Co-engaged learning : Xhosa women's narratives on traditional foods
- Authors: Jolly, Rachel
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Xhosa (African people) -- Social life and customs -- South Africa -- Grahamstown Women, Xhosa -- South Africa -- Grahamstown Nutrition -- Study and teaching -- South Africa -- Grahamstown Ethnoscience -- Study and teaching -- South Africa -- Grahamstown AIDS (Disease) -- South Africa -- Grahamstown HIV infections -- South Africa -- Grahamstown Environmental education -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1450 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003331
- Description: This interpretive case study examines Grahamstown East Xhosa women's narratives on the nutritional value of traditional foods. It reviews reflexive learning interactions apparent in the co-engaged narratives of food preparation practices. The research design incorporates methods of reflective co-engagement through which a small team of women were approached as 'co-researchers' in order to work together on shared, local knowledge capital and nutrition concerns. It draws on findings generated using a combination of semi-structured interviews, cooking demonstrations, videography, photographs and field observations as methods of data collection. Data were member-checked and reviewed in a rural context before the emerging evidence was analyzed using Bassey's (1999) analytical statements. Contextual factors influencing the study are high poverty, unemployment and HIV/AIDS prevalence where nutrition levels have been found to be low. The women making up the study have spent the majority of their lives in the peri-urban area of Grahamstown and in some cases, are more than one generation removed from rural living and its associated knowledge. The accompanying shift to modernization was found to influence the interplay between their narratives and practice. Indigenous Knowledge is often characterized by being situated in practice with the knowledge-holders often not 'knowing that they know.' This study concludes that it is not possible to assume that knowledge can always be consciously expressed, especially when that knowledge is embedded in practice. Related to this, co-engagement and diversity among the group gave rise to greater disequilibrium as well as making the knowledge more explicit and hence, available for reflection. The study suggests that through the process of co-engagement and deliberation around indigenous ways of knowing, agency and cultural identity appears to be enabled and strengthened.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Jolly, Rachel
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Xhosa (African people) -- Social life and customs -- South Africa -- Grahamstown Women, Xhosa -- South Africa -- Grahamstown Nutrition -- Study and teaching -- South Africa -- Grahamstown Ethnoscience -- Study and teaching -- South Africa -- Grahamstown AIDS (Disease) -- South Africa -- Grahamstown HIV infections -- South Africa -- Grahamstown Environmental education -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1450 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003331
- Description: This interpretive case study examines Grahamstown East Xhosa women's narratives on the nutritional value of traditional foods. It reviews reflexive learning interactions apparent in the co-engaged narratives of food preparation practices. The research design incorporates methods of reflective co-engagement through which a small team of women were approached as 'co-researchers' in order to work together on shared, local knowledge capital and nutrition concerns. It draws on findings generated using a combination of semi-structured interviews, cooking demonstrations, videography, photographs and field observations as methods of data collection. Data were member-checked and reviewed in a rural context before the emerging evidence was analyzed using Bassey's (1999) analytical statements. Contextual factors influencing the study are high poverty, unemployment and HIV/AIDS prevalence where nutrition levels have been found to be low. The women making up the study have spent the majority of their lives in the peri-urban area of Grahamstown and in some cases, are more than one generation removed from rural living and its associated knowledge. The accompanying shift to modernization was found to influence the interplay between their narratives and practice. Indigenous Knowledge is often characterized by being situated in practice with the knowledge-holders often not 'knowing that they know.' This study concludes that it is not possible to assume that knowledge can always be consciously expressed, especially when that knowledge is embedded in practice. Related to this, co-engagement and diversity among the group gave rise to greater disequilibrium as well as making the knowledge more explicit and hence, available for reflection. The study suggests that through the process of co-engagement and deliberation around indigenous ways of knowing, agency and cultural identity appears to be enabled and strengthened.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Cobalt Phthalocyanine Molecular Electrode for the Electrochemical Investigation of the Release of Glutathione upon Copper-Catalyzed Decomposition of S-Nitrosoglutathione
- Sehlotho, Nthapo, Griveau, Sophie, Nyokong, Tebello, Bedioui, Fethi
- Authors: Sehlotho, Nthapo , Griveau, Sophie , Nyokong, Tebello , Bedioui, Fethi
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/281201 , vital:55701 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1002/elan.200603656"
- Description: Decomposition of S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) in phosphate buffer solution at physiological pH 7.4 in the presence of cuprous ion as a catalyst and sodium borohydride as a reducing agent is analyzed by observing the transient apparition of reduced glutathione GSH through its electrooxidation. Transient formation of GSH, upon decomposition of 1 mM GSNO in presence of 0.025 mM Cu(NO3)2 and 1 mM NaBH4 was detected by using an ordinary pyrolytic graphite electrode modified with an adsorbed monolayer of cobalt phthalocyanine at 0 V vs. SCE.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Sehlotho, Nthapo , Griveau, Sophie , Nyokong, Tebello , Bedioui, Fethi
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/281201 , vital:55701 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1002/elan.200603656"
- Description: Decomposition of S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) in phosphate buffer solution at physiological pH 7.4 in the presence of cuprous ion as a catalyst and sodium borohydride as a reducing agent is analyzed by observing the transient apparition of reduced glutathione GSH through its electrooxidation. Transient formation of GSH, upon decomposition of 1 mM GSNO in presence of 0.025 mM Cu(NO3)2 and 1 mM NaBH4 was detected by using an ordinary pyrolytic graphite electrode modified with an adsorbed monolayer of cobalt phthalocyanine at 0 V vs. SCE.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Collaborative research with traditional African health practitioners of the Nelson Mandela Metropole : antimicrobial, anticancer and anti-diabetic activities of five medicinal plants
- Authors: Van Huyssteen, Mea
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Medicinal plants -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Healers -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Anti-infective agents
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:10148 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/663 , Medicinal plants -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Healers -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Anti-infective agents
- Description: The promotion and development of indigenous knowledge pertaining to the traditional African healing system is one of the prime objectives set out by the South African government. Despite excellent research opportunities and funding, the biggest problem with ethnopharmacological research is a lack of interaction with indigenous communities, which tends to dilute the benefits this research has to offer these communities. The primary aim of this study was thus to promote the traditional African healing system through collaborative medicinal plant research with local traditional health practitioners. The research collaboration aimed to validate some biological activities of traditional remedies used by collaborating traditional health practitioners and ensured interactive sessions where scientific literature, research practices, findings and relevant legislation were discussed and debated. The joint development of a medicinal garden was a valuable tool in realising these goals. Aqueous and ethanol extracts of Bulbine frutescens, Ornithogalum longibracteatum, Ruta graveolens, Tarchonanthus camphoratus and Tulbaghia violacea were selected for antimicrobial, anticancer and anti-diabetic screening, because of their sustainable utilisation potential. The ethanol extract of T. violacea produced the best antimicrobial activity on Bacillus subtilis (100% growth inhibition) and Candida albicans (89% growth inhibition) at 250 μg/ml. The EC50 for the ethanol extract of T. violacea against HT29 colon cancer cells was 101 μg/ml. The aqueous extracts of B. frutescens and T. camphoratus (0.5 and 50 μg/ml) produced the highest overall glucose uptake activity in Chang liver and C2C12 muscle cells. T. camphoratus was unanimously chosen by participating practitioners as the plant to be investigated further. The aqueous extract of T. camphoratus increased glucose uptake in C2C12 muscle cells through increased translocation of GLUT4 to the plasma membrane and activation of the PI3-kinase and AMP-kinase pathways. It produced some alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity at concentrations of ≥ 200 μg/ml. Apart from interactive feedback seminars at which the findings were presented to participating practitioners, all scientific literature regarding the plants was summarised, translated, compiled and given to participating practitioners in written format. An indigenous knowledge agreement has been negotiated and will formalise the collaboration in future. It is recommended that future research focuses on plants with economic development potential that can be cultivated in the medicinal garden.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Van Huyssteen, Mea
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Medicinal plants -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Healers -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Anti-infective agents
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:10148 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/663 , Medicinal plants -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Healers -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Anti-infective agents
- Description: The promotion and development of indigenous knowledge pertaining to the traditional African healing system is one of the prime objectives set out by the South African government. Despite excellent research opportunities and funding, the biggest problem with ethnopharmacological research is a lack of interaction with indigenous communities, which tends to dilute the benefits this research has to offer these communities. The primary aim of this study was thus to promote the traditional African healing system through collaborative medicinal plant research with local traditional health practitioners. The research collaboration aimed to validate some biological activities of traditional remedies used by collaborating traditional health practitioners and ensured interactive sessions where scientific literature, research practices, findings and relevant legislation were discussed and debated. The joint development of a medicinal garden was a valuable tool in realising these goals. Aqueous and ethanol extracts of Bulbine frutescens, Ornithogalum longibracteatum, Ruta graveolens, Tarchonanthus camphoratus and Tulbaghia violacea were selected for antimicrobial, anticancer and anti-diabetic screening, because of their sustainable utilisation potential. The ethanol extract of T. violacea produced the best antimicrobial activity on Bacillus subtilis (100% growth inhibition) and Candida albicans (89% growth inhibition) at 250 μg/ml. The EC50 for the ethanol extract of T. violacea against HT29 colon cancer cells was 101 μg/ml. The aqueous extracts of B. frutescens and T. camphoratus (0.5 and 50 μg/ml) produced the highest overall glucose uptake activity in Chang liver and C2C12 muscle cells. T. camphoratus was unanimously chosen by participating practitioners as the plant to be investigated further. The aqueous extract of T. camphoratus increased glucose uptake in C2C12 muscle cells through increased translocation of GLUT4 to the plasma membrane and activation of the PI3-kinase and AMP-kinase pathways. It produced some alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity at concentrations of ≥ 200 μg/ml. Apart from interactive feedback seminars at which the findings were presented to participating practitioners, all scientific literature regarding the plants was summarised, translated, compiled and given to participating practitioners in written format. An indigenous knowledge agreement has been negotiated and will formalise the collaboration in future. It is recommended that future research focuses on plants with economic development potential that can be cultivated in the medicinal garden.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Collaborative versus adversarial stances in scientific discourse : implications for the role of systematic case studies in the development of evidence-based practice in psychotherapy
- Authors: Edwards, David J A
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6245 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007861
- Description: There is still a need for advocacy in the promotion of case study research because there has been insufficient appreciation of its role as a source of evidence relevant to the development and evaluation of practice in psychotherapy. Distorted use of terms like "gold standard", "anecdotal",and "empirical" in the discourse in which research methodology is typically presented has disempowered the practitioner's perspective and discredited the role of case-based knowledge building. The framework of evidence-based practice (EBP) recognizes the complementarity of different research methods and acknowledges the significance of casebased research. To spell out some of these complementary links, a typology of seven research methods - including both experimental group comparison designs and individual case studies - is proposed and the contribution of each to the development of EBP is set out. Finally some suggestions are made for strategies to promote the publication of high quality case studies.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Edwards, David J A
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6245 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007861
- Description: There is still a need for advocacy in the promotion of case study research because there has been insufficient appreciation of its role as a source of evidence relevant to the development and evaluation of practice in psychotherapy. Distorted use of terms like "gold standard", "anecdotal",and "empirical" in the discourse in which research methodology is typically presented has disempowered the practitioner's perspective and discredited the role of case-based knowledge building. The framework of evidence-based practice (EBP) recognizes the complementarity of different research methods and acknowledges the significance of casebased research. To spell out some of these complementary links, a typology of seven research methods - including both experimental group comparison designs and individual case studies - is proposed and the contribution of each to the development of EBP is set out. Finally some suggestions are made for strategies to promote the publication of high quality case studies.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Combined and additive effects of assembly tasks and constrained body postures
- Authors: Skelton, Sarah Anne
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Musculoskeletal system -- Diseases , Human engineering , Posture , Posture disorders , Work -- Physiological aspects , Occupational diseases , Manual work , Job stress
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5107 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005185 , Musculoskeletal system -- Diseases , Human engineering , Posture , Posture disorders , Work -- Physiological aspects , Occupational diseases , Manual work , Job stress
- Description: Despite extensive research into musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) they continue to plague workers. Manual materials handling (MMH), in particular the concurrence of load manipulation and awkward body posture, has been identified as a key factor in the onset of MSDs. Only a few studies have looked at the interaction between manipulation tasks and working posture during assembly tasks and as a result their relationship has not been widely explored. Assessing the stresses resulting from individual task factors and body posture in isolation and adding them together may be too simplified to estimate an overall risk profile, since this does not take into account that there may be a non-linear interaction in strain responses when manipulation task and body posture interact. Therefore, the present study investigated biophysical, physiological and psychophysical responses to combined tasks, rather than individual tasks of body posture and manipulative tasks. The objective of the research was to establish the interactive effects of constrained body postures and manipulative tasks and to identify whether a cumulative or compensatory reaction occurs during this interaction. Nine conditions were assessed in a laboratory setting, which included combinations of three working postures (standing, sitting and stooping) and three assembly tasks (torque wrenching, precision and no task). Thirty-six subjects were required to complete all nine conditions, with each condition lasting ninety seconds. Muscle activity was recorded for seven muscles from the upper extremity, trunk and lower extremity regions and was complemented by physiological (heart rate, tidal volume, minute ventilation, oxygen consumption, energy expenditure and breathing frequency) and psychophysical (body discomfort) data. At the completion of all nine conditions subjects completed a retrospective psychophysical rating questionnaire pertaining to discomfort felt during the conditions. Responses obtained for the different task and posture combinations revealed compensatory reactions (additive > combined) for most of the conditions assessed for the biomechanical and physiological responses. In the majority of cases for muscle activity, no significant differences were found between the combined and the additive effects (p < 0.05), while for the physiological responses there were mostly significant differences observed. Psychophysical responses indicated that there was a significant difference overall between the additive and combined effects. The results of this study demonstrate that in order to identify risk areas, manipulation tasks and constrained working postures may be considered either in isolation and added together (additive) or as a combined task, since there were very few significant differences observed between these two effects. Further studies are required, however, to provide conclusive evidence.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Skelton, Sarah Anne
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Musculoskeletal system -- Diseases , Human engineering , Posture , Posture disorders , Work -- Physiological aspects , Occupational diseases , Manual work , Job stress
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5107 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005185 , Musculoskeletal system -- Diseases , Human engineering , Posture , Posture disorders , Work -- Physiological aspects , Occupational diseases , Manual work , Job stress
- Description: Despite extensive research into musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) they continue to plague workers. Manual materials handling (MMH), in particular the concurrence of load manipulation and awkward body posture, has been identified as a key factor in the onset of MSDs. Only a few studies have looked at the interaction between manipulation tasks and working posture during assembly tasks and as a result their relationship has not been widely explored. Assessing the stresses resulting from individual task factors and body posture in isolation and adding them together may be too simplified to estimate an overall risk profile, since this does not take into account that there may be a non-linear interaction in strain responses when manipulation task and body posture interact. Therefore, the present study investigated biophysical, physiological and psychophysical responses to combined tasks, rather than individual tasks of body posture and manipulative tasks. The objective of the research was to establish the interactive effects of constrained body postures and manipulative tasks and to identify whether a cumulative or compensatory reaction occurs during this interaction. Nine conditions were assessed in a laboratory setting, which included combinations of three working postures (standing, sitting and stooping) and three assembly tasks (torque wrenching, precision and no task). Thirty-six subjects were required to complete all nine conditions, with each condition lasting ninety seconds. Muscle activity was recorded for seven muscles from the upper extremity, trunk and lower extremity regions and was complemented by physiological (heart rate, tidal volume, minute ventilation, oxygen consumption, energy expenditure and breathing frequency) and psychophysical (body discomfort) data. At the completion of all nine conditions subjects completed a retrospective psychophysical rating questionnaire pertaining to discomfort felt during the conditions. Responses obtained for the different task and posture combinations revealed compensatory reactions (additive > combined) for most of the conditions assessed for the biomechanical and physiological responses. In the majority of cases for muscle activity, no significant differences were found between the combined and the additive effects (p < 0.05), while for the physiological responses there were mostly significant differences observed. Psychophysical responses indicated that there was a significant difference overall between the additive and combined effects. The results of this study demonstrate that in order to identify risk areas, manipulation tasks and constrained working postures may be considered either in isolation and added together (additive) or as a combined task, since there were very few significant differences observed between these two effects. Further studies are required, however, to provide conclusive evidence.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Communication of psycho-educational assessment results: remedial teachers' reading of assessment reports
- Knoetze, Jan, Vermoter, Carey-Lee
- Authors: Knoetze, Jan , Vermoter, Carey-Lee
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6265 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1008264 , http://www.sajournalofeducation.co.za/index.php/saje/article/view/47
- Description: Psychological methods of assessing intelligence have been criticised because of their limited diagnostic-remedial nature and especially their lack of potential for initiating effective and pragmatic intervention programmes. Similarly, the means through which the results of such methods are communicated in order to make them useful and constructive can be debated . In this research we aimed to establish the value of psycho-educational assessment reports in terms of the understanding and interpretation of the reports by the irrecipients, specifically remedial teachers, who participated in focus group discussions and offered their opinion on the utility of psycho-educational assessment reports. The outcomes of these focus group discussions pointed to the fact that psycho-educational assessment reports were problematic in the sense that they failed to provide useful, specific, and pragmatic information for learning support programmes to be developed from. The research revealed insights which may be of interest to psychologists writing assessment reports. Suggestions for multi-disciplinary collaboration are addressed. , The South African Journal of Education is open access and available on-line at: http://www.sajournalofeducation.co.za
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Knoetze, Jan , Vermoter, Carey-Lee
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6265 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1008264 , http://www.sajournalofeducation.co.za/index.php/saje/article/view/47
- Description: Psychological methods of assessing intelligence have been criticised because of their limited diagnostic-remedial nature and especially their lack of potential for initiating effective and pragmatic intervention programmes. Similarly, the means through which the results of such methods are communicated in order to make them useful and constructive can be debated . In this research we aimed to establish the value of psycho-educational assessment reports in terms of the understanding and interpretation of the reports by the irrecipients, specifically remedial teachers, who participated in focus group discussions and offered their opinion on the utility of psycho-educational assessment reports. The outcomes of these focus group discussions pointed to the fact that psycho-educational assessment reports were problematic in the sense that they failed to provide useful, specific, and pragmatic information for learning support programmes to be developed from. The research revealed insights which may be of interest to psychologists writing assessment reports. Suggestions for multi-disciplinary collaboration are addressed. , The South African Journal of Education is open access and available on-line at: http://www.sajournalofeducation.co.za
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Comparative electrooxidation of nitrite by electrodeposited Co (II), Fe (II) and Mn (III) tetrakis (benzylmercapto) and tetrakis (dodecylmercapto) phthalocyanines on gold electrodes
- Agboola, Bolade, Nyokong, Tebello
- Authors: Agboola, Bolade , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/281212 , vital:55702 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aca.2007.01.031"
- Description: This work reports on the electrooxidation of nitrite using Co(II), Fe(II) and Mn(III) tetrakis (benzylmercapto) and tetrakis (dodecylmercapto) phthalocyanines electrodeposited onto a gold electrode. Good catalytic activity (in terms of lowering overpotential) was obtained for these molecules when compared to previously reported MPc catalysts. The catalytic current was found to vary linearly with nitrite concentration in the range employed in this work (0.1–1 mM) and high sensitivities ranging from 6.9 to 9.9 μA mM−1 were observed for all the modified electrodes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Agboola, Bolade , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/281212 , vital:55702 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aca.2007.01.031"
- Description: This work reports on the electrooxidation of nitrite using Co(II), Fe(II) and Mn(III) tetrakis (benzylmercapto) and tetrakis (dodecylmercapto) phthalocyanines electrodeposited onto a gold electrode. Good catalytic activity (in terms of lowering overpotential) was obtained for these molecules when compared to previously reported MPc catalysts. The catalytic current was found to vary linearly with nitrite concentration in the range employed in this work (0.1–1 mM) and high sensitivities ranging from 6.9 to 9.9 μA mM−1 were observed for all the modified electrodes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Comparative electrooxidation of sulphite by self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of Co (II), Fe (II), Ni (II) and Mn (III) tetrakis benzylmercapto and dodecylmercapto metallophthalocyanines complexes on gold electrodes
- Agboola, Bolade, Nyokong, Tebello
- Authors: Agboola, Bolade , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/281223 , vital:55703 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.talanta.2006.11.042"
- Description: This work reports on the use of Co(II), Fe(II), Mn(III) and Ni(II) tetrakis benzylmercapto and dodecylmercapto phthalocyanine complexes for gold electrode modification for electrooxidation of sulphite ions. The complexes were successfully used to modify gold electrodes by self-assembled monolayer (SAM) technique. The self-assembled films are stable and showed blocking characteristics towards the following Faradaic processes; gold surface oxidation, underpotential deposition (UPD) of copper and solution redox chemistry of [Fe(H2O)63+]/[Fe(H2O)62+]. All the modified electrodes showed improved catalytic activities than the unmodified gold electrode towards sulphite ion electrooxidation with all the modified electrodes exhibiting high resistance to electrode surface passivation. Better catalytic performance were obtained for the CoPcs, FePcs and MnPcs which have metal based redox processes within the range of the sulphite electrooxidation peak, while the NiPcs which did not show metal based redox reaction performed less. The catalytic current was found to be linear with sulphite ion concentration in the concentration range employed in this work (0.1–1 mM) and sensitivities ranging from 1.68 to 2.96 μA/mM were observed for all the modified electrodes. Mechanisms of the catalytic oxidation of sulphite ions are proposed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Agboola, Bolade , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/281223 , vital:55703 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.talanta.2006.11.042"
- Description: This work reports on the use of Co(II), Fe(II), Mn(III) and Ni(II) tetrakis benzylmercapto and dodecylmercapto phthalocyanine complexes for gold electrode modification for electrooxidation of sulphite ions. The complexes were successfully used to modify gold electrodes by self-assembled monolayer (SAM) technique. The self-assembled films are stable and showed blocking characteristics towards the following Faradaic processes; gold surface oxidation, underpotential deposition (UPD) of copper and solution redox chemistry of [Fe(H2O)63+]/[Fe(H2O)62+]. All the modified electrodes showed improved catalytic activities than the unmodified gold electrode towards sulphite ion electrooxidation with all the modified electrodes exhibiting high resistance to electrode surface passivation. Better catalytic performance were obtained for the CoPcs, FePcs and MnPcs which have metal based redox processes within the range of the sulphite electrooxidation peak, while the NiPcs which did not show metal based redox reaction performed less. The catalytic current was found to be linear with sulphite ion concentration in the concentration range employed in this work (0.1–1 mM) and sensitivities ranging from 1.68 to 2.96 μA/mM were observed for all the modified electrodes. Mechanisms of the catalytic oxidation of sulphite ions are proposed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Comparative photocatalytic efficiency of oxotitanium (IV) phthalocyanines for the oxidation of 1-hexene
- Tau, Prudence, Nyokong, Tebello
- Authors: Tau, Prudence , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/271193 , vital:54520 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molcata.2007.04.005"
- Description: The comparative photocatalytic activities of aryloxy and arylthio tetrasubstituted oxotitanium(IV) phthalocyanine complexes for the oxidation of 1-hexene in DCM are reported for the first time. The singlet oxygen quantum yield, photostability and photocatalytic properties are investigated. The catalysts effectively catalyse 1-hexene to 1,2-epoxyhexane and 1-hexen-3-ol as major and minor products respectively. The photooxidation products are formed via two reaction mechanisms, namely via singlet oxygen (Type II) and radical (Type I) reaction pathways. These are also dependent on the singlet oxygen quantum yields and photostabilities of the phthalocyanines. Complex 1a that is peripherally substituted with phenoxy groups exhibited the best activity in terms of overall performance.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Tau, Prudence , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/271193 , vital:54520 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molcata.2007.04.005"
- Description: The comparative photocatalytic activities of aryloxy and arylthio tetrasubstituted oxotitanium(IV) phthalocyanine complexes for the oxidation of 1-hexene in DCM are reported for the first time. The singlet oxygen quantum yield, photostability and photocatalytic properties are investigated. The catalysts effectively catalyse 1-hexene to 1,2-epoxyhexane and 1-hexen-3-ol as major and minor products respectively. The photooxidation products are formed via two reaction mechanisms, namely via singlet oxygen (Type II) and radical (Type I) reaction pathways. These are also dependent on the singlet oxygen quantum yields and photostabilities of the phthalocyanines. Complex 1a that is peripherally substituted with phenoxy groups exhibited the best activity in terms of overall performance.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Comparison of structural damage caused by Russian wheat aphid (Diuraphis noxia Mordvilko) and Bird cherry-oat aphid (Rhopalosiphum padi L.) in a susceptible barley cultivar, Hordeum vulgare L. cv Clipper
- Saheed, Sefiu Adekilekun, Botha, Christiaan Edward Johannes, Liu, Lin, Jonsson, Lisbeth
- Authors: Saheed, Sefiu Adekilekun , Botha, Christiaan Edward Johannes , Liu, Lin , Jonsson, Lisbeth
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6540 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005981
- Description: The Russian wheat aphid (RWA, (Diuraphis noxia Mordvilko) and the Bird cherry-oat aphid (BCA, (Rhopalosiphum padi L.) cause severe damage to grain crops, including barley. An investigation of the effects of these aphids on a susceptible cultivar revealed that BCA-infested barley plants remained healthy-looking for two weeks after feeding commenced. In contrast, signs of stress and damage, including chlorosis and leaf necrosis were evident in RWA infested plants. Our study suggests that damage to the vascular tissue due to sustained feeding by BCA, was not as extensive as that caused by RWA. In addition, there is a marked difference in the salivary secretion pattern within xylem elements punctured by aphids tapping the xylem for water. RWA deposit electron-dense, amorphous to smooth saliva, which completely encases the inner walls of affected elements, and saliva encases pit membranes between xylem elements, and between xylem vessels and xylem parenchyma. Xylem tapped by BCA, contained more granular saliva, which apparently does not occlude vessel wall apertures or the pit membranes to the same extent as was observed with RWA. Damage to phloem tissue, including phloem parenchyma elements, sieve tube-companion cell (CC-ST) complexes as well as thick-walled sieve tubes, was extensive. Plasmodesmata between phloem parenchyma elements as well as pore-plasmodesmata between the CC-ST were occluded by callose. We conclude that severe, perhaps permanent damage to conducting elements in RWA infested leaves may be responsible for the detrimental chlorosis and necrosis symptoms. These symptoms are absent in BCA-infested plants.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Saheed, Sefiu Adekilekun , Botha, Christiaan Edward Johannes , Liu, Lin , Jonsson, Lisbeth
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6540 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005981
- Description: The Russian wheat aphid (RWA, (Diuraphis noxia Mordvilko) and the Bird cherry-oat aphid (BCA, (Rhopalosiphum padi L.) cause severe damage to grain crops, including barley. An investigation of the effects of these aphids on a susceptible cultivar revealed that BCA-infested barley plants remained healthy-looking for two weeks after feeding commenced. In contrast, signs of stress and damage, including chlorosis and leaf necrosis were evident in RWA infested plants. Our study suggests that damage to the vascular tissue due to sustained feeding by BCA, was not as extensive as that caused by RWA. In addition, there is a marked difference in the salivary secretion pattern within xylem elements punctured by aphids tapping the xylem for water. RWA deposit electron-dense, amorphous to smooth saliva, which completely encases the inner walls of affected elements, and saliva encases pit membranes between xylem elements, and between xylem vessels and xylem parenchyma. Xylem tapped by BCA, contained more granular saliva, which apparently does not occlude vessel wall apertures or the pit membranes to the same extent as was observed with RWA. Damage to phloem tissue, including phloem parenchyma elements, sieve tube-companion cell (CC-ST) complexes as well as thick-walled sieve tubes, was extensive. Plasmodesmata between phloem parenchyma elements as well as pore-plasmodesmata between the CC-ST were occluded by callose. We conclude that severe, perhaps permanent damage to conducting elements in RWA infested leaves may be responsible for the detrimental chlorosis and necrosis symptoms. These symptoms are absent in BCA-infested plants.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Comparison of the direct enzyme assay method with the membrane filtration technique in the quantification and monitoring of microbial indicator organisms - seasonal variations in the activities of coliforms and E.coli, temperature and pH
- Wutor, V C, Togo, C A, Pletschke, Brett I
- Authors: Wutor, V C , Togo, C A , Pletschke, Brett I
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6479 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006241
- Description: The aim of this project was to monitor variations and relationships between coliform and E. coli counts, the activities of their marker enzymes GAL and GUD, and temperature and pH over a period of 12 months in river samples obtained from the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Several polluted water samples were collected for direct coliform β-D-galactosidase (B-GAL) and Escherichia coli β-D-glucuronidase (B-GUD) assays and the membrane filtration technique. While all the samples showed enzyme activities, not all exhibited growth on CM1046 media. Variation in B-GAL activity (40%) was observed between November (highest activity month) and May (lowest activity month). The highest and lowest B-GUD activities were observed in the months of September and May/June, respectively. The sensitivity of the spectrophotometric assay method was indicated by a limit of detection (LOD) of 1 coliform forming unit (CFU)/100 mℓ and 2 CFU/100 mℓ for coliforms and E. coli, respectively. There was a significant (P < 0.05) positive correlation between E. coli counts and GUD activity (R2 = 0.8909). A correlation of R2 = 0.9151 was also observed between total coliforms and B-GAL activity, even though the CFUs were not evenly distributed. Direct enzyme assays were also shown to be more sensitive than the membrane filtration (MF) technique.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Wutor, V C , Togo, C A , Pletschke, Brett I
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6479 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006241
- Description: The aim of this project was to monitor variations and relationships between coliform and E. coli counts, the activities of their marker enzymes GAL and GUD, and temperature and pH over a period of 12 months in river samples obtained from the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Several polluted water samples were collected for direct coliform β-D-galactosidase (B-GAL) and Escherichia coli β-D-glucuronidase (B-GUD) assays and the membrane filtration technique. While all the samples showed enzyme activities, not all exhibited growth on CM1046 media. Variation in B-GAL activity (40%) was observed between November (highest activity month) and May (lowest activity month). The highest and lowest B-GUD activities were observed in the months of September and May/June, respectively. The sensitivity of the spectrophotometric assay method was indicated by a limit of detection (LOD) of 1 coliform forming unit (CFU)/100 mℓ and 2 CFU/100 mℓ for coliforms and E. coli, respectively. There was a significant (P < 0.05) positive correlation between E. coli counts and GUD activity (R2 = 0.8909). A correlation of R2 = 0.9151 was also observed between total coliforms and B-GAL activity, even though the CFUs were not evenly distributed. Direct enzyme assays were also shown to be more sensitive than the membrane filtration (MF) technique.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Competitive strategies and entry strategies of low cost airline incumbent 1time Airline
- Authors: Potgieter, Diane
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: 1time Airline (South Africa) 1time Airline (South Africa) -- Planning Airlines -- South Africa -- Management Airlines -- South Africa -- Marketing Airlines -- South Africa -- Cost of operation Competition -- South Africa Strategic planning
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:810 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007606
- Description: This dissertation reports on the factors that contributed to the successful entry strategy of 1time Airline, a low cost carrier, into the South African airline industry as well as its competitive strategies within this context. Research interviews were conducted in November 2005 and research material gathered until end January 2006. Key issues include an evaluation of 1time's business model in relation to other low cost entrants as well as against material sourced through interviews with 1time Airline management, employees and consumers of the airline's product. Porter's Generic Strategies and Five Forces model are used as a framework in evaluating the airline. It is found that Nohria, Joyce and Robertson's "4+2 Formula" is effectively implemented at the airline, but that further implementation of Game Theory in terms of alliances should be investigated for continued success and sustainability.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Potgieter, Diane
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: 1time Airline (South Africa) 1time Airline (South Africa) -- Planning Airlines -- South Africa -- Management Airlines -- South Africa -- Marketing Airlines -- South Africa -- Cost of operation Competition -- South Africa Strategic planning
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:810 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007606
- Description: This dissertation reports on the factors that contributed to the successful entry strategy of 1time Airline, a low cost carrier, into the South African airline industry as well as its competitive strategies within this context. Research interviews were conducted in November 2005 and research material gathered until end January 2006. Key issues include an evaluation of 1time's business model in relation to other low cost entrants as well as against material sourced through interviews with 1time Airline management, employees and consumers of the airline's product. Porter's Generic Strategies and Five Forces model are used as a framework in evaluating the airline. It is found that Nohria, Joyce and Robertson's "4+2 Formula" is effectively implemented at the airline, but that further implementation of Game Theory in terms of alliances should be investigated for continued success and sustainability.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Composition portfolio
- Authors: Moss, Keith
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/193724 , vital:45390
- Description: Whitacre's music is primarily diatonic with subtle modulations, where the new key is always preserved diatonicaliy as well. I refer to this style as expanded diatonicism. Examples in my work of expanded diatonicism within this portfolio are to be found in navem ad somnium, Wynken, Blynken and Nod, as well as Hymn for Brass. My applications of expanded diatonic practices within each of these works are discussed in a separate appendix within the body of this portfolio. That these works are vocal or have a vocal inspiration (Hymn for Brass) reveals the extent of my initial reaction to Whitacre's music during a choral rehearsal. Furthermore, in my vocal compositions especially I chose texts which frequently gravitate towards ideas related to water, the ocean and ships. Whilst water has a soothing and inspiring influence upon me, presumably evidenced in my expanded diatonicism, it also represents my journey and investigation into the sound work of Whitacre in particular. It may be noticed that many of my works in this portfolio have religious orientated themes. I am a Christian, and belong to a Berean 2 Congregational Church. Whilst I am not Catholic or Anglican, I nonetheless have made use of texts from the liturgy of these denominations, as they emphasise the basis of my Christian faith. Why I chose Hymn for Brass as a title could possibly be construed as a religious reference, however it was named after the piece was written, and had no theological connotations in its inception save for the hymnody style of the orchestration. Providence and The Eventide both have a Christian philosophical foundation which is explored in depth in the accompanying appendix. The latter work explores an extension of my expanded diatonic style through incorporating aspects of chromaticism. The rationale for this is dealt with in my discussion of this work. This portfolio represents an overview of my compositional activities to date and displays my growing confidence with the technical aspects of composition as well as my yearning for experimentation with new ideas and manners of expression. , Thesis (MMus) -- Faculty of Humanities, Music and Musicology, 2007
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Moss, Keith
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/193724 , vital:45390
- Description: Whitacre's music is primarily diatonic with subtle modulations, where the new key is always preserved diatonicaliy as well. I refer to this style as expanded diatonicism. Examples in my work of expanded diatonicism within this portfolio are to be found in navem ad somnium, Wynken, Blynken and Nod, as well as Hymn for Brass. My applications of expanded diatonic practices within each of these works are discussed in a separate appendix within the body of this portfolio. That these works are vocal or have a vocal inspiration (Hymn for Brass) reveals the extent of my initial reaction to Whitacre's music during a choral rehearsal. Furthermore, in my vocal compositions especially I chose texts which frequently gravitate towards ideas related to water, the ocean and ships. Whilst water has a soothing and inspiring influence upon me, presumably evidenced in my expanded diatonicism, it also represents my journey and investigation into the sound work of Whitacre in particular. It may be noticed that many of my works in this portfolio have religious orientated themes. I am a Christian, and belong to a Berean 2 Congregational Church. Whilst I am not Catholic or Anglican, I nonetheless have made use of texts from the liturgy of these denominations, as they emphasise the basis of my Christian faith. Why I chose Hymn for Brass as a title could possibly be construed as a religious reference, however it was named after the piece was written, and had no theological connotations in its inception save for the hymnody style of the orchestration. Providence and The Eventide both have a Christian philosophical foundation which is explored in depth in the accompanying appendix. The latter work explores an extension of my expanded diatonic style through incorporating aspects of chromaticism. The rationale for this is dealt with in my discussion of this work. This portfolio represents an overview of my compositional activities to date and displays my growing confidence with the technical aspects of composition as well as my yearning for experimentation with new ideas and manners of expression. , Thesis (MMus) -- Faculty of Humanities, Music and Musicology, 2007
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Conceptualizing the human use of wild edible herbs for conservation in South African communal areas
- Dovie, Delali B K, Shackleton, Charlie M, Witkowski, Ed T F
- Authors: Dovie, Delali B K , Shackleton, Charlie M , Witkowski, Ed T F
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6626 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006818
- Description: The importance of wild edible herbaceous species to resource poor households in most rural economies within savannas has been little studied. This is because most of the herbs grow in impoverished species communities and lands, often referred to as ‘marginal lands’. The aim of this paper is to conceptualize how the economics of wild edible herbs to households can be used to add value to total livelihoods and conservation within traditional communal areas of South Africa. Analysis of the economics of the consumption of wild edible herbs in Thorndale (Bushbuckridge district) of the Limpopo province is presented. The majority of households consumed wild edible herbs, averaging 15.4 kg dried weight per household per year and valued at $167 per household. The herbs were mostly harvested from uncultivated areas of farms, and rangelands. There was little correlation between household characteristics and the dependence on wild herbs for food. The local people noted a decline in the availability of the species, although not much is known about attempts to cultivate them. The only reasons attributed to the decline were nutrient poor soils and insufficient rains. With this background, developing a local strategy to sustain the species through cultivation by households was found to be feasible. A multiple-use system for the herbs, their improvement and value addition towards commercialization and increased household usage may result in wider acceptance and subsequent cultivation. Species diversity will be enhanced whilst conserving the land on which they grow. This multiple use system may include species roles in soil and water conservation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Dovie, Delali B K , Shackleton, Charlie M , Witkowski, Ed T F
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6626 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006818
- Description: The importance of wild edible herbaceous species to resource poor households in most rural economies within savannas has been little studied. This is because most of the herbs grow in impoverished species communities and lands, often referred to as ‘marginal lands’. The aim of this paper is to conceptualize how the economics of wild edible herbs to households can be used to add value to total livelihoods and conservation within traditional communal areas of South Africa. Analysis of the economics of the consumption of wild edible herbs in Thorndale (Bushbuckridge district) of the Limpopo province is presented. The majority of households consumed wild edible herbs, averaging 15.4 kg dried weight per household per year and valued at $167 per household. The herbs were mostly harvested from uncultivated areas of farms, and rangelands. There was little correlation between household characteristics and the dependence on wild herbs for food. The local people noted a decline in the availability of the species, although not much is known about attempts to cultivate them. The only reasons attributed to the decline were nutrient poor soils and insufficient rains. With this background, developing a local strategy to sustain the species through cultivation by households was found to be feasible. A multiple-use system for the herbs, their improvement and value addition towards commercialization and increased household usage may result in wider acceptance and subsequent cultivation. Species diversity will be enhanced whilst conserving the land on which they grow. This multiple use system may include species roles in soil and water conservation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Conservation incentives for private commercial farmers in the thicket biome, Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Cumming, Tracey Lyn
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Landowners -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Invasive plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Plant conservation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Conservation of natural resources -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4745 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006953 , Landowners -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Invasive plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Plant conservation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Conservation of natural resources -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: This study sought opportunities to mitigate the pressures of land transformation and alien invader plants on commercial farm land in the thicket biome in the lower reaches of the Fish Kowie Corridor. It had two aims. Firstly, to determine the role incentives could play in mitigating these pressures. Secondly, to determine the characteristics of an incentive programme that would most effectively achieve this. In order to do this, an understanding of landowner activities, needs, opinions and barriers to behaviour; the nature of the pressures on thicket and the nature of the required behaviour to reduce these pressures; and current and past institutional arrangements needed to be achieved. This was done predominantly through a current literature review and personal interviews with landowners and key informants. These findings were used to make recommendations for an effective incentive programme. Landowners showed a preference towards tangible incentives, in particular management assistance, financial compensation and law enforcement. They indicated an aversion to an incentive programme implemented by a government agency, particularly district and provincial government. Rather, landowners showed a propensity towards a nongovernment organisation (NGO) or a farmers group implementing an incentive programme. It was recommended that the two major pressures, namely land transformation and alien invader plants, required different interventions by different agencies in order to be mitigated. The pressure of land transformation required a stewardship model response, with the primary drive being a non-contractual environmental extension service to landowners. The extension service should focus on promoting pro-conservation practises, raising awareness and disseminating information. It should also build a relationship of trust between landowners and the implementing agency. The pressure of alien invader plants would be most effectively addressed through the Working for Water programme. Tangible incentives must be provided to the landowner to induce the costly exercise of alien invader plant control. In particular, the high cost of labour must be addressed. The regulatory incentive of applying laws requiring landowners to control alien invader plants on their land should also be enforced.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Cumming, Tracey Lyn
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Landowners -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Invasive plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Plant conservation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Conservation of natural resources -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4745 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006953 , Landowners -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Invasive plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Plant conservation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Conservation of natural resources -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: This study sought opportunities to mitigate the pressures of land transformation and alien invader plants on commercial farm land in the thicket biome in the lower reaches of the Fish Kowie Corridor. It had two aims. Firstly, to determine the role incentives could play in mitigating these pressures. Secondly, to determine the characteristics of an incentive programme that would most effectively achieve this. In order to do this, an understanding of landowner activities, needs, opinions and barriers to behaviour; the nature of the pressures on thicket and the nature of the required behaviour to reduce these pressures; and current and past institutional arrangements needed to be achieved. This was done predominantly through a current literature review and personal interviews with landowners and key informants. These findings were used to make recommendations for an effective incentive programme. Landowners showed a preference towards tangible incentives, in particular management assistance, financial compensation and law enforcement. They indicated an aversion to an incentive programme implemented by a government agency, particularly district and provincial government. Rather, landowners showed a propensity towards a nongovernment organisation (NGO) or a farmers group implementing an incentive programme. It was recommended that the two major pressures, namely land transformation and alien invader plants, required different interventions by different agencies in order to be mitigated. The pressure of land transformation required a stewardship model response, with the primary drive being a non-contractual environmental extension service to landowners. The extension service should focus on promoting pro-conservation practises, raising awareness and disseminating information. It should also build a relationship of trust between landowners and the implementing agency. The pressure of alien invader plants would be most effectively addressed through the Working for Water programme. Tangible incentives must be provided to the landowner to induce the costly exercise of alien invader plant control. In particular, the high cost of labour must be addressed. The regulatory incentive of applying laws requiring landowners to control alien invader plants on their land should also be enforced.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Conserving pattern and process in the Southern Ocean: designing a Marine Protected Area for the Prince Edward Islands
- Lombard, A T, Reyers, B, Schonegevel, L Y
- Authors: Lombard, A T , Reyers, B , Schonegevel, L Y
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: text , Article
- Identifier: vital:7140 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011822
- Description: South Africa is currently proclaiming a Marine Protected Area (MPA) in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of its sub-Antarctic Prince Edward Islands. The objectives of the MPA are to: 1) contribute to a national and global representative system of MPAs, 2) serve as a scientific reference point to inform future management, 3) contribute to the recovery of the Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides), and 4) reduce the bird bycatch of the toothfish fishery, particularly of albatrosses and petrels. This study employs systematic conservation planning methods to delineate a MPA within the EEZ that will conserve biodiversity patterns and processes within sensible management boundaries, while minimizing conflict with the legal toothfish fishery. After collating all available distributional data on species, benthic habitats and ecosystem processes, we used C-Plan software to delineate a MPA with three management zones: four IUCN Category Ia reserves (13% of EEZ); two Conservation Zones (21% of EEZ); and three Category IV reserves (remainder of EEZ). Compromises between conservation target achievement and the area required by the MPA are apparent in the final reserve design. The proposed MPA boundaries are expected to change over time as new data become available and as impacts of climate change become more evident.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Lombard, A T , Reyers, B , Schonegevel, L Y
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: text , Article
- Identifier: vital:7140 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011822
- Description: South Africa is currently proclaiming a Marine Protected Area (MPA) in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of its sub-Antarctic Prince Edward Islands. The objectives of the MPA are to: 1) contribute to a national and global representative system of MPAs, 2) serve as a scientific reference point to inform future management, 3) contribute to the recovery of the Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides), and 4) reduce the bird bycatch of the toothfish fishery, particularly of albatrosses and petrels. This study employs systematic conservation planning methods to delineate a MPA within the EEZ that will conserve biodiversity patterns and processes within sensible management boundaries, while minimizing conflict with the legal toothfish fishery. After collating all available distributional data on species, benthic habitats and ecosystem processes, we used C-Plan software to delineate a MPA with three management zones: four IUCN Category Ia reserves (13% of EEZ); two Conservation Zones (21% of EEZ); and three Category IV reserves (remainder of EEZ). Compromises between conservation target achievement and the area required by the MPA are apparent in the final reserve design. The proposed MPA boundaries are expected to change over time as new data become available and as impacts of climate change become more evident.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Conserving pattern and process in the Southern Ocean: designing a Marine Protected Area for the Prince Edward Islands
- Lombard, A T, Reyers, B, Schonegevel, L Y, Cooper, J, Smith-Adao, L B, Nel, D C, Froneman, P William, Ansorge, Isabelle J, Bester, M N, Tosh, C A, Strauss, T, Akkers, T, Gon, Ofer, Leslie, R W, Chown, S L
- Authors: Lombard, A T , Reyers, B , Schonegevel, L Y , Cooper, J , Smith-Adao, L B , Nel, D C , Froneman, P William , Ansorge, Isabelle J , Bester, M N , Tosh, C A , Strauss, T , Akkers, T , Gon, Ofer , Leslie, R W , Chown, S L
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6881 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011637
- Description: South Africa is currently proclaiming a Marine Protected Area (MPA) in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of its sub-Antarctic Prince Edward Islands. The objectives of the MPA are to: 1) contribute to a national and global representative system of MPAs, 2) serve as a scientific reference point to inform future management, 3) contribute to the recovery of the Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides), and 4) reduce the bird bycatch of the toothfish fishery, particularly of albatrosses and petrels. This study employs systematic conservation planning methods to delineate a MPA within the EEZ that will conserve biodiversity patterns and processes within sensible management boundaries, while minimizing conflict with the legal toothfish fishery. After collating all available distributional data on species, benthic habitats and ecosystem processes, we used C-Plan software to delineate a MPA with three management zones: four IUCN Category Ia reserves (13% of EEZ); two Conservation Zones (21% of EEZ); and three Category IV reserves (remainder of EEZ). Compromises between conservation target achievement and the area required by the MPA are apparent in the final reserve design. The proposed MPA boundaries are expected to change over time as new data become available and as impacts of climate change become more evident.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Lombard, A T , Reyers, B , Schonegevel, L Y , Cooper, J , Smith-Adao, L B , Nel, D C , Froneman, P William , Ansorge, Isabelle J , Bester, M N , Tosh, C A , Strauss, T , Akkers, T , Gon, Ofer , Leslie, R W , Chown, S L
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6881 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011637
- Description: South Africa is currently proclaiming a Marine Protected Area (MPA) in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of its sub-Antarctic Prince Edward Islands. The objectives of the MPA are to: 1) contribute to a national and global representative system of MPAs, 2) serve as a scientific reference point to inform future management, 3) contribute to the recovery of the Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides), and 4) reduce the bird bycatch of the toothfish fishery, particularly of albatrosses and petrels. This study employs systematic conservation planning methods to delineate a MPA within the EEZ that will conserve biodiversity patterns and processes within sensible management boundaries, while minimizing conflict with the legal toothfish fishery. After collating all available distributional data on species, benthic habitats and ecosystem processes, we used C-Plan software to delineate a MPA with three management zones: four IUCN Category Ia reserves (13% of EEZ); two Conservation Zones (21% of EEZ); and three Category IV reserves (remainder of EEZ). Compromises between conservation target achievement and the area required by the MPA are apparent in the final reserve design. The proposed MPA boundaries are expected to change over time as new data become available and as impacts of climate change become more evident.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Consistent testing for lag length in cointegrated relationships
- Authors: Liu, Limin
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Cointegration -- South Africa , Econometrics
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10575 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/547 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1011715 , Cointegration -- South Africa , Econometrics
- Description: In the past few decades the theory of cointegration has been widely used in the empirical analysis of economic data. The reason is that, it captures the economic notion of a long-run economic relation. One of the problems experienced when applying cointegrated techniques to econometric modelling is the determination of lag lengths for the modelled variables. Applied studies have resulted in contradictory choices for lag length selection. This study reviews and compares some of the well-known information criteria using simulation techniques for bivariate models.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Liu, Limin
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Cointegration -- South Africa , Econometrics
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10575 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/547 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1011715 , Cointegration -- South Africa , Econometrics
- Description: In the past few decades the theory of cointegration has been widely used in the empirical analysis of economic data. The reason is that, it captures the economic notion of a long-run economic relation. One of the problems experienced when applying cointegrated techniques to econometric modelling is the determination of lag lengths for the modelled variables. Applied studies have resulted in contradictory choices for lag length selection. This study reviews and compares some of the well-known information criteria using simulation techniques for bivariate models.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Consolidation of democracy and political culture: an analysis of young elites and the media, the case of Kenya
- Authors: Nzioki, Samuel Mutinda
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Democracy -- Kenya , Political culture -- Kenya , Kenya -- Politics and government
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPhil
- Identifier: vital:8248 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/586 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1011680 , Democracy -- Kenya , Political culture -- Kenya , Kenya -- Politics and government
- Description: Democratisation and commitments to transitions to democratic systems has gained momentum as a currency, a necessity, with regard to socio-political and economic development for Africa. In the period following the end of the Cold War in the late 1980’s, there was heightened concern over the pseudo-democratic political establishments in Africa whose negative impact on their economies was blameable for a marked lack of public goods. Political scholars and agencies of Industrialised countries attributed this to stagnation on democratisation process, where consolidation stage of African democracies remains elusive. Kenya is a case and point. This study seeks to contribute to the ensuing debate of crafting versus preconditions to democratic consolidation in Africa. It takes the position that it is the political elite who are the principal agents in designing institution based democracies upon which other socio-economic developments can stand. By focusing on Kenya the study seeks to show that, up to the present moment, the cycle of Kenya’s unconsolidated democracy has been prevailed over by elites’ weakness to commit to deepening democratic values. A sign of hope is therefore in the potential and promise in the emerging young elite in crafting a consolidated democracy in Africa. By focussing on a generational change in leadership, one sees the possibility for Africa to embark on a clearly mapped out and self designed path towards democratic consolidation, led by a younger generation of professional elites. These are not weighed down by postcolonial nationalistic ideals. Their potential and level of commitment to democratic consolidation however needs to be examined. Increased pressures of Westernisation as an after effect of globalisation may have altered/impacted the young elites’ political consciousness and dedication to the African locales. This study thus posits that in order to gauge their inclination to crafting a consolidated democratic landscape of the continent, their political culture must be put under scrutiny. By examining the political culture of the Kenyan young elite this study concluded that more needs to be done to inspire political participation and involvement in this generation. There is general feeling of contentment with the status quo with all its flaws and unchanging poor democratic practises. More has to be done to sever the old undemocratic mentalities and replace them with fresh ideals through wide spread civic education, by using effective instruments like the media and avenues like a reformed school curriculum.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Nzioki, Samuel Mutinda
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Democracy -- Kenya , Political culture -- Kenya , Kenya -- Politics and government
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPhil
- Identifier: vital:8248 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/586 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1011680 , Democracy -- Kenya , Political culture -- Kenya , Kenya -- Politics and government
- Description: Democratisation and commitments to transitions to democratic systems has gained momentum as a currency, a necessity, with regard to socio-political and economic development for Africa. In the period following the end of the Cold War in the late 1980’s, there was heightened concern over the pseudo-democratic political establishments in Africa whose negative impact on their economies was blameable for a marked lack of public goods. Political scholars and agencies of Industrialised countries attributed this to stagnation on democratisation process, where consolidation stage of African democracies remains elusive. Kenya is a case and point. This study seeks to contribute to the ensuing debate of crafting versus preconditions to democratic consolidation in Africa. It takes the position that it is the political elite who are the principal agents in designing institution based democracies upon which other socio-economic developments can stand. By focusing on Kenya the study seeks to show that, up to the present moment, the cycle of Kenya’s unconsolidated democracy has been prevailed over by elites’ weakness to commit to deepening democratic values. A sign of hope is therefore in the potential and promise in the emerging young elite in crafting a consolidated democracy in Africa. By focussing on a generational change in leadership, one sees the possibility for Africa to embark on a clearly mapped out and self designed path towards democratic consolidation, led by a younger generation of professional elites. These are not weighed down by postcolonial nationalistic ideals. Their potential and level of commitment to democratic consolidation however needs to be examined. Increased pressures of Westernisation as an after effect of globalisation may have altered/impacted the young elites’ political consciousness and dedication to the African locales. This study thus posits that in order to gauge their inclination to crafting a consolidated democratic landscape of the continent, their political culture must be put under scrutiny. By examining the political culture of the Kenyan young elite this study concluded that more needs to be done to inspire political participation and involvement in this generation. There is general feeling of contentment with the status quo with all its flaws and unchanging poor democratic practises. More has to be done to sever the old undemocratic mentalities and replace them with fresh ideals through wide spread civic education, by using effective instruments like the media and avenues like a reformed school curriculum.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Constructing a low-cost, open-source, VoiceXML
- Authors: King, Adam
- Date: 2007 , 2013-07-01
- Subjects: VoiceXML (Document markup language) , Asterisk (Computer file) , Internet telephony , Open source software
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4585 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004735 , VoiceXML (Document markup language) , Asterisk (Computer file) , Internet telephony , Open source software
- Description: Voice-enabled applications, applications that interact with a user via an audio channel, are used extensively today. Their use is growing as speech related technologies improve, as speech is one of the most natural methods of interaction. They can provide customer support as IVRs, can be used as an assistive technology, or can become an aural interface to the Internet. Given that the telephone is used extensively throughout the globe, the number of potential users of voice-enabled applications is very high. VoiceXML is a popular, open, high-level, standard means of creating voice-enabled applications which was designed to bring the benefits of web based development to services. While VoiceXML is an ideal language for creating these applications, VoiceXML gateways, the hardware and software responsible for interpreting VoiceXML applications and interfacing with the PSTN, are still expensive and so there is a need for a low-cost gateway. Asterisk, and open-source, TDM/VoIP telephony platform, can be used as a low-cost PSTN interface. This thesis investigates adding a VoiceXML service to Asterisk, creating a low-cost VoiceXML prototype gateway which is able to render voice-enabled applications. Following the Component-Based Software Engineering (CBSE) paradigm, the VoiceXML gateway is divided into a set of components which are sourced from the open-source community, and integrated to create the gateway. The browser requires a VoiceXML interpreter (OpenVXI), a Text-To-Speech engine (Festival) and a speech recognition engine (Sphinx 4). The integration of the components results in a low-cost, open-source VoiceXML gateway. System tests show that the integration of the components was successful, and that the system can handle concurrent calls. A fully compliant version of the gateway can be used in the real world to render voice-enabled applications at a low cost. , KMBT_363 , Adobe Acrobat 9.55 Paper Capture Plug-in
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: King, Adam
- Date: 2007 , 2013-07-01
- Subjects: VoiceXML (Document markup language) , Asterisk (Computer file) , Internet telephony , Open source software
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4585 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004735 , VoiceXML (Document markup language) , Asterisk (Computer file) , Internet telephony , Open source software
- Description: Voice-enabled applications, applications that interact with a user via an audio channel, are used extensively today. Their use is growing as speech related technologies improve, as speech is one of the most natural methods of interaction. They can provide customer support as IVRs, can be used as an assistive technology, or can become an aural interface to the Internet. Given that the telephone is used extensively throughout the globe, the number of potential users of voice-enabled applications is very high. VoiceXML is a popular, open, high-level, standard means of creating voice-enabled applications which was designed to bring the benefits of web based development to services. While VoiceXML is an ideal language for creating these applications, VoiceXML gateways, the hardware and software responsible for interpreting VoiceXML applications and interfacing with the PSTN, are still expensive and so there is a need for a low-cost gateway. Asterisk, and open-source, TDM/VoIP telephony platform, can be used as a low-cost PSTN interface. This thesis investigates adding a VoiceXML service to Asterisk, creating a low-cost VoiceXML prototype gateway which is able to render voice-enabled applications. Following the Component-Based Software Engineering (CBSE) paradigm, the VoiceXML gateway is divided into a set of components which are sourced from the open-source community, and integrated to create the gateway. The browser requires a VoiceXML interpreter (OpenVXI), a Text-To-Speech engine (Festival) and a speech recognition engine (Sphinx 4). The integration of the components results in a low-cost, open-source VoiceXML gateway. System tests show that the integration of the components was successful, and that the system can handle concurrent calls. A fully compliant version of the gateway can be used in the real world to render voice-enabled applications at a low cost. , KMBT_363 , Adobe Acrobat 9.55 Paper Capture Plug-in
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007