Analytic pricing of American put options
- Authors: Glover, Elistan Nicholas
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Options (Finance) -- Prices -- Mathematical models , Derivative securities -- Prices -- Mathematical models , Finance -- Mathematical models , Martingales (Mathematics)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5566 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002804 , Options (Finance) -- Prices -- Mathematical models , Derivative securities -- Prices -- Mathematical models , Finance -- Mathematical models , Martingales (Mathematics)
- Description: American options are the most commonly traded financial derivatives in the market. Pricing these options fairly, so as to avoid arbitrage, is of paramount importance. Closed form solutions for American put options cannot be utilised in practice and so numerical techniques are employed. This thesis looks at the work done by other researchers to find an analytic solution to the American put option pricing problem and suggests a practical method, that uses Monte Carlo simulation, to approximate the American put option price. The theory behind option pricing is first discussed using a discrete model. Once the concepts of arbitrage-free pricing and hedging have been dealt with, this model is extended to a continuous-time setting. Martingale theory is introduced to put the option pricing theory in a more formal framework. The construction of a hedging portfolio is discussed in detail and it is shown how financial derivatives are priced according to a unique riskneutral probability measure. Black-Scholes model is discussed and utilised to find closed form solutions to European style options. American options are discussed in detail and it is shown that under certain conditions, American style options can be solved according to closed form solutions. Various numerical techniques are presented to approximate the true American put option price. Chief among these methods is the Richardson extrapolation on a sequence of Bermudan options method that was developed by Geske and Johnson. This model is extended to a Repeated-Richardson extrapolation technique. Finally, a Monte Carlo simulation is used to approximate Bermudan put options. These values are then extrapolated to approximate the price of an American put option. The use of extrapolation techniques was hampered by the presence of non-uniform convergence of the Bermudan put option sequence. When convergence was uniform, the approximations were accurate up to a few cents difference.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
- Authors: Glover, Elistan Nicholas
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Options (Finance) -- Prices -- Mathematical models , Derivative securities -- Prices -- Mathematical models , Finance -- Mathematical models , Martingales (Mathematics)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5566 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002804 , Options (Finance) -- Prices -- Mathematical models , Derivative securities -- Prices -- Mathematical models , Finance -- Mathematical models , Martingales (Mathematics)
- Description: American options are the most commonly traded financial derivatives in the market. Pricing these options fairly, so as to avoid arbitrage, is of paramount importance. Closed form solutions for American put options cannot be utilised in practice and so numerical techniques are employed. This thesis looks at the work done by other researchers to find an analytic solution to the American put option pricing problem and suggests a practical method, that uses Monte Carlo simulation, to approximate the American put option price. The theory behind option pricing is first discussed using a discrete model. Once the concepts of arbitrage-free pricing and hedging have been dealt with, this model is extended to a continuous-time setting. Martingale theory is introduced to put the option pricing theory in a more formal framework. The construction of a hedging portfolio is discussed in detail and it is shown how financial derivatives are priced according to a unique riskneutral probability measure. Black-Scholes model is discussed and utilised to find closed form solutions to European style options. American options are discussed in detail and it is shown that under certain conditions, American style options can be solved according to closed form solutions. Various numerical techniques are presented to approximate the true American put option price. Chief among these methods is the Richardson extrapolation on a sequence of Bermudan options method that was developed by Geske and Johnson. This model is extended to a Repeated-Richardson extrapolation technique. Finally, a Monte Carlo simulation is used to approximate Bermudan put options. These values are then extrapolated to approximate the price of an American put option. The use of extrapolation techniques was hampered by the presence of non-uniform convergence of the Bermudan put option sequence. When convergence was uniform, the approximations were accurate up to a few cents difference.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
Analyzing, digitizing and technologizing the oral word: the case of Bongani Sitole
- Kaschula, Russell H, Mostert, André
- Authors: Kaschula, Russell H , Mostert, André
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Sitole, Bongani, 1937- , Xhosa (African people) -- South Africa , Xhosa poetry , Folk poetry, Xhosa
- Language: English
- Type: article , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/59368 , vital:27566 , https://doi.org/10.1080/13696810903259384
- Description: This article analyzes the oral poetry, izibongo, produced by Xhosa oral poet Bongani Sitole (both in book and technological form). It will trace this poetry from the moment it was orally produced, through to the technologizing and publication of this poetry in book form and on a website. The initial part of this article looks at the life and work of the poet. A contextual analysis of selected poetry is provided. The latter part of the article concentrates on issues related to technology and its relationship to the oral and written word. The term ‘technauriture’ has been coined in order to refer to this process. The contribution of eLearning4Africa (www.elearning4africa.com) to the digitization process of Sitole’s poetry is acknowledged.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
- Authors: Kaschula, Russell H , Mostert, André
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Sitole, Bongani, 1937- , Xhosa (African people) -- South Africa , Xhosa poetry , Folk poetry, Xhosa
- Language: English
- Type: article , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/59368 , vital:27566 , https://doi.org/10.1080/13696810903259384
- Description: This article analyzes the oral poetry, izibongo, produced by Xhosa oral poet Bongani Sitole (both in book and technological form). It will trace this poetry from the moment it was orally produced, through to the technologizing and publication of this poetry in book form and on a website. The initial part of this article looks at the life and work of the poet. A contextual analysis of selected poetry is provided. The latter part of the article concentrates on issues related to technology and its relationship to the oral and written word. The term ‘technauriture’ has been coined in order to refer to this process. The contribution of eLearning4Africa (www.elearning4africa.com) to the digitization process of Sitole’s poetry is acknowledged.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
Antiretroviral therapy in a South African public health care setting – facilitating and constraining factors
- Ruud, K W, Srinivas, Sunitha C, Toverud, E-L
- Authors: Ruud, K W , Srinivas, Sunitha C , Toverud, E-L
- Date: 2009
- Language: English
- Type: text , Article
- Identifier: vital:6453 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006831
- Description: The objective of the study was to identify and document facilitating and constraining factors in the antiretroviral therapy (ART) programme in a public health care setting in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Observations for the study were carried out in a district hospital and two down-referral clinics in Makana Local Services Area in the Eastern Cape Province. Two discussion groups with key stakeholders were conducted to gather information about opinions and experiences among the health care providers (HCPs). It was found that the operating ART programme in this setting has been integrated in the existing down-referral health care system, based on follow-up in primary health care (PHC) clinics. Treatment is provided free of charge. The treatment programme provides the patients with access to counselling, nutritional assistance, psychosocial support and social welfare evaluation. However, increasing patient numbers and lack of human resources leads to a heavy workload for the HCPs involved with the ART programme. The need for additional, educated health workers is a major constraint for progress in provision of health care to patients who have accepted their HIV status, and are enrolled, or waiting to be enrolled, on the ART. However, delegation of work tasks among available HCPs and good communication between HCPs in the different clinics is a facilitating factor that ensures efficient use of the human resources available. Conclusion: Taking into account the challenges in a resource-constrained setting, this programme shows potential for functioning well as a provider of ART for those who are able and willing to access it. Considering an already heavy workload for HCPs, limitations and challenges still exist in reaching out with adequate treatment to a greater number of people who need ART.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
- Authors: Ruud, K W , Srinivas, Sunitha C , Toverud, E-L
- Date: 2009
- Language: English
- Type: text , Article
- Identifier: vital:6453 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006831
- Description: The objective of the study was to identify and document facilitating and constraining factors in the antiretroviral therapy (ART) programme in a public health care setting in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Observations for the study were carried out in a district hospital and two down-referral clinics in Makana Local Services Area in the Eastern Cape Province. Two discussion groups with key stakeholders were conducted to gather information about opinions and experiences among the health care providers (HCPs). It was found that the operating ART programme in this setting has been integrated in the existing down-referral health care system, based on follow-up in primary health care (PHC) clinics. Treatment is provided free of charge. The treatment programme provides the patients with access to counselling, nutritional assistance, psychosocial support and social welfare evaluation. However, increasing patient numbers and lack of human resources leads to a heavy workload for the HCPs involved with the ART programme. The need for additional, educated health workers is a major constraint for progress in provision of health care to patients who have accepted their HIV status, and are enrolled, or waiting to be enrolled, on the ART. However, delegation of work tasks among available HCPs and good communication between HCPs in the different clinics is a facilitating factor that ensures efficient use of the human resources available. Conclusion: Taking into account the challenges in a resource-constrained setting, this programme shows potential for functioning well as a provider of ART for those who are able and willing to access it. Considering an already heavy workload for HCPs, limitations and challenges still exist in reaching out with adequate treatment to a greater number of people who need ART.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
Apis florea in Jordan: source of the founder population
- Haddad, N, Fuchs, S, Hepburn, H Randall, Radloff, Sarah E
- Authors: Haddad, N , Fuchs, S , Hepburn, H Randall , Radloff, Sarah E
- Date: 2009
- Language: English
- Type: text , Article
- Identifier: vital:6844 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011047
- Description: A recent isolated population of Apis florea has been reported from Aqaba in Jordan at the Red Sea, consisting of numerous colonies within a still limited range which apparently is expanding. This region is about 1500 km apart from its next occurrences in Sudan where it had been introduced and first detected in 1985 and about 2000 km apart from its next natural occurrences in Iran and Oman. These bees apparently have been imported by human transport, most likely by ship. This new location thus represents a major jump in the progression of the species still to fill a wide area of possible locations offering adequate living conditions. Here we attempt to track the possible origin of this new population by morphometric methods. This analysis indicated closest relation to A. florea from Oman, thus being the most likely source of this population.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
- Authors: Haddad, N , Fuchs, S , Hepburn, H Randall , Radloff, Sarah E
- Date: 2009
- Language: English
- Type: text , Article
- Identifier: vital:6844 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011047
- Description: A recent isolated population of Apis florea has been reported from Aqaba in Jordan at the Red Sea, consisting of numerous colonies within a still limited range which apparently is expanding. This region is about 1500 km apart from its next occurrences in Sudan where it had been introduced and first detected in 1985 and about 2000 km apart from its next natural occurrences in Iran and Oman. These bees apparently have been imported by human transport, most likely by ship. This new location thus represents a major jump in the progression of the species still to fill a wide area of possible locations offering adequate living conditions. Here we attempt to track the possible origin of this new population by morphometric methods. This analysis indicated closest relation to A. florea from Oman, thus being the most likely source of this population.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
Application of Baylis-Hillman methodology in the construction of complex heterocyclic targets
- Ganto, Mlungiseleli MacDonald
- Authors: Ganto, Mlungiseleli MacDonald
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Heterocyclic compounds -- Derivatives Heterocyclic chemistry
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4401 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006703
- Description: Baylis-Hillman reactions using various aromatic aldehydes, activated alkenes and catalysts have been used to: - access an extensive range of poly-heterocyclic products;explore chemoselectivity; and optimise reaction efficiency. Chromone-3-carbaldehydes and chromone-2-carbaldehydes, prepared via Vielsmeier-Haack and Kostanecki-Robinson methodology, respectively, have been used as Baylis-Hillman substrates with four different catalysts, viz., 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO), 3-hydroxyquinuclidine (3-HQ), imidazole and N’,N’,N’,N’- tetramethylpropanediamine (TMPDA), and with methyl vinyl ketone (MVK), methyl acrylate, cyclic enones (2-cyclohexen-1-one, 2-cyclopenten-1-one and chromones) as activated alkenes. Reactions of the chromone- -carbaldehydes with MVK afforded dimeric Baylis-Hillman adducts when catalyzed by DABCO but when the same reactions were repeated using 3-HQ as catalyst, the dimeric products were accompanied by tricyclic Baylis-Hillman adducts. Use of excess MVK, however, led to mixtures of the normal Baylis-Hillman adducts and the tricyclic adducts – interestingly, with the apparent absence of the dimeric products. While reactions of chromone-3-carbaldehydes with methyl acrylate afforded the normal Baylis-Hillman adducts, the chromone-2- carbaldehydes produced, instead, rearrangement products, consistent with an earlier, single observation. Reactions of 2-nitrobenzaldehydes with cyclic enones using imidazole as catalyst afforded the normal Baylis-Hillman adducts, reductive cyclisation of the 2-cyclohexen-1- one and 2-cyclopenten-1-one adducts, using acetic acid and iron powder, afforded the corresponding quinoline erivatives. Treatment of cyclic enones with pyridine-2-carbaldehydes and quinoline-2-carbaldehydes using TMPDA as catalyst generally gave the expected Baylis-Hillman adducts. However, indolizine derivatives were isolated directly from Baylis-Hillman reactions involving pyridine-2-carbaldehydes and 2-cyclohexen-1-one. The remaining Baylis-Hillman adducts were cyclized to the corresponding indolizines by treatment with acetic anhydride both under reflux and under microwave-assisted conditions, the latter approach providing remarkably rapid and efficient access to the polycyclic products. Computer modelling studies have been conducted on selected polycyclic products at the Molecular Mechanics (MM), Quantum Mechanical (QM) and Density Functional (DFT) levels. The theoretical results have been used to calculate UV, IR and NMR absorption data, which have been compared, in turn, with the experimental spectroscopic data. Use has also been made of the estreNova NMR prediction programme and, generally, good agreement has been observed between the predicted and experimental spectroscopic data.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
- Authors: Ganto, Mlungiseleli MacDonald
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Heterocyclic compounds -- Derivatives Heterocyclic chemistry
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4401 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006703
- Description: Baylis-Hillman reactions using various aromatic aldehydes, activated alkenes and catalysts have been used to: - access an extensive range of poly-heterocyclic products;explore chemoselectivity; and optimise reaction efficiency. Chromone-3-carbaldehydes and chromone-2-carbaldehydes, prepared via Vielsmeier-Haack and Kostanecki-Robinson methodology, respectively, have been used as Baylis-Hillman substrates with four different catalysts, viz., 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO), 3-hydroxyquinuclidine (3-HQ), imidazole and N’,N’,N’,N’- tetramethylpropanediamine (TMPDA), and with methyl vinyl ketone (MVK), methyl acrylate, cyclic enones (2-cyclohexen-1-one, 2-cyclopenten-1-one and chromones) as activated alkenes. Reactions of the chromone- -carbaldehydes with MVK afforded dimeric Baylis-Hillman adducts when catalyzed by DABCO but when the same reactions were repeated using 3-HQ as catalyst, the dimeric products were accompanied by tricyclic Baylis-Hillman adducts. Use of excess MVK, however, led to mixtures of the normal Baylis-Hillman adducts and the tricyclic adducts – interestingly, with the apparent absence of the dimeric products. While reactions of chromone-3-carbaldehydes with methyl acrylate afforded the normal Baylis-Hillman adducts, the chromone-2- carbaldehydes produced, instead, rearrangement products, consistent with an earlier, single observation. Reactions of 2-nitrobenzaldehydes with cyclic enones using imidazole as catalyst afforded the normal Baylis-Hillman adducts, reductive cyclisation of the 2-cyclohexen-1- one and 2-cyclopenten-1-one adducts, using acetic acid and iron powder, afforded the corresponding quinoline erivatives. Treatment of cyclic enones with pyridine-2-carbaldehydes and quinoline-2-carbaldehydes using TMPDA as catalyst generally gave the expected Baylis-Hillman adducts. However, indolizine derivatives were isolated directly from Baylis-Hillman reactions involving pyridine-2-carbaldehydes and 2-cyclohexen-1-one. The remaining Baylis-Hillman adducts were cyclized to the corresponding indolizines by treatment with acetic anhydride both under reflux and under microwave-assisted conditions, the latter approach providing remarkably rapid and efficient access to the polycyclic products. Computer modelling studies have been conducted on selected polycyclic products at the Molecular Mechanics (MM), Quantum Mechanical (QM) and Density Functional (DFT) levels. The theoretical results have been used to calculate UV, IR and NMR absorption data, which have been compared, in turn, with the experimental spectroscopic data. Use has also been made of the estreNova NMR prediction programme and, generally, good agreement has been observed between the predicted and experimental spectroscopic data.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
Application of neural networks to South African GPS TEC modelling
- Habarulema, John B, McKinnell, Lee-Anne, Cilliers, Pierre J, Opperman, Ben D L
- Authors: Habarulema, John B , McKinnell, Lee-Anne , Cilliers, Pierre J , Opperman, Ben D L
- Date: 2009
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6807 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004193 , http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2008.08.020
- Description: The propagation of radio signals in the Earth’s atmosphere is dominantly affected by the ionosphere due to its dispersive nature. Global Positioning System (GPS) data provides relevant information that leads to the derivation of total electron content (TEC) which can be considered as the ionosphere’s measure of ionisation. This paper presents part of a feasibility study for the development of a Neural Network (NN) based model for the prediction of South African GPS derived TEC. The South African GPS receiver network is operated and maintained by the Chief Directorate Surveys and Mapping (CDSM) in Cape Town, South Africa. Vertical total electron content (VTEC) was calculated for four GPS receiver stations using the Adjusted Spherical Harmonic (ASHA) model. Factors that influence TEC were then identified and used to derive input parameters for the NN. The well established factors used are seasonal variation, diurnal variation, solar activity and magnetic activity. Comparison of diurnal predicted TEC values from both the NN model and the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI-2001) with GPS TEC revealed that the IRI provides more accurate predictions than the NN model during the spring equinoxes. However, on average the NN model predicts GPS TEC more accurately than the IRI model over the GPS locations considered within South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
- Authors: Habarulema, John B , McKinnell, Lee-Anne , Cilliers, Pierre J , Opperman, Ben D L
- Date: 2009
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6807 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004193 , http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2008.08.020
- Description: The propagation of radio signals in the Earth’s atmosphere is dominantly affected by the ionosphere due to its dispersive nature. Global Positioning System (GPS) data provides relevant information that leads to the derivation of total electron content (TEC) which can be considered as the ionosphere’s measure of ionisation. This paper presents part of a feasibility study for the development of a Neural Network (NN) based model for the prediction of South African GPS derived TEC. The South African GPS receiver network is operated and maintained by the Chief Directorate Surveys and Mapping (CDSM) in Cape Town, South Africa. Vertical total electron content (VTEC) was calculated for four GPS receiver stations using the Adjusted Spherical Harmonic (ASHA) model. Factors that influence TEC were then identified and used to derive input parameters for the NN. The well established factors used are seasonal variation, diurnal variation, solar activity and magnetic activity. Comparison of diurnal predicted TEC values from both the NN model and the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI-2001) with GPS TEC revealed that the IRI provides more accurate predictions than the NN model during the spring equinoxes. However, on average the NN model predicts GPS TEC more accurately than the IRI model over the GPS locations considered within South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
Arguing from identity: ontology to advocacy in Charles Taylor's political thought
- Authors: Sadian, Samuel Dominic
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Taylor, Charles, 1931- -- Political and social views Taylor, Charles, 1931- -- Criticism and interpretation Cultural pluralism Political culture Identity (Philosophical concept) Ontology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2829 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003039
- Description: In this thesis I discuss three normative claims that I take to be central elements of Charles Taylor’s political thought. The first of these is Taylor’s contention that, in contemporary pluralistic societies, justifying socially prevailing norms by appealing to universally binding moral values is unlikely to promote social solidarity. Because this approach tends to downplay the goods that people realise through membership in particular associations, Taylor believes we must adopt a model of justification that does not prioritise universal over particular goods if we are to further social co-operation. A second claim Taylor defends is that commitment to the liberal value of collective self-rule implies treating patriotically motivated public service as a non-instrumental good. We should not, Taylor argues, regard collective association as nothing more than a means to satisfying private goals. Taylor advances a third claim, that is, he maintains that liberal toleration for diverse ways of life may require a perfectionist state that supports particularistic ways of life when they are threatened by decline. I offer a qualified defence of the first two claims, but suggest that the third is less compelling. I attempt to do this by evaluating Taylor’s claims against the standards of lucid argumentation that he himself lays down. In discussing social and political norms, which he describes as “advocacy” issues, Taylor argues that our normative commitments necessarily rely on an underlying social ontology. More specifically, Taylor argues that the political values we defend are those that enable us to secure the interests we have as the bearers of an identity possessing both individual and collective dimensions. In setting out the conditions that favour integrated and free identity formation we may thereby reach a clearer understanding of the political norms that we wish to endorse. I argue that, while Taylor’s ontological reflections might well incline us to accept his model of justification and his account of patriotic social commitment, they do not of themselves dispose us to accept state perfectionism.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
- Authors: Sadian, Samuel Dominic
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Taylor, Charles, 1931- -- Political and social views Taylor, Charles, 1931- -- Criticism and interpretation Cultural pluralism Political culture Identity (Philosophical concept) Ontology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2829 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003039
- Description: In this thesis I discuss three normative claims that I take to be central elements of Charles Taylor’s political thought. The first of these is Taylor’s contention that, in contemporary pluralistic societies, justifying socially prevailing norms by appealing to universally binding moral values is unlikely to promote social solidarity. Because this approach tends to downplay the goods that people realise through membership in particular associations, Taylor believes we must adopt a model of justification that does not prioritise universal over particular goods if we are to further social co-operation. A second claim Taylor defends is that commitment to the liberal value of collective self-rule implies treating patriotically motivated public service as a non-instrumental good. We should not, Taylor argues, regard collective association as nothing more than a means to satisfying private goals. Taylor advances a third claim, that is, he maintains that liberal toleration for diverse ways of life may require a perfectionist state that supports particularistic ways of life when they are threatened by decline. I offer a qualified defence of the first two claims, but suggest that the third is less compelling. I attempt to do this by evaluating Taylor’s claims against the standards of lucid argumentation that he himself lays down. In discussing social and political norms, which he describes as “advocacy” issues, Taylor argues that our normative commitments necessarily rely on an underlying social ontology. More specifically, Taylor argues that the political values we defend are those that enable us to secure the interests we have as the bearers of an identity possessing both individual and collective dimensions. In setting out the conditions that favour integrated and free identity formation we may thereby reach a clearer understanding of the political norms that we wish to endorse. I argue that, while Taylor’s ontological reflections might well incline us to accept his model of justification and his account of patriotic social commitment, they do not of themselves dispose us to accept state perfectionism.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
Aspects of memory in the sculptural work of Jane Alexander 1982-2009
- Authors: Nicol, Tracy-Lee
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Alexander, Jane, 1959- Collective memory -- South Africa Memory in art Women artists -- South Africa Art, African -- Psychological aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2417 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002213
- Description: Over three decades of research has shown that memories have significant effect on the behaviour, attitudes, beliefs, and identities of individuals and collectives, revealing also how experiences of trauma and acts of narrativisation have pertinence to the ways in which memories are stored and reconstructed. In this thesis a link is developed between memory, trauma, narrativisation processes and the interpretation of works by Jane Alexander, a contemporary artist whose work is informed by observations about South African life. Alexander’s sculptures are revealed to be not only important vessels of collective memories and experiences, but also evocations of individuals’ countermemories and traumas that remain unarticulated and invisible. Through an exploration of the workings of memory and its relation to her art, it is revealed how the past continues to exert its influence on many of South Africa’s present sociopolitical concerns and interpersonal dynamics. Indeed constantly changing memories have a significant effect on future generations’ perceptions of, and connectedness to, the past. While theories about memory have been deployed in Art History as well as the Humanities in general, Alexander’s work has not previously been considered in light of the influence of these ideas. This thesis thus contributes a new dimension to literature on the artist.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
- Authors: Nicol, Tracy-Lee
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Alexander, Jane, 1959- Collective memory -- South Africa Memory in art Women artists -- South Africa Art, African -- Psychological aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2417 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002213
- Description: Over three decades of research has shown that memories have significant effect on the behaviour, attitudes, beliefs, and identities of individuals and collectives, revealing also how experiences of trauma and acts of narrativisation have pertinence to the ways in which memories are stored and reconstructed. In this thesis a link is developed between memory, trauma, narrativisation processes and the interpretation of works by Jane Alexander, a contemporary artist whose work is informed by observations about South African life. Alexander’s sculptures are revealed to be not only important vessels of collective memories and experiences, but also evocations of individuals’ countermemories and traumas that remain unarticulated and invisible. Through an exploration of the workings of memory and its relation to her art, it is revealed how the past continues to exert its influence on many of South Africa’s present sociopolitical concerns and interpersonal dynamics. Indeed constantly changing memories have a significant effect on future generations’ perceptions of, and connectedness to, the past. While theories about memory have been deployed in Art History as well as the Humanities in general, Alexander’s work has not previously been considered in light of the influence of these ideas. This thesis thus contributes a new dimension to literature on the artist.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
Aspects of the ecology and biology of the isopod, Exosphaeroma hylocoetes, (Barnard, 1940) in three temporarily open/closed southern African estuaries
- Authors: Henninger, Tony Oskar
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Estuaries -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Estuarine ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Isopoda -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Estuarine biology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Ruppia maritima
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:5640 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005322
- Description: Temporarily open/closed estuaries (TOCE’s) are the numerically dominant type of estuary accounting for ≈ 70 % of all estuaries along the South African coastline. Despite their numerical dominance, aspects of the biology of organisms within these systems, particularly macrocrustacea remain poorly understood. This study firstly assessed the abundance and biomass of the most common isopod, Exosphaeroma hylocoetes, in three Eastern Cape TOCE’s, (the West Kleinemonde, East Kleinemonde and Kasouga Estuaries), and their response to mouth breaching events. This study was followed by aspects of the biology of the isopod including their utilisation of submerged macrophytes as a refuge from predation and/or possible food source, as well as the growth rates of the isopods in the laboratory under different environmental conditions. Mean isopod abundances and biomasses ranged between 0 and 4 791 ind. m⁻² and 0 and 9.65 mg dwt. m⁻² in the West Kleinemonde Estuary and between 0 and 108 ind. m⁻² and 0 and 0.318 mg dwt. m⁻² in the nearby East Kleinemonde Estuary. In the Kasouga Estuary, the values ranged between 0 and 3 650 ind. m⁻² and 0 and 5.105 mg dwt. m⁻². Temporal and spatial changes in the abundance and biomass of E. hylocoetes within the three systems was primarily linked to mouth phase, with populations declining when the mouth was open and to a lesser extent, seasonality. In all three estuaries maximum isopod abundances and biomasses were recorded in their middle and upper reaches, which could be ascribed to the presence of submerged macrophytes particularly Ruppia maritima, in two of the estuaries. Males (5.71 ± 0.41 mm) were significantly larger than females (3.99 ± 0.26 mm), but the sex ratios were skewed in favour of females, (a common feature in many isopod populations). Females were found carrying brood throughout the study, releasing offspring directly into the water column, to allow recruitment to the populations. The larger the female, the larger the brood carried (up to a maximum of 72 embryo/mancas). Results of laboratory experiments indicate that the close association of Exosphaeroma hylocoetes with submerged macrophytes is a result of the plant stands providing a refuge against predation by selected ichthyofauna. However stable carbon isotope and fatty acid analyses indicate that E. hylocoetes made use of ephiphytic algae and detritus on the stems of R. maritima, rather than the submerged macrophyte itself. There were no significant differences in the growth rates of male and female isopods at combinations of temperature (15 and 25 °C) and salinity (15 and 35 ‰). Laboratory growth studies revealed that males lived longer than females (25.77 ± 3.40 weeks vs 21.52 ± 3.00 weeks), and therefore achieved larger overall size. Females, however, reached sexual maturity (at 2.5 mm) at a faster rate (two to four weeks) than males (5.5 mm after 6.5 to 11 weeks), dependent on temperature. Exosphaeroma hylocoetes with its association with submerged macrophytes, early maturity, its growth rates and longevity, female-biased sex ratios and year-round breeding, all contribute to its success in temporary open/closed estuaries.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
- Authors: Henninger, Tony Oskar
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Estuaries -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Estuarine ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Isopoda -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Estuarine biology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Ruppia maritima
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:5640 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005322
- Description: Temporarily open/closed estuaries (TOCE’s) are the numerically dominant type of estuary accounting for ≈ 70 % of all estuaries along the South African coastline. Despite their numerical dominance, aspects of the biology of organisms within these systems, particularly macrocrustacea remain poorly understood. This study firstly assessed the abundance and biomass of the most common isopod, Exosphaeroma hylocoetes, in three Eastern Cape TOCE’s, (the West Kleinemonde, East Kleinemonde and Kasouga Estuaries), and their response to mouth breaching events. This study was followed by aspects of the biology of the isopod including their utilisation of submerged macrophytes as a refuge from predation and/or possible food source, as well as the growth rates of the isopods in the laboratory under different environmental conditions. Mean isopod abundances and biomasses ranged between 0 and 4 791 ind. m⁻² and 0 and 9.65 mg dwt. m⁻² in the West Kleinemonde Estuary and between 0 and 108 ind. m⁻² and 0 and 0.318 mg dwt. m⁻² in the nearby East Kleinemonde Estuary. In the Kasouga Estuary, the values ranged between 0 and 3 650 ind. m⁻² and 0 and 5.105 mg dwt. m⁻². Temporal and spatial changes in the abundance and biomass of E. hylocoetes within the three systems was primarily linked to mouth phase, with populations declining when the mouth was open and to a lesser extent, seasonality. In all three estuaries maximum isopod abundances and biomasses were recorded in their middle and upper reaches, which could be ascribed to the presence of submerged macrophytes particularly Ruppia maritima, in two of the estuaries. Males (5.71 ± 0.41 mm) were significantly larger than females (3.99 ± 0.26 mm), but the sex ratios were skewed in favour of females, (a common feature in many isopod populations). Females were found carrying brood throughout the study, releasing offspring directly into the water column, to allow recruitment to the populations. The larger the female, the larger the brood carried (up to a maximum of 72 embryo/mancas). Results of laboratory experiments indicate that the close association of Exosphaeroma hylocoetes with submerged macrophytes is a result of the plant stands providing a refuge against predation by selected ichthyofauna. However stable carbon isotope and fatty acid analyses indicate that E. hylocoetes made use of ephiphytic algae and detritus on the stems of R. maritima, rather than the submerged macrophyte itself. There were no significant differences in the growth rates of male and female isopods at combinations of temperature (15 and 25 °C) and salinity (15 and 35 ‰). Laboratory growth studies revealed that males lived longer than females (25.77 ± 3.40 weeks vs 21.52 ± 3.00 weeks), and therefore achieved larger overall size. Females, however, reached sexual maturity (at 2.5 mm) at a faster rate (two to four weeks) than males (5.5 mm after 6.5 to 11 weeks), dependent on temperature. Exosphaeroma hylocoetes with its association with submerged macrophytes, early maturity, its growth rates and longevity, female-biased sex ratios and year-round breeding, all contribute to its success in temporary open/closed estuaries.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
Assessing entrepreneurship education at secondary schools in the NMBM
- Authors: Sathorar, Heloise Helena
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Business education -- South Africa , Entrepreneurship -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- South Africa , Curriculum planning -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8697 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1081 , Business education -- South Africa , Entrepreneurship -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- South Africa , Curriculum planning -- South Africa
- Description: Entrepreneurship has emerged over the last two decades as arguably the most potent economic force the world has ever experienced (Kuratko, 2005: 577). Entrepreneurship has become a pressing national priority in South Africa as there are simply not enough existing jobs to absorb the influx of school leavers into the labour market (www.ssaci.org.za). The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor study has consistently highlighted the weaknesses in the education system as a factor limiting entrepreneurial activities in South Africa (Orford, 2004: 26). Entrepreneurship education was introduced into the Further Education and Training curriculum (Grades 10-12) in 2006 as part of an optional subject Business Studies (Horn, 2006: 120). Preliminary evidence suggests widespread problems across the country with the implementation of entrepreneurship education programs in schools (Isaacs, Visser, Friedrich and Brijlal, 2007: 618). The primary objective of this study is to improve entrepreneurship education at secondary school level by investigating how effective the current entrepreneurship education program is in providing school leavers with the entrepreneurial knowledge and skills required to start their own business. The study conducted a literature review to establish global trends of entrepreneurship education. Furthermore, a qualitative case study approach was used, where three schools from Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality was selected for collecting data on the progress of entrepreneurship education in secondary schools. The study found that prescribed content for entrepreneurship education is being taught at secondary schools. However, concerns were identified with the methods used to teach entrepreneurship education as it lacked practical exposure to real life situations. The study found that the way in which entrepreneurship education was taught did not motivate school leavers to start their own business. Therefore, the study recommends that entrepreneurship education should be offered as an independent subject and not as part of another subject. Furthermore, a practical approach should be followed in teaching entrepreneurship education. Finally, commitment and collaborative participation by all stakeholders are required to ensure the success of entrepreneurship education.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
- Authors: Sathorar, Heloise Helena
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Business education -- South Africa , Entrepreneurship -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- South Africa , Curriculum planning -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8697 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1081 , Business education -- South Africa , Entrepreneurship -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- South Africa , Curriculum planning -- South Africa
- Description: Entrepreneurship has emerged over the last two decades as arguably the most potent economic force the world has ever experienced (Kuratko, 2005: 577). Entrepreneurship has become a pressing national priority in South Africa as there are simply not enough existing jobs to absorb the influx of school leavers into the labour market (www.ssaci.org.za). The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor study has consistently highlighted the weaknesses in the education system as a factor limiting entrepreneurial activities in South Africa (Orford, 2004: 26). Entrepreneurship education was introduced into the Further Education and Training curriculum (Grades 10-12) in 2006 as part of an optional subject Business Studies (Horn, 2006: 120). Preliminary evidence suggests widespread problems across the country with the implementation of entrepreneurship education programs in schools (Isaacs, Visser, Friedrich and Brijlal, 2007: 618). The primary objective of this study is to improve entrepreneurship education at secondary school level by investigating how effective the current entrepreneurship education program is in providing school leavers with the entrepreneurial knowledge and skills required to start their own business. The study conducted a literature review to establish global trends of entrepreneurship education. Furthermore, a qualitative case study approach was used, where three schools from Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality was selected for collecting data on the progress of entrepreneurship education in secondary schools. The study found that prescribed content for entrepreneurship education is being taught at secondary schools. However, concerns were identified with the methods used to teach entrepreneurship education as it lacked practical exposure to real life situations. The study found that the way in which entrepreneurship education was taught did not motivate school leavers to start their own business. Therefore, the study recommends that entrepreneurship education should be offered as an independent subject and not as part of another subject. Furthermore, a practical approach should be followed in teaching entrepreneurship education. Finally, commitment and collaborative participation by all stakeholders are required to ensure the success of entrepreneurship education.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
Assessing relationship management in Meeg bank in East London
- Ntsunguzi, Carol Ntombemhlophe
- Authors: Ntsunguzi, Carol Ntombemhlophe
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Customer relations -- South Africa -- East London -- Management , Customer relations -- South Africa -- East London , Customer services -- South Africa -- East London , Bank and banking -- Customer Services
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8580 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1147 , Customer relations -- South Africa -- East London -- Management , Customer relations -- South Africa -- East London , Customer services -- South Africa -- East London , Bank and banking -- Customer Services
- Description: Quality of service becomes the main avenue that could be used to gain sustainable competitive advantage. This is due to the fact that the environment within which organisations operate continues to change with respect to customer expectations. The financial sector, in particular the banking industry is not left behind and players in this industry also strive to “up their game” in the competitive market-place. It has become increasingly important for organisations to find ways, not only to reach the top, but to maintain on-going long-term relationship with their customers. This can result in long-term benefits, both for the organisation (by improving marketing productivity) and for the customer (by delivering better quality products). This paper assesses the perception the Business clients/ customers within a business banking environment have about relationship management by Meeg bank in East London branch town of Eastern Cape. A literature survey was undertaken into the importance of Customer Relationship by bank. Questionnaires were sent to all employees of the business clients for their views on Customer Relationship Management (CRM). The result the show importance of the commitment of all employees’ especially senior management is essential for the success of CRM efforts in improving the quality of service offered by an organisation. The research also confirmed the importance of having wide range of options in form of products offered. This will not only benefit the bank in terms of higher profits, but will give the bank the competitive advantage in the market place.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
- Authors: Ntsunguzi, Carol Ntombemhlophe
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Customer relations -- South Africa -- East London -- Management , Customer relations -- South Africa -- East London , Customer services -- South Africa -- East London , Bank and banking -- Customer Services
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8580 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1147 , Customer relations -- South Africa -- East London -- Management , Customer relations -- South Africa -- East London , Customer services -- South Africa -- East London , Bank and banking -- Customer Services
- Description: Quality of service becomes the main avenue that could be used to gain sustainable competitive advantage. This is due to the fact that the environment within which organisations operate continues to change with respect to customer expectations. The financial sector, in particular the banking industry is not left behind and players in this industry also strive to “up their game” in the competitive market-place. It has become increasingly important for organisations to find ways, not only to reach the top, but to maintain on-going long-term relationship with their customers. This can result in long-term benefits, both for the organisation (by improving marketing productivity) and for the customer (by delivering better quality products). This paper assesses the perception the Business clients/ customers within a business banking environment have about relationship management by Meeg bank in East London branch town of Eastern Cape. A literature survey was undertaken into the importance of Customer Relationship by bank. Questionnaires were sent to all employees of the business clients for their views on Customer Relationship Management (CRM). The result the show importance of the commitment of all employees’ especially senior management is essential for the success of CRM efforts in improving the quality of service offered by an organisation. The research also confirmed the importance of having wide range of options in form of products offered. This will not only benefit the bank in terms of higher profits, but will give the bank the competitive advantage in the market place.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
Assessing the impact of loal content policy on youth culture in Mbare Harae: the case of Youth.com
- Authors: Mabika, Memory
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Television and youth -- Zimbabwe , Television programs -- Zimbabwe , Television -- Psychological aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Soc Sc (Com)
- Identifier: vital:11361 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1001275 , Television and youth -- Zimbabwe , Television programs -- Zimbabwe , Television -- Psychological aspects
- Description: The study sought to establish the impact of using the local content policy in reducing television cultural influences on Mbare youth in Zimbabwe. It is assumed that television has ideological and hegemonic functions which have come to dominate the life styles of the youths on issues of dress styles, musical tastes and language, thus threatening and weakening the long established local cultures. Hence the Zimbabwean government’s local content policy was established to reduce influences of alien cultures. This study, therefore, sought to establish if Mbare youth cultures confirm or reject the imitation of television cultures with regard to dress styles, music tastes and language. In addition, the investigation aimed at establishing the feasibility of using the local content policy to reduce foreign cultural intrusions vis-à-vis globalisation challenges. The three theories utilised in the discussion of the influence of television on Mbare youth culture in this study include the cultivation theory, the theory of hegemony and the uses and gratification theory. A qualitative study was adopted to gather data using focus group discussions, questionnaires and semiotic analysis. The sample of the study consisted of 87 participants and 4 Youth.com programmes. The study revealed that television has ideological and hegemonic functions. As such, it tends to be a dominant influence on the life styles and culture of Mbare youths. The study also established that Youth.com influences youth culture through music. In Zimbabwe music has become the most influential aspect of Youth.com despite not being specified in the local content policy on television broadcasting. Furthermore, the study shows that the implications of globalisation on local television content are undermining government efforts to preserve local cultures through the local content policy. The primary reason for this has to do with the fact that Youth.com programme does not contain a higher quota of local content as stipulated in the policy. However, although the local content policy was viewed as a political gimmick, the the study revealed that it was necessary in view of youths’ vulnerability to television’s ideological and hegemonic influences. Nevertheless, in view of the loopholes revealed by this study, the policy requires to be revised to cater for all the essential cultural elements, such as, music, which are allowing alien cultures to penetrate local ways of life. For instance, the urban groove music has major impacts on the culture of Mbare youths.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
- Authors: Mabika, Memory
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Television and youth -- Zimbabwe , Television programs -- Zimbabwe , Television -- Psychological aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Soc Sc (Com)
- Identifier: vital:11361 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1001275 , Television and youth -- Zimbabwe , Television programs -- Zimbabwe , Television -- Psychological aspects
- Description: The study sought to establish the impact of using the local content policy in reducing television cultural influences on Mbare youth in Zimbabwe. It is assumed that television has ideological and hegemonic functions which have come to dominate the life styles of the youths on issues of dress styles, musical tastes and language, thus threatening and weakening the long established local cultures. Hence the Zimbabwean government’s local content policy was established to reduce influences of alien cultures. This study, therefore, sought to establish if Mbare youth cultures confirm or reject the imitation of television cultures with regard to dress styles, music tastes and language. In addition, the investigation aimed at establishing the feasibility of using the local content policy to reduce foreign cultural intrusions vis-à-vis globalisation challenges. The three theories utilised in the discussion of the influence of television on Mbare youth culture in this study include the cultivation theory, the theory of hegemony and the uses and gratification theory. A qualitative study was adopted to gather data using focus group discussions, questionnaires and semiotic analysis. The sample of the study consisted of 87 participants and 4 Youth.com programmes. The study revealed that television has ideological and hegemonic functions. As such, it tends to be a dominant influence on the life styles and culture of Mbare youths. The study also established that Youth.com influences youth culture through music. In Zimbabwe music has become the most influential aspect of Youth.com despite not being specified in the local content policy on television broadcasting. Furthermore, the study shows that the implications of globalisation on local television content are undermining government efforts to preserve local cultures through the local content policy. The primary reason for this has to do with the fact that Youth.com programme does not contain a higher quota of local content as stipulated in the policy. However, although the local content policy was viewed as a political gimmick, the the study revealed that it was necessary in view of youths’ vulnerability to television’s ideological and hegemonic influences. Nevertheless, in view of the loopholes revealed by this study, the policy requires to be revised to cater for all the essential cultural elements, such as, music, which are allowing alien cultures to penetrate local ways of life. For instance, the urban groove music has major impacts on the culture of Mbare youths.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
Assessing the impact of qualified mathematics and science teachers in the Buffalo city area
- Authors: Kopolo, Lungiswa
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Employee retention -- South Africa -- Buffalo City Municipality , Employees -- Recruiting -- South Africa -- Buffalo City Municipality , Mathematics teachers -- South Africa -- Buffalo City Municipality , Science teachers -- South Africa -- Buffalo City Municipality , Education -- Personnel management , School -- Personnel management -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8573 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1173 , Employee retention -- South Africa -- Buffalo City Municipality , Employees -- Recruiting -- South Africa -- Buffalo City Municipality , Mathematics teachers -- South Africa -- Buffalo City Municipality , Science teachers -- South Africa -- Buffalo City Municipality , Education -- Personnel management , School -- Personnel management -- South Africa
- Description: Mathematics and science form an integral part people’s daily lives. South African people suddenly find themselves on a technological highway, where mathematical, scientific and creative thinking as well as problem solving skills take centre stage. However many people fear these, and believe that they are unable to tackle them. Mathematics and science educators therefore have need to have knowledge and understanding regarding 6 the foundation of the teaching of these subjects in the intermediate and senior phases at schools. This should enable them to contribute positively towards changing people’s perceptions about these subjects. Based on the above information I felt it imperative for me to investigate the impact of shortages of maths and science educators with special reference to the Buffalo City Area. Purpose of the study: 1 To determine whether schools are able to attract and retain qualified maths and science educators, 2 To identify the quantity of quality maths and science learners schools are able to produce for tertiary education, 3 To investigate the rate of turnover of maths and science educators, 4 To identify the number of maths and science learners who are willing to study maths and science at tertiary level and thereafter join the teaching fraternity.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
- Authors: Kopolo, Lungiswa
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Employee retention -- South Africa -- Buffalo City Municipality , Employees -- Recruiting -- South Africa -- Buffalo City Municipality , Mathematics teachers -- South Africa -- Buffalo City Municipality , Science teachers -- South Africa -- Buffalo City Municipality , Education -- Personnel management , School -- Personnel management -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8573 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1173 , Employee retention -- South Africa -- Buffalo City Municipality , Employees -- Recruiting -- South Africa -- Buffalo City Municipality , Mathematics teachers -- South Africa -- Buffalo City Municipality , Science teachers -- South Africa -- Buffalo City Municipality , Education -- Personnel management , School -- Personnel management -- South Africa
- Description: Mathematics and science form an integral part people’s daily lives. South African people suddenly find themselves on a technological highway, where mathematical, scientific and creative thinking as well as problem solving skills take centre stage. However many people fear these, and believe that they are unable to tackle them. Mathematics and science educators therefore have need to have knowledge and understanding regarding 6 the foundation of the teaching of these subjects in the intermediate and senior phases at schools. This should enable them to contribute positively towards changing people’s perceptions about these subjects. Based on the above information I felt it imperative for me to investigate the impact of shortages of maths and science educators with special reference to the Buffalo City Area. Purpose of the study: 1 To determine whether schools are able to attract and retain qualified maths and science educators, 2 To identify the quantity of quality maths and science learners schools are able to produce for tertiary education, 3 To investigate the rate of turnover of maths and science educators, 4 To identify the number of maths and science learners who are willing to study maths and science at tertiary level and thereafter join the teaching fraternity.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
Assessment and monitoring of land degradation using remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS): a case study of Qoqodala within the Wit-Kei catchment in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Ngcofe, Luncedo Dalithemba Sanelisiwe
- Authors: Ngcofe, Luncedo Dalithemba Sanelisiwe
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Geographic information systems -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Remote sensing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Land degradation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4818 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005492 , Geographic information systems -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Remote sensing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Land degradation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Land degradation is a global problem affecting many countries including South Africa. This study was conducted in order to assess and monitor the nature and extent of land degradation within Qoqodala in the Eastern Cape Province, of South Africa. The study used GIS and Remote Sensing techniques together with household interviews in determining extent, spatial characteristics and nature of land degradation within the study area. Vegetation cover and bare-ground change were the land degradation indicators assessed and monitored by this study. Through RGB band combination, Tasselled Cap Analysis and Unsupervised ISODATA classification techniques, Landsat images over the past eighteen years (1984, 1993, 1996, 2000 and 2002) have been analysed. The results showed that there is vegetation cover and bare-ground increase in the study area. The vegetation increase has been seen as a sign of land degradation increase due to the encroachment of indigenous vegetation by Euryops species (also known as Lapesi by the local community). The bare-ground land degradation indicator has also increased. The analyses of slope showed the spatial characteristics of bare-ground occurring on moderate to flat slopes while vegetation cover occurs on steep to very steep slopes. Furthermore the photographs captured during field visits show rills and gullies or dongas occurring on bare-ground. The interviewed respondents indicated that decline in food production, increase in dongas and vast increase in Euryops and a decline in grassland are the indicators of degradation that are observed in the study area. The occurrence of erosion features (rills and dongas) on bare-ground and the increase of vegetation shown by GIS and Remote Sensing techniques showed a positive correlation with field and household survey towards establishing the nature of land degradation. In this study Landsat images together with interviews proved to be a very useful tool for land degradation research. However the suggestion of a higher spatial resolution satellite image on small catchment studies is recommended
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
- Authors: Ngcofe, Luncedo Dalithemba Sanelisiwe
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Geographic information systems -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Remote sensing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Land degradation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4818 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005492 , Geographic information systems -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Remote sensing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Land degradation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Land degradation is a global problem affecting many countries including South Africa. This study was conducted in order to assess and monitor the nature and extent of land degradation within Qoqodala in the Eastern Cape Province, of South Africa. The study used GIS and Remote Sensing techniques together with household interviews in determining extent, spatial characteristics and nature of land degradation within the study area. Vegetation cover and bare-ground change were the land degradation indicators assessed and monitored by this study. Through RGB band combination, Tasselled Cap Analysis and Unsupervised ISODATA classification techniques, Landsat images over the past eighteen years (1984, 1993, 1996, 2000 and 2002) have been analysed. The results showed that there is vegetation cover and bare-ground increase in the study area. The vegetation increase has been seen as a sign of land degradation increase due to the encroachment of indigenous vegetation by Euryops species (also known as Lapesi by the local community). The bare-ground land degradation indicator has also increased. The analyses of slope showed the spatial characteristics of bare-ground occurring on moderate to flat slopes while vegetation cover occurs on steep to very steep slopes. Furthermore the photographs captured during field visits show rills and gullies or dongas occurring on bare-ground. The interviewed respondents indicated that decline in food production, increase in dongas and vast increase in Euryops and a decline in grassland are the indicators of degradation that are observed in the study area. The occurrence of erosion features (rills and dongas) on bare-ground and the increase of vegetation shown by GIS and Remote Sensing techniques showed a positive correlation with field and household survey towards establishing the nature of land degradation. In this study Landsat images together with interviews proved to be a very useful tool for land degradation research. However the suggestion of a higher spatial resolution satellite image on small catchment studies is recommended
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
Assessment of the quality of primary health care services rendered at Moses Mabida Clinic
- Authors: Tsetswa, Mncedisi Patrick
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Primary health care -- South Africa , Health facilities
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8727 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/880 , Primary health care -- South Africa , Health facilities
- Description: Health is a basic human right enshrined in the South African Constitution. It is the responsibility of government to ensure that the nation is healthy because good health is a prerequisite for social and economic development as well as an outcome of that process. Special attention on the healthcare needs of rural communities should be given because these communities were the worst affected by the legacy of the apartheid regime. Moses Mabida community is no exception. Since the advent of democracy, work has been done to ensure that adequate primary health care services are delivered to previously disadvantaged communities such as Moses Mabida. To monitor progress on health care service delivery, evaluation of these services is needed. The evaluation of these services will help identify the strengths and weaknesses so as to come up with quality improvement strategies, hence this study. This study takes form of an assessment survey involving a literature review and a survey of members of the Moses Mabida community who depend on the clinic for their health care needs. The literature identified best practice models of primary health care and these were used as an analytic tool to determine to what extent the primary health care services at Moses Mabida comply with national and international standards. It has been shown that the primary health care services at Moses Mabida Clinic largely comply with national and international standards although several recommendations have been presented for consideration.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
- Authors: Tsetswa, Mncedisi Patrick
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Primary health care -- South Africa , Health facilities
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8727 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/880 , Primary health care -- South Africa , Health facilities
- Description: Health is a basic human right enshrined in the South African Constitution. It is the responsibility of government to ensure that the nation is healthy because good health is a prerequisite for social and economic development as well as an outcome of that process. Special attention on the healthcare needs of rural communities should be given because these communities were the worst affected by the legacy of the apartheid regime. Moses Mabida community is no exception. Since the advent of democracy, work has been done to ensure that adequate primary health care services are delivered to previously disadvantaged communities such as Moses Mabida. To monitor progress on health care service delivery, evaluation of these services is needed. The evaluation of these services will help identify the strengths and weaknesses so as to come up with quality improvement strategies, hence this study. This study takes form of an assessment survey involving a literature review and a survey of members of the Moses Mabida community who depend on the clinic for their health care needs. The literature identified best practice models of primary health care and these were used as an analytic tool to determine to what extent the primary health care services at Moses Mabida comply with national and international standards. It has been shown that the primary health care services at Moses Mabida Clinic largely comply with national and international standards although several recommendations have been presented for consideration.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
Attitudes and perceptions towards TB in Grahamstown East in a time of HIV/AIDS
- Authors: Ndoro, Tinashe T. R
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Tuberculosis -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , AIDS (Disease) -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , HIV (Viruses) -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Tuberculosis -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Tuberculosis -- Prevention -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , AIDS (Disease) -- South Africa -- Grahamstown -- Public opinion , Tuberculosis -- South Africa -- Grahamstown -- Public opinion , Health surveys -- South Africa -- Grahamstown
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:3030 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002539 , Tuberculosis -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , AIDS (Disease) -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , HIV (Viruses) -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Tuberculosis -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Tuberculosis -- Prevention -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , AIDS (Disease) -- South Africa -- Grahamstown -- Public opinion , Tuberculosis -- South Africa -- Grahamstown -- Public opinion , Health surveys -- South Africa -- Grahamstown
- Description: Tuberculosis (TB) has become a serious South African health problem because it is the most common opportunistic disease that leads to death in people with HIV/AIDS. Due to the airborne nature of the disease it can easily be spread to anyone including healthy people. A lack of compliance to treatment by TB patients explains why prevalence rates of the disease are high and why there is an emergence of drug resistant strains such as XDR-TB and MDR-TB. Information on existing knowledge, attitudes and perceptions regarding TB can provide a crucial foundation for the development of educational programmes and interventions aimed at reducing the further spread of the disease. This study aimed at understanding the knowledge, attitudes and perceptions towards TB and relating these to the current prevalence of HIV/AIDS. A face-to-face interview survey was conducted among adult Grahamstown East residents (n=1020). The Health Belief Model (Rosenstock et al., 1994) and Bandura’s (1986) Social Cognitive Theory formed the theoretical framework of the data collection and analysis. The data generated from the field work was first descriptively analysed providing frequency tables. Thereafter cross tabulations were calculated for relevant items using independent variables, namely gender, level of education, and experience of dealing with TB. The results of the study show that, in general, knowledge concerning TB was sufficient to provide a foundation for the adoption of healthier behaviours in the female respondents. Few of the respondents reported feeling personally susceptible although the majority of the respondents acknowledged the severity of the disease. The cues to action lacked the influence to persuade people to adopt positive health related behaviours. The perceived benefits of adopting preventative behaviour were not very influential in the adoption of healthier behavioural changes in the respondents. Disease stigma regarding the dual association of TB and HIV/AIDS was the main barrier for the adoption of healthier behavioural attitudes. Perceived self-efficacy in preventative behaviours was generally low in the less educated respondents. Recommendations regarding areas for future research and change interventions are provided.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
- Authors: Ndoro, Tinashe T. R
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Tuberculosis -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , AIDS (Disease) -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , HIV (Viruses) -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Tuberculosis -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Tuberculosis -- Prevention -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , AIDS (Disease) -- South Africa -- Grahamstown -- Public opinion , Tuberculosis -- South Africa -- Grahamstown -- Public opinion , Health surveys -- South Africa -- Grahamstown
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:3030 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002539 , Tuberculosis -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , AIDS (Disease) -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , HIV (Viruses) -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Tuberculosis -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Tuberculosis -- Prevention -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , AIDS (Disease) -- South Africa -- Grahamstown -- Public opinion , Tuberculosis -- South Africa -- Grahamstown -- Public opinion , Health surveys -- South Africa -- Grahamstown
- Description: Tuberculosis (TB) has become a serious South African health problem because it is the most common opportunistic disease that leads to death in people with HIV/AIDS. Due to the airborne nature of the disease it can easily be spread to anyone including healthy people. A lack of compliance to treatment by TB patients explains why prevalence rates of the disease are high and why there is an emergence of drug resistant strains such as XDR-TB and MDR-TB. Information on existing knowledge, attitudes and perceptions regarding TB can provide a crucial foundation for the development of educational programmes and interventions aimed at reducing the further spread of the disease. This study aimed at understanding the knowledge, attitudes and perceptions towards TB and relating these to the current prevalence of HIV/AIDS. A face-to-face interview survey was conducted among adult Grahamstown East residents (n=1020). The Health Belief Model (Rosenstock et al., 1994) and Bandura’s (1986) Social Cognitive Theory formed the theoretical framework of the data collection and analysis. The data generated from the field work was first descriptively analysed providing frequency tables. Thereafter cross tabulations were calculated for relevant items using independent variables, namely gender, level of education, and experience of dealing with TB. The results of the study show that, in general, knowledge concerning TB was sufficient to provide a foundation for the adoption of healthier behaviours in the female respondents. Few of the respondents reported feeling personally susceptible although the majority of the respondents acknowledged the severity of the disease. The cues to action lacked the influence to persuade people to adopt positive health related behaviours. The perceived benefits of adopting preventative behaviour were not very influential in the adoption of healthier behavioural changes in the respondents. Disease stigma regarding the dual association of TB and HIV/AIDS was the main barrier for the adoption of healthier behavioural attitudes. Perceived self-efficacy in preventative behaviours was generally low in the less educated respondents. Recommendations regarding areas for future research and change interventions are provided.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
Augmenting an e-Commerce service for Marginalized Communities: A Rewards Based Marketing Approach
- Jere, Norbert R, Thinyane, Mamello, Terzoli, Alfredo
- Authors: Jere, Norbert R , Thinyane, Mamello , Terzoli, Alfredo
- Date: 2009
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/428463 , vital:72513 , https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Alfredo-Terzoli/publication/228968666_Augmenting_an_e-Com-merce_service_for_Marginalized_Communities_A_Rewards_Based_Marketing_Approach/links/09e4151344c1f615f7000000/Augmenting-an-e-Commerce-service-for-Marginalized-Communities-A-Rewards-Based-Marketing-Approach.pdf
- Description: Information and Communication technologies (ICTs) have been widely deployed in developmental programmes and this has lead to the crea-tion of a new field–ICT for development (ICT4D). Many e-Commerce platforms now exist in many rural areas in developing countries. ICT4D allows Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) in rural areas to increase sales and gain the market share on the global market. Howev-er, many of these ICT4D projects in marginalized areas fail as a result of lacking the required resources to support ICTs. SMMEs in rural areas face problems in marketing their products on the global market. There-fore, ensuring sustainability of such systems in marginalized areas is important. This paper explains an e-Marketing strategy through a re-ward based negotiation application, aimed at improving the existing e-Commerce platform. The e-Commerce platform has been deployed for the Dwesa community. Dwesa is a rural area in the Eastern Cape prov-ince of South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
- Authors: Jere, Norbert R , Thinyane, Mamello , Terzoli, Alfredo
- Date: 2009
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/428463 , vital:72513 , https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Alfredo-Terzoli/publication/228968666_Augmenting_an_e-Com-merce_service_for_Marginalized_Communities_A_Rewards_Based_Marketing_Approach/links/09e4151344c1f615f7000000/Augmenting-an-e-Commerce-service-for-Marginalized-Communities-A-Rewards-Based-Marketing-Approach.pdf
- Description: Information and Communication technologies (ICTs) have been widely deployed in developmental programmes and this has lead to the crea-tion of a new field–ICT for development (ICT4D). Many e-Commerce platforms now exist in many rural areas in developing countries. ICT4D allows Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) in rural areas to increase sales and gain the market share on the global market. Howev-er, many of these ICT4D projects in marginalized areas fail as a result of lacking the required resources to support ICTs. SMMEs in rural areas face problems in marketing their products on the global market. There-fore, ensuring sustainability of such systems in marginalized areas is important. This paper explains an e-Marketing strategy through a re-ward based negotiation application, aimed at improving the existing e-Commerce platform. The e-Commerce platform has been deployed for the Dwesa community. Dwesa is a rural area in the Eastern Cape prov-ince of South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
Automated Firewall Rule Set Generation Through Passive Traffic Inspection
- Pranschke, Georg-Christian, Irwin, Barry V W, Barnett, Richard J
- Authors: Pranschke, Georg-Christian , Irwin, Barry V W , Barnett, Richard J
- Date: 2009
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/428659 , vital:72527 , https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-3660-5_56
- Description: Introducing rewalls and other choke point controls in existing networks is often problematic, because in the majority of cases there is already production tra c in place that cannot be interrupted. This often necessitates the time consuming manual analysis of network tra c in order to ensure that when a new system is installed, there is no disruption to legitimate ows. To improve upon this situation it is proposed that a system facilitating network tra c analysis and rewall rule set generation is developed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
- Authors: Pranschke, Georg-Christian , Irwin, Barry V W , Barnett, Richard J
- Date: 2009
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/428659 , vital:72527 , https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-3660-5_56
- Description: Introducing rewalls and other choke point controls in existing networks is often problematic, because in the majority of cases there is already production tra c in place that cannot be interrupted. This often necessitates the time consuming manual analysis of network tra c in order to ensure that when a new system is installed, there is no disruption to legitimate ows. To improve upon this situation it is proposed that a system facilitating network tra c analysis and rewall rule set generation is developed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
Automating the conversion of natural language fiction to multi-modal 3D animated virtual environments
- Authors: Glass, Kevin Robert
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Virtual computer systems , Virtual storage (Computer science) , Virtual reality , Computer animation , Fiction -- Computer programs , Narration (Rhetoric) -- Computer simulation , Animation (Cinematography) , Natural language processing (Computer Science)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4632 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006518
- Description: Popular fiction books describe rich visual environments that contain characters, objects, and behaviour. This research develops automated processes for converting text sourced from fiction books into animated virtual environments and multi-modal films. This involves the analysis of unrestricted natural language fiction to identify appropriate visual descriptions, and the interpretation of the identified descriptions for constructing animated 3D virtual environments. The goal of the text analysis stage is the creation of annotated fiction text, which identifies visual descriptions in a structured manner. A hierarchical rule-based learning system is created that induces patterns from example annotations provided by a human, and uses these for the creation of additional annotations. Patterns are expressed as tree structures that abstract the input text on different levels according to structural (token, sentence) and syntactic (parts-of-speech, syntactic function) categories. Patterns are generalized using pair-wise merging, where dissimilar sub-trees are replaced with wild-cards. The result is a small set of generalized patterns that are able to create correct annotations. A set of generalized patterns represents a model of an annotator's mental process regarding a particular annotation category. Annotated text is interpreted automatically for constructing detailed scene descriptions. This includes identifying which scenes to visualize, and identifying the contents and behaviour in each scene. Entity behaviour in a 3D virtual environment is formulated using time-based constraints that are automatically derived from annotations. Constraints are expressed as non-linear symbolic functions that restrict the trajectories of a pair of entities over a continuous interval of time. Solutions to these constraints specify precise behaviour. We create an innovative quantified constraint optimizer for locating sound solutions, which uses interval arithmetic for treating time and space as contiguous quantities. This optimization method uses a technique of constraint relaxation and tightening that allows solution approximations to be located where constraint systems are inconsistent (an ability not previously explored in interval-based quantified constraint solving). 3D virtual environments are populated by automatically selecting geometric models or procedural geometry-creation methods from a library. 3D models are animated according to trajectories derived from constraint solutions. The final animated film is sequenced using a range of modalities including animated 3D graphics, textual subtitles, audio narrations, and foleys. Hierarchical rule-based learning is evaluated over a range of annotation categories. Models are induced for different categories of annotation without modifying the core learning algorithms, and these models are shown to be applicable to different types of books. Models are induced automatically with accuracies ranging between 51.4% and 90.4%, depending on the category. We show that models are refined if further examples are provided, and this supports a boot-strapping process for training the learning mechanism. The task of interpreting annotated fiction text and populating 3D virtual environments is successfully automated using our described techniques. Detailed scene descriptions are created accurately, where between 83% and 96% of the automatically generated descriptions require no manual modification (depending on the type of description). The interval-based quantified constraint optimizer fully automates the behaviour specification process. Sample animated multi-modal 3D films are created using extracts from fiction books that are unrestricted in terms of complexity or subject matter (unlike existing text-to-graphics systems). These examples demonstrate that: behaviour is visualized that corresponds to the descriptions in the original text; appropriate geometry is selected (or created) for visualizing entities in each scene; sequences of scenes are created for a film-like presentation of the story; and that multiple modalities are combined to create a coherent multi-modal representation of the fiction text. This research demonstrates that visual descriptions in fiction text can be automatically identified, and that these descriptions can be converted into corresponding animated virtual environments. Unlike existing text-to-graphics systems, we describe techniques that function over unrestricted natural language text and perform the conversion process without the need for manually constructed repositories of world knowledge. This enables the rapid production of animated 3D virtual environments, allowing the human designer to focus on creative aspects.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
- Authors: Glass, Kevin Robert
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Virtual computer systems , Virtual storage (Computer science) , Virtual reality , Computer animation , Fiction -- Computer programs , Narration (Rhetoric) -- Computer simulation , Animation (Cinematography) , Natural language processing (Computer Science)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4632 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006518
- Description: Popular fiction books describe rich visual environments that contain characters, objects, and behaviour. This research develops automated processes for converting text sourced from fiction books into animated virtual environments and multi-modal films. This involves the analysis of unrestricted natural language fiction to identify appropriate visual descriptions, and the interpretation of the identified descriptions for constructing animated 3D virtual environments. The goal of the text analysis stage is the creation of annotated fiction text, which identifies visual descriptions in a structured manner. A hierarchical rule-based learning system is created that induces patterns from example annotations provided by a human, and uses these for the creation of additional annotations. Patterns are expressed as tree structures that abstract the input text on different levels according to structural (token, sentence) and syntactic (parts-of-speech, syntactic function) categories. Patterns are generalized using pair-wise merging, where dissimilar sub-trees are replaced with wild-cards. The result is a small set of generalized patterns that are able to create correct annotations. A set of generalized patterns represents a model of an annotator's mental process regarding a particular annotation category. Annotated text is interpreted automatically for constructing detailed scene descriptions. This includes identifying which scenes to visualize, and identifying the contents and behaviour in each scene. Entity behaviour in a 3D virtual environment is formulated using time-based constraints that are automatically derived from annotations. Constraints are expressed as non-linear symbolic functions that restrict the trajectories of a pair of entities over a continuous interval of time. Solutions to these constraints specify precise behaviour. We create an innovative quantified constraint optimizer for locating sound solutions, which uses interval arithmetic for treating time and space as contiguous quantities. This optimization method uses a technique of constraint relaxation and tightening that allows solution approximations to be located where constraint systems are inconsistent (an ability not previously explored in interval-based quantified constraint solving). 3D virtual environments are populated by automatically selecting geometric models or procedural geometry-creation methods from a library. 3D models are animated according to trajectories derived from constraint solutions. The final animated film is sequenced using a range of modalities including animated 3D graphics, textual subtitles, audio narrations, and foleys. Hierarchical rule-based learning is evaluated over a range of annotation categories. Models are induced for different categories of annotation without modifying the core learning algorithms, and these models are shown to be applicable to different types of books. Models are induced automatically with accuracies ranging between 51.4% and 90.4%, depending on the category. We show that models are refined if further examples are provided, and this supports a boot-strapping process for training the learning mechanism. The task of interpreting annotated fiction text and populating 3D virtual environments is successfully automated using our described techniques. Detailed scene descriptions are created accurately, where between 83% and 96% of the automatically generated descriptions require no manual modification (depending on the type of description). The interval-based quantified constraint optimizer fully automates the behaviour specification process. Sample animated multi-modal 3D films are created using extracts from fiction books that are unrestricted in terms of complexity or subject matter (unlike existing text-to-graphics systems). These examples demonstrate that: behaviour is visualized that corresponds to the descriptions in the original text; appropriate geometry is selected (or created) for visualizing entities in each scene; sequences of scenes are created for a film-like presentation of the story; and that multiple modalities are combined to create a coherent multi-modal representation of the fiction text. This research demonstrates that visual descriptions in fiction text can be automatically identified, and that these descriptions can be converted into corresponding animated virtual environments. Unlike existing text-to-graphics systems, we describe techniques that function over unrestricted natural language text and perform the conversion process without the need for manually constructed repositories of world knowledge. This enables the rapid production of animated 3D virtual environments, allowing the human designer to focus on creative aspects.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
Awareness, attitudes and referral practices of health care providers to psychological services in Botswana
- Authors: July, Emma
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Medical care -- Botswana -- Psychological aspects , Public health -- Botswana -- Psychological aspects , Attitude (Psychology) -- Botswana , Medical personnel -- Botswana , Medical personnel -- Attitudes , Primary health care -- Botswana , Awareness
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9889 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1166 , Medical care -- Botswana -- Psychological aspects , Public health -- Botswana -- Psychological aspects , Attitude (Psychology) -- Botswana , Medical personnel -- Botswana , Medical personnel -- Attitudes , Primary health care -- Botswana , Awareness
- Description: The provision of psychological services is vital considering the complex nature of psychosocial issues facing people today. Nevertheless, the provision and utilization of psychological services has not been given due recognition in most African countries, including Botswana. Botswana is one of the countries faced by the challenges of the HIV/AIDS pandemic and other mental health problems, as well as poverty and unemployment. To date statistics on the magnitude of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Botswana, published annually by the National AIDS Coordinating Agency (NACA) reflect an increased rate of mental illness and psychosocial problems. Considering the complex nature of issues that impact negatively on people in Botswana, there is a need for awareness and the provision of psychological services in the primary health care system. There is little research on the place of psychology and psychological services in Botswana. The availability of such information is crucial for the planning of effective community-based psychological services. The present study employed a quantitative research method to explore and describe awareness and attitudes towards psychological services and referral practices in relation to psychological problems, of health care providers in Botswana. The participants in the study were chosen, based on a non-probability, purposive sampling method. The sample consisted of ninety-six persons and constituted medical doctors, nurses, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses and clinical social workers from governmental and non-governmental institutions from Gaborone and Francistown in Botswana. Data were analyzed by means of descriptive statistics in order to identify the mean, ranges and standard deviations. Frequency counts and percentages of the participants’ responses were computed. The results of the study revealed an awareness of available psychological services, positive attitudes towards psychology and psychological services and a reasonable percentage of referrals to psychological services. The results also revealed that available psychological services were limited and not easily accessible to patients. There was also an indication of a shortage of trained professionals to offer psychological services in health care centres, which resulted in psychological problems being referred to social workers.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
- Authors: July, Emma
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Medical care -- Botswana -- Psychological aspects , Public health -- Botswana -- Psychological aspects , Attitude (Psychology) -- Botswana , Medical personnel -- Botswana , Medical personnel -- Attitudes , Primary health care -- Botswana , Awareness
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9889 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1166 , Medical care -- Botswana -- Psychological aspects , Public health -- Botswana -- Psychological aspects , Attitude (Psychology) -- Botswana , Medical personnel -- Botswana , Medical personnel -- Attitudes , Primary health care -- Botswana , Awareness
- Description: The provision of psychological services is vital considering the complex nature of psychosocial issues facing people today. Nevertheless, the provision and utilization of psychological services has not been given due recognition in most African countries, including Botswana. Botswana is one of the countries faced by the challenges of the HIV/AIDS pandemic and other mental health problems, as well as poverty and unemployment. To date statistics on the magnitude of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Botswana, published annually by the National AIDS Coordinating Agency (NACA) reflect an increased rate of mental illness and psychosocial problems. Considering the complex nature of issues that impact negatively on people in Botswana, there is a need for awareness and the provision of psychological services in the primary health care system. There is little research on the place of psychology and psychological services in Botswana. The availability of such information is crucial for the planning of effective community-based psychological services. The present study employed a quantitative research method to explore and describe awareness and attitudes towards psychological services and referral practices in relation to psychological problems, of health care providers in Botswana. The participants in the study were chosen, based on a non-probability, purposive sampling method. The sample consisted of ninety-six persons and constituted medical doctors, nurses, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses and clinical social workers from governmental and non-governmental institutions from Gaborone and Francistown in Botswana. Data were analyzed by means of descriptive statistics in order to identify the mean, ranges and standard deviations. Frequency counts and percentages of the participants’ responses were computed. The results of the study revealed an awareness of available psychological services, positive attitudes towards psychology and psychological services and a reasonable percentage of referrals to psychological services. The results also revealed that available psychological services were limited and not easily accessible to patients. There was also an indication of a shortage of trained professionals to offer psychological services in health care centres, which resulted in psychological problems being referred to social workers.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009