Young mothers’ experiences of stigma in early and unintended pregnancy (EUP).

Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.This research explored young mothers’ experiences of stigma in early and unintended pregnancy (EUP) in a localised South African context. It explored the impact of social judgement on the emotional coping, and identities of the teenage mothers, as well as the sources and consequences of such stigma. Convenience sampling, combined with snowball sampling, was used to identify nine participants from a geographical neighbourhood in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. Data was collected from in-depth interviews. These were analysed using thematic analysis, aimed at identifying main and sub-themes relating to the emotional coping experiences that speak to the topic of stigma and perceived judgement, shame and blame. Findings confirmed an experience of internalised judgement and stigma directed towards the self around the EUP, as well as perceived judgement and stigmatising by others in some form. Common dimensions of judgement and stigma included consequential feelings of abandonment, isolation and a fear of disclosure; the impact of the socio-economic environment on the nature of the stigma; and reference was made to the reason and source of stigma, and a process of acceptance and meaning making of the experience of EUP. The significant incongruencies in terms of the polarised attitudes towards EUP are indicative of the complexity of the societal attitudes, judgements and stigma, with those that view it in a very negative light, and others who are largely accepting and supportive. While not always the case, in general the younger generation appears to be more accepting of teenage pregnancy, whereas the older generation tends to impose much harsher judgement. There also appeared to be polarised reasons for social judgement. Some of the participants expressed feeling judged because of being pregnant as a teenager, but contrastingly other participants expressed that they felt judged by certain members of the community for not having a child. Due to the high incidence of EUP, teenage pregnancy is regarded by many as acceptable and even expected. For some, not having a child elicits scepticism. For others, a child is seen as a positive societal status and for some pregnancy represents security with the partner and demonstrates fertility, a culturally desirable attribute. Despite the challenges, harsh environmental circumstances and stigma experienced, many of the stories contain elements of self-growth and positive outcomes, with the child providing a new focus and vision for the future. The study highlighted the social disempowerment experienced by young mothers as a result of their socio-emotional circumstances and the need for ongoing support of teenage mothers in South Africa

Development of the neutral model in the nonlinear MHD code JOREK:Application to e × B drifts in ITER PFPO-1 plasmas

The prediction of power fluxes and plasma-wall interactions impacted by MHD processes during ITER operation [disruption, Edge Localized Modes (ELMs), 3D magnetic fields applied for ELM control, etc.] requires models that include an accurate description of the MHD processes themselves, as well as of the edge plasma and plasma-wall interaction processes. In this paper, we report progress on improving the edge plasma physics models in the nonlinear extended MHD code JOREK, which has capabilities to simulate the MHD response of the plasma to the applied external 3D fields, disruptions and ELMs. The extended MHD model includes E × B drifts, diamagnetic drifts, and neoclassical flows. These drifts can have large influences, on e.g., divertor asymmetries. Realistic divertor conditions are important for impurity sputtering, transport, and their effect on the plasma. In this work, we implemented kinetic and fluid neutral physics modules, investigated the influence of poloidal flows under divertor conditions in the ITER PFPO-1 (1.8T/5MA) H-mode plasma scenario, and compared the divertor plasma conditions and heat flux to the wall for both the fluid and kinetic neutral model (in JOREK) to the well-established 2D boundary plasma simulation code suite SOLPS-ITER. As an application of the newly developed model, we investigated time-dependent divertor solutions and the transition from attached to partially detached plasmas. We present the formation of a high-field-side high-density-region and how it is driven by poloidal E × B drifts.</p

Adaptive model based control for wastewater treatment plants

In biological wastewater treatment, nitrogen and phosphorous are removed by activated sludge. The process requires oxygen input via aeration of the activated sludge tank. Aeration is responsible for about 60% of the energy consumption of a treatment plant. Hence optimization of aeration can contribute considerably to the increase of energy-efficiency in wastewater treatment. To this end, we introduce an adaptive model based control strategy for aeration called adaptive WOMBAT. The strategy is an improvement of the original WOMBAT, which has been successfully implemented at wastewater treatment plant Westpoort in Amsterdam. In this paper we propose to improve the physics-based model by introducing automatic parameter adaptation. In an experimental model setup the adaptive model based control algorithm proves to result in better effluent quality with less energy consumption. Moreover, it is able to react to the varying circumstances of a real treatment plant and can, therefore, operate without human supervision

Modelling of high-field-side high-density region with the nonlinear MHD code JOREK with kinetic neutrals

In this contribution, we have presented a benchmark of JOREK-without drifts-with kinetic neutrals against SOLPS-ITER (without drifts) and the development of the HFSHD-region in JOREK simulations with kinetic neutrals for early ITER operation (the PFPO-1 phase). Ramping up the fueling rate (in the divertor) decreases gradually the heat flux towards the divertor target. Once the ionisation front comes off the wall, cross field transport moves neutrals and plasma across the separatrix. Building up the (off-separatrix) density in the high field side. Around a critical upstream density, the plasma undergoes a sharp transition to form the HFSHD-region carried by the formation of an →−E×→−B vortex. This →−E×→−B vortex increases in strength and displaces the inner target ion flux upwards. Switching off →−E×→−B drifts strongly reduces cross-field transport and thus does not allow for the density buildup at the high-field-side. With more accurate divertor solution, JOREK can now better study the consequences in the divertor as a result of MHD instabilities, such as ELMs.</p

Modelling of high-field-side high-density region with the nonlinear MHD code JOREK with kinetic neutrals

In this contribution, we have presented a benchmark of JOREK-without drifts-with kinetic neutrals against SOLPS-ITER (without drifts) and the development of the HFSHD-region in JOREK simulations with kinetic neutrals for early ITER operation (the PFPO-1 phase). Ramping up the fueling rate (in the divertor) decreases gradually the heat flux towards the divertor target. Once the ionisation front comes off the wall, cross field transport moves neutrals and plasma across the separatrix. Building up the (off-separatrix) density in the high field side. Around a critical upstream density, the plasma undergoes a sharp transition to form the HFSHD-region carried by the formation of an →−E×→−B vortex. This →−E×→−B vortex increases in strength and displaces the inner target ion flux upwards. Switching off →−E×→−B drifts strongly reduces cross-field transport and thus does not allow for the density buildup at the high-field-side. With more accurate divertor solution, JOREK can now better study the consequences in the divertor as a result of MHD instabilities, such as ELMs.</p