Dissertationen zum Thema „Khinya“

Bone is a composite material constituted by the association of an organic matrix and bioapatite nano-crystals. Human bones, frequently recovered from archaeological contexts, represent a valuable source of information on health, demography, age, diet and mobility of ancient populations as well as on environmental conditions experienced. However the reliability of such information depends on the preservation state of bone material and its constituents, i.e. the preservation of the in vivo chemical and isotopic composition. Bone alteration is caused by taphonomic and diagenetic processes, mainly driven by environmental conditions, affecting bones since the death of the individual and during burial. Therefore, a diagenetic study on archaeological bones, aiming to accurately determine their preservation state, taking into account the archaeological and palaeoenvironmental contexts, is a fundamental step when retrieving information by chemical or isotopic analyses. Based on this perspective, this research project is mainly addressing the radiocarbon dating of the bioapatite fraction of human bones, coming from the archaeological site 16D4 – Al Khiday 2 (Sudan) and the assessment of the reliability of results. At 16D4, a multi-stratified cemetery was excavated and several burial phases were recovered. In fact, the site was used as a burial ground at different periods along almost the entire Holocene. The well-defined archaeological context provided a set of samples suitable to investigate the reliability of the radiocarbon dating of bioapatite as well as the influence of environmental/climatic changes, occurring in Central Sudan along the Holocene, on bone diagenesis. Firstly a multi-disciplinary study on bones and associated soil sediments has been carried out, in order to define the preservation state of bones as well as to provide a model for diagenetic processes taking into account pedogenic processes and changes in environmental, climatic and local burial conditions. Based in the established model for diagenetic alteration of these bones, radiocarbon dating on selected bioapatite samples was performed and reliability of results discussed. Characterization of bone samples was carried out by optical and scanning electron microscopy, X-ray computed micro-tomography, X-ray powder diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and micro-Raman spectroscopy. Samples of pedogenic calcrete horizon, found at the 16D4 site, were analysed by optical, cathodoluminescence, and scanning electron microscopy. Bone and calcrete samples were prepared for 14C-AMS dating. Results from this case study prove that the radiocarbon dating of bioapatite for heavily altered bone samples may not be reliable. Characterization of bones and associated soil sediments provided valuable information on the diagenetic history of bones and on the influence of changes in environmental and local burial conditions on bone preservation. Moreover, results highlight the relevance of a multi-disciplinary approach to the study of the archaeological and palaeoenvironmental contexts
Il tessuto osseo è composto principalmente da una frazione organica e una minerale, detta bioapatite. Lo studio di ossa umane, frequentemente rinvenute durante scavi archeologici, forniscono importanti informazioni sulla salute, demografia, antichità, dieta e mobilità di popolazioni vissute nel passato, nonché informazioni riguardo alle condizioni paleo-ambientali. Tuttavia, l’affidabilità di queste informazioni dipende molto dallo stato di conservazione delle ossa stesse, ed in particolare dalla conservazione della loro originale composizione chimica e isotopica. L’alterazione delle ossa è dovuta a processi tafonomici e diagenetici, principalmente influenzati dalle condizioni climatico-ambientali, che interessano le ossa dalla morte dell’individuo e durante il seppellimento. Di conseguenza, lo studio della diagenesi di ossa archeologiche, che mira a determinarne lo stato di conservazione, tenendo in considerazione il relativo contesto archeologico e paleo-ambientale, è di fondamentale importanza nell’interpretazione di risultati ottenuti da analisi chimiche e isotopiche. Sulla base di queste considerazioni si inserisce il presente progetto di ricerca, finalizzato alla datazione al radiocarbonio della bioapatite di ossa umane provenienti dal sito archeologico 16D4 – Al Khiday 2 (Sudan) e a determinarne l’affidabilità. Lo scavo del sito 16D4 ha portato alla luce un cimitero caratterizzato da diverse fasi di sepoltura, appartenenti a differenti periodi di uso cimiteriale dell’area cronologicamente distribuiti durante l’Olocene. Questo particolare contesto archeologico fornisce un interessante caso studio che permette di valutare l’affidabilità della datazione sulla bioapatite e allo stesso tempo di studiare l’influenza dei cambiamenti climatici, avvenuti in Sudan centrale durante l’Olocene, sulla diagenesi delle ossa. Prima di procedere con la datazione al radiocarbonio, campioni di ossa e di suoli (campionati sul sito) sono stati esaminati con approccio multidisciplinare al fine di determinare lo stato di conservazione delle ossa e caratterizzare la diagenesi delle ossa tenendo in considerazioni processi pedogenetici cambiamenti delle condizioni climatico–ambientali e di seppellimento. Successivamente alcuni campioni di bioapatite sono stati datati al radiocarbonio e l’affidabilità dei risultati è stata discussa. I campioni di ossa sono stati analizzati mediante microscopia ottica ed elettronica a scansione, diffrazioni a raggi X su polvere, micro-tomografia a raggi X, spettroscopia IR a trasformata di Fourier e micro-Raman. I campioni di un orizzonte carbonatico, campionati sul sito archeologico, sono stati analizzati mediante microscopia ottica, in catodoluminescenza e elettronica a scansione. Le datazione al radiocarbonio mediante spettrometria si massa con acceleratore sono state ottenute su campioni di bioapatite e di carbonati pedogenetici. I risultati ottenuti su questo caso studio dimostrano che la datazione di bioapatite di campioni molto alterati non è affidabile. Lo studio di ossa e suoli ha fornito importanti informazioni sull’ alterazione diagenetica delle ossa e sulla sua dipendenza dai cambiamenti climatici e ambientali avvenuti nella regione durante l’Olocene abbiano. Inoltre, i risultati ottenuti in questo lavoro evidenziano l’importanza di un approccio multidisciplinare allo studio di contesti archeologici e paleo-ambientali

L'objectif principal de cette thèse est la reconstruction de l'évolution tectonique et stratigraphique de la marge nord du bassin de l'Amou-Daria et du nord-ouest du bassin Afghan-Tadjik dans le sud-ouest de l'Ouzbékistan (régions de Boukhara-Khiva et SW Ghissar).Nous avons utilisé des données géologiques-géophysiques pour construire 8 coupes géologiques-géophysiques. Deux de ces coupes sont parallèles à la région de Boukhara-Khiva, les six autres la recoupent du nord au sud. Les caractères principaux des surfaces pré-Mésozoïque et Mésozoiques ont été observés ainsi que les failles principales, hauts et dépressions.Une autre partie de la thèse est consacrée à l'analyse de la subsidence, réalisée à partir de 18 puits choisis dans la région. La comparaison des taux de subsidence montre une subsidence tectonique active de la fin du Jurassique inférieur au Jurassique moyen et des événements mineurs au cours du Crétacé inférieur et du Turonien.Une analyse de tectonique cassante, comprenant des travaux de terrain, a été menée dans la chaîne du SW Ghissar. Des populations de failles ont été mesurées dans les carbonates du Jurassique moyen-supérieur. Les résultats indiquent que les failles normales sont associées à une extension de direction NE qui s'est développée dans la marge nord du bassin de l'Amou-Daria au cours du Jurassique moyen supérieur.Nos résultats montrent que l'évolution du bassin de l'Amou-Daria est liée au développement de la marge nord de l'océan néo-téthysien au Mésozoïque. La subduction vers le nord de la Néo-Téthys sous l'Eurasie durant le Jurassique a induit un régime extensif dans la plaque Touran chevauchante et l'ouverture du bassin de l'Amou-Daria
The main aim of this thesis is reconstructing the tectono-stratigraphic evolution of the northern margin of the Amu-Darya basin and northwestern part of the Afghan-Tajik basin in southwestern Uzbekistan (Bukhara-Khiva and Southwestern Gissar regions). We have used a complex of geological-geophysical data for the construction of 8 geological-geophysical sections. Two lines are parallel to the Bukhara-Khiva region, while other six cross it from the north to the south. The principal features of the pre-Mesozoic and Mesozoic surfaces were observed. The main faults, highs and lows were also determined.Another part of the study is the tectonic subsidence analysis, performed through 18 wells, chosen for the area. The comparison of the tectonic subsidence rates shows an active tectonic subsidence during the late Early Jurassic to Middle Jurassic, and minor events during the Early Cretaceous and the Turonian.The fault tectonic analysis, including fieldworks, has been performed in the Southwestern Gissar Mountains. We mainly analysed the faults population in the Middle-Late Jurassic carbonates. The results indicate that normal faulting developed during the Middle-Late Jurassic associated with the NE-trending extension that developed in the northern margin of the Amu-Darya basin.All of the results show that the Amu-Darya basin evolution is strongly connected to the Mesozoic development of the northward subduction of the Tethys Oceanic domain beneath the Central Asia margin. During the Jurassic, the northward subduction of the Neo-Tethys beneath Eurasia generated extensional stress fields in the overriding Turan platform which originated the Amu-Darya basin

L'objectif principal de cette thèse est la reconstruction de l'évolution tectonique et stratigraphique de la marge nord du bassin de l'Amou-Daria et du nord-ouest du bassin Afghan-Tadjik dans le sud-ouest de l'Ouzbékistan (régions de Boukhara-Khiva et SW Ghissar).Nous avons utilisé des données géologiques-géophysiques pour construire 8 coupes géologiques-géophysiques. Deux de ces coupes sont parallèles à la région de Boukhara-Khiva, les six autres la recoupent du nord au sud. Les caractères principaux des surfaces pré-Mésozoïque et Mésozoiques ont été observés ainsi que les failles principales, hauts et dépressions.Une autre partie de la thèse est consacrée à l'analyse de la subsidence, réalisée à partir de 18 puits choisis dans la région. La comparaison des taux de subsidence montre une subsidence tectonique active de la fin du Jurassique inférieur au Jurassique moyen et des événements mineurs au cours du Crétacé inférieur et du Turonien.Une analyse de tectonique cassante, comprenant des travaux de terrain, a été menée dans la chaîne du SW Ghissar. Des populations de failles ont été mesurées dans les carbonates du Jurassique moyen-supérieur. Les résultats indiquent que les failles normales sont associées à une extension de direction NE qui s'est développée dans la marge nord du bassin de l'Amou-Daria au cours du Jurassique moyen supérieur.Nos résultats montrent que l'évolution du bassin de l'Amou-Daria est liée au développement de la marge nord de l'océan néo-téthysien au Mésozoïque. La subduction vers le nord de la Néo-Téthys sous l'Eurasie durant le Jurassique a induit un régime extensif dans la plaque Touran chevauchante et l'ouverture du bassin de l'Amou-Daria
The main aim of this thesis is reconstructing the tectono-stratigraphic evolution of the northern margin of the Amu-Darya basin and northwestern part of the Afghan-Tajik basin in southwestern Uzbekistan (Bukhara-Khiva and Southwestern Gissar regions). We have used a complex of geological-geophysical data for the construction of 8 geological-geophysical sections. Two lines are parallel to the Bukhara-Khiva region, while other six cross it from the north to the south. The principal features of the pre-Mesozoic and Mesozoic surfaces were observed. The main faults, highs and lows were also determined.Another part of the study is the tectonic subsidence analysis, performed through 18 wells, chosen for the area. The comparison of the tectonic subsidence rates shows an active tectonic subsidence during the late Early Jurassic to Middle Jurassic, and minor events during the Early Cretaceous and the Turonian.The fault tectonic analysis, including fieldworks, has been performed in the Southwestern Gissar Mountains. We mainly analysed the faults population in the Middle-Late Jurassic carbonates. The results indicate that normal faulting developed during the Middle-Late Jurassic associated with the NE-trending extension that developed in the northern margin of the Amu-Darya basin.All of the results show that the Amu-Darya basin evolution is strongly connected to the Mesozoic development of the northward subduction of the Tethys Oceanic domain beneath the Central Asia margin. During the Jurassic, the northward subduction of the Neo-Tethys beneath Eurasia generated extensional stress fields in the overriding Turan platform which originated the Amu-Darya basin

Ce travail se propose d'examiner les modalites du contact pre-colonial entre boukhara, khiva, kokand et la russie pendant cette periode. La premiere partie est consacree a la description de la documentation locale et a presenter le corpus russe des voyages et expeditions qui constituera la base de donnees principale pour l'analyse qui suivra. Apres avoir decrit l'ensemble des facteurs qui determinent la nature du contact entre la russie et l'asie centrale, l'attention sera portee sur la genese d'une tradition de double defiance entre les deux parties. Les societes ouzbek ont-elles neglige la menace russe, ou ont-elles clairement choisi de ne pas se donner les moyens de l'apprehender ? Les russes ont eu la chance d'accumuler une experience unique sur les etats d'asie centrale. Les populations indigenes ont-elles appris quelque chose sur les russes a partir du contact pre-colonial ?
The purpose of this work is to examine the procedure of contact between the khanates of boukhara, khiva and kokand during the pre-colonial period. The first part is devoted to survey the local documentation and to present the russian corpus of travels and expeditions that will constitute the main basis for further analysis. After having described all the factors that determine the nature of the contact that will occured between russia and central asia, the attention will be focused on the setting of a tradition of a double mistrust between them. Did the ouzbek societies neglect the russian threat or did they clearly choose not to provide themselves the means for understanding it ? The russians had a chance to accumulate a unique experience about the central asian states before submitting them. Did the central asian populations learn something about the russians out of the pre-colonial contact ?

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a major cause of death and acquired disability including endocrine dysfunction but paediatric data are sparse. KHINES investigated in a well-characterised prospective cohort of TBI adolescents the endocrine status and relationship to outcome measures of cognition, fatigue and Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQL). Seventy-two participants (age 10-26y, time from TBI 6-11y) completed the study. Participants were allocated in 3 groups: Group 1 [control group], Group 2 [mild TBI] and Group 3 [moderate/severe TBI]. Participants in Group 3 completed detailed endocrine assessments. Salivary cortisol, cognitive, psychological, HRQL assessment and brain imaging (MRI) was undertaken in all groups. There were no auxological differences between groups (height, weight, BMI, body fat percentage) or cases of precocious puberty or diabetes insipidus. One female had primary amenorrhea and GH deficiency. Peak stimulated GH response was low in 7/25 tests but only in 1/22 overnight profiles. Spontaneous -but not stimulated- GH secretion correlated with IGF1 levels. Cortisol response was suboptimal in 2/25. Peak spontaneous cortisol was low in 9/22 profiles, stimulated levels were normal in 7 of these. Spontaneous and stimulated cortisol levels correlated strongly. Salivary cortisol analysis did not demonstrate differences between groups. Verbal IQ was lower in the mod/sev TBI group who also showed difficulties with both externalising, internalising behaviour and working memory. Depression and fatigue were prevalent in up to half of TBI participants. HRQL was lower in TBI participants mainly because of lower psychosocial scores. Neuroimaging did not demonstrate any structural pituitary abnormality. Voxel based morphometry showed reduced grey matter and right hippocampus volume in the mod/sev TBI group. KHINES has demonstrated that endocrine dysfunction after childhood TBI is less frequent than previously reported but should still be considered. GH stimulation tests should be reserved for patients with low IGF1 or clinical evidence of other hormone deficiency.

The research study investigates some of the problems or challenges faced by SMMEs in the Mafikeng and Mmabatho area of the North West province. It strives to find out the extent to which these problems occur and the impact they have on these businesses. The research focuses on a number of major problems considered to be hindering the growth of SMMEs in this area, namely the lack of entrepreneurial management, financial skills, accessing finance and the role played by lack of financial and mentoring support on the success or failure of SMMEs. Some of the significant findings of this study are that the majority of the businesses fail because of lack of access to finance, lack of entrepreneurial skills and lack of mentoring support from the government. The government and banks should make it easier for SMMEs to access finance. The government should act as collateral for SMMEs to secure finance from commercial institutions. The government should involve the private sector in training SMMEs to acquire entrepreneurial skills. This will help SMMEs to run their businesses professionally and therefore become sustainable. This will impact positively to the economic growth, in terms of job creation to the entire province

The pursuit for improved productivity through human resources has its beginning in the early 1900's. Taylor's scientific management principles created an awareness regarding human resources. It was earlier considered as a mere instrument of production ready to work from dawn to dusk under whatever conditions and being motivated by the lure of money. From then onwards research and experiments have been undertaken to understand human beings at work and the ways to improve their job satisfaction, balanced with the aim of the organizations to combine better productivity with job and employee satisfaction. The concept of QWL (quality of work life) has originated from the continuous research process. The term QWL was introduced by Dav is (1972) at the first International QWL conference held in Toronto. The focus of this research concerns a study of the quality of work life for the employees at SARS in the Mmabatho Branch in the North West province. The aim of this paper was to determine whether and how quality of work life affects the satisfaction level of the employees and the implications of these findings suggest that the quality of work life at SARS can be enhanced by factors such as adequate income and fair compensation, safe and healthy working conditions, opportunities for career growth and development of human capabilities and social integration in the workforce. A convenience or accidental sampling was used for this study, out of93 questionnaires sent out, a total of 77 usable questionnaires were returned, representing an overall response rate of (82,8%). The study reveals that a clear and consistent communication of the organisational goals and objectives is essential to both employer and employees. The study also recommends that an establishment of new policies and practices that promote a workplace culture that stimulates employees with the aim of reducing stress, poor performance and low morale of employees. Alignments of organisational goals to day-to-day work by maintaining healthy working conditions: reduce high absenteeism levels and occupational burnout and fair remuneration of employees. The study also recommends that maintenance and open dialogue among the middle and junior employees.
Thesis (MBA) North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2011