http://hdl.handle.net/10311/14 Sat, 11 Jul 2026 08:52:42 GMT 2026-07-11T08:52:42Z http://hdl.handle.net/10311/2462 Production system optimization: case study of a local textile company Monageng, Robert; Kommula, Venkata Parasuram; Mapfaira, Herbert; Gandure, Jerekias; Maroba, Kago The manufacturing sector in Botswana has been rapidly growing in recent times. Glam Collections used as a case study organization in this research, is an SME textile manufacturing company with its base of operations in Gaborone, Botswana. The company manufactures a wide range of products in-house and supply to the local market. The company has been growing in terms of scale of production in recent times and this has necessitated it to obtain a larger base of operations which requires an overhauling of their current processes and operations. Hence this research main objective is to demonstrate how Muther’s Systematic Layout (SLP) has been effectively used for departmental layout evaluation and facility design. Lean manufacturing tools were employed in the research together with the SLP technique in order to map and analyze the business processes before the systematic layout could be carried out so as to remove waste in the current process flows and standardize the company operations. Sun, 01 Oct 2017 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10311/2462 2017-10-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10311/2461 Extraction and structural characterization of cellulose from milkweed floss Maheswaria, C. Uma; Reddy, K. Obi; Dhlamini, M.S.; Mothudi, B.M.; Kommula, V.P.; Rajulu, A. Varada The aim of this study was to investigate the utilization of milkweed fruit floss residues as a source for the isolation of cellulose. Cellulose was extracted by acidified sodium chlorite and sodium hydroxide treatments. Characterization of the pristine milkweed floss and extracted cellulose was performed by chemical composition analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The extracted cellulose had mainly α-cellulose as the other components hemicellulose and lignin were significantly removed during cellulose extraction process. The FTIR spectra also indicated that the chemical treatments extensively removed hemicellulose and lignin from the pristine milkweed floss. SEM technique was used to investigate the surface morphology of the pristine milkweed floss and extracted cellulose. The intensity of the crystalline peak in the X-ray diffractograms of the extracted cellulose was higher than that of pristine milkweed. Further, the XRD results indicated a structural transformation of cellulose I (pristine milkweed) to cellulose II (extracted cellulose) because of the chemical treatments. The extracted cellulose, which is a high biomass, had better thermal stability than the pristine milkweed floss owing to removal of non-cellulosic components. Thu, 28 Sep 2017 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10311/2461 2017-09-28T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10311/2460 Study on impact strength of untreated and alkali treated napier grass fiber strands reinforced epoxy composites Kommula, Venkata Parasuram; Kanchireddy, Obi Reddy; Shukla, Mukul; Marwala, Tshilidzi Napier grass fiber strands were extracted using the combined mechanical and water retting process. The extracted fiber strands were treated with various proportions (5, 10 and 15% w/v) of NaOH solution to improve their surface morphology and bonding with the resin. This study investigates the impact properties of composites made by reinforcing alkali treated, long and short Napier grass fiber strands in to epoxy resin with different orientations (0º, 90º and random). The composites were prepared with 0, 5, 10, and 15% of alkali treatment and with a fiber loading (weight %) of 10, 20, and 30%. The effect of alkali treatment, orientation and fiber loading on the impact strength of the composites was analyzed using scanning electron microscope micrographs. Quantitative results from this study will be useful for more accurate design of Napier grass fiber strand reinforced composite materials for possible automotive applications. Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10311/2460 2013-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10311/1767 The burden of HIV-related admissions and mortality at Princess Marina Hospital, Botswana in 2000: a pre-combination antiretroviral therapy era Molefi, Mooketsi; Tshikuka, Jose-Gaby; Monagen, Tuduetso Leka; Magafu, Mgaywa Gilbert Mjungu Damas; Masupe, Tiny; Mbongwe, Bontle; Rheeder, Paul Background: human immune virus and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) have been recognized in Botswana for the last three decades, however, combination anti-retroviral therapy (cART) was only introduced after 2000. Facility-based historical data of the burden of HIV/AIDSrelated conditions pre-cART have so far not been analyzed. Objective: To analyze the burden of HIV-related admissions and HIV-related deaths, and identify the socio-demographic factors associated with HIV/AIDS deaths at Princess Marina Hospital (PMH) in the year 2000. Methods: A retrospective review of medical files was carried out between May and June 2014. Nine thousand seven hundred and forty-six (9746) records were analyzed for the year for 2000. Cases were identified as documented HIV/AIDS as per medical notes and/or documentation of any of the conditions listed in sections B20- B24 of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD 10 B20-B24). Outcomes were the percentages of HIV-related admissions and HIV-related deaths out of all admissions and deaths. The in-hospital case fatality rate (CFR) was also calculated. Log-binomial regression models were used to determine the most significant factors associated with HIV-related admission and death. Results: The percentages of HIV-related admissions and HIV-related deaths were 4.1% (403/9746) and 11.3% (80/707), respectively. The in-hospital HIVCFR was 19.9% (80/403). Adjusted log-binomial models identified the most Fri, 31 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10311/1767 2017-03-31T00:00:00Z