Exploring the interplay of sociolinguistic factors in the teaching of esl at secondary school level in Zimbabwe
- Authors: Jhamba , Duren
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Sociolinguistics
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15770 , vital:40522
- Description: The researcher noted that earlier second language teaching models tended to treat language as an artefact to be scrutinised and adhered to with grammatical precision. This tended to reduce all language learning to the mere acquisition of grammatical skills. However, since all language behaviour is embedded in sociocultural and contextual frameworks, all teaching should provide cross-cultural awareness of that complexity as well as of the internal variation within language. Therefore, the research explored the interplay of sociolinguistic factors in the teaching of English in Zimbabwe. The Mixed Methods design; a combination of the descriptive survey and the case study was adopted. The questionnaire, interview, observation and document analysis methods were used to collect both qualitative and quantitative data to assess the role of sociolinguistic factors in second language teaching pedagogy. A combination of convenient sampling and stratified random sampling was used to come up with a sample representative of the school categories and the gender of teachers in the 38 secondary schools in Gweru District. The data for the research was collected from a random sample of 50 teachers. The data analysis supported the need for a reconceptualisation of ESL teaching in Zimbabwe. Notably, language teaching tended to be exam-centric, unimaginative and not well linked to the needs of the learners in the communicative environment outside the school. This confirmed the initial observation that the secondary school graduates generally lacked sociolinguistic competence skills. The teachers were, however generally not motivated to include culture and sociolinguistics in their teaching. The research therefore recommended a revisit of the 7 | Page allowance for the interplay of sociolinguistic factors at all the planning stages of the ESL curriculum; the status, corpus and acquisition stages.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Jhamba , Duren
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Sociolinguistics
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15770 , vital:40522
- Description: The researcher noted that earlier second language teaching models tended to treat language as an artefact to be scrutinised and adhered to with grammatical precision. This tended to reduce all language learning to the mere acquisition of grammatical skills. However, since all language behaviour is embedded in sociocultural and contextual frameworks, all teaching should provide cross-cultural awareness of that complexity as well as of the internal variation within language. Therefore, the research explored the interplay of sociolinguistic factors in the teaching of English in Zimbabwe. The Mixed Methods design; a combination of the descriptive survey and the case study was adopted. The questionnaire, interview, observation and document analysis methods were used to collect both qualitative and quantitative data to assess the role of sociolinguistic factors in second language teaching pedagogy. A combination of convenient sampling and stratified random sampling was used to come up with a sample representative of the school categories and the gender of teachers in the 38 secondary schools in Gweru District. The data for the research was collected from a random sample of 50 teachers. The data analysis supported the need for a reconceptualisation of ESL teaching in Zimbabwe. Notably, language teaching tended to be exam-centric, unimaginative and not well linked to the needs of the learners in the communicative environment outside the school. This confirmed the initial observation that the secondary school graduates generally lacked sociolinguistic competence skills. The teachers were, however generally not motivated to include culture and sociolinguistics in their teaching. The research therefore recommended a revisit of the 7 | Page allowance for the interplay of sociolinguistic factors at all the planning stages of the ESL curriculum; the status, corpus and acquisition stages.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Implementation of programmes for maintaining care and safety of learners in secondary schools in the Graaff Reinet education district
- Authors: Bilatyi, Nkosana Carlon
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Schools -- Security measures -- Eastern Cape School environment -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9379 , vital:34339
- Description: Care and safety of learners refers to the behavioral practices which protect children from danger, risks and injuries. It also includes environment that is free from violence since where there is no fear perceived, there is reverence for the school and its disciplinary measures (Hernandez & Seem, 2004; Marotz, Cross, Rush, 2005; Mathe, 2008; Chukwu, 2008). Schools should have positive environment which allows members of staff, learners and guests to freely interact without threats or fear. Learners and staff should feel psychologically, physically and emotionally safe and secure (Dwyer & Osher, 2000; Tabancali &Bektas, 2009; Butcher& Manning 2005). Consequently, care and safety of learners can also be viewed in a more practical and management oriented way. According to Hull (2010) care and safety of learners in a management oriented way includes, maintenance of school buildings and grounds, care of facilities, furniture and equipment with spacious corridors that allow free flow and emergency movement to prevent illness and death. Classes should accommodate the required educator-learner ratio. The playgrounds are reduced to limited space to ensure that learners are visible and are controllable. Moreover provision of care and safety of learners includes school culture and the appropriate training of educators as well as school staff who should respond to threats and hazards. It also includes addressing the range of crisis the school can face such as death and natural disasters (Phaneuf, 2009). Reeves, Nickerson, Conolly-Wilson, Suson, Lazzaro, Jimerson, and Pesce (2012) contend that the educators on duty should provide learners with safety precautions to guard against the possibility of single learner slipping away and suffering injuries (Dilion, 2007). According to Mogopodi, Banyaladzi & Petros (2015) facilities like laboratories should be suitable for all learners because they help to transform theoretical education into practice making learning effective. Astor, Guerra, Van Acker (2010) suggest that provision of care and safety for learners is among the most essential components for achieving effective teaching and learning. This will only be achieved by putting in place proper care and safety programmes and ensuring that they are effectively implemented (Netshitahame, & Vollenhoven, 2002, Astor et.al.2010).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Bilatyi, Nkosana Carlon
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Schools -- Security measures -- Eastern Cape School environment -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9379 , vital:34339
- Description: Care and safety of learners refers to the behavioral practices which protect children from danger, risks and injuries. It also includes environment that is free from violence since where there is no fear perceived, there is reverence for the school and its disciplinary measures (Hernandez & Seem, 2004; Marotz, Cross, Rush, 2005; Mathe, 2008; Chukwu, 2008). Schools should have positive environment which allows members of staff, learners and guests to freely interact without threats or fear. Learners and staff should feel psychologically, physically and emotionally safe and secure (Dwyer & Osher, 2000; Tabancali &Bektas, 2009; Butcher& Manning 2005). Consequently, care and safety of learners can also be viewed in a more practical and management oriented way. According to Hull (2010) care and safety of learners in a management oriented way includes, maintenance of school buildings and grounds, care of facilities, furniture and equipment with spacious corridors that allow free flow and emergency movement to prevent illness and death. Classes should accommodate the required educator-learner ratio. The playgrounds are reduced to limited space to ensure that learners are visible and are controllable. Moreover provision of care and safety of learners includes school culture and the appropriate training of educators as well as school staff who should respond to threats and hazards. It also includes addressing the range of crisis the school can face such as death and natural disasters (Phaneuf, 2009). Reeves, Nickerson, Conolly-Wilson, Suson, Lazzaro, Jimerson, and Pesce (2012) contend that the educators on duty should provide learners with safety precautions to guard against the possibility of single learner slipping away and suffering injuries (Dilion, 2007). According to Mogopodi, Banyaladzi & Petros (2015) facilities like laboratories should be suitable for all learners because they help to transform theoretical education into practice making learning effective. Astor, Guerra, Van Acker (2010) suggest that provision of care and safety for learners is among the most essential components for achieving effective teaching and learning. This will only be achieved by putting in place proper care and safety programmes and ensuring that they are effectively implemented (Netshitahame, & Vollenhoven, 2002, Astor et.al.2010).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Servant leadership: antecedent to Quality of Worklife of customer service frontline employees
- Authors: Bedser, Mark Bernard
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Call center agents Servant leadership Customer Service -- Quality control Employee morale Job satisfaction Quality of work life
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/62144 , vital:28132
- Description: Contact Centre agents operate in closely monitored and highly controlled environments and their work consists of solving service requests or assisting customers with information on products or services. Consequently their work involves a great deal of emotional labour and stress. It is not surprising then, that the working environment of the Contact Centre is reported to have a negative impact on the levels of Quality of Worklife of Contact Centre agents, and that in the Contact Centre context, it is likely that low levels of Quality of Worklife exist. It is argued that it is important for organisations to be particularly aware of the Quality of Worklife perceptions of their employees should they want to address Quality of Worklife levels and benefit from the positive consequences of higher levels of the construct. Numerous variables are reported to play either an antecedent, moderating, mediating, or consequential role in relation to the Quality of Worklife construct. A systems model of Quality of Worklife is developed, which illustrates the inter-relationships of these variables and how they affect and are affected by the Quality of Worklife construct. It is argued that leadership is an important antecedent to Quality of Worklife, and this is the antecedent of interest in this study. It is proposed that it is not just any leadership that will contribute to an improved Quality of Worklife, particularly within a challenging context such as the Contact Centre environment. Rather, it is suggested that certain qualities of leaders will have a greater influence on Quality of Worklife. For example, leaders who focus on relationships and are caring - characteristics associated with servant leaders - are deemed more suitable for the Contact Centre context. The research also proposes that there are close associations between Servant Leadership and Trust, which in turn has the potential to affect Quality of Worklife positively. It is argued, therefore, that Trust mediates the relationship between Servant Leadership and Quality of Worklife in the customer service frontline context. While there is a broad base of literature available on servant leadership that focuses on the senior or executive level of leadership, Van Dierendonck and Nuijten (2011) have argued that it is also relevant at the middle level of management and have validated an eight dimensional measure of servant leadership that is suitable for this management level. The Van Laar, Edwards and Easton (2007) Quality of Worklife model is also argued to be an appropriate model and measure of the Quality of Worklife construct, due to the robustness of the instrument design and the appropriateness of its underlying theory to the context of this research. Research has shown that leadership can have a significant relationship with Quality of Worklife. Moreover, a review of the literature on servant leadership reveals that trust, satisfaction, general well-being, and commitment to their jobs increases when employees are exposed to leadership behaviours associated with servant leadership. There is however, no evidence in the literature of any investigation of the relationship between Servant Leadership and Quality of Worklife, or of research investigating the partial mediating effects of Trust between these two constructs. Research was conducted to test this relationship. A survey questionnaire was administered amongst a sample of 555 Contact Centre agents, who were employed in eight different organisations. Confirmatory factor analysis procedures were conducted in STATA (V15.0), to test and validate the factor structure of Servant Leadership and Quality of Worklife models. The research also produced a Servant Leadership, Trust and Quality of Worklife structural equation model that supported the hypotheses of the relationships between the constructs. Mediation analysis confirmed Trust’s role as a mediator between Servant Leadership and Quality of Worklife. The structural equation model confirmed that synergies between Servant Leadership, Trust and Quality of Worklife exist, and that Trust partially mediates the relationship between Servant Leadership and Quality of Worklife. It is therefore argued that an increase in Servant Leadership behaviour by the manager or supervisor of frontline staff has a positive association with increases of Trust, as well as positive associations with Quality of Worklife experienced by employees in the frontline context. Moreover, it is also posited that the relationship between Servant Leadership and Quality of Worklife is partially mediated by Trust of the supervisor. The implications of these results are discussed, and recommendations made for management practice and further research.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Bedser, Mark Bernard
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Call center agents Servant leadership Customer Service -- Quality control Employee morale Job satisfaction Quality of work life
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/62144 , vital:28132
- Description: Contact Centre agents operate in closely monitored and highly controlled environments and their work consists of solving service requests or assisting customers with information on products or services. Consequently their work involves a great deal of emotional labour and stress. It is not surprising then, that the working environment of the Contact Centre is reported to have a negative impact on the levels of Quality of Worklife of Contact Centre agents, and that in the Contact Centre context, it is likely that low levels of Quality of Worklife exist. It is argued that it is important for organisations to be particularly aware of the Quality of Worklife perceptions of their employees should they want to address Quality of Worklife levels and benefit from the positive consequences of higher levels of the construct. Numerous variables are reported to play either an antecedent, moderating, mediating, or consequential role in relation to the Quality of Worklife construct. A systems model of Quality of Worklife is developed, which illustrates the inter-relationships of these variables and how they affect and are affected by the Quality of Worklife construct. It is argued that leadership is an important antecedent to Quality of Worklife, and this is the antecedent of interest in this study. It is proposed that it is not just any leadership that will contribute to an improved Quality of Worklife, particularly within a challenging context such as the Contact Centre environment. Rather, it is suggested that certain qualities of leaders will have a greater influence on Quality of Worklife. For example, leaders who focus on relationships and are caring - characteristics associated with servant leaders - are deemed more suitable for the Contact Centre context. The research also proposes that there are close associations between Servant Leadership and Trust, which in turn has the potential to affect Quality of Worklife positively. It is argued, therefore, that Trust mediates the relationship between Servant Leadership and Quality of Worklife in the customer service frontline context. While there is a broad base of literature available on servant leadership that focuses on the senior or executive level of leadership, Van Dierendonck and Nuijten (2011) have argued that it is also relevant at the middle level of management and have validated an eight dimensional measure of servant leadership that is suitable for this management level. The Van Laar, Edwards and Easton (2007) Quality of Worklife model is also argued to be an appropriate model and measure of the Quality of Worklife construct, due to the robustness of the instrument design and the appropriateness of its underlying theory to the context of this research. Research has shown that leadership can have a significant relationship with Quality of Worklife. Moreover, a review of the literature on servant leadership reveals that trust, satisfaction, general well-being, and commitment to their jobs increases when employees are exposed to leadership behaviours associated with servant leadership. There is however, no evidence in the literature of any investigation of the relationship between Servant Leadership and Quality of Worklife, or of research investigating the partial mediating effects of Trust between these two constructs. Research was conducted to test this relationship. A survey questionnaire was administered amongst a sample of 555 Contact Centre agents, who were employed in eight different organisations. Confirmatory factor analysis procedures were conducted in STATA (V15.0), to test and validate the factor structure of Servant Leadership and Quality of Worklife models. The research also produced a Servant Leadership, Trust and Quality of Worklife structural equation model that supported the hypotheses of the relationships between the constructs. Mediation analysis confirmed Trust’s role as a mediator between Servant Leadership and Quality of Worklife. The structural equation model confirmed that synergies between Servant Leadership, Trust and Quality of Worklife exist, and that Trust partially mediates the relationship between Servant Leadership and Quality of Worklife. It is therefore argued that an increase in Servant Leadership behaviour by the manager or supervisor of frontline staff has a positive association with increases of Trust, as well as positive associations with Quality of Worklife experienced by employees in the frontline context. Moreover, it is also posited that the relationship between Servant Leadership and Quality of Worklife is partially mediated by Trust of the supervisor. The implications of these results are discussed, and recommendations made for management practice and further research.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Oil enclave economy and sexual liaisons in Nigeria's Niger Delta region
- Authors: Gandu, Yohanna Kagoro
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Women -- Violence against -- Nigeria Abused women -- Nigeria Sexual abuse victims -- Nigeria Prostitution -- Nigeria Oil industries -- Nigeria
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:3318 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003106
- Description: This thesis examines the intersection of oil enclave economy and the phenomenon of sexual liaisons in Nigeria’s Niger Delta region. The particular focus of this thesis is on the extent to which oil enclavity contributes to the emergence of sexual liaisons between local women and expatriate oil workers. Despite the fact that the Nigerian oil industry has been subjected to considerable scholarly debate for over five decades, this aspect of the social dimension of oil has not received adequate scholarly attention. Gender-specific discourse has tended to focus more on women protest. Other aspects, such as gender-specific violence that women in the region have had to live with, are either ignored or poorly articulated. Picketing of oil platforms by protesting women is celebrated as signs that women are active in the struggle against oil Transnational Companies (TNCs). While women protest is a significant struggle against oil TNCs, it has the potential of blurring our intellectual focus on the specific challenges confronting women in the Niger Delta. This study shows that since the inauguration of the Willink Commission in 1957, national palliatives meant to alleviate poverty in the Niger Delta region have not been gender sensitive. A review of the 1957 Willink Commission and others that came after it shows that the Nigerian state is yet to address the peculiar problems that the oil industry has brought to the women folk in the region. The paradox is that while oil provides enormous wealth and means of patronage to the Nigerian state elite, the oil TNCs, and better paid expatriate oil workers, a large section of the local Oil Bearing Communities (OBCs), especially women and unemployed youth, are not only dispossessed but survive in an environment characterised by anxiety and misery. With limited survival alternatives, youths resort to violent protest including oil thefts and bunkering. Local women are also immersed in this debacle because some of them resort to sexual liaisons with economically empowered expatriate oil workers as an alternative means of survival. This study therefore shifts the focus to women by exploring the extent to which sexual liaison reflects the contradictions in the enclave oil economy. The study employed an enclave economy conceptual framework to demonstrate that oil extractive activities compromise and distort the local economies of OBCs. This situation compels local women to seek for alternative means of survival by entering into sexual liaisons with more financially privileged expatriate oil workers. The study reviewed relevant secondary documentary sources of data. Further, it employed primary data collection techniques which include in-depth interviews/life histories, ethnographic observations, focus group discussions, and visual sociology. Besides obtaining the social profile and challenges facing the women involved in sexual liaisons with expatriate oil workers, the study provides an outline of participants’ narratives on the different social and economic dimensions of the intersection of oil enclave economy and sexual liaisons. The study found that some of the women involved in sexual liaisons with expatriate oil workers have been abandoned with ‘fatherless’ children. Some of them have also been rejected by their immediate family members and, in some cases, by their community. The study also found that the phenomenon of sexual liaisons and the incidents of abandoned ‘fatherless’ children that result from the practice, has over the years been played out through local resentment against oil TNCs and their expatriate employees. This finding helps to fill the gap in narratives and to make sense of the civic revolt and deepening instability in the Niger Delta region.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Gandu, Yohanna Kagoro
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Women -- Violence against -- Nigeria Abused women -- Nigeria Sexual abuse victims -- Nigeria Prostitution -- Nigeria Oil industries -- Nigeria
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:3318 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003106
- Description: This thesis examines the intersection of oil enclave economy and the phenomenon of sexual liaisons in Nigeria’s Niger Delta region. The particular focus of this thesis is on the extent to which oil enclavity contributes to the emergence of sexual liaisons between local women and expatriate oil workers. Despite the fact that the Nigerian oil industry has been subjected to considerable scholarly debate for over five decades, this aspect of the social dimension of oil has not received adequate scholarly attention. Gender-specific discourse has tended to focus more on women protest. Other aspects, such as gender-specific violence that women in the region have had to live with, are either ignored or poorly articulated. Picketing of oil platforms by protesting women is celebrated as signs that women are active in the struggle against oil Transnational Companies (TNCs). While women protest is a significant struggle against oil TNCs, it has the potential of blurring our intellectual focus on the specific challenges confronting women in the Niger Delta. This study shows that since the inauguration of the Willink Commission in 1957, national palliatives meant to alleviate poverty in the Niger Delta region have not been gender sensitive. A review of the 1957 Willink Commission and others that came after it shows that the Nigerian state is yet to address the peculiar problems that the oil industry has brought to the women folk in the region. The paradox is that while oil provides enormous wealth and means of patronage to the Nigerian state elite, the oil TNCs, and better paid expatriate oil workers, a large section of the local Oil Bearing Communities (OBCs), especially women and unemployed youth, are not only dispossessed but survive in an environment characterised by anxiety and misery. With limited survival alternatives, youths resort to violent protest including oil thefts and bunkering. Local women are also immersed in this debacle because some of them resort to sexual liaisons with economically empowered expatriate oil workers as an alternative means of survival. This study therefore shifts the focus to women by exploring the extent to which sexual liaison reflects the contradictions in the enclave oil economy. The study employed an enclave economy conceptual framework to demonstrate that oil extractive activities compromise and distort the local economies of OBCs. This situation compels local women to seek for alternative means of survival by entering into sexual liaisons with more financially privileged expatriate oil workers. The study reviewed relevant secondary documentary sources of data. Further, it employed primary data collection techniques which include in-depth interviews/life histories, ethnographic observations, focus group discussions, and visual sociology. Besides obtaining the social profile and challenges facing the women involved in sexual liaisons with expatriate oil workers, the study provides an outline of participants’ narratives on the different social and economic dimensions of the intersection of oil enclave economy and sexual liaisons. The study found that some of the women involved in sexual liaisons with expatriate oil workers have been abandoned with ‘fatherless’ children. Some of them have also been rejected by their immediate family members and, in some cases, by their community. The study also found that the phenomenon of sexual liaisons and the incidents of abandoned ‘fatherless’ children that result from the practice, has over the years been played out through local resentment against oil TNCs and their expatriate employees. This finding helps to fill the gap in narratives and to make sense of the civic revolt and deepening instability in the Niger Delta region.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
An investigation into the neuroprotective properties of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents tolmetin, sulindac and turmeric
- Authors: Dairam, Amichand
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents Antioxidants Tolmetin -- Therapeutic use Sulindac -- Therapeutic use Turmeric -- Therapeutic use Nervous system -- Degeneration -- Prevention Alzheimer's disease
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:3752 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003230
- Description: Accumulating evidence suggests that anti-inflammatory agents and antioxidants have neuroprotective properties and may be beneficial in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. In the present study, the possible neuroprotective properties of tolmetin, sulindac and turmeric were investigated. The antioxidant effects of tolmetin and sulindac were determined by inducing free radical generation with quinolinic acid (QA), cyanide or iron (II) in rat brain homogenates or primary hippocampal neurons. Tolmetin and sulindac significantly reduce lipid peroxidation and scavenge the superoxide anion. Metal binding studies were conducted to determine whether metal chelation is a possible mechanism through which these agents reduce QA and iron (II)-induced lipid peroxidation. UV/VIS, infrared spectroscopy as well as electrochemical studies show that both agents bind to iron (II) and/or iron (III). Histological examination of the hippocampus showed that pre-treatment of animals with tolmetin or sulindac offers protection against intrahippocampal injections of QA. These agents also attenuate QA-induced apoptosis and reduce the loss of neurons in the hippocampus. The co-incubation of primary hippocampal neurons with the NSAIDS also enhanced cell viability which is significantly reduced by QA. Behavioural studies using a water maze showed that the treatment of animals after QA-induced neurotoxicity reduces QA-induced spatial memory loss. Tolmetin and sulindac also reduced glutathione depletion and protein oxidation in rat hippocampus. Both NSAIDS inhibit liver tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase activity in vitro and in vivo and subsequently increased hippocampal serotonin levels. However, both NSAIDS also reduce dopamine levels in rat striatum. Tolmetin but not sulindac increased the synthesis of melatonin by the pineal gland. The active components of turmeric known as the curcuminoids were separated using preparative thin layer chromatography (TLC). The purity was confirmed by TLC, NMR and mass spectrometry. The environmental toxin lead, induces lipid peroxidation and reduces primary hippocampal neuronal viability. The co-incubation of the neurons with the curcuminoids significantly reduces lead-induced lipid peroxidation and enhances neuronal cell viability in the presence of lead. Lead-induced spatial memory deficit is also attenuated with curcumin, demethoxycurcumin but not bisdemethoxycurcumin. The curcuminoids also reduce lead-induced hippocampal glutathione depletion and protein oxidation. Metal binding studies show that the curcuminoids bind to lead and is another possible mechanism through which the curcuminoids reduce lead-induced neurotoxicity. The findings of this study indicate a possible role of tolmetin, sulindac and turmeric in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. However, tolmetin and sulindac reduce dopamine levels.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
- Authors: Dairam, Amichand
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents Antioxidants Tolmetin -- Therapeutic use Sulindac -- Therapeutic use Turmeric -- Therapeutic use Nervous system -- Degeneration -- Prevention Alzheimer's disease
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:3752 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003230
- Description: Accumulating evidence suggests that anti-inflammatory agents and antioxidants have neuroprotective properties and may be beneficial in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. In the present study, the possible neuroprotective properties of tolmetin, sulindac and turmeric were investigated. The antioxidant effects of tolmetin and sulindac were determined by inducing free radical generation with quinolinic acid (QA), cyanide or iron (II) in rat brain homogenates or primary hippocampal neurons. Tolmetin and sulindac significantly reduce lipid peroxidation and scavenge the superoxide anion. Metal binding studies were conducted to determine whether metal chelation is a possible mechanism through which these agents reduce QA and iron (II)-induced lipid peroxidation. UV/VIS, infrared spectroscopy as well as electrochemical studies show that both agents bind to iron (II) and/or iron (III). Histological examination of the hippocampus showed that pre-treatment of animals with tolmetin or sulindac offers protection against intrahippocampal injections of QA. These agents also attenuate QA-induced apoptosis and reduce the loss of neurons in the hippocampus. The co-incubation of primary hippocampal neurons with the NSAIDS also enhanced cell viability which is significantly reduced by QA. Behavioural studies using a water maze showed that the treatment of animals after QA-induced neurotoxicity reduces QA-induced spatial memory loss. Tolmetin and sulindac also reduced glutathione depletion and protein oxidation in rat hippocampus. Both NSAIDS inhibit liver tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase activity in vitro and in vivo and subsequently increased hippocampal serotonin levels. However, both NSAIDS also reduce dopamine levels in rat striatum. Tolmetin but not sulindac increased the synthesis of melatonin by the pineal gland. The active components of turmeric known as the curcuminoids were separated using preparative thin layer chromatography (TLC). The purity was confirmed by TLC, NMR and mass spectrometry. The environmental toxin lead, induces lipid peroxidation and reduces primary hippocampal neuronal viability. The co-incubation of the neurons with the curcuminoids significantly reduces lead-induced lipid peroxidation and enhances neuronal cell viability in the presence of lead. Lead-induced spatial memory deficit is also attenuated with curcumin, demethoxycurcumin but not bisdemethoxycurcumin. The curcuminoids also reduce lead-induced hippocampal glutathione depletion and protein oxidation. Metal binding studies show that the curcuminoids bind to lead and is another possible mechanism through which the curcuminoids reduce lead-induced neurotoxicity. The findings of this study indicate a possible role of tolmetin, sulindac and turmeric in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. However, tolmetin and sulindac reduce dopamine levels.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
Review and development of environmental interpretation resources to foster environmental learning in two Kenyan schools
- Authors: Atiti, Abel Barasa
- Date: 2003
- Subjects: Environmental education -- Kenya Environmental education -- Kenya -- Case studies
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1743 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003627
- Description: This participatory action research study involved a group of teachers in transforming school grounds into interpretation resources. Approached from a critical perspective, it challenged the conventional top-down approaches to interpretation resources and materials development. Through a teacher-centred approach, a school-based ‘botanic garden’ and ‘arboretum’ were developed at Samaj and Kenya High respectively. Teachers were further actively engaged in developing a variety of interpretive materials that might engage learners in socially critical environmental education processes at the transformed sites. A process in which educators from five non-formal education organisations shared their skills and knowledge on environmental interpretation with teachers preceded the development of interpretation resources and materials. Drawing on Latour (1999), I have applied the notion of mobilising interpretive capital when describing this process. Interpretive capital within the non-formal education sector was mobilised and made available through social interactions between teachers and non-formal educators. This occurred during workshops, organisational visits and critical reviews of a sample of interpretive materials. I provide insights into how the interpretive capital was mobilised and later drawn on by teachers during the development processes in their schools. This study argues that mobilising interpretive capital with teachers through partnerships can enhance the transformation of school grounds to foster environmental learning. It shows how attempts to find solutions with teachers were made in response to pedagogical and curriculum tensions that arise around the implementation of environmental education processes in their schools. To provide orientation in environmental education processes in schools, analyses of socially critical environmental education processes and a review of theoretical perspectives on interpretation as an environmental education process are presented. I have viewed interpretation and environmental education as reciprocally necessary aspects for enabling the development of critical environmental literacy and action competence. To explain this view, the notion of environmental interpretation and education processes has been applied and presented in this study. Finally, practical outcomes of the study on transformation of school grounds, improved education practice, enhanced professional competencies amongst teachers, new interpretive materials in schools and the establishment of partnerships are examined.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2003
- Authors: Atiti, Abel Barasa
- Date: 2003
- Subjects: Environmental education -- Kenya Environmental education -- Kenya -- Case studies
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1743 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003627
- Description: This participatory action research study involved a group of teachers in transforming school grounds into interpretation resources. Approached from a critical perspective, it challenged the conventional top-down approaches to interpretation resources and materials development. Through a teacher-centred approach, a school-based ‘botanic garden’ and ‘arboretum’ were developed at Samaj and Kenya High respectively. Teachers were further actively engaged in developing a variety of interpretive materials that might engage learners in socially critical environmental education processes at the transformed sites. A process in which educators from five non-formal education organisations shared their skills and knowledge on environmental interpretation with teachers preceded the development of interpretation resources and materials. Drawing on Latour (1999), I have applied the notion of mobilising interpretive capital when describing this process. Interpretive capital within the non-formal education sector was mobilised and made available through social interactions between teachers and non-formal educators. This occurred during workshops, organisational visits and critical reviews of a sample of interpretive materials. I provide insights into how the interpretive capital was mobilised and later drawn on by teachers during the development processes in their schools. This study argues that mobilising interpretive capital with teachers through partnerships can enhance the transformation of school grounds to foster environmental learning. It shows how attempts to find solutions with teachers were made in response to pedagogical and curriculum tensions that arise around the implementation of environmental education processes in their schools. To provide orientation in environmental education processes in schools, analyses of socially critical environmental education processes and a review of theoretical perspectives on interpretation as an environmental education process are presented. I have viewed interpretation and environmental education as reciprocally necessary aspects for enabling the development of critical environmental literacy and action competence. To explain this view, the notion of environmental interpretation and education processes has been applied and presented in this study. Finally, practical outcomes of the study on transformation of school grounds, improved education practice, enhanced professional competencies amongst teachers, new interpretive materials in schools and the establishment of partnerships are examined.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2003
An examination of the development of Christian worship in the Southern Congo United Methodist Church with a view to promoting a relevant and indigenous form of worship
- Authors: Nkonge, Jean-Marie
- Date: 2001
- Subjects: Christianity Christianity -- Congo United Methodist Church -- Congo
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:1233 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007445
- Description: The scope of this thesis is the investigation of the nature and purpose of Christian worship with specific reference to its development in the Southern Congo United Methodist Church. The study combines three main sources of information - namely, the study of key theological concepts (chapter 3), the Holy Bible (chapter 4), and the investigation by questionnaires (chapter 6) - in order to address the issue of improving the worship and Christian life style for the contemporary Christian church within the Congolese context. Christian worship has been defined as a twofold event involving God's initiative in and through Jesus Christ, and men and women's response towards God's saving acts through the same Mediator, Jesus Christ. Seeing that the unchangeable Gospel relates to each culture, it is argued in this thesis that Congolese cultural values (local clergy, local languages, art forms, and other cultural elements) could be an integral part of worship. This long and slow process of incarnating the Christian message into the Congolese context could result in finding original and meaningful expressions of the Christian faith in the African context. Insights are drawn from the research to offer theological and pragmatic guidelines. In fact, it is suggested that the integration of Congolese cultural elements should be monitored by a Theological Commission at the congregational level, the district level, and the Annual Conference level. Furthermore, the last section of the last chapter provides helpful suggestions in dealing with practical issues with regard to the overall management of the Southern Congo United Methodist Church.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2001
- Authors: Nkonge, Jean-Marie
- Date: 2001
- Subjects: Christianity Christianity -- Congo United Methodist Church -- Congo
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:1233 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007445
- Description: The scope of this thesis is the investigation of the nature and purpose of Christian worship with specific reference to its development in the Southern Congo United Methodist Church. The study combines three main sources of information - namely, the study of key theological concepts (chapter 3), the Holy Bible (chapter 4), and the investigation by questionnaires (chapter 6) - in order to address the issue of improving the worship and Christian life style for the contemporary Christian church within the Congolese context. Christian worship has been defined as a twofold event involving God's initiative in and through Jesus Christ, and men and women's response towards God's saving acts through the same Mediator, Jesus Christ. Seeing that the unchangeable Gospel relates to each culture, it is argued in this thesis that Congolese cultural values (local clergy, local languages, art forms, and other cultural elements) could be an integral part of worship. This long and slow process of incarnating the Christian message into the Congolese context could result in finding original and meaningful expressions of the Christian faith in the African context. Insights are drawn from the research to offer theological and pragmatic guidelines. In fact, it is suggested that the integration of Congolese cultural elements should be monitored by a Theological Commission at the congregational level, the district level, and the Annual Conference level. Furthermore, the last section of the last chapter provides helpful suggestions in dealing with practical issues with regard to the overall management of the Southern Congo United Methodist Church.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2001
The morphology and biology of Anomala vetula Wied : an arthropod pest of turf in South Africa
- Authors: Bradford, B
- Date: 1946
- Subjects: Anomala
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5903 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013545
- Description: From Introduction: For the past eight years, the Zoology Department of Rhodes University College, in co-operation with African Explosives & Chemical Industries Ltd., has been studying certain entomological problems relating to turf on the golf course along the coastal belt of the Eastern Cape Province. The position is briefly as follows:- On the golf courses at Mossel Bay, Humewood (Port Elizabeth), Port Alfred and East London, vast damage has been done to the greens and fairways by "white grubs", the larval stages of Scarabaeidae. It would appear that these beetles had been present in the environs of the courses for many years, but it was only when large areas of the natural veld were converted into fairways, with a more or less uniform cover of grass, with Cynodon dactylon Pers. predominating, that conditions were inadvertently created which favoured the development of the beetles. It was not long after the establishment of these golf courses, that the beetles assumed the proportions of a pest, and the larvae began destroying the root system of the grasses covering the greens and fairways.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1946
- Authors: Bradford, B
- Date: 1946
- Subjects: Anomala
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5903 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013545
- Description: From Introduction: For the past eight years, the Zoology Department of Rhodes University College, in co-operation with African Explosives & Chemical Industries Ltd., has been studying certain entomological problems relating to turf on the golf course along the coastal belt of the Eastern Cape Province. The position is briefly as follows:- On the golf courses at Mossel Bay, Humewood (Port Elizabeth), Port Alfred and East London, vast damage has been done to the greens and fairways by "white grubs", the larval stages of Scarabaeidae. It would appear that these beetles had been present in the environs of the courses for many years, but it was only when large areas of the natural veld were converted into fairways, with a more or less uniform cover of grass, with Cynodon dactylon Pers. predominating, that conditions were inadvertently created which favoured the development of the beetles. It was not long after the establishment of these golf courses, that the beetles assumed the proportions of a pest, and the larvae began destroying the root system of the grasses covering the greens and fairways.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1946
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