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Photophysichochemical behavior of carbazole derivatized zinc phthalocyanine in the presence of ZnO microparticles and when embedded in electrospun fibers

  • Authors: Khoza, Phindile , Antunes, Edith M , Nyokong, Tebello
  • Date: 2014
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/193860 , vital:45400 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dyepig.2013.12.019"
  • Description: The synthesis of a zinc phthalocyanine complex tetrasubstituted with carbazole functionality at the peripheral position (complex 4) is reported. The singlet oxygen quantum yield of the complex was found to be 0.83 in dimethylformamide (DMF). The complex was subsequently conjugated to zinc oxide microparticles (ZnOMPs), the conjugation (formation of the amide bond) was confirmed by IR spectroscopy. The presence of ZnOMPs was found to reduce the singlet oxygen produced (ΦΔ = 0.63) in DMF. Polystyrene electrospun fibers of complex 4 alone and its conjugate to ZnOMPs were found to be thermally stable. The singlet oxygen quantum yield of the modified electrospun fibers was determined in aqueous media with ADMA as a singlet oxygen quencher and were 0.25 and 0.20 for complex 4 and 4-ZnOMPs embedded in fibers, respectively.
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  • Date Issued: 2014

Photophysicochemical behavior and antimicrobial activity of dihydroxosilicon tris (diaquaplatinum) octacarboxyphthalocyanine

  • Authors: Managa, Muthumuni , Idowu, Mopelola A , Antunes, Edith M , Nyokong, Tebello
  • Date: 2014
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/241527 , vital:50947 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.saa.2014.01.087"
  • Description: Platination of dihydroxosilicon octacarboxyphthalocyanine (OH)2SiOCPc was successfully carried out to give dihydroxosilicon tris(diaquaplatinum)octacarboxyphthalocyanine (OH)2SiOCPc(Pt)3 conjugate. Slight blue shifting of the absorption spectrum of (OH)2SiOCPc(Pt)3 was observed on conjugation with platinum. Comparative photophysicochemical behavior and antimicrobial photo-activities of (OH)2SiOCPc(Pt)3 conjugate with (OH)2SiOCPc or Pt nanoparticles revealed that the heavy atom, Pt on the periphery of the phthalocyanine significantly enhanced its singlet oxygen generation with a quantum yield of 0.56 obtained for the (OH)2SiOCPc(Pt)3 conjugate. The (OH)2SiOCPc(Pt)3 conjugate showed highest antimicrobial activity towards Candida albicans and Escherichia coli compared to (OH)2SiOCPc and Pt nanoparticles alone under illumination.
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  • Date Issued: 2014

Photophysicochemical properties and TD-DFT calculations of a novel terminal alkyne substituted metal free phthalocyanine

  • Authors: Yilmaz, Yusuf , Mack, John , Sönmez, Mehmet , Nyokong, Tebello
  • Date: 2014
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/241562 , vital:50950 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1142/S1088424613501241"
  • Description: The synthesis of a novel free base tetrakis(prop-2-ynyloxy)phthalocyanine (2) is described, along with its characterization by IR, UV-visible absorption, and 1H NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The compound exhibited good solubility in a wide range of organic solvents and no significant aggregation was observed over a wide concentration range. The values for the singlet oxygen (ΦΔ), photodegradation, fluorescence (ΦF) and triplet state quantum yields and the fluorescence and triplet state lifetimes are reported. A relatively high ΦΔ value of 0.46 was obtained in DMSO. The ability to carry out "click" chemistry at the ligand periphery enhances the potential utility of 2 for use in bioconjugates in photodynamic therapy (PDT). A moderately high ΦF value of 0.18 is observed for emission in the therapeutic window in the near-IR region, which suggests that it may also be possible to determine the level of localization of 2 in tumor cells through bioimaging.
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  • Date Issued: 2014

Phylogeny of the family Trogidae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) inferred from mitochondrial and nuclear ribosomal DNA sequence data

  • Authors: Strümpher, Werner P , Sole, Catherine L , Villet, Martin H , Scholtz, Clarke H
  • Date: 2014
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/442253 , vital:73970 , https://doi.org/10.1111/syen.12074
  • Description: Trogidae constitute a monophyletic and biologically unique family within Scarabaeoidea, being the only keratinophagous group in the superfamily. Traditionally, the family has been divided into three distinctive genera, Polynoncus Burmeister, Omorgus Erichson and Trox Fabricius. Although the taxonomy of the group is relatively well studied, changes to the existing classification have recently been proposed and the family as currently constituted has not been subjected to phylogenetic analyses. Here we present a molecular phylogeny for this cosmopolitan family based on three partially sequenced gene regions: 16S rRNA, 18S rRNA and 28S rRNA (domain 2). Included in the analyses are representatives belonging to four of the five extant genera (and three of the four subgenera) from all major zoogeographic regions, representing about 20% of the known trogid species diversity in the family. Phylogenetic analyses performed included parsimony and Bayesian inference. We deduce their historical biogeography by using trogid fossils as calibration points for divergence estimates. Our analyses resolved relationships between and within genera and subgenera that are largely congruent with existing phylogeny hypotheses based on morphological data. We recovered four well‐supported radiations: Polynoncus, Omorgus, Holarctic Trox and African Phoberus MacLeay. On the basis of this study, it is proposed that taxonomic changes to the generic classification of the family be made. The subgenera Trox and Phoberus should be elevated to genera to include the Holarctic and all the Afrotropical species, respectively, and Afromorgus returned to subgeneric rank. Estimates of divergence time are consistent with a Pangaean origin of the family in the Early Jurassic. The subsequent diversification of the major lineages is largely attributed to the break‐up of Pangaea and Gondwana in the Middle Jurassic and early Late Cretaceous, respectively.
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  • Date Issued: 2014

Phytoplankton community diversity along a river-estuary continuum

  • Authors: Dalu, Tatenda , Froneman, P William , Richoux, Nicole B
  • Date: 2014
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/457284 , vital:75622 , xlink:href="https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC156752"
  • Description: In this paper we examine the aspects of phytoplankton communities along a riverine-estuarine continuum in the Kowie system, Eastern Cape (South Africa). This study aims to relate the phytoplankton population community structure to physicochemical parameters and estimate the different chlorophyll-a concentrations for the Kowie system. Eight sampling sites along a 70 km reach of the Kowie system were sampled over a one-year period. One hundred and seventy-eight species belonging to 78 genera were recorded within the riverine-estuarine continuum. Diatoms were predominant, accounting for 81.9% of the total abundance. The estuary had 98 species (55 genera) recorded whereas the river had 141 species (67 genera). Using a two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), species richness was found to differ significantly amongst seasons. The chl-a concentration along the estuarine-riverine continuum increased from spring to a high in summer (river mean = 7.9 mg m -3 and estuary mean = 3.3 mg m -3 ) before decreasing to a low in winter. Kruskal Wallis ANOVA showed significant differences among chl-a concentration with seasons and sites. Redundancy analysis identified five factors salinity, water depth, aerial cover, nitrates and ammonia that were significant (p is less than 0.05) in affecting phytoplankton variation. The relatively small study indicates the need for further monitoring to gain a better understanding of Kowie system phytoplankton.
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  • Date Issued: 2014

Platinum share prices and the Marikana tragedy: an event study

  • Authors: Sunga, Tapuwa Terence
  • Date: 2014
  • Subjects: Marikana (Rustenburg, South Africa) , Massacres -- South Africa -- Rustenburg , Stocks -- Prices -- South Africa , Stocks -- Prices -- Mathematical models
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
  • Identifier: vital:1094 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013002
  • Description: An event study is an economic tool of analysis that has begun to gain popularity in recent empirical literature. It is a technique that gives a researcher the opportunity to map out the reaction of a firm's stock to an event, usually making use of daily or monthly data. However, up to this point, event study methodology has generally been applied to more traditional phenomena capable of affecting equity value, such as dividend and macroeconomic policy announcements, and there have only been a few exceptions to this. This study looks at what impact the tragic shootings at Lonmin mine in Marikana on August 16th 2012 had on the share prices of platinum mining firms based in South Africa using event study methodology. It makes use of the technique to investigate how the share prices responded to the tragedy over a number of trading days, including the day of the shootings. To be best of our knowledge, no attempt has been made to analyse the impact on share prices using events of this nature. For the investigation, daily returns data was used for each firm. The abnormal returns and cumulative abnormal returns to each were then calculated and compared with their respective expected returns in order to determine whether investors in the shares of that particular firm reacted positively, negatively or not at all. The evidence found suggests that tragedies of this nature are capable of influencing share prices in the same manner as more traditional economic phenomena. Overall, only one firm was found to have been negatively affected by the shootings in a persistent manner, while the shares of the other firms examined reacted in a manner that was positive overall, but varied according to individual firm characteristics such as size. These finding conformed to our a priori expectations. In addition, the results also confirm the benefits of applying event study methodology to a wide variety of phenomena that fall outside the boundaries usually associated with business.
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  • Date Issued: 2014

Political and religious identities : an exploration of changing identities amongst religious leaders in the Northern areas of Port Elizabeth

  • Authors: Abrahams, Andre John
  • Date: 2014
  • Subjects: Religion and politics -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Identification (Religion)
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: vital:8314 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020087
  • Description: The political transition from the oppressive apartheid system to post-apartheid South Africa has brought considerable change to the political climate. As a result of this transition, political and religious identities were also affected. This study explores the changing identities amongst religious leaders particularly in the Northern Areas of Port Elizabeth. The research has also explored how the advent of democracy has affected the political perspectives of these religious leaders who were ministering during apartheid. A qualitative research approach was used to frame the study, which employed an exploratory research design so as to understand the current political identities of these religious leaders. The sample of the study was purposively selected using the snowball sampling technique. As a means of collecting data in-depth interviews were conducted. The themes emanating from the study were recognised as being: - Church leaders reflecting on the political climate apparent in the Northern Areas of Port Elizabeth - Church leaders reflect reasons for limited political action from certain segments of the community sighting fear and poverty as central tenets. - Church leaders reveal close link between the church and politics during the apartheid period - The activities of the church in opposing the apartheid structure - Participants reflect on the role of Church leaders specifically during this period. - Church leaders articulate their disappointment in the political environment since 1994. - Church leaders reflect how race has affected the political climate since 1994 - The changing role of the church since 1994 - The growing silence on current political issues since 1994 Based on the identified themes conclusions could be drawn on the current political and religious identities of religious leaders compared to those adopted during the apartheid period. The outcome showed that religious leaders within the Northern Areas of Port Elizabeth are disappointed in the current political government but despite this have remained silent on political issues unlike the visible activism and vocal upheaval waged against the apartheid system.
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  • Date Issued: 2014

Political grey : areas of ambiguity and contradiction

  • Authors: Koekemoer, Carmen
  • Date: 2014
  • Subjects: Politics in art , Art -- Political aspects -- South Africa , Leadership in art , Portraits, African , Portraits, European , Art and revolutions -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MFA
  • Identifier: vital:2492 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013136
  • Description: This Master of Fine Arts submission, consisting of a thesis titled ‘Political Grey: Areas of Ambiguity and Contradiction’ accompanied by an exhibition titled ‘Positions’, encompasses the concept of leadership while uncovering and expressing its ‘grey areas’ in a contemporary and undefined moment in South Africa. The concept of leadership has been complicated throughout the thesis in terms of how it is conceptualised in a traditional royal African art context as well as how Leader-Figures have been and are portrayed in both Western and African portrait genres. The notion that the new is built upon the old is continued throughout my thesis and is evident in the accompanying body of work. This notion is expressed on a number of levels: by the re-contextualisation of the print medium; the creative processes described as ‘postproduction’ which I use in my work; as well as that which is described as a ‘post-transitional’ moment. The recent political history of the country is considered, with reference made to the anti-apartheid movement and resistance art produced. Printmaking, viewed as an archetypal medium for resistance, is discussed, with reference made to its socio-political role during the 1980s as well as to the extent to which it continues to be used by contemporary artists in a different realm of conflict and change. This is demonstrated by the shift from the medium as a tool for protest to the medium as an instrument of political irony and pointed commentary.
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  • Date Issued: 2014

Political party institutionalization : a case study of Kenya

  • Authors: Mutizwa-Mangiza, Shingai Price
  • Date: 2014
  • Subjects: Kenya -- Politics and government , Political parties -- Kenya , Kenya -- History , Kenya -- Colonial influence
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
  • Identifier: vital:2881 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013258
  • Description: This thesis explores the nature and extent of political party institutionalization in Kenya. More specifically, it focuses on the four dimensions of party institutionalization, namely organizational systemness, value-infusion, decisional autonomy and reification. The study itself is largely located within the historical-institutionalist school of thought, with particular emphasis on the path dependency strand of this theoretical framework. However, the study also employs a political economy approach. It recognizes that the development trajectory of party politics in Kenya did not evolve in a vacuum but within a particular historical-institutional and political-economic context. The thesis advances the notion that those current low levels of party institutionalization that are evident in almost all parties, and the relatively peripheral role that they have in Kenya's governance can be traced to Kenya's colonial and post-colonial political history, the resource poor environment and the onset of globalization.
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  • Date Issued: 2014

Polyamide nanofiber membranes functionalized with zinc phthalocyanines

  • Authors: Goethals, Annelies , Mugadza, Tawanda , Arslanoglu, Yasin , Zugle, Ruphino , Antunes, Edith M , Van Hulle, Stijn W , Nyokong, Tebello , De Clerck, Karen
  • Date: 2014
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/241505 , vital:50945 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1002/app.40486"
  • Description: Electrospinning is an efficient method for the production of polyamide nanofiber membranes that are suitable for water filtration. Previous studies have shown that nanofiber membranes have high clean water permeability. The pathogen removal efficiency can be improved by functionalization with (organic) biocides. However, these membranes, like other membranes, are vulnerable to fouling which reduces the filtration efficiency. Therefore the present article investigates the potential of zinc phthalocyanines, which can produce singlet oxygen in the presence of visible light, as a functionalizing agent. The polyamide nanofiber membranes were functionalized with phthalocyanines using both a pre-functionalizing and post-functionalizing method. Only the post-functionalization method shows to result in nanofiber membranes capable of producing singlet oxygen. After 30 min 45% of 1,2-diphenylisobenzofuran (DPBF), used as an oxygen quencher, was removed by reaction with singlet oxygen. This resulted in a removal rate of 0.33 mol DBPF mol−1Zn min−1. During short term leaching tests, phthalocyanines could not be detected.
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  • Date Issued: 2014

Polynuclear biomolecular-supported rare earth coordination compounds : towards a new generation of lanthanide-based drugs

  • Authors: Clark, Candyce
  • Date: 2014
  • Subjects: Polyols , Hydroxyl group , Rare earth metals
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: vital:10439 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020778
  • Description: Galactitol and cis,cis,cis-1,3,5-cyclohexanetriol are polyols that are ideal examples of model compounds for ligands with lanthanide ions as they have their hydroxyl groups in favourable steric arrangement. Several complexes were synthesised with both lanthanide chloride and lanthanide nitrate salts with galactitol, and a variety of structures, both polymeric and monomeric, were observed. In all these complexes, galactitol acted as a bridging molecule between the lanthanide ions. A notable difference was the lanthanum chloride–galactitol complex that showed both chloride and galactitol bridging. The lanthanide nitrate salts formed only polymeric complexes with galactitol. Not all of the complexes showed nitrate ions coordinated to the metal centre, and in the neodymium nitrate– galactitol complex, which shows both monodentate and bidentate coordination of the nitrate groups. The coordination of the nitrate ions was confirmed using both XRD and IR analysis. Two complexes with lanthanide chloride salts and cis,cis,cis-1,3,5-cyclohexanetriol were synthesised and analysed. Lanthanum chloride formed a polymeric complex, which showed extensive chloride bridging between the metal centres. Praseodymium chloride formed a dimeric complex. All complexes were analysed with single-crystal X-ray diffraction, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and IR spectroscopy.
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  • Date Issued: 2014

Pope John Paul II: a psychobiographical study

  • Authors: Navsaria, Koneshverrie
  • Date: 2014
  • Subjects: John Paul, II, Pope, 1920-2005 , Psychology -- Biographical methods , Faith development
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/3539 , vital:20440
  • Description: This psychobiography is focussed on the life of Pope John Paul II, whose historical personage epitomises the redemptive theme of triumph over tragedy and eternal hope. A phenomenological approach to the study allowed the researcher to observe the subject’s lived experience through the theoretical lens of Erik Erikson’s psychosocial development theory as well has having his faith development illuminated by Fowler’s faith development theory. Together, these theories highlighted significant aspects of Pope John Paul II’s personality development, for the greater purpose of uncovering the significance of his historical personage by reconciling his spiritual, political and academic attributes. This psychobiographical undertaking was grounded in qualitative research in the form of a single case. Two methodological strategies were used in this study. Firstly, Alexander’s model was used to organise, extract, prioritise and analyse data. The indicators of salience ensured that all significant parts of biographical data were carefully considered for analysis. Guba’s criteria for trustworthiness guided the methodology to ensure reliable data extraction and interpretation. Posing specific questions to the data enabled the researcher to extract units of analysis relevant to the aim of the study. Secondly, the use of conceptual frameworks and matrices enabled the longitudinal exploration, categorisation and description of the stages of psychosocial and faith development. The findings of this psychobiographical study of Pope John Paul II strongly support the importance of Erikson’s (1950) theory in understanding the processes of personality development in an individual life. In this psychobiographical study, the complex process of adaption and growth was highlighted by Erikson’s (1950) theory and placed periods of Pope John Paul II’s development in context. This study also demonstrated that gaining meaning in life through faith (Fowler, 1981) provides the individual with greater internal support when adjusting to life changes. Furthermore, greater intentionality on the part of therapists to thread faith and spirituality into their practice, is evidence of the eugraphic impact of this study.
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  • Date Issued: 2014

Portfolio of compositions

  • Authors: Simpson, Wayne Charles
  • Date: 2014
  • Subjects: Composition (Music) , Music
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MMus
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/7385 , vital:21343
  • Description: This essay will address the evolving nature of, and diversity, in method types of musical analysis. It will explore the connection between methods and approach types to musical analysis and related conceptions of what constitutes meaning in music. These methods will be largely understood as operating inside given parameters of musical meaning. Following a short history of some of the developments concerning structure in music from the 17th to late 19th century, I will discuss some of the dominant analytical methods and aim to highlight common features between them. I will discuss the different approaches these methods employ and highlight areas where a given method might be seen as using more than one approach. I will then investigate some approaches to composition that fall outside the conventional view of musical meaning and ultimately suggest the application of an eclectic model to musical analysis.
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  • Date Issued: 2014

Positioning non-timber forest products on the development agenda

  • Authors: Shackleton, Charlie M , Pandey, Ashok K
  • Date: 2014
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/180992 , vital:43679 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2013.07.004"
  • Description: Non-timber forests products (NTFPs) provide multiple livelihood benefits to local communities and regional and national economies. And yet this knowledge is rarely drawn upon in debates around and design of poverty alleviation or land use policies, strategies and projects. Unless the accumulating wealth of empirical evidence can be translated into policies and approaches at higher levels, and integrated into poverty alleviation programmes, it will have little impact on local and national poverty profiles. In this paper we propose and briefly discuss eight steps to facilitate integration of NTFPs into the development agenda, for the benefit of local communities. These include: (1) proper inventory of NTFP stocks, (2) research on NTFP ecology and sustainable harvest levels, (3) introduction of extension services for NTFPs, (4) inclusion of NTFPs in land management and trade-off decisions, (5) integration of NTFPs into sectoral policies, (6) ensuring NTFP commercialisation is not at the expense of local livelihood needs, (7) promoting security of access and use, and (8) examination of local contextual drivers of unsustainable use. Each is presented along with examples or proposals towards implementation.
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  • Date Issued: 2014

Possible scenarios for Africa's economic futures towards 2055

  • Authors: Giyose, Dorrington
  • Date: 2014
  • Subjects: Economic forecasting -- South Africa , Future, The
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
  • Identifier: vital:8931 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021188
  • Description: This academic discourse is a research treatise that is submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the Masters in Business Administration (MBA) degree at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU). Purpose – The purpose of this treatise is to develop four possible scenarios for Africa’s economic futures over the next 40 years, i.e. towards 2055. This study will expose the possible, probable, plausible, and preferable (desirable) scenarios for Africa towards 2055. Design/Methodology/Approach – This study employs a Futures Studies methodology that is known as scenario planning. The key variables of the scenarios are clustered as follows: Good governance and good economic growth; Good governance and bad economic growth; Bad governance and bad economic growth; as well as bad governance and good economic growth. Each of these scenarios begin with the current state of affairs in Africa. As such, the four scenarios in this study are informed by the current affairs in African countries as is internationally observed by scientists, researchers, as well as global views and opinions. Practical implications – This academic discourse provides useful insight into the causality relationship between the political, economic, sociological, technological, ecological, as well as legal factors (PESTEL factors) on the continent and the possible scenarios for Africa’s economic futures towards 2055. The aforementioned causality relationship between the abovementioned variables allows for insight into the drivers for change for Africa as well as in what way to anticipate these changes in accordance with scenario planning. Originality/Value: This treatise looks at the economic futures of Africa over the next 40 years from the point of view of African planners and African decision-makers.
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  • Date Issued: 2014

Potential for human exposure to Beta-N-methylamino-L-alanine in a freshwater system

  • Authors: Scott, Laura Louise
  • Date: 2014
  • Subjects: Water quality biological assessment , Cyanobacteria , Neurotoxic agents
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/5159 , vital:20816
  • Description: β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) is a non-proteinogenic amino acid associated with human neurodegenerative diseases. The content of BMAA in cyanobacteria is modulated by nitrogen in laboratory cultures. In order to evaluate the potential for human exposure, the nitrogen modulation of BMAA content needed verification in a natural environment. In accordance with laboratory culture studies, data presented in this study show that combined nitrogen was the most significant modulator of both cellular microcystin (MC) and BMAA content in phytoplankton in an environmental cyanobacterial bloom. While BMAA is produced upon nitrogen deprivation, MC is only produced at a specific nitrogen threshold where the rate of increase of nitrogen in the cell exceeds the carbon fixation rate. As BMAA and MC were detected in phytoplankton sourced from the Hartbeespoort Dam reservoir, the transfer of these cyanotoxins to organisms of higher trophic levels was investigated. Both BMAA and MC were detected at high concentrations in the liver and muscle tissue of fish sourced from the Hartbeespoort Dam reservoir indicating that consumption of fish from this reservoir constitutes a serious risk of exposure to cyanotoxins. In addition to the dietary exposure route to BMAA, two recent studies reported a correlation between Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) incidence and the potential for aerosol exposure to cyanobacteria. With the absence of any evidence of the systemic distribution of BMAA following inhalation, an evaluation of the potential exposure risk associated with living in close proximity to this reservoir was deemed premature. A laboratory experiment investigating the effect and systemic fate of inhaled aerosolised BMAA was therefore conducted in order to determine the feasibility of inhalation as a potential BMAA exposure route. Data from the rat inhalation exposure study, however, showed that in rats BMAA inhalation may not constitute a significant mechanism of toxicity at environmental BMAA levels.
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  • Date Issued: 2014

Potential Gaps during the Transition from the Embodied through Symbolic to Formal Worlds of Reflective Symmetry:

  • Authors: Mhlolo, Michael K , Schäfer, Marc
  • Date: 2014
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/141117 , vital:37945 , https://doi.org/10.1080/10288457.2014.925269
  • Description: Even though reflective symmetry is heavily embedded in the everyday, learners continue to experience challenges when they mathematize concepts from this informal/everyday context. In this article we argue that symmetry exists in nature, it can also be symbolized algebraically and it can be abstracted into the world of axioms and theorems. We problematize this multiple nature of symmetry which on one hand is supportive and on the other acts as a contributory factor to learners' gaps in knowledge. Tall's three worlds of mathematics helped us to show the transition of symmetry from the embodied through symbolic to the formal world and the inherent gaps attributed to the shifts in thinking thereof. We then used this same framework to analyse learners' responses to a reflective symmetry task. The results show that many learner responses could be explained explicitly by the lack of flexibility in the applicability of experiences in the embodied world of reflective symmetry.
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  • Date Issued: 2014

Poverty alleviation through income generation: Khuphuka Bakery in Stutterheim

  • Authors: Nini, Linda Frances
  • Date: 2014
  • Subjects: Poverty -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Economic development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/8934 , vital:26444
  • Description: Income generating projects play a significant role in the lives of rural people and make a significant contribution to rural development in South Africa. Although, income generating projects play a major contribution to rural development, problems of funding for such projects and the high levels of unskilled personnel to run those projects is still a challenge in most, if not all rural areas of South Africa. With the government failing to meet employment demands of most unskilled people and with most vacancies demanding work experiences of up to 10 years, most people especially the youth have found themselves unqualified for such vacancies hence they have resorted to projects in their communities in way boosting family incomes and at the same time alleviating poverty. Therefore this study has undertaken with the objectives of assessing income generating projects in relation to its contribution to rural development in the study area. The sustainable livelihoods and basic needs approaches were used to assess the contribution of income generating projects in poverty alleviation in rural areas. Such approaches to rural development can help in reducing the poverty gap that exists in society and at the same time help achieve sustainable rural development. Findings show that there are a number of challenges and constraints that are experienced by the Amahlathi community, like poverty in the form of poor water and sanitation services, education and health services and landlessness. Moreover, serious service delivery protests are a daily occurrence, corruption at local government level have all hindered the successful support of the government needed to boost these rural income generating projects. To have a successful rural development, there is need for the government to support these projects in the form of skills training programmes or finance. The study recommends that a serious state intervention should occur coupled with the visitation and revitalization of the RDP programme correct its mistakes.
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  • Date Issued: 2014

Practice guidelines for culturally sensitive drug prevention interventions

  • Authors: Goliath, Veonna
  • Date: 2014
  • Subjects: Youth -- Drug use -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Drug abuse -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth -- Prevention , Ethnicity -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Drug abuse -- Treatment -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Drug abuse -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Group identity -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
  • Identifier: vital:10005 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1017193
  • Description: South Africa has experienced a notable increase in adolescent drug use during the country’s transition from apartheid to democracy (Central Drug Authority [CDA], 2006). These findings are verified by epidemiological studies and two national youth risk behaviour surveys, highlighting the need for effective drug prevention interventions. Whilst drug use spans across age, gender and social strata, the rapid increase in both legal and illicit drug use among adolescents in the Northern Areas communities of Port Elizabeth has been particularly pronounced. The South African Community Epidemiology Network on Drug Use (SACENDU) statistics, which reflects on racial demographics in accordance with the Population Registration Act of 1950 (South Africa, 1950), reports that, in the year 2011, the ‘Coloured’ population constituted 62 percent of those individuals seeking treatment for drug abuse, compared to 15 percent ‘African’ treatment seekers in Port Elizabeth (Dada, Plüddemann, Parry, Bhana, Vawda & Fourie, 2012:44). Furthermore, methamphetamine use by persons under the age of 20 years in Port Elizabeth increased fivefold in a three-year period, i.e. from 7 percent in 2008 to 39 percent in 2011 (Dada et al., 2012), with the ‘Coloured’ population group accounting for the majority of methamphetamine users. These statistics reinforce a long-standing racial stereotype that associates ‘Coloured’ racial identity with an enhanced susceptibility to drug use. The National Drug Master Plan (South Africa, 2012a), and the Prevention of and Treatment for Substance Abuse Act (Act no 70 of 2008) propose that drug prevention programmes should address the values, perceptions, expectations and beliefs that the community associates with drug abuse (South Africa, 2008b). This view emphasises the importance of drug preventions interventions that are culturally sensitive and contextually relevant. The current study was guided by two conceptual frameworks, i.e. the Social Constructionist Framework and the Ecological Risk/Protective Resilience Framework, and focused on the Northern Areas of Port Elizabeth, a historically marginalised community inhabited by a predominantly ‘Coloured’ indigenous/ethnic group. The goal of the study was to enhance understanding of the socio-cultural meaning attributed to cultural identity, drug use, non-use and drug prevention in the Northern Areas of Port Elizabeth, with the view to developing guidelines for drug prevention interventions that are culturally sensitive and contextually relevant. The following objectives were formulated in order to achieve the goal of the study: • To explore adolescent narratives regarding the constructs ‘Coloured’, drug use, non-use and drug prevention programmes of three distinct groups of adolescents (drug users, non-users, and TADA peer mentors) from the Northern Areas. • To explore and describe the social service practitioners’ (social workers and social auxiliary workers’) constructions of drug use, non-use and drug abuse prevention in relation to adolescents from the Northern Areas, and how such constructions inform the drug prevention services rendered to adolescents from these communities. • To review the data collected from the adolescent narratives and the social service practitioners’ reflections on their drug prevention programmes against existing theory and models for drug prevention. • To synthesise the above information with a view to developing guidelines for culturally sensitive drug prevention programmes relevant and responsive to the specific social constructions of adolescents from the Northern Areas. A qualitative research approach, located in a narrative tradition of inquiry research design, was employed to achieve the goal of the study (Riessman, 2008). The study was conducted in two phases. The first phase involved an empirical study with the four sample groups (i.e. adolescent drug users, adolescent non-drug users, Teenagers against Drug Abuse [TADA] peer mentors and social service professionals (i.e. social workers and social auxiliary workers)). Phase two involved the co-construction of the practice guidelines for culturally sensitive and contextually relevant drug prevention interventions. Phase one started with the informal exploration of community stakeholders’ views on the identified research problem and the process of gaining access to the research population. Several gatekeepers (i.e. teachers, social workers, the Families Against Drugs [FAD] Support Group representatives, a minister of religion and a community stakeholder) were engaged to assist in recruiting participants from the four sample groups. A non-probability purposive sampling method was employed to purposively recruit 29 adolescent non-drug users and ten adolescent peer mentors (via the TADA Programme at one school). The same sampling method, followed by a snowball sampling technique, was employed to recruit the two remaining sample groups of ten adolescent drug users (in the recovery process) and nine social workers and social auxiliary workers respectively. The sample sizes were determined by the principle of data saturation.The data generation method used in respect of the non-users took the form of semi-structured written narratives, administered in a group context during school time, followed by a second round of data generation. The life-grid (Wilson, Cunningham-Burley, Bancroft, Backett-Milburn & Masters, 2007:144), a qualitative visual tool for mapping important life events, was employed to guide the co-construction of the biographical narratives generated during the individual semi-structured interviews with the sample of adolescent drug users. Focus group interviews were used to enhance an understanding of the peer mentors and social service practitioners’ views on the construct ‘Coloured’ and their existing drug prevention programmes. Each of the individual and focus group interviews was audio-recorded, transcribed and complemented by the field notes. Informal data gathering occurred through participant observation of two drug prevention programmes, attendance of a FAD Support Group meeting, and interviews with community volunteers and the South African Police Services (SAPS) Youth Development Forum. Both the content and the context of the narratives were analysed to arrive at the research themes, sub-themes and categories. The content of the narratives was analysed by employing categorical content analysis, whilst the form of the narratives (i.e. how the stories were told) was analysed by using the socio-cultural approach to narrative analysis (Grbich, 2007:130). The journey metaphor emerged from the adolescent drug users’ narratives, depicting a prototypical storyline of a drug use journey, starting with experimentation and culminating in abuse and dependence for some and an early exit from the journey for others. The conclusions that can be drawn from these findings illuminate key protective factors and processes at a multisystemic level that can be strengthened to enhance the adolescents’ resistance to drug use and/or delay the onset of use. Embedded in the participants’ narration of the drug use journey were nuances relating to internalised stereotypes of ‘White’ supremacy and ‘Coloured’ inferiority as an explanatory framework for venturing onto and prolonging the journey.The two themes that emerged during the process of content and narrative analysis of the qualitative data (from both adolescent drug users and non-users) were as follows: Constructing drug use as a ‘Coloured’ phenomenon and reconstructing ‘Coloured’ identity; Risk and protective factors located at individual, family, peer, school, community and societal domains. The four themes that emerged during the data analysis of the peer mentors and social service practitioners’ narratives were as follows: Construction of ‘Coloured’ identity; socio-cultural meaning construction about the reasons for drug use amongst adolescents from the Northern Areas; description of drug prevention services rendered in the Northern Areas; and reflection on barriers to rendering drug prevention interventions.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2014

Practices of early childhood development (ECD) practitioners for children from three to five years: a case of three early childhood development centres in the Buffalo City Municipality

  • Authors: Keir, Charlene (Ying-Ling)
  • Date: 2014
  • Subjects: Education, Preschool -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Preschool teachers -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , M Ed
  • Identifier: vital:16208 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1016269 , Education, Preschool -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Preschool teachers -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Description: This study investigates practices of early childhood development (ECD) practitioners for children from three to five years in three ECD centres situated within the municipal boundaries of Buffalo City, East London. It does so by posing the following questions: What are the practices of ECD practitioners for children from three to five years in developing learners’ oral language and physical intelligence. This study, using a qualitative approach and Qualitative methods for data collection were used, that is semi-structured interviews and classroom observations. The findings reveal that for oral language development, storytelling and children sharing news seemed to be the most used practices. However, the practitioners in this study seemed to severely lack understanding of their selected practices. Practices for developing children’s physical intelligence included free play, which was unsupervised. Practitioners seemed not to have an understanding of constructive play which is very important for the development of learners’ physical intelligence. One of the factors reported to be the cause of the poor quality of their practices was the critical shortage of funding for practitioners’ professional training. Moreover, shortage of funds also contributed to poor and inappropriate infrastructure and a lack of resources and teaching aids. This study, therefore, recommends that the quality of ECD programmes could be one of the prime contributors to the quality and effectiveness of ECD provisioning.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2014
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