A structural modeling notation for the typed functional paradigm
- Authors: Motara, Yusuf, M
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/428948 , vital:72548 , https://doi.org/10.1145/3341105.3373863
- Description: Although typed functional programming is becoming increasingly important for practical software development, it remains inaccessible from a modeling perspective. This paper develops and theoretically justifies an initial best-practices notation for the typed functional paradigm. A small case study explores how the same scenario is modeled differently in the object-oriented and typed functional paradigms, and it is argued that the notation developed is a necessary step on the path to a more comprehensive notation for modeling within the paradigm.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Motara, Yusuf, M
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/428948 , vital:72548 , https://doi.org/10.1145/3341105.3373863
- Description: Although typed functional programming is becoming increasingly important for practical software development, it remains inaccessible from a modeling perspective. This paper develops and theoretically justifies an initial best-practices notation for the typed functional paradigm. A small case study explores how the same scenario is modeled differently in the object-oriented and typed functional paradigms, and it is argued that the notation developed is a necessary step on the path to a more comprehensive notation for modeling within the paradigm.
- Full Text:
A study of why some physic concepts in the South African Physical Science curriculum are poorly understood in order to develop a targeted action-research intervention for Newton’s second law
- Authors: Cobbing, Kathleen Margaret
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Physics -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- South Africa , Physics -- Examinations, questions, etc. -- South Africa , Motion -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/146903 , vital:38575
- Description: Globally, many students show a poor understanding of concepts in high school physics and lack the necessary problem-solving skills that the course demands. The application of Newton’s second law was found to be particularly problematic through document analysis of South African examination feedback reports, as well as from an analysis of the physics examinations at a pair of well-resourced South African independent schools that follow the Independent Examination Board curriculum. Through an action-research approach, a resource for use by students was designed and modified to improve students’ understanding of this concept, while modelling problemsolving methods. The resource consisted of brief revision notes, worked examples and scaffolded exercises. The design of the resource was influenced by the theory of cognitive apprenticeship, cognitive load theory and conceptual change theory. One of the aims of the resource was to encourage students to translate between the different representations of a problem situation: symbolic, abstract, model and concrete. The impact of this resource was evaluated at a pair of schools using a mixed methods approach. This incorporated pre- and post-tests for a quantitative assessment, qualitative student evaluations and the analysis of examination scripts. There was an improvement from pre- to post-test for all four iterations of the intervention and these improvements were shown to be significant. The use of the resource led to an increase in the quality and quantity of diagrams drawn by students in subsequent assessments.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Cobbing, Kathleen Margaret
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Physics -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- South Africa , Physics -- Examinations, questions, etc. -- South Africa , Motion -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/146903 , vital:38575
- Description: Globally, many students show a poor understanding of concepts in high school physics and lack the necessary problem-solving skills that the course demands. The application of Newton’s second law was found to be particularly problematic through document analysis of South African examination feedback reports, as well as from an analysis of the physics examinations at a pair of well-resourced South African independent schools that follow the Independent Examination Board curriculum. Through an action-research approach, a resource for use by students was designed and modified to improve students’ understanding of this concept, while modelling problemsolving methods. The resource consisted of brief revision notes, worked examples and scaffolded exercises. The design of the resource was influenced by the theory of cognitive apprenticeship, cognitive load theory and conceptual change theory. One of the aims of the resource was to encourage students to translate between the different representations of a problem situation: symbolic, abstract, model and concrete. The impact of this resource was evaluated at a pair of schools using a mixed methods approach. This incorporated pre- and post-tests for a quantitative assessment, qualitative student evaluations and the analysis of examination scripts. There was an improvement from pre- to post-test for all four iterations of the intervention and these improvements were shown to be significant. The use of the resource led to an increase in the quality and quantity of diagrams drawn by students in subsequent assessments.
- Full Text:
A study on reporting and learning in three natural resource management programmes in South Africa
- Authors: Mushwana, Vhutshilo Mudau
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Natural resources -- Management -- South Africa -- Case studies , Working for Water Programme , South African National Parks , Kruger to Canyon , Association for Water and Rural Development (South Africa) , RESILiM-Olifants Programme , Active learning -- South Africa , Environmental reporting , Environmental reporting -- South Africa -- Case studies
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/167586 , vital:41494
- Description: This is a case study that focuses on three Natural Resource Management programmes, namely: the Department of Environmental Affair’s Working for Water Programme, the Kruger to Canyon SANParks Biodiversity Social Projects as well as AWARD’s programme for Resilience in the Limpopo-Olifants Basin. All three programmes are being implemented in the Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces of South Africa. As a monitoring and evaluation officer at AWARD, I was part of the team that developed a strategy to enable learning through monitoring, evaluation and reporting, and this sparked my interest in understanding how other programmes might be approaching this. The focus of the study is on the role of reporting, as part of programme monitoring and evaluation, as a means to support learning of both programme implementers and organisations. An in-depth description of each case has been provided to enable an understanding of the overall reporting system, how reporting may play a role in supporting individual and organisational learning, and what factors enable or constrain learning in association with reporting. The research was descriptive and interpretive as the first phase of a possible extended study engaging organisations in exploring how to strengthen reporting for learning. The participants and organisations were sampled using both purposive and convenience sampling. Data was collected through 17 key informant interviews; observations during two learning events; and, the collection and review of numerous documents (guides, reports, templates etc.). The data was analysed through qualitative content analysis using two frameworks: Argyris’ three loops of learning (1974;1978) and the Cultural-Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) lens (Engeström, 1987). The former was useful for bounding the types of learning to identify, and the latter for surfacing contradictions that can be explored in organisational development processes. Through the analysis of the data and literature, the following insights were gained: All three programmes have been ‘thinking’ about learning, but only in the case of AWARD was reporting associated with learning; in all three programmes, additional spaces have been designed to facilitate learning. Although programmes might not necessarily focus on reporting for learning, their reports do indicate a potential for facilitating reflection and thus learning. The organisational culture in government-based reporting systems is, however, strongly geared to performance management, accounting for resources spent, meeting targets and eliminating mistakes. Reports are used to guide planning, to account to the funder and to release further funding.. In this context only single and double loop learning is in evidence. Programme participants did raise ‘triple loop’ questions about whether the programme or system overall was working, but there did not seem to be space for such questions, in the reporting or the learning events, and there was no evidence that they were addressed. In the case of AWARD, spaces were created through reporting to encourage learning. This worked sometimes to enable learning but not always due to, for example, time constraints and competing responsibilities. There are certain aspects to consider when designing reporting that seem to support learning (see below). The process of using reporting for learning takes time and organisations might not get this right the first time around. Reflection opportunities are only experienced as enabling if participants have the space and power to act on the reflections, or see others acting on them to address issues, otherwise they get frustrated. Steps that could assist programmes in improving reporting to enable learning are: Adding to reporting templates a space for reflections to ensure that while the programme reports on the quantitative data needed for accountability purposes, it also creates additional space (without unduly increasing reporting responsibilities) for implementers’ learning. Encouraging discussion about ‘mistakes’ such as failures to meet targets, why they occur, and what we can learn from them. Allowing programme implementers to give feedback on their reporting challenges and take measures to support them, e.g. make adjustments to templates. Understanding the programme’s definition of learning, and the diverse learning needs that may be involved, which can contribute to a working strategy that the organisation can build on when initiating learning spaces. When learning events are organised, taking the inputs of participants seriously and developing ways in which these could be taken further into actions from which further learning can stem; reflecting on and raising issues without an opportunity for action is frustrating. The process of enabling reporting for learning takes time and organisations might not get it right the first time around (trial and error) and a strategy that worked for one organisation might not necessarily work for the next. When designing a learning strategy as part of a monitoring, evaluation and reporting framework, it is therefore important to consider the needs of the organisation and to work with implementers to develop and refine this over time. The thesis concludes with comments on the limitations of the study, the methodology and the analytical frameworks used, and finally, provides recommendations for further research.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Mushwana, Vhutshilo Mudau
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Natural resources -- Management -- South Africa -- Case studies , Working for Water Programme , South African National Parks , Kruger to Canyon , Association for Water and Rural Development (South Africa) , RESILiM-Olifants Programme , Active learning -- South Africa , Environmental reporting , Environmental reporting -- South Africa -- Case studies
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/167586 , vital:41494
- Description: This is a case study that focuses on three Natural Resource Management programmes, namely: the Department of Environmental Affair’s Working for Water Programme, the Kruger to Canyon SANParks Biodiversity Social Projects as well as AWARD’s programme for Resilience in the Limpopo-Olifants Basin. All three programmes are being implemented in the Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces of South Africa. As a monitoring and evaluation officer at AWARD, I was part of the team that developed a strategy to enable learning through monitoring, evaluation and reporting, and this sparked my interest in understanding how other programmes might be approaching this. The focus of the study is on the role of reporting, as part of programme monitoring and evaluation, as a means to support learning of both programme implementers and organisations. An in-depth description of each case has been provided to enable an understanding of the overall reporting system, how reporting may play a role in supporting individual and organisational learning, and what factors enable or constrain learning in association with reporting. The research was descriptive and interpretive as the first phase of a possible extended study engaging organisations in exploring how to strengthen reporting for learning. The participants and organisations were sampled using both purposive and convenience sampling. Data was collected through 17 key informant interviews; observations during two learning events; and, the collection and review of numerous documents (guides, reports, templates etc.). The data was analysed through qualitative content analysis using two frameworks: Argyris’ three loops of learning (1974;1978) and the Cultural-Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) lens (Engeström, 1987). The former was useful for bounding the types of learning to identify, and the latter for surfacing contradictions that can be explored in organisational development processes. Through the analysis of the data and literature, the following insights were gained: All three programmes have been ‘thinking’ about learning, but only in the case of AWARD was reporting associated with learning; in all three programmes, additional spaces have been designed to facilitate learning. Although programmes might not necessarily focus on reporting for learning, their reports do indicate a potential for facilitating reflection and thus learning. The organisational culture in government-based reporting systems is, however, strongly geared to performance management, accounting for resources spent, meeting targets and eliminating mistakes. Reports are used to guide planning, to account to the funder and to release further funding.. In this context only single and double loop learning is in evidence. Programme participants did raise ‘triple loop’ questions about whether the programme or system overall was working, but there did not seem to be space for such questions, in the reporting or the learning events, and there was no evidence that they were addressed. In the case of AWARD, spaces were created through reporting to encourage learning. This worked sometimes to enable learning but not always due to, for example, time constraints and competing responsibilities. There are certain aspects to consider when designing reporting that seem to support learning (see below). The process of using reporting for learning takes time and organisations might not get this right the first time around. Reflection opportunities are only experienced as enabling if participants have the space and power to act on the reflections, or see others acting on them to address issues, otherwise they get frustrated. Steps that could assist programmes in improving reporting to enable learning are: Adding to reporting templates a space for reflections to ensure that while the programme reports on the quantitative data needed for accountability purposes, it also creates additional space (without unduly increasing reporting responsibilities) for implementers’ learning. Encouraging discussion about ‘mistakes’ such as failures to meet targets, why they occur, and what we can learn from them. Allowing programme implementers to give feedback on their reporting challenges and take measures to support them, e.g. make adjustments to templates. Understanding the programme’s definition of learning, and the diverse learning needs that may be involved, which can contribute to a working strategy that the organisation can build on when initiating learning spaces. When learning events are organised, taking the inputs of participants seriously and developing ways in which these could be taken further into actions from which further learning can stem; reflecting on and raising issues without an opportunity for action is frustrating. The process of enabling reporting for learning takes time and organisations might not get it right the first time around (trial and error) and a strategy that worked for one organisation might not necessarily work for the next. When designing a learning strategy as part of a monitoring, evaluation and reporting framework, it is therefore important to consider the needs of the organisation and to work with implementers to develop and refine this over time. The thesis concludes with comments on the limitations of the study, the methodology and the analytical frameworks used, and finally, provides recommendations for further research.
- Full Text:
A systematic analysis of doctoral publication trends in South Africa
- Van Schalkwyk, Susan, Mouton, Johann, Redelinghuys, Herman, McKenna, Sioux
- Authors: Van Schalkwyk, Susan , Mouton, Johann , Redelinghuys, Herman , McKenna, Sioux
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/185826 , vital:44438 , xlink:href="http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2020/7926"
- Description: It is incumbent upon doctoral students that their work makes a substantive contribution to the field within which it is conducted. Dissemination of this work beyond the dissertation, whether whilst studying or after graduation, is necessary to ensure that the contribution does not remain largely dormant. While dissemination can take many forms, peer-reviewed journal articles are the key medium by which knowledge is shared. We aimed to establish the proportion of doctoral theses that results in journal publications by linking South African doctoral thesis metadata to journal articles authored by doctoral candidates. To effect this matching, a customised data set was created that comprised two large databases: the South African Theses Database (SATD), which documented all doctoral degrees awarded in South Africa (2005-2014), and the South African Knowledgebase (SAK), which listed all publications submitted for subsidy to the South African Department of Higher Education and Training (2005-2017). The process followed several iterations of matching and verification, including manual inspection of the data, in order to isolate only those records for which the link was established beyond doubt. Over the period under review, 47.6% of graduates, representing 22 of the 26 higher education institutions, published at least one journal article. Results further indicate increasingly higher publication rates over time. To explore whether the journal article identified was a direct product of the study, a similarity index was developed. Over 75% of records demonstrated high similarity. While the trend towards increasing publications by graduates is promising, work in this area should be ongoing. In spite of increasing trends in publications by graduates, many are not disseminating their work, suggesting that significant bodies of research are potentially not being shared with the academic community and are therefore not contributing to the relevant discipline or field. •This study provides baseline data from which a number of further investigations can be launched, such as exploring the extent to which doctoral candidates who are also academics are publishing their work; the factors that enable or constrain publication; the other avenues of dissemination used; and whether publishing or not publishing can serve as a proxy for the quality of the doctoral work.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Van Schalkwyk, Susan , Mouton, Johann , Redelinghuys, Herman , McKenna, Sioux
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/185826 , vital:44438 , xlink:href="http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2020/7926"
- Description: It is incumbent upon doctoral students that their work makes a substantive contribution to the field within which it is conducted. Dissemination of this work beyond the dissertation, whether whilst studying or after graduation, is necessary to ensure that the contribution does not remain largely dormant. While dissemination can take many forms, peer-reviewed journal articles are the key medium by which knowledge is shared. We aimed to establish the proportion of doctoral theses that results in journal publications by linking South African doctoral thesis metadata to journal articles authored by doctoral candidates. To effect this matching, a customised data set was created that comprised two large databases: the South African Theses Database (SATD), which documented all doctoral degrees awarded in South Africa (2005-2014), and the South African Knowledgebase (SAK), which listed all publications submitted for subsidy to the South African Department of Higher Education and Training (2005-2017). The process followed several iterations of matching and verification, including manual inspection of the data, in order to isolate only those records for which the link was established beyond doubt. Over the period under review, 47.6% of graduates, representing 22 of the 26 higher education institutions, published at least one journal article. Results further indicate increasingly higher publication rates over time. To explore whether the journal article identified was a direct product of the study, a similarity index was developed. Over 75% of records demonstrated high similarity. While the trend towards increasing publications by graduates is promising, work in this area should be ongoing. In spite of increasing trends in publications by graduates, many are not disseminating their work, suggesting that significant bodies of research are potentially not being shared with the academic community and are therefore not contributing to the relevant discipline or field. •This study provides baseline data from which a number of further investigations can be launched, such as exploring the extent to which doctoral candidates who are also academics are publishing their work; the factors that enable or constrain publication; the other avenues of dissemination used; and whether publishing or not publishing can serve as a proxy for the quality of the doctoral work.
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A Systematic Review of Literature examining the efficacy and effectiveness of the Developmental, Individual-Difference, Relationship-Based Model (DIR)/Floortime intervention for pre-adolescent children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders in majority world countries
- Authors: Hinz, Anja Stefanie
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Psychology -- South Africa , Autism spectrum disorders -- Developing countries , Autism spectrum disorders -- Research -- Developing countries , Autism spectrum disorders in children , Autism in children -- Treatment , Play therapy , D.I.R.Floortime® , Systematic review
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Bachelor , BA(Honours)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/185493 , vital:44391
- Description: The DIR/Floortime model focuses on the child as a holistic entity and views the treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders in much the same way, acknowledging that every child has a unique biological profile, with their own sensory, cognitive, and affective abilities and individual strengths and weaknesses. However, researchers have primarily conducted studies in minority world countries, and thus the results of previous research are not necessarily generalisable to majority world countries (see Appendix A). The objective of this systematic review was to consult published studies conducted in majority world countries to determine whether the DIR/Floortime interventions are effective and efficacious in the treatment of preadolescent children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders. As there is limited published literature on this topic, the methodological design of a systematic review was chosen, due to its ability to locate and highlight gaps in the literature for a specific topic. The findings highlight the need for more research to be conducted in other majority world countries and low-income and low-education families before determining whether the DIR/Floortime intervention is truly effective and efficacious in all majority world countries.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Hinz, Anja Stefanie
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Psychology -- South Africa , Autism spectrum disorders -- Developing countries , Autism spectrum disorders -- Research -- Developing countries , Autism spectrum disorders in children , Autism in children -- Treatment , Play therapy , D.I.R.Floortime® , Systematic review
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Bachelor , BA(Honours)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/185493 , vital:44391
- Description: The DIR/Floortime model focuses on the child as a holistic entity and views the treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders in much the same way, acknowledging that every child has a unique biological profile, with their own sensory, cognitive, and affective abilities and individual strengths and weaknesses. However, researchers have primarily conducted studies in minority world countries, and thus the results of previous research are not necessarily generalisable to majority world countries (see Appendix A). The objective of this systematic review was to consult published studies conducted in majority world countries to determine whether the DIR/Floortime interventions are effective and efficacious in the treatment of preadolescent children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders. As there is limited published literature on this topic, the methodological design of a systematic review was chosen, due to its ability to locate and highlight gaps in the literature for a specific topic. The findings highlight the need for more research to be conducted in other majority world countries and low-income and low-education families before determining whether the DIR/Floortime intervention is truly effective and efficacious in all majority world countries.
- Full Text:
A Systematic Review of parent-adolescent interactions about sexuality in the African context
- Authors: Mfenyana, Anelisa
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Psychology -- South Africa , Sex instruction for teenagers -- South Africa , Parent and teenager -- South Africa , Teenagers -- Sexual behavior -- South Africa , HIV infections -- Prevention , HIV (Viruses) -- South Africa , Communication and sex -- South Africa , Health risk communication -- South Africa , Systematic review
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Bachelor , BA(Honours)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/185576 , vital:44400
- Description: Research Objective: to analyse knowledge that has been presented in recently published articles on parent-adolescent sexuality interactions in the African context. Methods: The research is undertaken through a systematic review, using a specific Boolean search in the EBSCOhost database. After the search and screening processes, 27 articles published between 2000 and 2020 were included in the review. Results: The dominant theme across the reviewed papers was HIV in general and its prevention more specifically. This over-riding theme is dealt with accordingly to four main sub-themes, namely: parents’ and adolescents’ knowledge about HIV/AIDs; sexuality communication between parents and adolescents; the association between the aforementioned communication and adolescent sexual behaviour; and the effectiveness of numerous specific HIV prevention interventions. The vast majority of the reviewed papers use a mainstream theoretical framework and utilise quantitative research methods. Their findings and recommendations are in line with mainstream hypotheses and assertions about HIV prevention. Conclusions: Strong global institutional forces and power relations generate the mainstream knowledge contained in the published work considered in this review, and that this knowledge in turn further entrenches these power relations. It would be useful to conceptualise the dimensions and implications of an alternative, critical approach to HIV prevention and parent-adolescent sexuality communication as well as a more comprehensive approach to sexuality education (which includes more than knowledge transfer about preventing HIV).
- Full Text:
- Authors: Mfenyana, Anelisa
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Psychology -- South Africa , Sex instruction for teenagers -- South Africa , Parent and teenager -- South Africa , Teenagers -- Sexual behavior -- South Africa , HIV infections -- Prevention , HIV (Viruses) -- South Africa , Communication and sex -- South Africa , Health risk communication -- South Africa , Systematic review
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Bachelor , BA(Honours)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/185576 , vital:44400
- Description: Research Objective: to analyse knowledge that has been presented in recently published articles on parent-adolescent sexuality interactions in the African context. Methods: The research is undertaken through a systematic review, using a specific Boolean search in the EBSCOhost database. After the search and screening processes, 27 articles published between 2000 and 2020 were included in the review. Results: The dominant theme across the reviewed papers was HIV in general and its prevention more specifically. This over-riding theme is dealt with accordingly to four main sub-themes, namely: parents’ and adolescents’ knowledge about HIV/AIDs; sexuality communication between parents and adolescents; the association between the aforementioned communication and adolescent sexual behaviour; and the effectiveness of numerous specific HIV prevention interventions. The vast majority of the reviewed papers use a mainstream theoretical framework and utilise quantitative research methods. Their findings and recommendations are in line with mainstream hypotheses and assertions about HIV prevention. Conclusions: Strong global institutional forces and power relations generate the mainstream knowledge contained in the published work considered in this review, and that this knowledge in turn further entrenches these power relations. It would be useful to conceptualise the dimensions and implications of an alternative, critical approach to HIV prevention and parent-adolescent sexuality communication as well as a more comprehensive approach to sexuality education (which includes more than knowledge transfer about preventing HIV).
- Full Text:
A systematic review of the efficacy of internet-based interventions for depression and anxiety disorders: the possibilities and limitations for feasibility within South Africa
- Authors: Sealy-Fisher, Kay Tibeta
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Depression, Mental -- Treatment -- South Africa , Anxiety disorders -- Treatment -- South Africa , Internet in psychotherapy -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/144632 , vital:38364
- Description: Technological advances may alleviate the burden on South Africa’s mental healthcare system. This study is a systematic review of literature that assesses the efficacy of high quality online interventions for depression and anxiety, and that compares the reviewed studies’ characteristics to the South African context to assist in future developments of online interventions for depression and anxiety within South Africa. This was achieved through using a 2010 systematic review of Griffiths, Farrer, and Christensen as point of departure. This research had two aims: to provide an updated systematic review of the literature reporting on the efficacy of internet-based interventions for depression and anxiety disorders; and to evaluate the possibilities and limitations for the feasibility of implementing internet-based interventions for depression and anxiety disorders in the South African context. Databases accessed were PubMed, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Included studies must: (i) report on one or more internet-based intervention, (ii) target depression or anxiety or both, (iii) report the effect size or provide enough information to calculate it, (iv) report a measure of symptoms outcome, (v) be a Randomised Controlled Trial, (vi) include a control group that received no active intervention, (vii) be published and peer-reviewed, (viii) have been published after January 2010. The search yielded 2999 potential studies of which 20 full texts were reviewed. Of these, 75% (n=15) of the studies report effect sizes above 0.20, and 25% (n=5) of the studies report effect sizes above 0.80. Themes emergent from literature and included studies distinguished effective from non-effective studies included the use of cognitive behavioural therapy, therapist input and reminders to engage with the intervention, and duration of over 6 weeks. Attrition rates did not differ between experimental and control groups. Sample characteristics between the reviewed interventions and South Africa’s population were found to be different and is discussed. Unfortunately, 37 potential studies could not be accessed and thus not included, although several attempts were made. The majority of studies had effect sizes equal to that of face-to-face therapeutic interventions. Implications of application in South Africa’s context with limited technological familiarity, insufficiency of professionally trained therapists, poor literacy, and high costs of internet data are discussed. It is concluded that with appropriate adaptation, online internet interventions for depression and anxiety would be beneficial to South Africa’s people and assist in lowering the country’s burden of mental health disorders.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Sealy-Fisher, Kay Tibeta
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Depression, Mental -- Treatment -- South Africa , Anxiety disorders -- Treatment -- South Africa , Internet in psychotherapy -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/144632 , vital:38364
- Description: Technological advances may alleviate the burden on South Africa’s mental healthcare system. This study is a systematic review of literature that assesses the efficacy of high quality online interventions for depression and anxiety, and that compares the reviewed studies’ characteristics to the South African context to assist in future developments of online interventions for depression and anxiety within South Africa. This was achieved through using a 2010 systematic review of Griffiths, Farrer, and Christensen as point of departure. This research had two aims: to provide an updated systematic review of the literature reporting on the efficacy of internet-based interventions for depression and anxiety disorders; and to evaluate the possibilities and limitations for the feasibility of implementing internet-based interventions for depression and anxiety disorders in the South African context. Databases accessed were PubMed, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Included studies must: (i) report on one or more internet-based intervention, (ii) target depression or anxiety or both, (iii) report the effect size or provide enough information to calculate it, (iv) report a measure of symptoms outcome, (v) be a Randomised Controlled Trial, (vi) include a control group that received no active intervention, (vii) be published and peer-reviewed, (viii) have been published after January 2010. The search yielded 2999 potential studies of which 20 full texts were reviewed. Of these, 75% (n=15) of the studies report effect sizes above 0.20, and 25% (n=5) of the studies report effect sizes above 0.80. Themes emergent from literature and included studies distinguished effective from non-effective studies included the use of cognitive behavioural therapy, therapist input and reminders to engage with the intervention, and duration of over 6 weeks. Attrition rates did not differ between experimental and control groups. Sample characteristics between the reviewed interventions and South Africa’s population were found to be different and is discussed. Unfortunately, 37 potential studies could not be accessed and thus not included, although several attempts were made. The majority of studies had effect sizes equal to that of face-to-face therapeutic interventions. Implications of application in South Africa’s context with limited technological familiarity, insufficiency of professionally trained therapists, poor literacy, and high costs of internet data are discussed. It is concluded that with appropriate adaptation, online internet interventions for depression and anxiety would be beneficial to South Africa’s people and assist in lowering the country’s burden of mental health disorders.
- Full Text:
A systematic review on nurses training in South Africa and its relevance during a pandemic
- Authors: Mookrey, Naadira
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Psychology -- South Africa , Nursing -- Study and teaching -- South Africa , Nurses -- In-service training -- South Africa , Nurses -- Supply and demand -- South Africa , Nurses -- Job stress -- South Africa , Health care reform -- South Africa , Medical personnel -- South Africa , Medical education -- South Africa , Systematic review
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Bachelor , BSocSc(Honours)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/185587 , vital:44401
- Description: This is a systematic review on the training and profession of nurses in South Africa. The researcher used an inductive thematic analysis to explore the themes that emerged from the literature. This review used peer-reviewed articles from Google Scholar, PubMed, Sabinet and EBSCOhost and identified 17 articles that were relevant for the study between the timeframe of 1994-2020. The review was done using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis and 5 themes were found: Nursing Crisis; Challenges in Nursing; Training Gap; Transformation in Nursing and the Job Profile of Nurses. The study recommended that more research needs to be conducted in certain areas, for example in the Eastern Cape, and to provide better incentives to nurses for example, certificates upon completion of in-service training.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Mookrey, Naadira
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Psychology -- South Africa , Nursing -- Study and teaching -- South Africa , Nurses -- In-service training -- South Africa , Nurses -- Supply and demand -- South Africa , Nurses -- Job stress -- South Africa , Health care reform -- South Africa , Medical personnel -- South Africa , Medical education -- South Africa , Systematic review
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Bachelor , BSocSc(Honours)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/185587 , vital:44401
- Description: This is a systematic review on the training and profession of nurses in South Africa. The researcher used an inductive thematic analysis to explore the themes that emerged from the literature. This review used peer-reviewed articles from Google Scholar, PubMed, Sabinet and EBSCOhost and identified 17 articles that were relevant for the study between the timeframe of 1994-2020. The review was done using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis and 5 themes were found: Nursing Crisis; Challenges in Nursing; Training Gap; Transformation in Nursing and the Job Profile of Nurses. The study recommended that more research needs to be conducted in certain areas, for example in the Eastern Cape, and to provide better incentives to nurses for example, certificates upon completion of in-service training.
- Full Text:
A theory-based approach to evaluating a Continuing Teacher Professional Development Programme aimed at strengthening environment and sustainability education
- Authors: Songqwaru, Nonyameko Zintle
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Fundisa for Change , Environmental education -- South Africa , Teachers -- Training of -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/145267 , vital:38423
- Description: This study uses a theory-based approach to evaluate the Fundisa for Change training programme, a continuing teacher professional development programme aimed at strengthening environment and sustainability education. The aim of the study was to surface assumptions that underpin the design and implementation of the Fundisa for Change training programme. The Fundisa for Change Teacher Education programme is a national collaborative programme that is implemented in all the nine provinces of South Africa. The study reports on the implementation of the programme in five provinces. The study aimed to surface the Fundisa for Change training programme’s implementation theory and programme theory as these affect programme delivery. The Fundisa for Change training programme was implemented in diverse contexts by different facilitators to different participants. To determine how training programme outcomes were achieved, use was made of context-mechanism-outcome (CMO) configurations for each site where the programme was implemented. Data used to construct CMO configurations was generated through document analysis of Fundisa for Change documents, interviews with stakeholders and participants, as well as observations of programme implementation at five sites. There were three phases to data analysis: content analysis of Fundisa for Change documents, content analysis of observation transcripts and use of the CMO configuration, an analytical tool used in realist evaluation. An initial CMO configuration was constructed prior to observing implementation of the programme and a refined CMO configuration for the Fundisa for Change training programme was constructed based on similarities between the CMO configurations constructed for each of the five sites under study. The partnership model of the Fundisa for Change training programme brought diverse expertise and resources (material, cognitive, social and emotional) which were conducive to the achievement of programme outcomes. The programme’s action context (structure, culture, agency and relations) contributed to the achievement of programme outcomes by participants. Participants’ subject content knowledge, teaching practice and assessment practice was enhanced through attending the Fundisa for Change training. On-course tasks were mediated during training and this created opportunities for participants to discuss and reflect on current practice in ways that could lead to a change in practice. In evaluating professional development programmes, an elaborated definition of context in terms of structure, culture, agency and relations enables a comprehensive exploration of potential programme mechanisms that can be activated when programmes are implemented. It is also important to disaggregate resources and reasons when identifying mechanisms as this assists with differentiating between context and mechanisms. The study offers insights into the professional learning of teachers grappling with new content and pedagogical content knowledges related to environment in the context of recent curriculum changes where the South African national school curriculum has come into focus. Environmental education programmes in South Africa have implicitly used a realist approach. This study offers the first substantive professional learning evaluation that develops this approach explicitly using Theory of Change and Realist Evaluation in combination.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Songqwaru, Nonyameko Zintle
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Fundisa for Change , Environmental education -- South Africa , Teachers -- Training of -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/145267 , vital:38423
- Description: This study uses a theory-based approach to evaluate the Fundisa for Change training programme, a continuing teacher professional development programme aimed at strengthening environment and sustainability education. The aim of the study was to surface assumptions that underpin the design and implementation of the Fundisa for Change training programme. The Fundisa for Change Teacher Education programme is a national collaborative programme that is implemented in all the nine provinces of South Africa. The study reports on the implementation of the programme in five provinces. The study aimed to surface the Fundisa for Change training programme’s implementation theory and programme theory as these affect programme delivery. The Fundisa for Change training programme was implemented in diverse contexts by different facilitators to different participants. To determine how training programme outcomes were achieved, use was made of context-mechanism-outcome (CMO) configurations for each site where the programme was implemented. Data used to construct CMO configurations was generated through document analysis of Fundisa for Change documents, interviews with stakeholders and participants, as well as observations of programme implementation at five sites. There were three phases to data analysis: content analysis of Fundisa for Change documents, content analysis of observation transcripts and use of the CMO configuration, an analytical tool used in realist evaluation. An initial CMO configuration was constructed prior to observing implementation of the programme and a refined CMO configuration for the Fundisa for Change training programme was constructed based on similarities between the CMO configurations constructed for each of the five sites under study. The partnership model of the Fundisa for Change training programme brought diverse expertise and resources (material, cognitive, social and emotional) which were conducive to the achievement of programme outcomes. The programme’s action context (structure, culture, agency and relations) contributed to the achievement of programme outcomes by participants. Participants’ subject content knowledge, teaching practice and assessment practice was enhanced through attending the Fundisa for Change training. On-course tasks were mediated during training and this created opportunities for participants to discuss and reflect on current practice in ways that could lead to a change in practice. In evaluating professional development programmes, an elaborated definition of context in terms of structure, culture, agency and relations enables a comprehensive exploration of potential programme mechanisms that can be activated when programmes are implemented. It is also important to disaggregate resources and reasons when identifying mechanisms as this assists with differentiating between context and mechanisms. The study offers insights into the professional learning of teachers grappling with new content and pedagogical content knowledges related to environment in the context of recent curriculum changes where the South African national school curriculum has come into focus. Environmental education programmes in South Africa have implicitly used a realist approach. This study offers the first substantive professional learning evaluation that develops this approach explicitly using Theory of Change and Realist Evaluation in combination.
- Full Text:
A tribute to you
- Ndlebe-September, Thobeka Veronica
- Authors: Ndlebe-September, Thobeka Veronica
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: South African fiction (English) -- 21st century , South African fiction (English) -- History and criticism , Short stories, South African (English) -- 21st century , Xhosa fiction -- 21st century , Xhosa fiction -- History and criticism , Short stories, Xhosa -- 21st century , Diaries -- Authorship
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/144989 , vital:38398
- Description: My collection of short stories reflects my interest in narrative biblical fiction, allegorical stories about people and nature that resonate with our daily lives. I have been greatly influenced by writers such as Joel Matlou, Flannery O’Connor, Barry Gifford, Miriam Tladi and Leah Harris amongst others. I have also been captivated by fairy tales and folk tales, and also the work of isiXhosa writers such as S. E. K. Mqhayi, Madiponi Masenya, and Hulisani Ramantswana. I have discovered that I can borrow certain styles and forms of writing to enhance my own stories which are situated within ‘local’ contexts such as education, poverty, employment, the body, life and death.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Ndlebe-September, Thobeka Veronica
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: South African fiction (English) -- 21st century , South African fiction (English) -- History and criticism , Short stories, South African (English) -- 21st century , Xhosa fiction -- 21st century , Xhosa fiction -- History and criticism , Short stories, Xhosa -- 21st century , Diaries -- Authorship
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/144989 , vital:38398
- Description: My collection of short stories reflects my interest in narrative biblical fiction, allegorical stories about people and nature that resonate with our daily lives. I have been greatly influenced by writers such as Joel Matlou, Flannery O’Connor, Barry Gifford, Miriam Tladi and Leah Harris amongst others. I have also been captivated by fairy tales and folk tales, and also the work of isiXhosa writers such as S. E. K. Mqhayi, Madiponi Masenya, and Hulisani Ramantswana. I have discovered that I can borrow certain styles and forms of writing to enhance my own stories which are situated within ‘local’ contexts such as education, poverty, employment, the body, life and death.
- Full Text:
A Veblenian Dichotomy re-examination of labour brokerage and South African labour market functionality
- Authors: Haaketa, Bernadatte Tina
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Veblen, Thorstein, 1857-1929 , Contracting out -- South Africa , Temporary employment -- South Africa , Industrial relations -- South Africa , Labor supply -- South Africa , Labor supply -- Effect of technological innovations on -- South Africa , Manpower policy -- South Africa , Labor market -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/168446 , vital:41583
- Description: Labour markets ar ound the world have witnessed a great change in labour relations. The introduction of globa lisation, increased competition and technological advancements has caused business organisations to change their employment methods. While trying to survive and remain profitable, employers have adopted a new form of triangular employment relationship. Thi s form of employment relationship known as labour broking and which forms part of the Temporary Employment Services (TES) involves a relationship between the worker, labour agent (broker) and a client c ompany. Although it may seem like a good strategy for business organisations, the change in employment relationships has had negative effects and contributed to labour market dysfunctionalities . This has resulted in critics of labour broking calling or an end in labour broking and supporters of labour broking asking for better regulation of the industry. Labour markets are me When it comes to analysing labour broking and its impact on labour market functionality in South Africa. Scholars and analysts such as Budlender ( 2013 ) and Bhorat, Lil enstein, Oosthuizen , and Thornton ( 2016 ) have used the Neoclassical , New Institutional Economics and Marxist approach es. The current views on labour broking and the current schools of thought fail to look at the underlying behavioural aspect of labour brokers and the client c ompanies. Hence making it easy for labour brokers and their client companies to continue with their unscrupulous activities. However, this t hesis adapted the Veblenian Dichotomy framework which focuses on understanding the role of the evolutionary proce ss and the role of institutions in shaping economic behaviour. The Veblenian dichotomy shows that power plays an important role in how labour markets are run. Similarly, behaviour also influences the manner in which labour brokers and client companies trea t workers. And lastly the Veblenian dichotomy shows that in order for the industry to be run better there has to be change in the behaviour and cultu re of the labour brokers and client companies . This view allows for deeper analysis of the reasons for the flour ishing nature of labour broking and the rationale behind the behaviour of economic players and attempts to provide solutions on how labour brok ing can be correctly administered in South Africa. The Veblenian Dichotomy categorises institutions into t wo sets, namely the ceremonial institutions and instrumental institutions. Where Ceremonial institutions are said to be institutions that foster the interests of business such as profitability and earning of free income, even if there is no corresponding i ncrease in production. While Instrumental institutions, usually working through the influence of technology, address the interests of the common pers on and the labourer as well as business (Waller, 1982; Foster, 1981; Veblen, 1919). These two systems of va lues and institutions are antagonistic and the relative strength of one to the other determines economic outcomes and in whose interests the outcomes would be (Waller, 1982; Foster, 1981; Veblen, 1919). The Veblenian Dichotomy further looks at ceremonial encapsulation which occurs when ceremonial systems prevail over instrumental systems. Ceremonial encapsulation presents the hypothesis that the insti tutional structure will absorb new technology only to the extent that it can do so without disrupting the e xisting value structure (Waller, 1987; Bush, 1979.) The thesis use d various sources , such as working papers, public hearings, court cases, trade union submissions, integrated reports from companies, employee submissions and media publications on the debate about labour broking whether labour broking and applied the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysi s (IPA) research approach, in the process of data collection and analysis . The thesis further applied thematic analysis to derive themes that would be used to analyse the impact of labour broking on labour market functionality in South Africa. The emergent themes and subthemes were Exploitative lab our relations subthemes; job Insecurity, increased financial burden and no skills development. The second theme was; Competitive advantage and the subthemes were; i ncreased profits and organisational efficiency. The third theme was l abour market efficiency and the subthemes were. E mployment creation and labour market flexibility. And, the last theme was a mbiguous l abour regulation s with subthemes; n o freedom of association and a tool for circumventing labour regulations . Lastly, Tool’s (1994) criteria of j udgement for institutional adjustments was used to evaluate the emergent themes and to evaluate the impact of l abour broking on the overall welfare of individuals, which includes determining whether employees in the TES sector gain skills and improved stan dards of living. The findings of the research the TES sector is characterised by ceremonial values. Ceremonial values (as mentioned in section 3.3) are those values that are warranted by the ways of life that prescribe status and hierarchies and unpleasant distinctions to apply value and status on other people (Bush, 1987, 1988; Ayres, 1967). Thus changing the way in which labour brokers conduct themselves or handle labour broking activities would prove to be difficult . T he power that is mostly used in TES employment sectors is condign power. Condign power is explained as the form of power that is predominantly used in ceremonially encapsulated markets. And it involves making use of punishment or fear in order to get people to do something. This is because w orkers in the TES sector are forced to submit to conditions that they would not normally have submitted to if t hey did not have a fear of losing their jobs. This supports existing literature which shows that in the TES sector, TES employers use force and p ower in order to get the workers to do something, and this results in a master - servant relationship between the employer and the employee. Furthermore, the protests that erupt in the TES sector agree with Marxist theory which notes that the frustrations in the way workers are treated would result in a revolution of the working class against the employers. However, now, workers have not been able to overcome the employers and take over the industry. In addition to what current literature says, the research found that some managers make use of labour broking as a way of manifesting their exploitative characteristics on the labour market, thus creating information asymmetries in order to advance their own personal needs. Situations such as these reve al characteristics of opportunistic behaviour, which is perpetuated by the imperfect flow of information. This means th at the market is imperfect, and imperfect markets are characteristics of dysfunctional labour markets. The research also found that it i s the South African Constitution that protects labour brokers and client companies from accounting for the unfair treatm ent of workers. Labour brokers and client companies rely on the South African Constitution to defend them when it comes to banning labou r broking. This is because section 22 of the Constitution talks about the right of every individual to trade freely in S outh Africa (Kutumela, 2015). When institutional adjustments do not meet the requirements of the progressive criteria, it means they are regressive. Based on the data that was collected and the responses and remarks of the workers, trade unions, and trade union federations, it can be said that TES employment and labour broking hinders labour market functionality. Hence, it can be concluded that, due to the characteristics mentioned, labour broking does indeed have a regressive element which hinders labour m arket functionality. An area for further research for TES employment would be to look at the impact of the amendments to the Labour Rela tions Act. Specifically focusing on the Constitutional Court ruling, which forces labour brokers to treat employees who have been employed for longer than three months as permanent employees.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Haaketa, Bernadatte Tina
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Veblen, Thorstein, 1857-1929 , Contracting out -- South Africa , Temporary employment -- South Africa , Industrial relations -- South Africa , Labor supply -- South Africa , Labor supply -- Effect of technological innovations on -- South Africa , Manpower policy -- South Africa , Labor market -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/168446 , vital:41583
- Description: Labour markets ar ound the world have witnessed a great change in labour relations. The introduction of globa lisation, increased competition and technological advancements has caused business organisations to change their employment methods. While trying to survive and remain profitable, employers have adopted a new form of triangular employment relationship. Thi s form of employment relationship known as labour broking and which forms part of the Temporary Employment Services (TES) involves a relationship between the worker, labour agent (broker) and a client c ompany. Although it may seem like a good strategy for business organisations, the change in employment relationships has had negative effects and contributed to labour market dysfunctionalities . This has resulted in critics of labour broking calling or an end in labour broking and supporters of labour broking asking for better regulation of the industry. Labour markets are me When it comes to analysing labour broking and its impact on labour market functionality in South Africa. Scholars and analysts such as Budlender ( 2013 ) and Bhorat, Lil enstein, Oosthuizen , and Thornton ( 2016 ) have used the Neoclassical , New Institutional Economics and Marxist approach es. The current views on labour broking and the current schools of thought fail to look at the underlying behavioural aspect of labour brokers and the client c ompanies. Hence making it easy for labour brokers and their client companies to continue with their unscrupulous activities. However, this t hesis adapted the Veblenian Dichotomy framework which focuses on understanding the role of the evolutionary proce ss and the role of institutions in shaping economic behaviour. The Veblenian dichotomy shows that power plays an important role in how labour markets are run. Similarly, behaviour also influences the manner in which labour brokers and client companies trea t workers. And lastly the Veblenian dichotomy shows that in order for the industry to be run better there has to be change in the behaviour and cultu re of the labour brokers and client companies . This view allows for deeper analysis of the reasons for the flour ishing nature of labour broking and the rationale behind the behaviour of economic players and attempts to provide solutions on how labour brok ing can be correctly administered in South Africa. The Veblenian Dichotomy categorises institutions into t wo sets, namely the ceremonial institutions and instrumental institutions. Where Ceremonial institutions are said to be institutions that foster the interests of business such as profitability and earning of free income, even if there is no corresponding i ncrease in production. While Instrumental institutions, usually working through the influence of technology, address the interests of the common pers on and the labourer as well as business (Waller, 1982; Foster, 1981; Veblen, 1919). These two systems of va lues and institutions are antagonistic and the relative strength of one to the other determines economic outcomes and in whose interests the outcomes would be (Waller, 1982; Foster, 1981; Veblen, 1919). The Veblenian Dichotomy further looks at ceremonial encapsulation which occurs when ceremonial systems prevail over instrumental systems. Ceremonial encapsulation presents the hypothesis that the insti tutional structure will absorb new technology only to the extent that it can do so without disrupting the e xisting value structure (Waller, 1987; Bush, 1979.) The thesis use d various sources , such as working papers, public hearings, court cases, trade union submissions, integrated reports from companies, employee submissions and media publications on the debate about labour broking whether labour broking and applied the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysi s (IPA) research approach, in the process of data collection and analysis . The thesis further applied thematic analysis to derive themes that would be used to analyse the impact of labour broking on labour market functionality in South Africa. The emergent themes and subthemes were Exploitative lab our relations subthemes; job Insecurity, increased financial burden and no skills development. The second theme was; Competitive advantage and the subthemes were; i ncreased profits and organisational efficiency. The third theme was l abour market efficiency and the subthemes were. E mployment creation and labour market flexibility. And, the last theme was a mbiguous l abour regulation s with subthemes; n o freedom of association and a tool for circumventing labour regulations . Lastly, Tool’s (1994) criteria of j udgement for institutional adjustments was used to evaluate the emergent themes and to evaluate the impact of l abour broking on the overall welfare of individuals, which includes determining whether employees in the TES sector gain skills and improved stan dards of living. The findings of the research the TES sector is characterised by ceremonial values. Ceremonial values (as mentioned in section 3.3) are those values that are warranted by the ways of life that prescribe status and hierarchies and unpleasant distinctions to apply value and status on other people (Bush, 1987, 1988; Ayres, 1967). Thus changing the way in which labour brokers conduct themselves or handle labour broking activities would prove to be difficult . T he power that is mostly used in TES employment sectors is condign power. Condign power is explained as the form of power that is predominantly used in ceremonially encapsulated markets. And it involves making use of punishment or fear in order to get people to do something. This is because w orkers in the TES sector are forced to submit to conditions that they would not normally have submitted to if t hey did not have a fear of losing their jobs. This supports existing literature which shows that in the TES sector, TES employers use force and p ower in order to get the workers to do something, and this results in a master - servant relationship between the employer and the employee. Furthermore, the protests that erupt in the TES sector agree with Marxist theory which notes that the frustrations in the way workers are treated would result in a revolution of the working class against the employers. However, now, workers have not been able to overcome the employers and take over the industry. In addition to what current literature says, the research found that some managers make use of labour broking as a way of manifesting their exploitative characteristics on the labour market, thus creating information asymmetries in order to advance their own personal needs. Situations such as these reve al characteristics of opportunistic behaviour, which is perpetuated by the imperfect flow of information. This means th at the market is imperfect, and imperfect markets are characteristics of dysfunctional labour markets. The research also found that it i s the South African Constitution that protects labour brokers and client companies from accounting for the unfair treatm ent of workers. Labour brokers and client companies rely on the South African Constitution to defend them when it comes to banning labou r broking. This is because section 22 of the Constitution talks about the right of every individual to trade freely in S outh Africa (Kutumela, 2015). When institutional adjustments do not meet the requirements of the progressive criteria, it means they are regressive. Based on the data that was collected and the responses and remarks of the workers, trade unions, and trade union federations, it can be said that TES employment and labour broking hinders labour market functionality. Hence, it can be concluded that, due to the characteristics mentioned, labour broking does indeed have a regressive element which hinders labour m arket functionality. An area for further research for TES employment would be to look at the impact of the amendments to the Labour Rela tions Act. Specifically focusing on the Constitutional Court ruling, which forces labour brokers to treat employees who have been employed for longer than three months as permanent employees.
- Full Text:
A wake-up call: Equity, inequality and Covid-19 emergency remote teaching and learning
- Czerniewicz, Laura, Agherdien, Najma, Badenhorst, Johan, Belluigi, Dina Z, Chambers, Tracey, Chili, Muntuwenkosi, De Villiers, Magriet, Felix, Alan, Gachago, Daniela, Gokhale, Craig, Ivala, Eunice, Kramm, Neil, Madiba, Matete, Mistri, Gitanjali, Mgqwashu, Emmanuel M, Pallitt, Nicola, Prinsloo, Paul, Solomon, Kelly, Strydom, Sonja, Swanepoel, Mike, Waghid, Faiq, Wissing, Gerrit
- Authors: Czerniewicz, Laura , Agherdien, Najma , Badenhorst, Johan , Belluigi, Dina Z , Chambers, Tracey , Chili, Muntuwenkosi , De Villiers, Magriet , Felix, Alan , Gachago, Daniela , Gokhale, Craig , Ivala, Eunice , Kramm, Neil , Madiba, Matete , Mistri, Gitanjali , Mgqwashu, Emmanuel M , Pallitt, Nicola , Prinsloo, Paul , Solomon, Kelly , Strydom, Sonja , Swanepoel, Mike , Waghid, Faiq , Wissing, Gerrit
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/439449 , vital:73598 , https://doi.org/10.1007/s42438-020-00187-4
- Description: Produced from experiences at the outset of the intense times when Covid-19 lockdown restrictions began in March 2020, this collaborative paper offers the collective reflections and analysis of a group of teaching and learning and Higher Education (HE) scholars from a diverse 15 of the 26 South African public universities. In the form of a theorised narrative insistent on foregrounding personal voices, it presents a snapshot of the pandemic addressing the following question: what does the ‘pivot online’to Emergency Remote Teaching and Learning (ERTL), forced into urgent existence by the Covid-19 pandemic, mean for equity considerations in teaching and learning in HE? Drawing on the work of Therborn (2009: 20–32; 2012: 579–589; 2013; 2020) the reflections consider the forms of inequality-vital, resource and existential-exposed in higher education. Drawing on the work of Tronto (1993; 2015; White and Tronto 2004) the paper shows the networks of care which were formed as a counter to the systemic failures of the sector at the onset of the pandemic.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Czerniewicz, Laura , Agherdien, Najma , Badenhorst, Johan , Belluigi, Dina Z , Chambers, Tracey , Chili, Muntuwenkosi , De Villiers, Magriet , Felix, Alan , Gachago, Daniela , Gokhale, Craig , Ivala, Eunice , Kramm, Neil , Madiba, Matete , Mistri, Gitanjali , Mgqwashu, Emmanuel M , Pallitt, Nicola , Prinsloo, Paul , Solomon, Kelly , Strydom, Sonja , Swanepoel, Mike , Waghid, Faiq , Wissing, Gerrit
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/439449 , vital:73598 , https://doi.org/10.1007/s42438-020-00187-4
- Description: Produced from experiences at the outset of the intense times when Covid-19 lockdown restrictions began in March 2020, this collaborative paper offers the collective reflections and analysis of a group of teaching and learning and Higher Education (HE) scholars from a diverse 15 of the 26 South African public universities. In the form of a theorised narrative insistent on foregrounding personal voices, it presents a snapshot of the pandemic addressing the following question: what does the ‘pivot online’to Emergency Remote Teaching and Learning (ERTL), forced into urgent existence by the Covid-19 pandemic, mean for equity considerations in teaching and learning in HE? Drawing on the work of Therborn (2009: 20–32; 2012: 579–589; 2013; 2020) the reflections consider the forms of inequality-vital, resource and existential-exposed in higher education. Drawing on the work of Tronto (1993; 2015; White and Tronto 2004) the paper shows the networks of care which were formed as a counter to the systemic failures of the sector at the onset of the pandemic.
- Full Text:
Abortion counselling in South Africa: A systematic review of the research
- Authors: Hussey, Megan Rose
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Psychology -- South Africa , Abortion counseling -- South Africa , Reproductive rights -- South Africa , Unplanned pregnancy -- South Africa , Contraception -- Failures -- South Africa , Abortion -- Moral and ethical aspects -- South Africa , Abortion -- Psychological aspects , Nurses -- Attitudes , Systematic review
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Bachelor , BA(Honours)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/185598 , vital:44402
- Description: The purpose of this systematic review is to unearth themes, using a thematic analysis, from research written on abortion counselling in South Africa. The rationale behind this study is to contribute to a larger project that involves operationalizing guidelines for abortion counselling. Searches were conducted using Google scholar and Science Direct. A total of 17 articles were found to be of relevance to the study. Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis was applied to these articles. Six broad themes arose from the data namely: experiences of women; nurses’ responses to abortion and objection to abortion services; failed contraception and repeat abortions; counselling methods: one size does not fit all; contextualizing abortion narratives and difficulties nurses face in implementing family planning. Overall, these themes were linked by a theme of ambiguity and contradiction in experiences. This was not only in-line with findings of other research in the field of abortion but further points to issues of standardization and deficits in abortion counselling guidelines. The lack of concrete guidelines may be linked with themes of nurses evaluating abortion seekers based on their own moral framework and values. Furthermore, deficits in counselling were found to be linked to barriers to access such as time constraints and structural issues. Lastly, counselling in almost all articles for analysis revealed that clinics and nurses treat counselling as synonymous with information sharing. This underlines that counselling guidelines are ambiguous and vague causing confusion between the difference between mandatory information sharing and non-mandatory counselling.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Hussey, Megan Rose
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Psychology -- South Africa , Abortion counseling -- South Africa , Reproductive rights -- South Africa , Unplanned pregnancy -- South Africa , Contraception -- Failures -- South Africa , Abortion -- Moral and ethical aspects -- South Africa , Abortion -- Psychological aspects , Nurses -- Attitudes , Systematic review
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Bachelor , BA(Honours)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/185598 , vital:44402
- Description: The purpose of this systematic review is to unearth themes, using a thematic analysis, from research written on abortion counselling in South Africa. The rationale behind this study is to contribute to a larger project that involves operationalizing guidelines for abortion counselling. Searches were conducted using Google scholar and Science Direct. A total of 17 articles were found to be of relevance to the study. Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis was applied to these articles. Six broad themes arose from the data namely: experiences of women; nurses’ responses to abortion and objection to abortion services; failed contraception and repeat abortions; counselling methods: one size does not fit all; contextualizing abortion narratives and difficulties nurses face in implementing family planning. Overall, these themes were linked by a theme of ambiguity and contradiction in experiences. This was not only in-line with findings of other research in the field of abortion but further points to issues of standardization and deficits in abortion counselling guidelines. The lack of concrete guidelines may be linked with themes of nurses evaluating abortion seekers based on their own moral framework and values. Furthermore, deficits in counselling were found to be linked to barriers to access such as time constraints and structural issues. Lastly, counselling in almost all articles for analysis revealed that clinics and nurses treat counselling as synonymous with information sharing. This underlines that counselling guidelines are ambiguous and vague causing confusion between the difference between mandatory information sharing and non-mandatory counselling.
- Full Text:
Absent fathers: psychological and socio-economic implications for black children and directions for future research
- Magqamfana, Simnikiwe H, Bazana, Sandiso
- Authors: Magqamfana, Simnikiwe H , Bazana, Sandiso
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/163443 , vital:41038 , DOI: 10.1080/14330237.2020.1744299
- Description: This study investigated fathers’ absence influences on the self-perceptions of South African young adults. Informants were five black university students (two females, three males; age range 20 to 28 years). They responded to semi-structured face-to-face interviews on self-perceptions from having matured in the absence of their biological fathers. Thematic analysis of the data revealed that the informants consider the father-absence when they grapple with material well-being shortage. Participants had mixed perceptions about the psychosocial effects on them from father-absence, with some believing to be thriving despite a history of father-absence. Overall, the findings suggest a need for caution in pathologising young adults with a history of father-absence as necessarily deprived.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Magqamfana, Simnikiwe H , Bazana, Sandiso
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/163443 , vital:41038 , DOI: 10.1080/14330237.2020.1744299
- Description: This study investigated fathers’ absence influences on the self-perceptions of South African young adults. Informants were five black university students (two females, three males; age range 20 to 28 years). They responded to semi-structured face-to-face interviews on self-perceptions from having matured in the absence of their biological fathers. Thematic analysis of the data revealed that the informants consider the father-absence when they grapple with material well-being shortage. Participants had mixed perceptions about the psychosocial effects on them from father-absence, with some believing to be thriving despite a history of father-absence. Overall, the findings suggest a need for caution in pathologising young adults with a history of father-absence as necessarily deprived.
- Full Text:
Academic development: Autonomy pathways towards gaining legitimacy
- Authors: Vorster, Jo-Anne E
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book chapter
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/445759 , vital:74427 , ISBN 9781003028215 , https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781003028215-16/academic-development-jo-anne-vorster
- Description: Despite playing a critical role in universities grappling with change, practitioners working in the field of academic staff development often struggle with legitimacy. Being a relatively young field in higher education, the challenges faced by these actors are largely un-theorized and under-researched. This chapter explores how academic staff development practitioners at eight universities seek (and gain) legitimacy amongst disciplinary academic peers. Drawing on LCT concepts of ‘autonomy codes’, it analyses practices in terms of the fields from which they come and the purpose to which they are directed. Data include publications by academic developers and interviews with academic developers, academics and senior managers of the eight institutions. The chapter demonstrates how academic developers often struggle to gain legitimacy as they occupy a liminal position between academic or administrative positions in relation to the disciplinary experts they work with. Furthermore, it demonstrates that the most successful academic development work occurs when disciplinary staff view academic development as enabling them to become better teachers. The chapter reveals how legitimacy may be more successfully enabled in the field of academic staff development.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Vorster, Jo-Anne E
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book chapter
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/445759 , vital:74427 , ISBN 9781003028215 , https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781003028215-16/academic-development-jo-anne-vorster
- Description: Despite playing a critical role in universities grappling with change, practitioners working in the field of academic staff development often struggle with legitimacy. Being a relatively young field in higher education, the challenges faced by these actors are largely un-theorized and under-researched. This chapter explores how academic staff development practitioners at eight universities seek (and gain) legitimacy amongst disciplinary academic peers. Drawing on LCT concepts of ‘autonomy codes’, it analyses practices in terms of the fields from which they come and the purpose to which they are directed. Data include publications by academic developers and interviews with academic developers, academics and senior managers of the eight institutions. The chapter demonstrates how academic developers often struggle to gain legitimacy as they occupy a liminal position between academic or administrative positions in relation to the disciplinary experts they work with. Furthermore, it demonstrates that the most successful academic development work occurs when disciplinary staff view academic development as enabling them to become better teachers. The chapter reveals how legitimacy may be more successfully enabled in the field of academic staff development.
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Academic readiness of students for higher education: a case for academic support at Rhodes University
- Authors: Khoza, Lebogang Peter
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: College student development programs -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Dropouts -- Prevention , College students -- South Africa-- Makhanda -- Social conditions , School failure -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Academic achievement-- South Africa -- Makhanda , Student adjustment -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Counseling in higher education -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Student Integration Model , Conceptual Framework Model , Geometric Design of Student Persistence
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/147848 , vital:38678
- Description: The worrying existence of incidences of student retention, poor pass rates and an increase in repetition rates is a cause for concern for institutions of higher learning in South Africa. The problem of student retention is not new in our institutions of higher learning. Support structures, strategies, and policies need to be developed for different academic and social challenges that students face daily. This study explores the need for academic support at Rhodes University; it also explores the internal and external problems that students face, the perceptions and experiences of students on academic support available to them. The study implemented a narrative research approach implanted within a qualitative research framework. Data was collected through a questionnaire, and narrative interviews. Tinto’s Student Integration Model was used to analyse the data in this study and was supplemented by Louw’s conceptual framework model and Swail’s Geometric Design of Student Persistence. These three models position the student experience as the foundation for academic support programmes and development. The study argues that as long as effective and adequate academic support is lacking, students will continue to experience difficulties in completing their studies. The findings from the study reveal that at present, Rhodes University provides support to students who are in extended studies. However, this support system disadvantages many students, notably those not in the extended studies programme. As a result, such students are not supported through strategies and structures that extended studies students receive. Furthermore, the data generates internal and external problems that student face daily, as a result, the findings showed that there is a need for academic support at Rhodes. The study recommends that Rhodes University must establish an academic unit that will provide academic support to all students registered in the university.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Khoza, Lebogang Peter
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: College student development programs -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Dropouts -- Prevention , College students -- South Africa-- Makhanda -- Social conditions , School failure -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Academic achievement-- South Africa -- Makhanda , Student adjustment -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Counseling in higher education -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Student Integration Model , Conceptual Framework Model , Geometric Design of Student Persistence
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/147848 , vital:38678
- Description: The worrying existence of incidences of student retention, poor pass rates and an increase in repetition rates is a cause for concern for institutions of higher learning in South Africa. The problem of student retention is not new in our institutions of higher learning. Support structures, strategies, and policies need to be developed for different academic and social challenges that students face daily. This study explores the need for academic support at Rhodes University; it also explores the internal and external problems that students face, the perceptions and experiences of students on academic support available to them. The study implemented a narrative research approach implanted within a qualitative research framework. Data was collected through a questionnaire, and narrative interviews. Tinto’s Student Integration Model was used to analyse the data in this study and was supplemented by Louw’s conceptual framework model and Swail’s Geometric Design of Student Persistence. These three models position the student experience as the foundation for academic support programmes and development. The study argues that as long as effective and adequate academic support is lacking, students will continue to experience difficulties in completing their studies. The findings from the study reveal that at present, Rhodes University provides support to students who are in extended studies. However, this support system disadvantages many students, notably those not in the extended studies programme. As a result, such students are not supported through strategies and structures that extended studies students receive. Furthermore, the data generates internal and external problems that student face daily, as a result, the findings showed that there is a need for academic support at Rhodes. The study recommends that Rhodes University must establish an academic unit that will provide academic support to all students registered in the university.
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Acceptance of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in a semi-rural population in South Africa:
- Chiwanza, Farisai, Irwin, Yoland, Dowse, Roslind
- Authors: Chiwanza, Farisai , Irwin, Yoland , Dowse, Roslind
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/157072 , vital:40084 , DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/hsag.v25i0.1336
- Description: Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring is a valuable tool that helps in providing an insight into the diagnosis and management of hypertension; however, no evidence exists of its acceptance in the diverse South African population. We assessed the acceptance of an ambulatory blood pressure monitor in patients attending public sector primary health care (PHC) clinics. Five PHC clinics in the Makana subdistrict in the Eastern Cape.
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- Authors: Chiwanza, Farisai , Irwin, Yoland , Dowse, Roslind
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/157072 , vital:40084 , DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/hsag.v25i0.1336
- Description: Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring is a valuable tool that helps in providing an insight into the diagnosis and management of hypertension; however, no evidence exists of its acceptance in the diverse South African population. We assessed the acceptance of an ambulatory blood pressure monitor in patients attending public sector primary health care (PHC) clinics. Five PHC clinics in the Makana subdistrict in the Eastern Cape.
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Acetophenone substituted phthalocyanines and their graphene quantum dots conjugates as photosensitizers for photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy against Staphylococcus aureus
- Openda, Yolande I, Sen, Pinar, Managa, Muthumuni, Nyokong, Tebello
- Authors: Openda, Yolande I , Sen, Pinar , Managa, Muthumuni , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/186507 , vital:44506 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pdpdt.2019.101607"
- Description: This work reports on the synthesis and characterization of novel acetophenone substituted phthalocyanines along with the self-assembled nanoconjugates formed via π-π stacking interaction between the synthesized unmetalated (2), zinc (3) and indium (4) phthalocyanines and graphene quantum dots (GQDs) to form 2@GQDs, 3@GQDs and 4@GQDs. The complexes and conjugates exhibited high singlet oxygen ranging from 0.20 to 0.79 in DMSO for Pcs and nanoconjugates where in all cases, the indium complexes showed the highest singlet oxygen quantum yields. The photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy activity of both phthalocyanines and nanoconjugates were tested against Staphylococcus aureus. 4@GQDs was found to be highly effective causing a 9.68 log reduction of the bacteria at 10 μM (based on Pc) when compared to 3.77 log reduction of 3@GQDs.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Openda, Yolande I , Sen, Pinar , Managa, Muthumuni , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/186507 , vital:44506 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pdpdt.2019.101607"
- Description: This work reports on the synthesis and characterization of novel acetophenone substituted phthalocyanines along with the self-assembled nanoconjugates formed via π-π stacking interaction between the synthesized unmetalated (2), zinc (3) and indium (4) phthalocyanines and graphene quantum dots (GQDs) to form 2@GQDs, 3@GQDs and 4@GQDs. The complexes and conjugates exhibited high singlet oxygen ranging from 0.20 to 0.79 in DMSO for Pcs and nanoconjugates where in all cases, the indium complexes showed the highest singlet oxygen quantum yields. The photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy activity of both phthalocyanines and nanoconjugates were tested against Staphylococcus aureus. 4@GQDs was found to be highly effective causing a 9.68 log reduction of the bacteria at 10 μM (based on Pc) when compared to 3.77 log reduction of 3@GQDs.
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Activity of diverse chalcones against several targets: statistical analysis of a high-throughput virtual screen of a custom chalcone library
- Authors: Sarron, Arthur F D
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Acetophenone , Benzaldehyde , Ketones , Pyruvate kinase , Drug development , Aromatic compounds , Heat shock proteins
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/116028 , vital:34291
- Description: Chalcone family molecules are well known to have therapeutic proprieties (anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial or anti-cancer, etc). However the mechanism of action in some cases is not well known. A virtual library of this family of compounds was constructed using custom scripts, based on the aldol condensation, and this library was modified further to analogues by expansion of the α,β-unsaturated ketone linker. Acetophenone and benzaldehyde derivatives which are available and purchasable were used as a base to design the chalcone virtual library. 8063 chalcones were constructed and geometrically optimized with Gaussian 09. Their physicochemical characteristics linked to the Lipinski rules were analyzed with Knime and CDK. The entire library was after docked against several targets including HIV-1 integrase, MRSA pyruvate kinase, HSP90, COX-1, COX-2, ALR2, MAOA, MAOB, acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase and PLA2. With the exception of MAOA, which does not have a crystal structure ligand, all dockings were validated by redocking the original ligand provided by the literature. These targets are known in the literature to be inhibited by chalcone-derivatives. However, specificity of the particular known chalcone inhibitors to the particular targets is not known. To this end the performance of the generated chalcone library against the list of targets was of interest. The binding energy of ligand-protein complexes was generally good across the library. Statistical analysis including principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering analysis were made in order to investigate for any physical/chemical characteristics which might explain what chalcone features affect the binding energy of the ligand-protein complexes. The spherical polar coordinates defining the orientation of the binding poses were also calculated and used in the statistical analysis. The statistical analysis has allowed us to hypothesize the importance of these radial distances and the polar angles of key atoms in the chalcones in binding to the pyruvate kinase crystal structure. This was validated by the docking of another small library of compound models in which the α,β-unsaturated ketone chain of the chalcone was replaced by incrementally longer conjugated chains. Further studies on the chalcones themselves reveal rotameric systems in both cis and trans-configurations (which may impact binding), and also studied was the effect of Topliss-based modification and its impact of binding to HSP90. Molecular dynamics confirmed good binding of identified chalcone hits.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Sarron, Arthur F D
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Acetophenone , Benzaldehyde , Ketones , Pyruvate kinase , Drug development , Aromatic compounds , Heat shock proteins
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/116028 , vital:34291
- Description: Chalcone family molecules are well known to have therapeutic proprieties (anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial or anti-cancer, etc). However the mechanism of action in some cases is not well known. A virtual library of this family of compounds was constructed using custom scripts, based on the aldol condensation, and this library was modified further to analogues by expansion of the α,β-unsaturated ketone linker. Acetophenone and benzaldehyde derivatives which are available and purchasable were used as a base to design the chalcone virtual library. 8063 chalcones were constructed and geometrically optimized with Gaussian 09. Their physicochemical characteristics linked to the Lipinski rules were analyzed with Knime and CDK. The entire library was after docked against several targets including HIV-1 integrase, MRSA pyruvate kinase, HSP90, COX-1, COX-2, ALR2, MAOA, MAOB, acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase and PLA2. With the exception of MAOA, which does not have a crystal structure ligand, all dockings were validated by redocking the original ligand provided by the literature. These targets are known in the literature to be inhibited by chalcone-derivatives. However, specificity of the particular known chalcone inhibitors to the particular targets is not known. To this end the performance of the generated chalcone library against the list of targets was of interest. The binding energy of ligand-protein complexes was generally good across the library. Statistical analysis including principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering analysis were made in order to investigate for any physical/chemical characteristics which might explain what chalcone features affect the binding energy of the ligand-protein complexes. The spherical polar coordinates defining the orientation of the binding poses were also calculated and used in the statistical analysis. The statistical analysis has allowed us to hypothesize the importance of these radial distances and the polar angles of key atoms in the chalcones in binding to the pyruvate kinase crystal structure. This was validated by the docking of another small library of compound models in which the α,β-unsaturated ketone chain of the chalcone was replaced by incrementally longer conjugated chains. Further studies on the chalcones themselves reveal rotameric systems in both cis and trans-configurations (which may impact binding), and also studied was the effect of Topliss-based modification and its impact of binding to HSP90. Molecular dynamics confirmed good binding of identified chalcone hits.
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Addressing flux suppression, radio frequency interference, and selection of optimal solution intervals during radio interferometric calibration
- Authors: Sob, Ulrich Armel Mbou
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: CubiCal (Software) , Radio -- Interference , Imaging systems in astronomy , Algorithms , Astronomical instruments -- Calibration , Astronomy -- Data processing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/147714 , vital:38663
- Description: The forthcoming Square Kilometre Array is expected to provide answers to some of the most intriguing questions about our Universe. However, as it is already noticeable from MeerKAT and other precursors, the amounts of data produced by these new instruments are significantly challenging to calibrate and image. Calibration of radio interferometric data is usually biased by incomplete sky models and radio frequency interference (RFI) resulting in calibration artefacts that limit the dynamic range and image fidelity of the resulting images. One of the most noticeable of these artefacts is the formation of spurious sources which causes suppression of real emissions. Fortunately, it has been shown that calibration algorithms employing heavy-tailed likelihood functions are less susceptible to this due to their robustness against outliers. Leveraging on recent developments in the field of complex optimisation, we implement a robust calibration algorithm using a Student’s t likelihood function and Wirtinger derivatives. The new algorithm, dubbed the robust solver, is incorporated as a subroutine into the newly released calibration software package CubiCal. We perform statistical analysis on the distribution of visibilities and provide an insight into the functioning of the robust solver and describe different scenarios where it will improve calibration. We use simulations to show that the robust solver effectively reduces the amount of flux suppressed from unmodelled sources both in direction independent and direction dependent calibration. Furthermore, the robust solver is shown to successfully mitigate the effects of low-level RFI when applied to a simulated and a real VLA dataset. Finally, we demonstrate that there are close links between the amount of flux suppressed from sources, the effects of the RFI and the employed solution interval during radio interferometric calibration. Hence, we investigate the effects of solution intervals and the different factors to consider in order to select adequate solution intervals. Furthermore, we propose a practical brute force method for selecting optimal solution intervals. The proposed method is successfully applied to a VLA dataset.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Sob, Ulrich Armel Mbou
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: CubiCal (Software) , Radio -- Interference , Imaging systems in astronomy , Algorithms , Astronomical instruments -- Calibration , Astronomy -- Data processing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/147714 , vital:38663
- Description: The forthcoming Square Kilometre Array is expected to provide answers to some of the most intriguing questions about our Universe. However, as it is already noticeable from MeerKAT and other precursors, the amounts of data produced by these new instruments are significantly challenging to calibrate and image. Calibration of radio interferometric data is usually biased by incomplete sky models and radio frequency interference (RFI) resulting in calibration artefacts that limit the dynamic range and image fidelity of the resulting images. One of the most noticeable of these artefacts is the formation of spurious sources which causes suppression of real emissions. Fortunately, it has been shown that calibration algorithms employing heavy-tailed likelihood functions are less susceptible to this due to their robustness against outliers. Leveraging on recent developments in the field of complex optimisation, we implement a robust calibration algorithm using a Student’s t likelihood function and Wirtinger derivatives. The new algorithm, dubbed the robust solver, is incorporated as a subroutine into the newly released calibration software package CubiCal. We perform statistical analysis on the distribution of visibilities and provide an insight into the functioning of the robust solver and describe different scenarios where it will improve calibration. We use simulations to show that the robust solver effectively reduces the amount of flux suppressed from unmodelled sources both in direction independent and direction dependent calibration. Furthermore, the robust solver is shown to successfully mitigate the effects of low-level RFI when applied to a simulated and a real VLA dataset. Finally, we demonstrate that there are close links between the amount of flux suppressed from sources, the effects of the RFI and the employed solution interval during radio interferometric calibration. Hence, we investigate the effects of solution intervals and the different factors to consider in order to select adequate solution intervals. Furthermore, we propose a practical brute force method for selecting optimal solution intervals. The proposed method is successfully applied to a VLA dataset.
- Full Text: