” climatic changes at the Earth Summit in 1992. The Kyoto Protocol of 1997 was the first step toward protection of the atmosphere and prescribes restrictions on emission pollutants. Since then the vehicle gas emissions are being controlled by means of different gas emissions norms, like the European Union Norm in Europe. The automotive manufacturers and suppliers are collectively working on reducing overall vehicle emissions. They are focusing on several different emission limiting possibilities, for example improved engine design, special fuel development and exhaust gas treatment systems. The exhaust gas treatment process requires continuous controlling and management of the exhaust gas emissions while driving a vehicle. Certain factors such as high emission temperatures have a negative influence on the life span of these systems. Their functionality and durability is also known to be reduced by the presence of chemical poisoning species like sulphur, phosphorus, zinc and calcium. The chemical poisoning species are produced during combustion of fuel and engine oil. They are therefore contained in the exhaust emissions and can poison the catalyst when passing over it. Phosphorous poisoning is particularly problematic and should be reduced considerably. This study involves the investigation of the phosphorous poisoning process and aims to provide clarity regarding the influences of different fuel and oil compositions on the severity of the process. Engine oil and biodiesel are two major sources of phosphorous poisoning. The phosphorus contained in biodiesel fuel is a natural component and can be minimized during the refining procedure. In contrast to others studies, the biodiesel fuel used during this project was SME (Soya Methyl Ester) with a 20% biodiesel content. This choice of fuel was made because of the increasingly important role that this type of biodiesel is playing in the European market and the future tendency to increase the percentage of biodiesel in the mixture with standard diesel fuel. The phosphorus contained in engine oil is a necessary additive to retain the antioxidant and anti-wear properties of the oil. This study examined the poisoning influences from the most commonly used phosphorus containing oil additive, Zinc Dithiophosphates (ZDDP), as well as a Zn-free, phosphorus containing anti-wear oil additive. This formulation provides information about the phosphorus poisoning process as caused by the engine oil in the absence of Zn in the oil additives. The results show how the phosphorus content in biodiesel fuel affects the functionality of the exhaust gas treatment systems and the importance of reducing the permitted content of phosphorus contained in the fuel. Reducing the phosphorus content in the fuel will conserve the functionality of the exhaust gas treatment systems during their operational life and thereby protect the environmental from emission pollutants. It also provides insight into the differences in the poisoning processes when the phosphorus deposited on the catalyst comes from biodiesel fuel and when it comes from the engine oil. Finally the results also illustrate the influence of different phosphorous forms contained in engine oil additives on the catalyst poisoning process. This information could be used for the development of new oil additive formulations.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007