Former BETD graduate's understanding and implementation of reflective practice in the Rundu region of Namibia
- Authors: Mwala, Maria Elizabeth
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Education -- Namibia , Teachers -- Training of -- Namibia , Educational change -- Namibia , Teacher educators -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1547 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003429 , Education -- Namibia , Teachers -- Training of -- Namibia , Educational change -- Namibia , Teacher educators -- Namibia
- Description: The research, investigating how a selected group of former BETD graduates understand and implement the theory of reflective practice, is a qualitative case study carried out in the Kavango region of Namibia. The study was shaped by one of the major policy emphases in Namibia’s post independence teacher education reform process - that of developing reflective teachers who actively participate in curriculum planning and take educational decisions based on their own judgment. A basic assumption underlying the study is that effective educational practice is dependent on practitioners thinking about what they are doing and acting on their reflections to improve practice. The study found that a fundamental problem preventing these teachers from implementing reflective practice in accordance with the Namibian educational reform process, is that the participating teachers neither understand the exact meaning of reflective practice nor do they have a common or shared view of the concept, in spite of their common qualifications. A key contributing factor to their problems with implementing reflective practice is the lack of a deep understanding of the reform epistemology and pedagogy revealed by the three former BETD graduates selected for the research. These are the teachers referred to in the first paragraph: The first teacher is Helena, a teacher at Duduva primary school, the second teacher is Kalishe, also teaching at the same school as Helena and the third teacher is Darius at Ntja Junior secondary school. The qualitative approach employed for the study served to illuminate and highlight specific issues related to the implementation of reflective practice that will be of considerable value for the researcher in her capacity as a teacher educator. These included among others: • The teacher’s need for an understanding of the key principles on which reflection is based and how to translate these into practice. • The need for teachers to have a clear understanding of the role that learners play in the reflective process. • The need to revisit the Basic Education Teacher Diploma (BETD) education programme, because for teachers to reflect they need a sound subject knowledge on which to base their judgments. These aspects, as well as the identification of the factors in the school system that contribute to the failure of reflective practice, provide a foundation for finding real solutions to the problems identified.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Mwala, Maria Elizabeth
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Education -- Namibia , Teachers -- Training of -- Namibia , Educational change -- Namibia , Teacher educators -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1547 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003429 , Education -- Namibia , Teachers -- Training of -- Namibia , Educational change -- Namibia , Teacher educators -- Namibia
- Description: The research, investigating how a selected group of former BETD graduates understand and implement the theory of reflective practice, is a qualitative case study carried out in the Kavango region of Namibia. The study was shaped by one of the major policy emphases in Namibia’s post independence teacher education reform process - that of developing reflective teachers who actively participate in curriculum planning and take educational decisions based on their own judgment. A basic assumption underlying the study is that effective educational practice is dependent on practitioners thinking about what they are doing and acting on their reflections to improve practice. The study found that a fundamental problem preventing these teachers from implementing reflective practice in accordance with the Namibian educational reform process, is that the participating teachers neither understand the exact meaning of reflective practice nor do they have a common or shared view of the concept, in spite of their common qualifications. A key contributing factor to their problems with implementing reflective practice is the lack of a deep understanding of the reform epistemology and pedagogy revealed by the three former BETD graduates selected for the research. These are the teachers referred to in the first paragraph: The first teacher is Helena, a teacher at Duduva primary school, the second teacher is Kalishe, also teaching at the same school as Helena and the third teacher is Darius at Ntja Junior secondary school. The qualitative approach employed for the study served to illuminate and highlight specific issues related to the implementation of reflective practice that will be of considerable value for the researcher in her capacity as a teacher educator. These included among others: • The teacher’s need for an understanding of the key principles on which reflection is based and how to translate these into practice. • The need for teachers to have a clear understanding of the role that learners play in the reflective process. • The need to revisit the Basic Education Teacher Diploma (BETD) education programme, because for teachers to reflect they need a sound subject knowledge on which to base their judgments. These aspects, as well as the identification of the factors in the school system that contribute to the failure of reflective practice, provide a foundation for finding real solutions to the problems identified.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Freshwater invertebrate fauna of the Tristan da Cunha islands (South Atlantic Ocean), with new records for Inaccessible and Nightingale Islands
- Authors: Barber-James, Helen M
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:7001 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1008360
- Description: As part of a multidisciplinary floristic-faunistic study, a three week survey of the invertebrate fauna of Inaccessible Island (South Atlantic Ocean) was carried out in October / November 1989. In addition, one day of collecting was done on Nightingale Island. This paper deals only with the fauna associated with freshwater ecosystems from these islands, some of which are usually associated with marine or brackish conditions. On Inaccessible Island, five distinct types of freshwater body were identified - pH neutral streams, acidic streams (pH 5), an open pool of standing water (pH 6), areas of acidic bog, and seepages down rock faces. The survey, the most comprehensive for Inaccessible Island to date, has resulted in the discovery of 19 aquatic invertebrate species previously unrecorded on Inaccessible Island, two new to Nightingale Island, and 14 of which are new to the Tristan da Cunha archipelago. Many of the species are known from other parts of the world, indicating a low degree of endemicity within the freshwater invertebrate community. Recolonisation from the source populations, preventing an isolated gene pool, may account for the low endemicity. Several of the species have a degree of salinity tolerance, enabling them to withstand transportation across tracts of ocean, and others have marine origins.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Barber-James, Helen M
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:7001 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1008360
- Description: As part of a multidisciplinary floristic-faunistic study, a three week survey of the invertebrate fauna of Inaccessible Island (South Atlantic Ocean) was carried out in October / November 1989. In addition, one day of collecting was done on Nightingale Island. This paper deals only with the fauna associated with freshwater ecosystems from these islands, some of which are usually associated with marine or brackish conditions. On Inaccessible Island, five distinct types of freshwater body were identified - pH neutral streams, acidic streams (pH 5), an open pool of standing water (pH 6), areas of acidic bog, and seepages down rock faces. The survey, the most comprehensive for Inaccessible Island to date, has resulted in the discovery of 19 aquatic invertebrate species previously unrecorded on Inaccessible Island, two new to Nightingale Island, and 14 of which are new to the Tristan da Cunha archipelago. Many of the species are known from other parts of the world, indicating a low degree of endemicity within the freshwater invertebrate community. Recolonisation from the source populations, preventing an isolated gene pool, may account for the low endemicity. Several of the species have a degree of salinity tolerance, enabling them to withstand transportation across tracts of ocean, and others have marine origins.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Freshwater invertebrate fauna of the Tristan da Cunha islands (South Atlantic Ocean), with new records for Inaccessible and Nightingale Islands
- Barber-James, Helen Margaret
- Authors: Barber-James, Helen Margaret
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6940 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011964
- Description: As part of a multidisciplinary floristic-faunistic study, a three week survey of the invertebrate fauna of Inaccessible Island (South Atlantic Ocean) was carried out in October / November 1989. In addition, one day of collecting was done on Nightingale Island. This paper deals only with the fauna associated with freshwater ecosystems from these islands, some of which are usually associated with marine or brackish conditions. On Inaccessible Island, five distinct types of freshwater body were identified - pH neutral streams, acidic streams (pH 5), an open pool of standing water (pH 6), areas of acidic bog, and seepages down rock faces. The survey, the most comprehensive for Inaccessible Island to date, has resulted in the discovery of 19 aquatic invertebrate species previously unrecorded on Inaccessible Island, two new to Nightingale Island, and 14 of which are new to the Tristan da Cunha archipelago. Many of the species are known from other parts of the world, indicating a low degree of endemicity within the freshwater invertebrate community. Recolonisation from the source populations, preventing an isolated gene pool, may account for the low endemicity. Several of the species have a degree of salinity tolerance, enabling them to withstand transportation across tracts of ocean, and others have marine origins.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Barber-James, Helen Margaret
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6940 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011964
- Description: As part of a multidisciplinary floristic-faunistic study, a three week survey of the invertebrate fauna of Inaccessible Island (South Atlantic Ocean) was carried out in October / November 1989. In addition, one day of collecting was done on Nightingale Island. This paper deals only with the fauna associated with freshwater ecosystems from these islands, some of which are usually associated with marine or brackish conditions. On Inaccessible Island, five distinct types of freshwater body were identified - pH neutral streams, acidic streams (pH 5), an open pool of standing water (pH 6), areas of acidic bog, and seepages down rock faces. The survey, the most comprehensive for Inaccessible Island to date, has resulted in the discovery of 19 aquatic invertebrate species previously unrecorded on Inaccessible Island, two new to Nightingale Island, and 14 of which are new to the Tristan da Cunha archipelago. Many of the species are known from other parts of the world, indicating a low degree of endemicity within the freshwater invertebrate community. Recolonisation from the source populations, preventing an isolated gene pool, may account for the low endemicity. Several of the species have a degree of salinity tolerance, enabling them to withstand transportation across tracts of ocean, and others have marine origins.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Genesis of environmental education policy in Botswana: construction and interpretation
- Ketlhoilwe, Mphemelang Joseph
- Authors: Ketlhoilwe, Mphemelang Joseph
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Environmental education -- Botswana Education and state -- Botswana
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:1549 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003431
- Description: This study is based on the 1994 Revised National Policy on Education (Botswana Government, 1994) that introduced environmental education into the Botswana’s education system. The main goals of this study were to understand the genealogy of and to critically analyze governmentality associated with environmental education policy in Botswana. Drawing on a post-structural genealogical approach to the subject matter (following Foucault) global historical events and their influence on policy in Botswana, views on environmental education and interpretation, and power relations in environmental education policy discourses were investigated. An investigation was conducted through document analysis, interviews, focus group discussions and observations. The analysis revealed that power relations have historically transcended environmental education policy discourses from global, regional to national levels. The exercise of power through international bodies, and bilateral and multilateral agreements has impacted on Botswana enabling her to enact policies to address socio-ecological crises or regulating them to sustainably utilize natural resources. However, evidence has shown that although Botswana accepted and introduced environmental education, structures were not ready for its implementation and hence some contextual problems are experienced by teachers in schools. The Revised National Policy on Education (RNPE) was constructed through a consultative process, but the final decision on what goes into the policy text was decided from the top (i.e. by the Ministry of Education senior officials). It emerged from this study that Botswana has inconsistently adopted sustainability and conservation-protection discourses in environmental education policy. The mix of the two discourses shows continuity of the protectionist-conservationist discourses and emergence of the current sustainable use discourse, creating a complex discourse environment. The study also revealed that in including these primarily western scientific discourses, other discourses were marginalized or excluded, which revealed continuity with colonial education discourses. The findings also revealed variance in the understanding of environmental education. The majority of the teachers understood and normalised new knowledge in environmental education as Environmental Science or Science, and equated environmental management activities with environmental education. Teachers deployed new governmentalities and normalizing strategies by following the traditional conservation and science epistemological and pedagogical discourses. They exercised various self-governing strategies to respond to the RNPE requirement regarding environmental education. The findings highlight the need for re-conceptualization of environmental education at macro(at Ministry of Education) and micro level. There is a need to harmonize the variation in policy interpretations and clarification of the conservation/environmental education and sustainability discourses running parallel in schools or to work more explicitly with multiple discourses. It has also emerged that teacher support mechanisms need review to enhance policy implementation. The study recommends that further and explicit analysis of environmental education discourses is critical for shaping the future of environmental education policy development and interpretation within Botswana’s education system.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Ketlhoilwe, Mphemelang Joseph
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Environmental education -- Botswana Education and state -- Botswana
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:1549 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003431
- Description: This study is based on the 1994 Revised National Policy on Education (Botswana Government, 1994) that introduced environmental education into the Botswana’s education system. The main goals of this study were to understand the genealogy of and to critically analyze governmentality associated with environmental education policy in Botswana. Drawing on a post-structural genealogical approach to the subject matter (following Foucault) global historical events and their influence on policy in Botswana, views on environmental education and interpretation, and power relations in environmental education policy discourses were investigated. An investigation was conducted through document analysis, interviews, focus group discussions and observations. The analysis revealed that power relations have historically transcended environmental education policy discourses from global, regional to national levels. The exercise of power through international bodies, and bilateral and multilateral agreements has impacted on Botswana enabling her to enact policies to address socio-ecological crises or regulating them to sustainably utilize natural resources. However, evidence has shown that although Botswana accepted and introduced environmental education, structures were not ready for its implementation and hence some contextual problems are experienced by teachers in schools. The Revised National Policy on Education (RNPE) was constructed through a consultative process, but the final decision on what goes into the policy text was decided from the top (i.e. by the Ministry of Education senior officials). It emerged from this study that Botswana has inconsistently adopted sustainability and conservation-protection discourses in environmental education policy. The mix of the two discourses shows continuity of the protectionist-conservationist discourses and emergence of the current sustainable use discourse, creating a complex discourse environment. The study also revealed that in including these primarily western scientific discourses, other discourses were marginalized or excluded, which revealed continuity with colonial education discourses. The findings also revealed variance in the understanding of environmental education. The majority of the teachers understood and normalised new knowledge in environmental education as Environmental Science or Science, and equated environmental management activities with environmental education. Teachers deployed new governmentalities and normalizing strategies by following the traditional conservation and science epistemological and pedagogical discourses. They exercised various self-governing strategies to respond to the RNPE requirement regarding environmental education. The findings highlight the need for re-conceptualization of environmental education at macro(at Ministry of Education) and micro level. There is a need to harmonize the variation in policy interpretations and clarification of the conservation/environmental education and sustainability discourses running parallel in schools or to work more explicitly with multiple discourses. It has also emerged that teacher support mechanisms need review to enhance policy implementation. The study recommends that further and explicit analysis of environmental education discourses is critical for shaping the future of environmental education policy development and interpretation within Botswana’s education system.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Giving children a voice:
- Authors: Prinsloo, Jeanne
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/159277 , vital:40283 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC144676
- Description: It was in Johannesburg, South Africa, that the fifth World Summit on Media and Children took place from 24 to 27 March - a great jamboree where a thousand or so delegates from around 86 countries congregated together with 300 young people between the ages of 13 and 16.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Prinsloo, Jeanne
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/159277 , vital:40283 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC144676
- Description: It was in Johannesburg, South Africa, that the fifth World Summit on Media and Children took place from 24 to 27 March - a great jamboree where a thousand or so delegates from around 86 countries congregated together with 300 young people between the ages of 13 and 16.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Global diversity of mayflies (Ephemeroptera, Insecta) in freshwater
- Barber-James, Helen M, Gattolliat, Jean-Luc, Sartori, Michel, Hubbard, Michael D
- Authors: Barber-James, Helen M , Gattolliat, Jean-Luc , Sartori, Michel , Hubbard, Michael D
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:7002 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1008361
- Description: The extant global Ephemeroptera fauna is represented by over 3,000 described species in 42 families and more than 400 genera. The highest generic diversity occurs in the Neotropics, with a correspondingly high species diversity, while the Palaearctic has the lowest generic diversity, but a high species diversity. Such distribution patterns may relate to how long evolutionary processes have been carrying on in isolation in a bioregion. Over an extended period, there may be extinction of species, but evolution of more genera. Dramatic extinction events such as the K-T mass extinction have affected current mayfly diversity and distribution. Climatic history plays an important role in the rate of speciation in an area, with regions which have been climatically stable over long periods having fewer species per genus, when compared to regions subjected to climatic stresses, such as glaciation. A total of 13 families are endemic to specific bioregions, with eight among them being monospecific. Most of these have restricted distributions which may be the result of them being the relict of a previously more diverse, but presently almost completely extinct family, or may be the consequence of vicariance events, resulting from evolution due to long-term isolation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Barber-James, Helen M , Gattolliat, Jean-Luc , Sartori, Michel , Hubbard, Michael D
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:7002 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1008361
- Description: The extant global Ephemeroptera fauna is represented by over 3,000 described species in 42 families and more than 400 genera. The highest generic diversity occurs in the Neotropics, with a correspondingly high species diversity, while the Palaearctic has the lowest generic diversity, but a high species diversity. Such distribution patterns may relate to how long evolutionary processes have been carrying on in isolation in a bioregion. Over an extended period, there may be extinction of species, but evolution of more genera. Dramatic extinction events such as the K-T mass extinction have affected current mayfly diversity and distribution. Climatic history plays an important role in the rate of speciation in an area, with regions which have been climatically stable over long periods having fewer species per genus, when compared to regions subjected to climatic stresses, such as glaciation. A total of 13 families are endemic to specific bioregions, with eight among them being monospecific. Most of these have restricted distributions which may be the result of them being the relict of a previously more diverse, but presently almost completely extinct family, or may be the consequence of vicariance events, resulting from evolution due to long-term isolation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Governing information security using organisational information security profiles
- Authors: Tyukala, Mkhululi
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Data protection , Computer security -- Management , Computer networks -- Security measures
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9788 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/626 , Data protection , Computer security -- Management , Computer networks -- Security measures
- Description: The corporate scandals of the last few years have changed the face of information security and its governance. Information security has been elevated to the board of director level due to legislation and corporate governance regulations resulting from the scandals. Now boards of directors have corporate responsibility to ensure that the information assets of an organisation are secure. They are forced to embrace information security and make it part of business strategies. The new support from the board of directors gives information security weight and the voice from the top as well as the financial muscle that other business activities experience. However, as an area that is made up of specialist activities, information security may not easily be comprehended at board level like other business related activities. Yet the board of directors needs to provide oversight of information security. That is, put an information security programme in place to ensure that information is adequately protected. This raises a number of challenges. One of the challenges is how can information security be understood and well informed decisions about it be made at the board level? This dissertation provides a mechanism to present information at board level on how information security is implemented according to the vision of the board of directors. This mechanism is built upon well accepted and documented concepts of information security. The mechanism (termed An Organisational Information Security Profile or OISP) will assist organisations with the initialisation, monitoring, measuring, reporting and reviewing of information security programmes. Ultimately, the OISP will make it possible to know if the information security endeavours of the organisation are effective or not. If the information security programme is found to be ineffective, The OISP will facilitate the pointing out of areas that are ineffective and what caused the ineffectiveness. This dissertation also presents how the effectiveness or ineffctiveness of information security can be presented at board level using well known visualisation methods. Finally the contribution, limits and areas that need more investigation are provided.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Tyukala, Mkhululi
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Data protection , Computer security -- Management , Computer networks -- Security measures
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9788 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/626 , Data protection , Computer security -- Management , Computer networks -- Security measures
- Description: The corporate scandals of the last few years have changed the face of information security and its governance. Information security has been elevated to the board of director level due to legislation and corporate governance regulations resulting from the scandals. Now boards of directors have corporate responsibility to ensure that the information assets of an organisation are secure. They are forced to embrace information security and make it part of business strategies. The new support from the board of directors gives information security weight and the voice from the top as well as the financial muscle that other business activities experience. However, as an area that is made up of specialist activities, information security may not easily be comprehended at board level like other business related activities. Yet the board of directors needs to provide oversight of information security. That is, put an information security programme in place to ensure that information is adequately protected. This raises a number of challenges. One of the challenges is how can information security be understood and well informed decisions about it be made at the board level? This dissertation provides a mechanism to present information at board level on how information security is implemented according to the vision of the board of directors. This mechanism is built upon well accepted and documented concepts of information security. The mechanism (termed An Organisational Information Security Profile or OISP) will assist organisations with the initialisation, monitoring, measuring, reporting and reviewing of information security programmes. Ultimately, the OISP will make it possible to know if the information security endeavours of the organisation are effective or not. If the information security programme is found to be ineffective, The OISP will facilitate the pointing out of areas that are ineffective and what caused the ineffectiveness. This dissertation also presents how the effectiveness or ineffctiveness of information security can be presented at board level using well known visualisation methods. Finally the contribution, limits and areas that need more investigation are provided.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Gowin's Knowledge Vee and the integration of philosophy and methodology : a case study
- Authors: Fox, Roddy C
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6682 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006677
- Description: Universities with a strong research tradition commonly have courses or modules examining the tradition’s philosophies and methodologies to prepare their students to undertake research programmes. Recently, however, authors have called for wider debate concerning how we teach these courses and this paper is intended, in part, to make a contribution to this debate. The Research Philosophy and Methodology module examined here makes an intriguing case study because of a number of distinctive characteristics. The teaching philosophy of the module is social constructivist and it uses Gowin’s Knowledge Vee as its main heuristic device. This facilitates the construction of knowledge about philosophy and methodology in an integrated manner. The module has also been designed for both physical and human geography students at the introductory post-graduate level. There is, therefore, a second element of integration in the curriculum. Lastly, the module is predominantly web-based, being taken by distance students through the exchange agreement between Rhodes University, South Africa, and the University of Trollhättan-Uddevalla, Sweden. Evidence from reflective exercises shows that the learners’ understanding of research and the research process has deepened considerably through using Gowin’s Vee. Furthermore, using the Knowledge Vee in the web-based context has facilitated the integrative aspects of the module.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Fox, Roddy C
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6682 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006677
- Description: Universities with a strong research tradition commonly have courses or modules examining the tradition’s philosophies and methodologies to prepare their students to undertake research programmes. Recently, however, authors have called for wider debate concerning how we teach these courses and this paper is intended, in part, to make a contribution to this debate. The Research Philosophy and Methodology module examined here makes an intriguing case study because of a number of distinctive characteristics. The teaching philosophy of the module is social constructivist and it uses Gowin’s Knowledge Vee as its main heuristic device. This facilitates the construction of knowledge about philosophy and methodology in an integrated manner. The module has also been designed for both physical and human geography students at the introductory post-graduate level. There is, therefore, a second element of integration in the curriculum. Lastly, the module is predominantly web-based, being taken by distance students through the exchange agreement between Rhodes University, South Africa, and the University of Trollhättan-Uddevalla, Sweden. Evidence from reflective exercises shows that the learners’ understanding of research and the research process has deepened considerably through using Gowin’s Vee. Furthermore, using the Knowledge Vee in the web-based context has facilitated the integrative aspects of the module.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
GPS TEC and ionosonde TEC over Grahamstown, South Africa: first comparisons
- McKinnell, Lee-Anne, Opperman, Ben D L, Cilliers, Pierre J
- Authors: McKinnell, Lee-Anne , Opperman, Ben D L , Cilliers, Pierre J
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6800 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004163
- Description: The Grahamstown, South Africa (33.3°S, 26.5°E) ionospheric field station operates a UMass Lowell digital pulse ionospheric sounder (Digisonde) and an Ashtech geodetic grade dual frequency GPS receiver. The GPS receiver is owned by Chief Directorate Surveys and Mapping (CDSM) in Cape Town, forms part of the national TrigNet network and was installed in February 2005. The sampling rates of the GPS receiver and Digisonde were set to 1 s and 15 min, respectively. Data from four continuous months, March–June 2005 inclusive, were considered in this initial investigation. Data available from the Grahamstown GPS receiver was limited, and, therefore, only these 4 months have been considered. Total Electron Content (TEC) values were determined from GPS measurements obtained from satellites passing near vertical (within an 80° elevation) to the station. TEC values were obtained from ionograms recorded at times within 5 min of the near vertical GPS measurement. The GPS derived TEC values are referred to as GTEC and the ionogram derived TEC values as ITEC. Comparisons of GTEC and ITEC values are presented in this paper. The differential clock biases of the GPS satellites and receivers are taken into account. The plasmaspheric contribution to the TEC can be inferred from the results, and confirm findings obtained by other groups. This paper describes the groundwork for a procedure that will allow the validation of GPS derived ionospheric information with ionosonde data. This work will be of interest to the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) community since GPS receivers are becoming recognised as another source for ionospheric information.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: McKinnell, Lee-Anne , Opperman, Ben D L , Cilliers, Pierre J
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6800 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004163
- Description: The Grahamstown, South Africa (33.3°S, 26.5°E) ionospheric field station operates a UMass Lowell digital pulse ionospheric sounder (Digisonde) and an Ashtech geodetic grade dual frequency GPS receiver. The GPS receiver is owned by Chief Directorate Surveys and Mapping (CDSM) in Cape Town, forms part of the national TrigNet network and was installed in February 2005. The sampling rates of the GPS receiver and Digisonde were set to 1 s and 15 min, respectively. Data from four continuous months, March–June 2005 inclusive, were considered in this initial investigation. Data available from the Grahamstown GPS receiver was limited, and, therefore, only these 4 months have been considered. Total Electron Content (TEC) values were determined from GPS measurements obtained from satellites passing near vertical (within an 80° elevation) to the station. TEC values were obtained from ionograms recorded at times within 5 min of the near vertical GPS measurement. The GPS derived TEC values are referred to as GTEC and the ionogram derived TEC values as ITEC. Comparisons of GTEC and ITEC values are presented in this paper. The differential clock biases of the GPS satellites and receivers are taken into account. The plasmaspheric contribution to the TEC can be inferred from the results, and confirm findings obtained by other groups. This paper describes the groundwork for a procedure that will allow the validation of GPS derived ionospheric information with ionosonde data. This work will be of interest to the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) community since GPS receivers are becoming recognised as another source for ionospheric information.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Grade 5 teachers' understanding and development of concepts in social studies in selected schools in Namibia
- Authors: Sichombe, Beatrice Sinyama
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Social sciences -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- Namibia Social science teachers -- Namibia Educational change -- Namibia Education -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1877 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005856
- Description: After the introduction of Learner Centred Education in Namibia, a number of studies were conducted on how teachers either perceived learner centred education or implemented it. However, very few studies investigated the teachers' understanding of both subject matter knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge; primarily, how they understand and develop key concepts. The purpose of this study was to investigate how Grade 5 teachers' understand and develop key concepts in Social Studies in selected schools in Namibia. The study focused on three teachers in three primary schools in the Caprivi educational region of Namibia. These teachers were purposefully selected as graduates of the teacher education programme instituted at the time of the Namibian education reform process. As a teacher educator, my main motive of conducting this study was to gain a better understanding of some of the issues that have been raised about these graduates' lack of content knowledge. The study adopts a qualitative approach and seeks to investigate (a) how the three teachers in this study understand key concepts and (b) the strategies they use to develop such concepts. Three data collection instruments were employed: interviews, document analysis and class observations. The findings indicate that despite the training that all three teachers in this study received, their understanding of the concepts they taught is problematic. Furthermore, some of the strategies that the teachers used did not bring about learning with understanding. The results of the study revealed how these teachers' problems with concepts and the development of conceptual understanding are related to specific issues and can be attributed to a number of factors. Because of this, the study has provided valuable insights into aspects of teacher education that need to be addressed both in terms of in-service and pre-service programmes to support teachers in teaching for understanding, a key idea underpinning the reform process.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Sichombe, Beatrice Sinyama
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Social sciences -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- Namibia Social science teachers -- Namibia Educational change -- Namibia Education -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1877 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005856
- Description: After the introduction of Learner Centred Education in Namibia, a number of studies were conducted on how teachers either perceived learner centred education or implemented it. However, very few studies investigated the teachers' understanding of both subject matter knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge; primarily, how they understand and develop key concepts. The purpose of this study was to investigate how Grade 5 teachers' understand and develop key concepts in Social Studies in selected schools in Namibia. The study focused on three teachers in three primary schools in the Caprivi educational region of Namibia. These teachers were purposefully selected as graduates of the teacher education programme instituted at the time of the Namibian education reform process. As a teacher educator, my main motive of conducting this study was to gain a better understanding of some of the issues that have been raised about these graduates' lack of content knowledge. The study adopts a qualitative approach and seeks to investigate (a) how the three teachers in this study understand key concepts and (b) the strategies they use to develop such concepts. Three data collection instruments were employed: interviews, document analysis and class observations. The findings indicate that despite the training that all three teachers in this study received, their understanding of the concepts they taught is problematic. Furthermore, some of the strategies that the teachers used did not bring about learning with understanding. The results of the study revealed how these teachers' problems with concepts and the development of conceptual understanding are related to specific issues and can be attributed to a number of factors. Because of this, the study has provided valuable insights into aspects of teacher education that need to be addressed both in terms of in-service and pre-service programmes to support teachers in teaching for understanding, a key idea underpinning the reform process.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Grandmothers, mothers and daughters : transformations and coping strategies in Xhosa households in Grahamstown
- Authors: Schwartz, Linda Mary
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Women, Xhosa -- South Africa -- Grahamstown Poor women -- South Africa -- Grahamstown Women -- South Africa -- Social conditions Women -- South Africa -- Economic conditions Women -- South Africa -- Grahamstown -- Case studies
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2585 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006190
- Description: The aim of this oral history study is to explore the ways in which constructions of gender have brought women to the point where they now bear most of the burden of responsibility in their relationships with men and for the wellbeing of children. This study speaks into the gap of the undocumented history of women's lived experience as told by women themselves. It is a generational study which charts the transformations and coping strategies of women in Xhosa households since the 1940s. The study found that the familial burdens related to women's sexuality and fertility, raising of children and financial responsibilities in a time of HIV / AIDS have increased. Teenage pregnancies, the discipline of children, HIV / AIDS and the ever present aspects of poverty are major issues these women face. The stress of day to day demands on their lives precluded them the opportunity to reflect on the underlying causes and historical roots of their circumstances. Little understanding of the gendered order of their lives was expressed by the respondents. The use of feminist methodology authenticated the women's stories as they produced knowledge of their lived experience. The interview questions raised awareness of the gender bias underlying much of their struggles at home. , KMBT_363 , Adobe Acrobat 9.54 Paper Capture Plug-in
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Schwartz, Linda Mary
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Women, Xhosa -- South Africa -- Grahamstown Poor women -- South Africa -- Grahamstown Women -- South Africa -- Social conditions Women -- South Africa -- Economic conditions Women -- South Africa -- Grahamstown -- Case studies
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2585 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006190
- Description: The aim of this oral history study is to explore the ways in which constructions of gender have brought women to the point where they now bear most of the burden of responsibility in their relationships with men and for the wellbeing of children. This study speaks into the gap of the undocumented history of women's lived experience as told by women themselves. It is a generational study which charts the transformations and coping strategies of women in Xhosa households since the 1940s. The study found that the familial burdens related to women's sexuality and fertility, raising of children and financial responsibilities in a time of HIV / AIDS have increased. Teenage pregnancies, the discipline of children, HIV / AIDS and the ever present aspects of poverty are major issues these women face. The stress of day to day demands on their lives precluded them the opportunity to reflect on the underlying causes and historical roots of their circumstances. Little understanding of the gendered order of their lives was expressed by the respondents. The use of feminist methodology authenticated the women's stories as they produced knowledge of their lived experience. The interview questions raised awareness of the gender bias underlying much of their struggles at home. , KMBT_363 , Adobe Acrobat 9.54 Paper Capture Plug-in
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Growth of Aloe ferox Mill. at selected sites in the Makana region of the Eastern Cape
- Shackleton, Charlie M, Gambiza, James
- Authors: Shackleton, Charlie M , Gambiza, James
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6654 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007068
- Description: There is widespread harvesting of the leaves of Aloe ferox to supply bitters and gel for cosmetic and health products. Government and private agencies are interested in expanding the industry as a means of providing income for poor rural communities. With the growing interest in the commercial use of A. ferox it is important that harvesting programmes are based on an adequate understanding of the ecology and productivity of the species, which will underpin estimates of possible sustainable yields. In this paper we report mean annual growth rates of 283 A. ferox plants (at six sites) during the 2005/2006 season. Growth was variable across sites and plant height. In terms of sites, the mean height growth ranged between 1.7 cm per plant per year at site 4 and 4.6 cm at site 2. The mean height increment across all sites and plants was 2.8 ± 0.2 cm. Plant height had a strong effect on annual increment with small plants (< 6 cm) more than doubling their height in the 12 month period, whereas plants taller than 2 m grew by approximately 1% over the year. Across the five unburnt sites, the mean standing stock of leaves grew by two per plant. The proportion of plants flowering increased progressively with plant height. Most (90%) of the plants that flowered in 2005 did so again in 2006.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Shackleton, Charlie M , Gambiza, James
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6654 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007068
- Description: There is widespread harvesting of the leaves of Aloe ferox to supply bitters and gel for cosmetic and health products. Government and private agencies are interested in expanding the industry as a means of providing income for poor rural communities. With the growing interest in the commercial use of A. ferox it is important that harvesting programmes are based on an adequate understanding of the ecology and productivity of the species, which will underpin estimates of possible sustainable yields. In this paper we report mean annual growth rates of 283 A. ferox plants (at six sites) during the 2005/2006 season. Growth was variable across sites and plant height. In terms of sites, the mean height growth ranged between 1.7 cm per plant per year at site 4 and 4.6 cm at site 2. The mean height increment across all sites and plants was 2.8 ± 0.2 cm. Plant height had a strong effect on annual increment with small plants (< 6 cm) more than doubling their height in the 12 month period, whereas plants taller than 2 m grew by approximately 1% over the year. Across the five unburnt sites, the mean standing stock of leaves grew by two per plant. The proportion of plants flowering increased progressively with plant height. Most (90%) of the plants that flowered in 2005 did so again in 2006.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality of Nguni, Bonsmara and Angus steers raised on natural pasture
- Authors: Muchenje, Voster
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Cattle -- Feeding and feeds , Cattle -- Growth , Nguni cattle , Aberdeen -- Angus cattle , Bonsmara cattle , Meat industry and trade -- Quality control
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Animal Science)
- Identifier: vital:11580 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/199 , Cattle -- Feeding and feeds , Cattle -- Growth , Nguni cattle , Aberdeen -- Angus cattle , Bonsmara cattle , Meat industry and trade -- Quality control
- Description: The objective of the current study was to compare tick loads, growth, carcass characteristics and meat quality of Nguni, Bonsmara and Angus steers raised on natural pasture. A total of 30, 7-month old steers each of Bonsmara and Angus, and 40 Nguni steers were kept at the University of Fort Hare Farm till slaughter at 18 months. Monthly weights of the steers were recorded. Carcasses were electrically stimulated. The m. longissimus thoracis et lumborum was sampled for the measurement of meat colour, pH, drip loss, sarcomere length (SL), water holding capacity (WHC), cooking losses, myofibrillar fragmentation length (MFL), Warner Bratzler shear force (WBSF), fatty acid profiles and sensory characteristics of the steers. Urine samples were collected at the slaughter line for the determination of stress hormone concentrations. The Nguni had the lowest tick load (P < 0.05) while the Angus had the highest tick load (P < 0.05). Tick load did not affect the growth rate and carcass characteristics of the steers. Bonsmara and Angus steers had higher (P < 0.05) carcass weight and dressing percentage than the Nguni steers. Meat quality characteristics were similar (P > 0.05) among all the breeds, except that Nguni meat was darker (L*) (P < 0.05) than meat from the other two breeds. The Bonsmara had the highest (P > 0.05) concentrations while the Nguni had the lowest (P > 0.05) concentrations of stress hormones. There were significant (P < 0.05) correlations between WB values of meat aged for two and 21 days in Nguni and Bonsmara, but not in Angus. The correlations among stress responsiveness hormones and meat quality were breed-dependent. Except monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and the n-6/n-3 ratio, fatty acid profiles among the breeds were similar (P > 0.05). Cholesterol levels among the breeds were similar (P > 0.05). The Nguni had the best (P < 0.05) sensory characteristics, such as flavour and tenderness. It can be concluded that while the Nguni is a small framed breed, its meat quality is similar to that of Bonsmara and Angus and has the best meat taste when raised on natural pasture.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Muchenje, Voster
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Cattle -- Feeding and feeds , Cattle -- Growth , Nguni cattle , Aberdeen -- Angus cattle , Bonsmara cattle , Meat industry and trade -- Quality control
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Animal Science)
- Identifier: vital:11580 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/199 , Cattle -- Feeding and feeds , Cattle -- Growth , Nguni cattle , Aberdeen -- Angus cattle , Bonsmara cattle , Meat industry and trade -- Quality control
- Description: The objective of the current study was to compare tick loads, growth, carcass characteristics and meat quality of Nguni, Bonsmara and Angus steers raised on natural pasture. A total of 30, 7-month old steers each of Bonsmara and Angus, and 40 Nguni steers were kept at the University of Fort Hare Farm till slaughter at 18 months. Monthly weights of the steers were recorded. Carcasses were electrically stimulated. The m. longissimus thoracis et lumborum was sampled for the measurement of meat colour, pH, drip loss, sarcomere length (SL), water holding capacity (WHC), cooking losses, myofibrillar fragmentation length (MFL), Warner Bratzler shear force (WBSF), fatty acid profiles and sensory characteristics of the steers. Urine samples were collected at the slaughter line for the determination of stress hormone concentrations. The Nguni had the lowest tick load (P < 0.05) while the Angus had the highest tick load (P < 0.05). Tick load did not affect the growth rate and carcass characteristics of the steers. Bonsmara and Angus steers had higher (P < 0.05) carcass weight and dressing percentage than the Nguni steers. Meat quality characteristics were similar (P > 0.05) among all the breeds, except that Nguni meat was darker (L*) (P < 0.05) than meat from the other two breeds. The Bonsmara had the highest (P > 0.05) concentrations while the Nguni had the lowest (P > 0.05) concentrations of stress hormones. There were significant (P < 0.05) correlations between WB values of meat aged for two and 21 days in Nguni and Bonsmara, but not in Angus. The correlations among stress responsiveness hormones and meat quality were breed-dependent. Except monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and the n-6/n-3 ratio, fatty acid profiles among the breeds were similar (P > 0.05). Cholesterol levels among the breeds were similar (P > 0.05). The Nguni had the best (P < 0.05) sensory characteristics, such as flavour and tenderness. It can be concluded that while the Nguni is a small framed breed, its meat quality is similar to that of Bonsmara and Angus and has the best meat taste when raised on natural pasture.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Health, human rights, and the conduct of clinical research within oppressed populations
- Authors: Mills, E J , Singh, S
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6411 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006504 , http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1744-8603-3-10
- Description: Background Clinical trials evaluating interventions for infectious diseases require enrolling participants that are vulnerable to infection. As clinical trials are conducted in increasingly vulnerable populations, issues of protection of these populations become challenging. In settings where populations are forseeably oppressed, the conduct of research requires considerations that go beyond common ethical concerns and into issues of international human rights law. Discussion Using examples of HIV prevention trials in Thailand, hepatitis-E prevention trials in Nepal and malaria therapeutic trials in Burma (Myanmar), we address the inadequacies of current ethical guidelines when conducting research within oppressed populations. We review existing legislature in the United States and United Kingdom that may be used against foreign investigators if trial hardships exist. We conclude by making considerations for research conducted within oppressed populations.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Mills, E J , Singh, S
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6411 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006504 , http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1744-8603-3-10
- Description: Background Clinical trials evaluating interventions for infectious diseases require enrolling participants that are vulnerable to infection. As clinical trials are conducted in increasingly vulnerable populations, issues of protection of these populations become challenging. In settings where populations are forseeably oppressed, the conduct of research requires considerations that go beyond common ethical concerns and into issues of international human rights law. Discussion Using examples of HIV prevention trials in Thailand, hepatitis-E prevention trials in Nepal and malaria therapeutic trials in Burma (Myanmar), we address the inadequacies of current ethical guidelines when conducting research within oppressed populations. We review existing legislature in the United States and United Kingdom that may be used against foreign investigators if trial hardships exist. We conclude by making considerations for research conducted within oppressed populations.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Hermeneutic and empirical analyses of graphically inspired metamathematics that reflect critical consciousness within perspectives of personal and social justice
- Authors: Van Jaarsveld, Pieter Paul
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Mathematics -- Study and teaching -- South Africa Mathematics -- Study and teaching -- Social aspects -- South Africa Algorithms -- Study and teaching -- South Africa Critical pedagogy Metacognition Hermeneutics
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:1842 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004376
- Description: My involvement with mathematics education amongst township educators and learners over the past seven years has highlighted the absence of sustained meaning and meaning making of mathematical concepts. It appears though that this instrumental rather than relational understanding of FET mathematics is not unique to township learners but is encountered amongst learners of all socio-economic classes and is representative of many FET mathematics learners. Given that the language of learning and teaching is a major contributory factor in the South African education system, it appears that the language of mathematics itself is a greater exacerbating factor for many learners of mathematics. The exclusive algorithmic approach to classroom mathematics further seems to alienate many learners from the essence of the meaning of mathematical tasks. This research undertakes to determine whether metateaching and metalearning as forerunners to metacognition facilitates the acquisition of the sustained meaning of mathematical concepts. Metateaching and metalearning refer to the acute and deliberate awareness by educator and learner as to what constitutes concepts. Teaching and learning therefore presupposes the deconstruction of concepts into its subsumed derivative roots. It also assumes an awareness of the tacit degrees of abstraction that characterise tasks and the content of tasks. This in turn has implications for the educator's adopted sequence of topics for instruction. Metacognition implies awareness on the part of the learner (and educator) as to how material is learned and a further awareness as to how that learning can be sustained. Whether we ascribe meaningful learning to radical or social constructivism, or to associationist didactive approaches, or a combination of these, we are making assumptions about how learners acquire and sustain mathematical meaning because mathematics is, by and large a symbolic language often devoid of affective connotation. Furthermore our assessments of learners' tasks amount to clinical corrections of austere formulae wrapped in algorithmic procedures which manifest nothing of a learner's experience of mathematics or the deeper understanding (or misunderstandings) which characterise a learning and/or assessment episode. To this end the research design of this interpretive case study requires learners to expound in textual accounts their thoughts as they describe the evolution of a mathematical process as they approach a solution and eventually interpret it. The textual account exposes the concept definition for what it really is in a learner's understanding of it and it is the expressiveness of language that indicates whether the understanding of a learner is approaching the concept image. The textual accounts vary in richness in terms of mathematical register and this in turn reflects the conceptual depth. The mechanism which seems to promote the conversion from concept definition to concept image is the graphical representation of the mathematical task or procedure, possibly because of its greater concreteness as opposed to the abstraction of its algebraic form.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Van Jaarsveld, Pieter Paul
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Mathematics -- Study and teaching -- South Africa Mathematics -- Study and teaching -- Social aspects -- South Africa Algorithms -- Study and teaching -- South Africa Critical pedagogy Metacognition Hermeneutics
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:1842 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004376
- Description: My involvement with mathematics education amongst township educators and learners over the past seven years has highlighted the absence of sustained meaning and meaning making of mathematical concepts. It appears though that this instrumental rather than relational understanding of FET mathematics is not unique to township learners but is encountered amongst learners of all socio-economic classes and is representative of many FET mathematics learners. Given that the language of learning and teaching is a major contributory factor in the South African education system, it appears that the language of mathematics itself is a greater exacerbating factor for many learners of mathematics. The exclusive algorithmic approach to classroom mathematics further seems to alienate many learners from the essence of the meaning of mathematical tasks. This research undertakes to determine whether metateaching and metalearning as forerunners to metacognition facilitates the acquisition of the sustained meaning of mathematical concepts. Metateaching and metalearning refer to the acute and deliberate awareness by educator and learner as to what constitutes concepts. Teaching and learning therefore presupposes the deconstruction of concepts into its subsumed derivative roots. It also assumes an awareness of the tacit degrees of abstraction that characterise tasks and the content of tasks. This in turn has implications for the educator's adopted sequence of topics for instruction. Metacognition implies awareness on the part of the learner (and educator) as to how material is learned and a further awareness as to how that learning can be sustained. Whether we ascribe meaningful learning to radical or social constructivism, or to associationist didactive approaches, or a combination of these, we are making assumptions about how learners acquire and sustain mathematical meaning because mathematics is, by and large a symbolic language often devoid of affective connotation. Furthermore our assessments of learners' tasks amount to clinical corrections of austere formulae wrapped in algorithmic procedures which manifest nothing of a learner's experience of mathematics or the deeper understanding (or misunderstandings) which characterise a learning and/or assessment episode. To this end the research design of this interpretive case study requires learners to expound in textual accounts their thoughts as they describe the evolution of a mathematical process as they approach a solution and eventually interpret it. The textual account exposes the concept definition for what it really is in a learner's understanding of it and it is the expressiveness of language that indicates whether the understanding of a learner is approaching the concept image. The textual accounts vary in richness in terms of mathematical register and this in turn reflects the conceptual depth. The mechanism which seems to promote the conversion from concept definition to concept image is the graphical representation of the mathematical task or procedure, possibly because of its greater concreteness as opposed to the abstraction of its algebraic form.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Hermeneutics and memory in selected works by Willem Boshoff
- Authors: Tryon, Denzil Jordan
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Boshoff, Willem, 1951- Hermeneutics Memory in art Art, Modern -- 20th century -- South Africa Installations (Art) -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MFA
- Identifier: vital:2433 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004453
- Description: From Introduction: Willem Boshoff was born in Vereeniging, South Africa, in 1951. The son of a carpenter, Boshoff developed an early interest in art. Although never taught formally by his father, he nevertheless acquired a knowledge of the craft of carpentry, a skill which he continues to utilize in much of his art-making today. Boshoff studied at the Johannesburg College of Art, and obtained a Master's Diploma in Technology in Fine Art in 1984. He taught at that institution for twelve years, becoming a full-time art practitioner in 1996. He produced some significant works prior to and during the time of his teaching tenure, including his KykAfrikaans visual poetry in 1979-1980, Bangboek between 1977-1986, and the researching and writing of the Dictionary of Perplexing English in 1986 (ending in 1999). In this study I will discuss Willem Boshoff's careful employment of language and materials, througb which he propagates his "study of ignorance" (Williamson and Jamal 1996:148). I will investigate two major works by Boshoff, namely The Writing in the Sand and The Blind Alphabet in Chapters 1 and 2 respectively. Both of these installations are concerned fundamentally with the subversion of power relationships and elitism. As I will show, both works offer an opportunity to investigate their objectives in relation to discourses surrounding language and hermeneutics. My study includes a third chapter, in which I discuss my own work entitled The Bread of the Presence in relation to Boshoff's own methodologies. As will be demonstrated with particular reference to The Blind Alphabet and my own work, a discussion of memory proves to be of some relevance within this dialogue.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Tryon, Denzil Jordan
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Boshoff, Willem, 1951- Hermeneutics Memory in art Art, Modern -- 20th century -- South Africa Installations (Art) -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MFA
- Identifier: vital:2433 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004453
- Description: From Introduction: Willem Boshoff was born in Vereeniging, South Africa, in 1951. The son of a carpenter, Boshoff developed an early interest in art. Although never taught formally by his father, he nevertheless acquired a knowledge of the craft of carpentry, a skill which he continues to utilize in much of his art-making today. Boshoff studied at the Johannesburg College of Art, and obtained a Master's Diploma in Technology in Fine Art in 1984. He taught at that institution for twelve years, becoming a full-time art practitioner in 1996. He produced some significant works prior to and during the time of his teaching tenure, including his KykAfrikaans visual poetry in 1979-1980, Bangboek between 1977-1986, and the researching and writing of the Dictionary of Perplexing English in 1986 (ending in 1999). In this study I will discuss Willem Boshoff's careful employment of language and materials, througb which he propagates his "study of ignorance" (Williamson and Jamal 1996:148). I will investigate two major works by Boshoff, namely The Writing in the Sand and The Blind Alphabet in Chapters 1 and 2 respectively. Both of these installations are concerned fundamentally with the subversion of power relationships and elitism. As I will show, both works offer an opportunity to investigate their objectives in relation to discourses surrounding language and hermeneutics. My study includes a third chapter, in which I discuss my own work entitled The Bread of the Presence in relation to Boshoff's own methodologies. As will be demonstrated with particular reference to The Blind Alphabet and my own work, a discussion of memory proves to be of some relevance within this dialogue.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Hippocampus queenslandicus Horne, 2001–a new seahorse species or yet another synonym?
- Teske, Peter R, Lourie, Sara A, Matthee, Conrad A, Green, David M
- Authors: Teske, Peter R , Lourie, Sara A , Matthee, Conrad A , Green, David M
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/445666 , vital:74412 , https://www.publish.csiro.au/zo/ZO07021
- Description: During the past six years, 15 new seahorse species (Syngnathidae: Hippocampus) have been described on the basis of morphological characters. This approach is known to be problematic, and most species names in Hippocampus are now considered to be synonyms. Genetic methods have great potential to resolve the confused taxonomy of the genus, but none have yet been incorporated into species descriptions. In the present study, mitochondrial control region and cytochrome b DNA sequences, as well as morphological data from the recently described Queensland seahorse, Hippocampus queenslandicus Horne, 2001, were compared with corresponding data from closely related seahorse species to determine whether there is strong support for distinction of this taxon. The haplotypes of H. queenslandicus were nested among haplotypes belonging to two of the three major Southeast Asian lineages of H. spinosissimus Weber, 1913. Although incomplete lineage sorting characteristic of very recently diverged species cannot be ruled out, the genetic results suggest that H. queenslandicus is paraphyletic. Morphometric analysis further fails to provide strong support for the species status of H. queenslandicus. We conclude that support for the distinctness of H. queenslandicus is weak, and indicate that it is a synonym of H. spinosissimus. The taxonomic validity of other recently described seahorse species should be similarly scrutinised using combined genetic and detailed morphological methods.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Teske, Peter R , Lourie, Sara A , Matthee, Conrad A , Green, David M
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/445666 , vital:74412 , https://www.publish.csiro.au/zo/ZO07021
- Description: During the past six years, 15 new seahorse species (Syngnathidae: Hippocampus) have been described on the basis of morphological characters. This approach is known to be problematic, and most species names in Hippocampus are now considered to be synonyms. Genetic methods have great potential to resolve the confused taxonomy of the genus, but none have yet been incorporated into species descriptions. In the present study, mitochondrial control region and cytochrome b DNA sequences, as well as morphological data from the recently described Queensland seahorse, Hippocampus queenslandicus Horne, 2001, were compared with corresponding data from closely related seahorse species to determine whether there is strong support for distinction of this taxon. The haplotypes of H. queenslandicus were nested among haplotypes belonging to two of the three major Southeast Asian lineages of H. spinosissimus Weber, 1913. Although incomplete lineage sorting characteristic of very recently diverged species cannot be ruled out, the genetic results suggest that H. queenslandicus is paraphyletic. Morphometric analysis further fails to provide strong support for the species status of H. queenslandicus. We conclude that support for the distinctness of H. queenslandicus is weak, and indicate that it is a synonym of H. spinosissimus. The taxonomic validity of other recently described seahorse species should be similarly scrutinised using combined genetic and detailed morphological methods.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
holy river
- Authors: Berold, Robert
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , poem
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/462167 , vital:76277 , ISBN 0028-4459 , https://journals.co.za/doi/epdf/10.10520/EJC47794
- Description: New Coin is one of South Africa's most established and influential poetry journals. It publishes poetry, and poetry-related reviews, commentary and interviews. New Coin places a particular emphasis on evolving forms and experimental use of the English language in poetry in the South African context. In this sense it has traced the most exciting trends and currents in contemporary poetry in South Africa for a decade of more. The journal is published twice a year in June and December by the Institute for the Study of English in Africa (ISEA), Rhodes University.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Berold, Robert
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , poem
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/462167 , vital:76277 , ISBN 0028-4459 , https://journals.co.za/doi/epdf/10.10520/EJC47794
- Description: New Coin is one of South Africa's most established and influential poetry journals. It publishes poetry, and poetry-related reviews, commentary and interviews. New Coin places a particular emphasis on evolving forms and experimental use of the English language in poetry in the South African context. In this sense it has traced the most exciting trends and currents in contemporary poetry in South Africa for a decade of more. The journal is published twice a year in June and December by the Institute for the Study of English in Africa (ISEA), Rhodes University.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
How entrepreneurs deal with ethical challenges : an application of the Business Ethics Synergy Star Technique
- Robinson, David A, Davidsson, Per, Van der Mescht, Hennie, Court, Philip
- Authors: Robinson, David A , Davidsson, Per , Van der Mescht, Hennie , Court, Philip
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6079 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006123
- Description: Entrepreneurs typically live with the ever present threat of business failure arising from limited financial resources and aggressive competition in the marketplace. Under these circumstances, conflicting priorities arise and the entrepreneur is thus faced with certain dilemmas. In seeking to resolve these, entrepreneurs must often rely on their own judgment to determine ‘‘what is right’’. There is thus a need for a technique to assist them decide on a course of action when no precedent or obvious solution exists. This research paper examines how entrepreneurs experience and deal with these dilemmas. The research is based on interviews with seven entrepreneurs in established service-oriented ventures, which gave rise to 26 dilemmas. These dilemmas were analyzed by making use of the Synergy Star technique, which is introduced here as a tool that is useful in defining any dilemma, isolating the ethical component, and resolving the dilemma in a way that is congruent with the entrepreneur’s personal world-view.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Robinson, David A , Davidsson, Per , Van der Mescht, Hennie , Court, Philip
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6079 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006123
- Description: Entrepreneurs typically live with the ever present threat of business failure arising from limited financial resources and aggressive competition in the marketplace. Under these circumstances, conflicting priorities arise and the entrepreneur is thus faced with certain dilemmas. In seeking to resolve these, entrepreneurs must often rely on their own judgment to determine ‘‘what is right’’. There is thus a need for a technique to assist them decide on a course of action when no precedent or obvious solution exists. This research paper examines how entrepreneurs experience and deal with these dilemmas. The research is based on interviews with seven entrepreneurs in established service-oriented ventures, which gave rise to 26 dilemmas. These dilemmas were analyzed by making use of the Synergy Star technique, which is introduced here as a tool that is useful in defining any dilemma, isolating the ethical component, and resolving the dilemma in a way that is congruent with the entrepreneur’s personal world-view.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Hydrogenases from sulphate reducing bacteria and their role in the bioremediation of textile effluent
- Mutambanengwe, Cecil Clifford Zvandada
- Authors: Mutambanengwe, Cecil Clifford Zvandada
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Bioremediation , Dyes and dyeing -- Waste disposal , Sulfur bacteria , Hydragenase , Factory and trade waste -- Purification , Textile waste
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:3960 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004019 , Bioremediation , Dyes and dyeing -- Waste disposal , Sulfur bacteria , Hydragenase , Factory and trade waste -- Purification , Textile waste
- Description: The continuing industrial development has led to a corresponding increase in the amount of waste water generation leading to a consequential decline in levels and quality of the natural water in the ecosystem. Textile industries consume over 7 x 10[superscript 5] tons of dyes annually and use up to 1 litre of water per kg of dye processed and are third largest polluters in the world, the problem being aggravated by the inefficiencies of the dye houses. An abundance of physio-chemical methods are in use world wide, however, there is increasing concern as to their impact in effectively treating textile effluents as they introduce secondary pollutants during the ‘remediation’ process which are quite costly to run, maintain and clean up. Research on biological treatment has offered simple and cost effective ways of bioremediating textile effluents. While aerobic treatment of textile dyes and their effluents has been reported, its major draw back is commercial up-scaling and as such anaerobic systems have been investigated and shown to degrade azo dyes, which form the bulk of the dyes used world wide. However, the mechanisms involved in the bioremediation of these dyes are poorly understood. The aims of this study were to identify and investigate the role of enzymes produced by sulphate reducing bacteria (SRB) in bioremediating textile dye and their effluents. Sulphate reducing bacteria were used in this study because they are tolerant to harsh environmental conditions and inhibit the proliferance of pathogenic micro-organisms. The appearance of clear zones in agar plates containing azo dye concentrations ranging from 10 – 100 mgl[superscript -1] showed the ability of SRB to decolourize dyes under anaerobic conditions. Assays of enzymes previously reported to decolourise azo dyes were not successful, but led to the identification of hydrogenase enzyme being produced by SRB. The enzyme was found to be localised in the membrane and cytoplasm. A surface response method was used to optimize the extraction of the enzyme from the bacterial cells resulting in approximately 3 fold increase in hydrogenase activity. Maximum hydrogenase activity was found to occur after six days in the absence of dyes but was found to occur after one day in the presence of azo dyes. A decline in hydrogenase activity thereafter, suggested inhibition of enzymatic activity by the putative aromatic amines produced after azo cleavage. Purification of the hydrogenase by freeze drying, poly ethylene glycol, and Sephacryl – 200 size exclusion- ion exchange chromatography revealed the enzyme to have a molecular weight of 38.5 kDa when analyzed by a 12 % SDS-PAGE. Characterisation of the enzyme revealed optimal activity at a pH of 7.5 and temperature of 40 °C while it exhibited a poor thermal stability with a half-life of 32 minutes. The kinetic parameters V[subscript max] and K[subscript m] were 21.18 U ml[superscript -1} and 4.57 mM respectively. Application of the cell free extract on commercial dyes was not successful, and only whole SRB cells resulted in decolourisation of the dyes. Consequently trials on the industrial dyes and effluents were carried out with whole cells. Decolourisation rates of up to 96 % were achieved for the commercial dyes and up to 93 % for the industrial dyes over a period of 10 days.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Mutambanengwe, Cecil Clifford Zvandada
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Bioremediation , Dyes and dyeing -- Waste disposal , Sulfur bacteria , Hydragenase , Factory and trade waste -- Purification , Textile waste
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:3960 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004019 , Bioremediation , Dyes and dyeing -- Waste disposal , Sulfur bacteria , Hydragenase , Factory and trade waste -- Purification , Textile waste
- Description: The continuing industrial development has led to a corresponding increase in the amount of waste water generation leading to a consequential decline in levels and quality of the natural water in the ecosystem. Textile industries consume over 7 x 10[superscript 5] tons of dyes annually and use up to 1 litre of water per kg of dye processed and are third largest polluters in the world, the problem being aggravated by the inefficiencies of the dye houses. An abundance of physio-chemical methods are in use world wide, however, there is increasing concern as to their impact in effectively treating textile effluents as they introduce secondary pollutants during the ‘remediation’ process which are quite costly to run, maintain and clean up. Research on biological treatment has offered simple and cost effective ways of bioremediating textile effluents. While aerobic treatment of textile dyes and their effluents has been reported, its major draw back is commercial up-scaling and as such anaerobic systems have been investigated and shown to degrade azo dyes, which form the bulk of the dyes used world wide. However, the mechanisms involved in the bioremediation of these dyes are poorly understood. The aims of this study were to identify and investigate the role of enzymes produced by sulphate reducing bacteria (SRB) in bioremediating textile dye and their effluents. Sulphate reducing bacteria were used in this study because they are tolerant to harsh environmental conditions and inhibit the proliferance of pathogenic micro-organisms. The appearance of clear zones in agar plates containing azo dye concentrations ranging from 10 – 100 mgl[superscript -1] showed the ability of SRB to decolourize dyes under anaerobic conditions. Assays of enzymes previously reported to decolourise azo dyes were not successful, but led to the identification of hydrogenase enzyme being produced by SRB. The enzyme was found to be localised in the membrane and cytoplasm. A surface response method was used to optimize the extraction of the enzyme from the bacterial cells resulting in approximately 3 fold increase in hydrogenase activity. Maximum hydrogenase activity was found to occur after six days in the absence of dyes but was found to occur after one day in the presence of azo dyes. A decline in hydrogenase activity thereafter, suggested inhibition of enzymatic activity by the putative aromatic amines produced after azo cleavage. Purification of the hydrogenase by freeze drying, poly ethylene glycol, and Sephacryl – 200 size exclusion- ion exchange chromatography revealed the enzyme to have a molecular weight of 38.5 kDa when analyzed by a 12 % SDS-PAGE. Characterisation of the enzyme revealed optimal activity at a pH of 7.5 and temperature of 40 °C while it exhibited a poor thermal stability with a half-life of 32 minutes. The kinetic parameters V[subscript max] and K[subscript m] were 21.18 U ml[superscript -1} and 4.57 mM respectively. Application of the cell free extract on commercial dyes was not successful, and only whole SRB cells resulted in decolourisation of the dyes. Consequently trials on the industrial dyes and effluents were carried out with whole cells. Decolourisation rates of up to 96 % were achieved for the commercial dyes and up to 93 % for the industrial dyes over a period of 10 days.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007