The originating impulses of Ankoku Butoh: towards an understanding of the trans-cultural embodiment of Tatsumi Hijikata's dance of darkness
- Authors: Truter, Orlando Vincent
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Hijikata, Tatsumi, 1928-1986 , Butō , Modern dance -- Japan , Dancers -- Japan , Choreographers
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2153 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004454
- Description: From Introduction: Ankoku Butoh is a performing art devised in Japan in the wake of the Second World War by the dancer and choreographer Tatsumi Hijikata (born Akita, 1928; died Tokyo, 1986). A highly aesthetic and subversive performing art, Butoh often evokes "images of decay, of fear and desperation, images of eroticism, ecstasy and stillness." Typically performed with a white layer of paint covering the entire body of the dancer, Butoh is visually characterized by continual transformations between postures, distorted physical and facial expressions, and an emphasis on condensed and visually slow movements. Some of the general characteristics of Butoh performance include "a particular openness to working with the subtle energy in the body; the malleability of time; the power of the grotesque."
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- Date Issued: 2008
The Parliament Within
- Authors: Mann, Chris
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , poem
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/468873 , vital:77137 , ISBN 0028-4459 , https://journals.co.za/doi/epdf/10.10520/EJC47802
- 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.
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- Date Issued: 2008
The perceptions and experiences of out-of-school youth regarding youth services in KwaZakhele
- Authors: Mpini, Buyiswa Sylvia
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Youth -- Services for -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Youth -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Youth -- Employment -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:10003 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/667 , Youth -- Services for -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Youth -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Youth -- Employment -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Description: This research study has been conducted to explore and describe the perceptions and experiences of out-of-school youth regarding their access to the youth services available to them. A qualitative approach is followed and an exploratory, descriptive and contextual research design is utilized. The sample of the study was procured by means of purposive sampling. Data were collected by means of focus group discussions which were conducted using a questioning guide. Data were analysed according to the steps for qualitative data analysis provided by Tesch in Creswell (1994). To ensure the trustworthiness of the research findings, Guba’s model in Krefting (1991) was employed. The research findings were verified against the existing body of knowledge in order to compare and contrast the themes and sub-themes that emerged from the process of data analysis. The main themes that emerged from the study are lack of knowledge regarding available services, Needs or desires of out-of-school youth, hindrances or obstacles to access available youth services, suggestions for services relevant to needs of out-of-school youth and suggestions to make out-of-school youth aware of available services.
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- Date Issued: 2008
The perceptions of Chinese tourists of the Western Cape Region travel destination
- Authors: Hu, Jiang
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Chinese -- Travel -- South Africa -- Western Cape -- Attitudes , Tourism -- South Africa -- Marketing , Tourism -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9365 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/967 , Chinese -- Travel -- South Africa -- Western Cape -- Attitudes , Tourism -- South Africa -- Marketing , Tourism -- South Africa
- Description: As a result of significantly improving relationship between South Africa and China, Chinese tourists traveling to South Africa have become a more noticeable group of travelers. More and more Chinese tourists choose South Africa as a tourism destination; especially Cape Town in the Western Cape region for a variety purposes such as relaxation, business and/or shopping. This research investigates the perceptions and motivation of Chinese tourists coming to the Western Cape region of South Africa. The proposed strategy of promoting the Western Cape region as a travel destination can be made based on the perceptions and motivation of Chinese tourists to the Western Cape. The study focuses on clearly understanding the perception of Chinese tourists by studying tourist behaviour and consumer motivation. The process of decision making and factors impacting on decision making are addressed in the research. A survey questionnaire was administered to Chinese tourists visiting South Africa. The primary data received by questionnaire was analyzed to show what actually Chinese tourists consider Western Cape as a travel destination. The Statistical Package of Social Science (SPSS) was utilized for analysis of data collected by the questionnaire. These general groups of data are discussed in the research. There are personal information, the motivation for travelling, and perceptions of respondents in the Western Cape region in South Africa.
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- Date Issued: 2008
The personal, career and learning skill needs of first year psychology students
- Authors: Norris, Toni Louise
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Personality and academic achievement -- South Africa , Personality assessment , Students -- South Africa -- Psychology , Learning ability
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Soc Sc (Psych)
- Identifier: vital:11605 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/140 , Personality and academic achievement -- South Africa , Personality assessment , Students -- South Africa -- Psychology , Learning ability
- Description: This study assessed the personal, career and learning skills needs of 196 psychology students (M= 56, F= 103). The preferred means of counselling assistance, preferred experience of counselling and preferred counselling provider were also assessed. The most highly endorsed needs were time management skills (83.5 percent, n=162), learning test-taking strategies (82 percent, n=159), job search strategies (73.6 percent, n=142), increasing self-confidence (70.3 percent, n=135), increasing motivation (72.4 percent, n=134), controlling anxiety and nervousness (68.7 percent, n=134), public speaking anxiety (68.4percent, n=134), understanding career interests and abilities (67.5 percent, n=131), fear of failure (68.1 percent, n=130), and improving study skills (66.5 percent, n=129). Significant sex differences were found for the following, finding a greater purpose in life, controlling weight, job search strategies, concerns about career choice, understanding career interests and abilities in the selection of major subjects and improving study skills. Males highly endorsed the need for finding a greater purpose in life, job search strategies, and concern about career choice, understanding career interest and abilities, selection of major subjects and to improve study skills, whereas females endorsed the need for controlling weight. Respondents indicated individual counselling as being their preferred means of counselling assistance, but lectures were the most prevalent means of assistance previously received by respondents. Most respondents (78.1 percent) found the assistance they had received to be helpful.
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- Date Issued: 2008
The photophysical studies of a mixture of CdTe quantum dots and negatively charged zinc phthalocyanines
- Authors: Moeno, Sharon , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/268663 , vital:54220 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.poly.2008.03.007"
- Description: Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) studies were carried out with quantum dots capped with thioglycolic acid (TGA) and 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) and negatively charged phthalocyanines {Zn tetracarboxy (ZnTCPc), Zn octacarboxy (ZnOCPc) and Zn tetrasulfo (ZnTSPc) phthalocyinines} in a 0.1 NaOH:EtOH (50:50) solvent mixture. The best overlap between emission spectra of the donor (QDs) and the absorption spectra of the acceptor (ZnPc derivatives) was observed for TGA capped QDs, very little overlap was obtained for 2-ME QDs. ZnTSPc gave the highest FRET efficiency (0.3), with ZnOCPc and ZnTCPc giving a FRET efficiency of 0.2. The ΦT values of the MPcs generally decreased in the presence of the QD whereas the triplet lifetimes (τT) of the ZnPc derivatives were higher in the presence of QDs.
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- Date Issued: 2008
The political significance of popular illegalities in post-apartheid South Africa
- Authors: McMichael, Christopher Bryden
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Illegality -- South Africa -- Case studies Legal services -- South Africa Post-apartheid era -- South Africa South Africa -- Politics and government -- 1994-
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2804 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003014
- Description: This thesis discusses the significance of popular illegalities in contemporary South African service delivery. Illegal access to and non-payment of services have been indentified by the government as a major criminal problem which undermines effective service delivery. By contrast, this thesis argues that popular illegalities are positive phenomenon which provides otherwise unobtainable benefits for the poor and also exposes the ability of communities to self-manage their own service provision. The thesis begins by surveying a variety of literature on this issue using both contemporary and historical literature. I then discuss the scope of popular illegalities in South Africa and the methods government has used to curtail them, with a particular emphasis on how this has been influenced by the adoption of neo-liberal cost recovery initiatives. Using case studies of three communities where illegal access is prevalent, I discuss both the motivations behind and significance of illegal water and electricity connections. In conclusion, I argue that popular illegalities are a significant phenomenon in so far as they suggest new methods of delivering services. The prevalence of these illegalities is also important as it highlights many of the failings of official delivery. The thesis concludes on a hopeful note in arguing that illegalities may be inherently progressive in both benefiting the marginal and leading to the creation of radically autonomous spaces which can be viewed as laboratories of radical social change.
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- Date Issued: 2008
The population dynamics of the estuarine isopod Exosphaeroma hylocoetes (Barnard, 1940) within three temporarily open/closed southern African estuaries
- Authors: Henninger, Tony O , Froneman, P William , Hodgson, Alan N
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/447627 , vital:74662 , https://doi.org/10.1080/15627020.2008.11657237
- Description: The population dynamics of the estuarine isopod, Exosphaeroma hylocoetes, was investigated monthly from February 2006 to August 2007 in three temporarily open/closed Eastern Cape estuaries, the East and West Kleinemonde and Kasouga Estuaries. Mean isopod abundances and biomasses ranged between 0 and 4791 ind/m2 and 0 and 9.65 mg/dwt/m2 in the West Kleinemonde Estuary and between 0 and 108 ind/m2 and 0 and 0.318 mg/dwt/m2 in the nearby East Kleinemonde Estuary. In the Kasouga Estuary, the values ranged between 0 and 3650 ind/m2 and 0 and 5.105 mg/dwt/m2. Temporal changes in the abundance and biomass of E. hylocoetes within the three systems was primarily linked to mouth phase, with populations crashing when the mouth was open and to a lesser extent, seasonality. In all three estuaries maximum abundance and biomass was recorded in the middle reaches, which could be ascribed to the presence of submerged macrophytes. E. hylocoetes demonstrates strong sexual dimorphism, with males being significantly larger than females (P 0.05). Sex ratios were skewed in favour of females in all three estuaries.
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- Date Issued: 2008
The Postcolonial heart of African philosophy
- Authors: Tabensky, Pedro
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/305762 , vital:58610 , xlink:href="https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC96056"
- Description: This piece is one of among a handful that seek in the first instance to reveal the origin of African philosophy as an academic discipline, the source of its unity and distinctiveness. The discipline of African philosophy originates in tragedy, out of pain, confusion and rage stemming from colonial destruction; destruction that is responsible for what Fanon calls the ‘negro neurosis’ caused by what Biko would describe as the unbearable fusion of colonised and coloniser. I argue that the birth of African philosophy as an academic discipline is largely responsible for its character and, crucially, for its distinctive creative possibilities.
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- Date Issued: 2008
The potential roles of interactions between STAT3, Hsp90, and Hop in the maintenance of self-renewal in mouse embryonic stem cells
- Authors: Setati, Mokgadi Michael
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Embryonic stem cells , Leukemia inhibitory factor , Cellular signal transduction , Heat shock proteins , Molecular chaperones
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:3981 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004040 , Embryonic stem cells , Leukemia inhibitory factor , Cellular signal transduction , Heat shock proteins , Molecular chaperones
- Description: Self-renewal of mouse embryonic stem (mES) cells is dependent upon the presence of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). LIF induces tyrosine phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of STAT3 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 3) which is thought to promote self-renewal by inducing key target genes. The molecular chaperone heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) is involved in signal transduction pathways and regulates STAT3 activity in different cell types. However, the role of Hsp90 in regulating STAT3 activity in mES cells has not previously been investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate if Hsp90 interacts with STAT3 in mES cells and to determine if this interaction is important for the maintenance of self-renewal. It was found that when mES cells were cultured for 24.0 hours in the absence of LIF, the expression levels of total STAT3, tyrosine-phosphorylated STAT3 (pYSTAT3), and the pluripotency marker, Nanog, were down regulated. However, the expression level of Hsp90 was found to be slightly up-regulated over the same period. Significantly, it was found that the amount of STAT3 in differentiating mES cells available for binding to Hsp90 was decreased upon down-regulation of STAT3 by LIF withdrawal. Therefore, STAT3-Hsp90 interactions in mES cells were dependent on the presence of LIF, which suggested that the reduction in STAT3-Hsp90 interaction may have resulted from the low levels of STAT3. Despite a dramatic reduction in the expression levels of pYSTAT3 upon 24.0 hours of culture of mES cells in the presence of the STAT3 tyrosine phosphorylation inhibitor, cucurbitanin I, there was no obvious reduction in the levels of total STAT3, Oct-3/4 or Nanog. These results suggested that the levels of unphosphorylated STAT3 rather than pYSTAT3, maybe more important in the maintenance of mES cells self-renewal.
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- Date Issued: 2008
The potential use of e-learning to support teaching, learning and assessment in Information Systems at Walter Sisulu University
- Authors: Sabalele, Tabisa
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Walter Sisulu University for Technology & Science Information technology -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- South Africa Educational technology -- South Africa Education, Higher -- Computer-assisted instruction Universities and colleges -- Computer networking Computer-assisted instruction -- South Africa Internet in higher education Educational tests and measurements
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1899 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006209
- Description: This research is an investigation of the potential means to make the Information Systems (IS) course more accessible to Walter Sisulu University (WSU) students. As some IS students at this institution are unable to attend classes on a regular basis, this study aims to establish if and how the WSU Accounting Department (which offers the IS course) could use e-Iearning to support the teaching, learning and assessment of IS. This qualitative study was approached from an interpretive perspective. The study has undergone one cycle of an action research approach. The methods used in the study include surveys, an expert review and focus group interviews. The data was elicited from participants using questionnaires and an interview schedule. A staff questionnaire was used to elicit information from IS staff from four contact universities in South Africa to determine their experience of using Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for e-learning in an IS course. A student questionnaire was used to determine the WSU IS students' reasons for absenteeism, their learning needs, and their current computer access and skills. Data from both of these surveys informed the development of the WSU IS pilot website. An expert review questionnaire ascertained the subject expert's opinions about the newly developed WSU IS pilot website. The website was found to be of good quality with respect to the four aspects that Harvey and Green (J 993 cited in Lomas 2002) use to define quality. Some modifications were made to the WSU IS pilot website as a result of the expert's comments. After the website was used by the IS students, two focus group interviews were conducted to determine the students' perceptions of the value of the website. The data was analyzed, interpreted and linked to the literature surveyed. The main findings indicate that the WSU IS pilot website could be part of a more globalised higher education offering than the paper-based IS course offered before. However, the staff and the student surveys revealed that ICT has opened the gap in equity at the higher education institutions, highlighting that access to a university does not mean equal access to lectures and computers. The WSU IS pilot website endeavoured to capitalise on students' physical access to computers by supporting epistemological access to the curriculum, by encouraging them to exercise control over their learning. This study has ideally enabled the Accounting Department to deliver its services to students and this in turn will hopefully help WSU retain its part-time students and improve the student pass rates.
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- Date Issued: 2008
The price of freedom: South Africa's media in 2008 South Africa: taking stock
- Authors: Brand, Robert
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/454534 , vital:75353 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC140099
- Description: Two issues have dominated debates around the media this year: the management crisis at the SABC, and the ANC's proposals for a statutory media tribunal, tabled at the organisation's national conference in December but only fully entering the national debate after the Christmas hiatus. Both have important implications for the future of South Africa's media.
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- Date Issued: 2008
The psychofortology of female psychiatric out-patients living with mood and anxiety disorders
- Authors: Steyn, Chantelle
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Anxiety disorders -- South Africa , Stress (Psychology) , Women -- Mental health -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9914 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/878 , Anxiety disorders -- South Africa , Stress (Psychology) , Women -- Mental health -- South Africa
- Description: An overview of recent literature indicates that mood and anxiety disorders are the most prevalent of all psychiatric disorders. Depression and anxiety are estimated to be two of the most important causes of disease burden in the world and appear to be more prevalent among women than men. A skewed distribution exists in mood and anxiety research with limited research being done into the area of gender, more specifically females with these disorders. The present study therefore intended to explore and describe the psychofortology of female psychiatric out-patients living with mood and anxiety disorders. An exploratory descriptive research design was used and participants were selected by means of non-probability purposive sampling. The sample consisted of 60 female psychiatric out-patients who were selected for inclusion based on predetermined inclusion criteria. Data were gathered through the administration of a biographical questionnaire, Hammer and Marting’s Coping Resources Inventory (CRI), Antonovsky’s Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC-29), Diener, Emmons, Larson and Griffin’s Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) and Kamman and Flett’s Affectometer-2 (AFM-2). These data were then analyzed according to the aims of the study by the use of descriptive statistics, inferential statistics and multivariate data analysis, namely, K-means cluster analysis. The results indicated that the female psychiatric out-patients with mood and anxiety disorders were generally experiencing lower levels of coping and subjective well-being. The results indicated three clusters which appeared to have no statistical or practical significance to each other. The first cluster could be characterized as being “of relatively high psychofortology” and patients in this cluster presented with better coping and subjective well-being. The patients in cluster two could be characterized as being “of relatively average psychofortology” and the third cluster as being “of relatively low psychofortology”. The third cluster was characterized by patients who were experiencing poorer levels of coping and subjective well-being.
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- Date Issued: 2008
The psychofortology of women undergoing infertility treatment at a privately managed health care unit
- Authors: Phillips, Kerry Megan
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Adjustment (Psychology) -- South Africa , Stress (Psychology) -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9917 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/729 , Adjustment (Psychology) -- South Africa , Stress (Psychology) -- South Africa
- Description: Infertility, the inability to conceive a child or carry a pregnancy to birth, is an age-old concern, the anguish and disappointment of which is universal regardless of the etiology. Although technological advancement in the field of reproductive medicine has led to the possibilities of near miraculous procedures, infertility treatment offers the hope of conception without guaranteeing it and places the couple under tremendous emotional and financial strain. A moderate amount of research has explored the coping of individuals and the couple experiencing infertility, but has been primarily orientated to a clinical and medical focus as well as an exploration of the pathological symptoms that individuals may experience. This study has adopted a psychofortigenic focus and explored and described the coping (i.e., the coping resources and sense of coherence) and subjective well-being (i.e., satisfaction with life and happiness) of women undergoing infertility treatment. An exploratory descriptive research design was used and the participants were selected by means of non-probability purposive sampling. The sample consisted of 61women who were aged 30 years and older and required that they had received infertility treatment at a privately managed health care unit. Contextual and biographical data were gathered by means of a biographical questionnaire. Hammer and Marting’s (1988) Coping Resources Inventory was used to assess the participant’s coping resources. Antonovsky’s (1987) Orientation to Life Scale was used to measure the construct of Sense of Coherence. The Satisfaction with Life Scale by Diener, Emmons, Larsen and Griffin (1985) was used to assess respondents’ overall satisfaction with life while Kamman and Flett’s (1983) Affectometer-2 (AFM-2) was used to measure participants’ subjective happiness. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics and cluster analysis. The results of the CRI indicated a total coping resources score slightly below the mean of 50 as established by Hammer and Marting (1988). Results revealed that the highest mean score was obtained on the spiritual/philosophical subscale. Results from the SOC-29 indicated that the women sampled had an average Sense of Coherence. In terms of the construct of satisfaction with life as measured by the Satisfaction with Life Scale, the results indicated that the participants were slightly satisfied with their lives. Results from the AFM-2 revealed that the majority of participants experienced a below average feeling of happiness. Cluster analysis revealed three distinct clusters that differed significantly across the four measures.
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- Date Issued: 2008
The regulation of insider trading in South Africa: a roadmap for effective, competitive and adequate regulatory statutory framework
- Authors: Chitimira, Howard
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Insider trading in securities , Insider trading in securities -- South Africa , Financial instruments -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: vital:11116 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/230 , Insider trading in securities -- South Africa , Financial instruments -- South Africa
- Description: Insider trading is one of the practices that (directly or indirectly) lead to a host of problems for example inaccurate stock market prices, high inflation, reduced public investor confidence, misrepresentation and non disclosure of material facts relating to securities and financial instruments. Again it reduces efficiency in the affected companies and eventually leads to economic underperformance. The researcher observed that the South African insider trading regulatory framework has some gaps and flaws which need to be adequately addressed to ensure efficient and stable financial markets. Therefore, the aim of this research is to provide a clear roadmap for an effective, efficient, adequate and internationally competitive insider trading regulatory framework in South Africa. In order to achieve the above stated aim, the historical development of the regulation insider trading is critically analyzed. The effectiveness and adequacy of the Insider Trading Act, 135 of 1998 is also discussed. Furthermore, the prohibition of insider trading under Securities Services Act, 36 of 2004 is explored and analyzed to investigate its adequacy. The role of the Financial Services Board, the Courts and the Directorate for Market Abuse is also scrutinized extensively. Moreover, a comparative analysis is undertaken of the regulation of insider trading in other jurisdictions of United States of America, Canada and Australia. This is done to investigate any lessons that can be learnt or adopted from these jurisdictions. The researcher strongly contends that having the best insider trading laws on paper alone will not cure the insider trading problem. What is required are adequate laws that are enforced effectively in South African courts. Therefore an adequate insider trading regulatory framework must be put in place to improve the efficiency of South African financial markets, to maintain a stable economy, combat misrepresentation and non disclosure of material facts in transactions relating to securities. The researcher has attempted to state the law as at 31 August 2007.
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- Date Issued: 2008
The relationship between emergence of the shortest path and information value using ant-like agents
- Authors: Chibaya, Colin , Bangay, Shaun D
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/433318 , vital:72961 , https://doi.org/10.1145/1456659.1456663
- Description: Ant-like agents forage between two points. These agents' probabilistic movements are based on the use of two pheromones; one marking trails towards the goal and another marking trails back to the starting point. Path selection decisions are influenced by the relative levels of attractive and repulsive pheromone in each agent's local environment. Our work in [5] evaluates three pheromone perception strategies, investigating path formation speed, quality, directionality, robustness and adaptability under different parameter settings(degree of randomness, pheromone evaporation rate and pheromone diffusion rate).
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- Date Issued: 2008
The rhizosphere as a bioprocess environment for the bioconversion of hard coal
- Authors: Igbinigie, Eric Egbe
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Rhizosphere Biotechnology Bermuda grass Coal -- Microbiology Biomass conversion
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:3924 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003983
- Description: Fundamental processes involved in the microbial degradation of coal and its derivatives have been well investigated and documented over the past two decades. However, limited progress in industrial application has been identified as bottleneck in further active development of the field. The sporadic and unanticipated growth of Cynodon dactylon (Bermuda grass) has been observed on the surface of some coal dumps in the Witbank coal mining area of South Africa. Preliminary investigations showed the formation of a humic soil-like material from the breakdown of hard coal in the root zone of these plants. The potential of this system to contribute to industrial scale bioprocessing of hard coal was investigated. This study involved an investigation of the C. dactylon/coal rhizosphere environment and demonstrated the presence of fungal species with known coal bioconversion capability. Amongst these Neosartorya fischeri was identified and its activity in coal bioconversion was described for the first time. Cynodon dactylon plant roots were also shown to be colonized by mycorrhizal fungi including Glomus, Paraglomus and Gigaspora species. The role of plant photosynthate translocation into the root zone, providing organic carbon supplementation of fungal coal bioconversion was investigated in deep liquid culture with the N. fischeri isolate used as the biocatalyst. Organic acids, sugars and complex organic carbon sources were investigated and it was shown that glutamate provided significant enhancement of bioconversion activity in this system. The performance of N. fischeri in coal bioconversion was compared with Phanaerochaete chrysosporium and Trametes versicolor, both previously described fungal species in the coal bioconversion application. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy indicated more pronounced oxidation and introduction of nitro groups in the matrix of the humic acid product of coal bioconversion in N. fischeri and P. chrysosporium than for T. versicolor. Macro-elemental analysis of biomass-bound humic acid obtained from the N. fischeri catalyzed reaction showed an increase in the oxygen and nitrogen components and coupled with a reduction in carbon and hydrogen. Pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectroscopy further supported the proposal that the mechanism of bioconversion involves oxygen and nitrogen insertion into the coal structure. The C. dactylon bituminous hard coal dump environment was simulated in a fixed-bed perfusion column bioreactor in which the contribution of organic supplement by the plant/mycorrhizal component of the system was investigated. The results enabled the proposal of a descriptive model accounting for the performance of the system in which the plant/mycorrhizal component introduces organic substances into the root zone. The non-mycorrhizal fungi utilize the organic carbon supplement in its attack on the coal substrate, breaking it down, and releasing plant nutrients and a soil-like substrate which in turn enables the growth of C. dactylon in this hostile environment. Based on these results, the Stacked Heap Coal Bioreactor concept was developed as a large-scale industrial bioprocess application based on heap-leach mineral processing technology. Field studies have confirmed that bituminous hard coal can be converted to a humic acid rich substrate in a stacked heap system inoculated with mycorrhizal and N. fischeri cultures and planted with C. dactylon.
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- Date Issued: 2008
The role of an administrator in hedge fund operational risk management
- Authors: Schutte, Juane
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Hedge funds -- South Africa -- Management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8724 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/891 , Hedge funds -- South Africa -- Management
- Description: With the financial crisis of 2008 and more retirement funds and insurance companies entering the hedge fund industry, the safety of investor assets has become vital. According to a worldwide study by Kundro and Feffer (2002:42), operational risk factors account for almost half of hedge fund failures. The issues that underlie the operational risk factors relate to valuation of the fund’s assets and liabilities. Unless certain valuation practices become more widespread, hedge funds face a potential crisis of confidence with institutional and high net worth investors (Kundro and Feffer, 2002:42). Despite the improvements made by administrators to deal with the complexities of hedge fund investments, the accuracy of some valuations remains open to question (McVea 2008:135). Hedge fund manager inputs into valuations compromise the degree of independence exercised, particularly with regard to complex and/or illiquid instruments. The perception that administrators lack the required technical expertise to value complex and/or illiquid assets exacerbates the issue of administrator’s reliability to provide independent valuations. Therefore, the reliance on administrators to guarantee the quality of valuations of complex instruments is in question. The aim of the study was to identify ways to improve operational risk management practices, particularly valuations, in hedge funds through identifying ways of promoting effective functioning of independent third-party administrators. This was achieved through a case study approach using a South African leading administrator, Investment Data Services, as the object of study. The literature highlighted the changing functions of administrators, the challenges facing them and ways of addressing those challenges. The empirical study measured the extent of IDS’ valuation practices in managing operational risk in hedge funds. Four key members of IDS’ management team and one hedge fund manager with considerable insight were interviewed. The data obtained was then reduced into meaningful results. The empirical findings were compared with the theory provided in the literature scrutiny to identify ways of improving the valuation function. The conclusion was that the challenges faced by the administrator were addressed through proper independence, consistency and transparency of the valuation process. A crucial cog in IDS’ wheel is the employment of staff with the required technical skills to understand complex financial instruments. In addition, investment in advanced systems and technology is important in managing the risks involved. Consequently, IDS’ valuation practices can be used as template for other administrators in their efforts to manage the operational risks in hedge funds.
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- Date Issued: 2008
The role of discourse in the constitution of radiographic knowledge: a critical realist account
- Authors: Wright, Jennifer Lynne
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Education, Higher -- South Africa Universities and colleges -- South Africa English language -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- South Africa Language and education Discourse analysis Radiography -- Study and teaching
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:1320 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003953
- Description: The ways in which knowledge is constituted in Higher Education in South Africa today needs to take into account the historical diversity of learners’ academic and literacy competencies. The thesis begins by considering the ways in which, historically, many learners in Higher Education have been under prepared for the challenges of studying complex disciplines through the medium of English, which is often their second or third additional language. It also considers the sometimes inappropriate response of Higher Education to the plight of these learners and the present and potential role of language specialists working in collaboration with disciplinary specialists to support these learners. In this ethnographic research, I use an ontological metatheory, critical realism, as my analytical lens. Critical realism is an appropriate analytical lens for exploring and gaining insight into the possible causal mechanisms that generate the stratified and often inscrutable nature of social reality, including the role of language and discourse in education. I employ a case study design to explore the role of discourse in lecturers and clinical radiographers’ constitution of the knowledge of entry level Radiography learners at the Groote Schuur campus of Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT). Taking discourse as my unit of analysis, I develop a model of knowledge constitution based on a Hallidayan framework (1978). This model comprises two contexts of culture (Higher Education and Health Care) within which are embedded two contexts of situation (the university classroom and a clinical radiography workplace). In these contexts, I focus on how lecturers and clinical radiographers constitute radiographic knowledge through the field, tenor and mode of their discourse. My research sheds light on learners’ construal of various aspects of this process of knowledge constitution, and I consider implications for Radiography teaching and learning. I conclude that, because of the dual contexts in which the learners’ knowledge is constituted, literacy requirements in the two contexts are quite different. For this reason, learners may often be unmotivated to enhance their literacies, particularly in reading and writing; yet, in the interests of the future growth of the profession, the latter will be required of them as practitioners who conduct research and publish. I argue that the real empowerment of Radiography learners thus lies in their lecturers’ agency: there is a need for them to implement certain practices that will shape the learners’ identity, not only as clinical practitioners, but as researchers and writers. In doing this, they will ensure that the learners’ potential is realised and they have the capacity to make meaningful contributions to the growth of the future radiography profession.
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- Date Issued: 2008
The role of experience in the development of bar managers' social competencies
- Authors: Dhaya, Jateen
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Hospitality Industry -- Management , Bars (Drinking establishments) -- Management , Social skills , Executive ability , Interpersonal communication , Experience
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:1177 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002794 , Hospitality Industry -- Management , Bars (Drinking establishments) -- Management , Social skills , Executive ability , Interpersonal communication , Experience
- Description: This research study analysed the role that experience played in the development of bar managers’ social competencies. Given the social nature of the bar environment, social competencies were perceived to be essential managerial competencies that enable bar managers to manage employees and consumers to ensure that employee and consumer satisfaction is maintained. The literature reviewed discussed the importance of managerial competencies and the composition of social competencies. Experience was conceptualized to develop an understanding of the informal learning method through which competency development occurs. Data was captured through face-to-face interviews, which were based on the Critical Incident Technique (CIT). The data was analysed using the open coding procedures of grounded theory. This research study proposed a process to explain how experience contributed to the development of social competencies. The proposed process, which is called the Social Competency Cache Development Process (SCCD Process), ultimately indicated that experience contributed to bar managers’ social competencies through a reflection process, the residues of experience, and through the familiarity of situations and results. This research study found that experience contributed to the development of bar managers’ social competencies within a process that established an awareness of unfamiliar social competencies or reinforced the effects of familiar effective social competencies. Experience was also found to promote the transition between novel situations and familiar situations, which in turn enabled bar managers to effectively assess social situations and select effective responses to social situations. Consequently, experience improved the probability of bar managers implementing effective social competencies to ensure employee and consumer satisfaction. In essence, experience shaped bar managers’ accumulation of social competencies by promoting the addition of new social competencies or the reinforcement of existing social competencies.
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- Date Issued: 2008