Child marriage as a hindrance to the realisation of child rights in Zimbabwe: consolidated approaches towards eradication
- Authors: Ndhlovu, Ntandokayise
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Teenage marriage Children's rights
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , LLD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/18359 , vital:42256
- Description: Child marriage is defined as any marriage where one of the spouses is younger than 18 years old. A number of deep, complex, interrelated and interlinked factors are responsible for the practice in Zimbabwe and elsewhere. These include the weak enforcement of existing laws, legal contradictions, slow alignment of laws to the Constitution and international child rights, entrenched harmful religious and cultural practices, and acute poverty. It was at the fulcrum of this dissertation thus to examine the unfair limitations caused by child marriage, on the realisation and enjoyment of child rights in Zimbabwe. The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund reported an estimated 31 percent prevalence of the scourge in the country. These percentages translate to millions of children, and the numbers could be on the rise. Child marriage has intense consequences for the realisation and enjoyment of rights by many children in Zimbabwe. Of note, child marriage ends childhoods. It impairs the children’s right to education, minimises their economic opportunities and fair chances in life, and increases their vulnerability to domestic violence, marital rape and sexually transmitted diseases. The grave ramifications of child marriage, in terms of the realisation of child rights have led to a number of international, regional and national efforts to curb this scourge. However, owing to an array of multifaceted and complex causes, the practice remains highly prevalent in Zimbabwe. After decades of side-lining, child rights in Zimbabwe, have finally gained constitutional protection under the 2013 Constitution. While the comprehensive protection of child rights as justiciable rights is an acceptable standard, a plethora of practices such as child marriage are a practical and real threat to the realisation of these rights. Therefore, it is incumbent upon Zimbabwe to ensure that child rights as stipulated in the Constitution are respected, promoted, protected and fulfilled. The elimination of child marriage is a daunting yet possible task. Through desktop based qualitative research, this dissertation ascertained the main drivers of the practice in the country, and its impact on the realisation of fundamental child rights in Zimbabwe. The study further explored the contribution, as well as the insufficiencies of International and African Human Rights systems, to the protection of children from child marriage. It also assesses the prospects and challenges of the existing domestic (legislative and constitutional norms) in protecting child rights in the Southern African country. The impetus behind this iii examination is to recommend a comprehensive and holistic effort to curb child marriage and suggest a consolidated legal and non-legal approach to end it
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Ndhlovu, Ntandokayise
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Teenage marriage Children's rights
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , LLD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/18359 , vital:42256
- Description: Child marriage is defined as any marriage where one of the spouses is younger than 18 years old. A number of deep, complex, interrelated and interlinked factors are responsible for the practice in Zimbabwe and elsewhere. These include the weak enforcement of existing laws, legal contradictions, slow alignment of laws to the Constitution and international child rights, entrenched harmful religious and cultural practices, and acute poverty. It was at the fulcrum of this dissertation thus to examine the unfair limitations caused by child marriage, on the realisation and enjoyment of child rights in Zimbabwe. The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund reported an estimated 31 percent prevalence of the scourge in the country. These percentages translate to millions of children, and the numbers could be on the rise. Child marriage has intense consequences for the realisation and enjoyment of rights by many children in Zimbabwe. Of note, child marriage ends childhoods. It impairs the children’s right to education, minimises their economic opportunities and fair chances in life, and increases their vulnerability to domestic violence, marital rape and sexually transmitted diseases. The grave ramifications of child marriage, in terms of the realisation of child rights have led to a number of international, regional and national efforts to curb this scourge. However, owing to an array of multifaceted and complex causes, the practice remains highly prevalent in Zimbabwe. After decades of side-lining, child rights in Zimbabwe, have finally gained constitutional protection under the 2013 Constitution. While the comprehensive protection of child rights as justiciable rights is an acceptable standard, a plethora of practices such as child marriage are a practical and real threat to the realisation of these rights. Therefore, it is incumbent upon Zimbabwe to ensure that child rights as stipulated in the Constitution are respected, promoted, protected and fulfilled. The elimination of child marriage is a daunting yet possible task. Through desktop based qualitative research, this dissertation ascertained the main drivers of the practice in the country, and its impact on the realisation of fundamental child rights in Zimbabwe. The study further explored the contribution, as well as the insufficiencies of International and African Human Rights systems, to the protection of children from child marriage. It also assesses the prospects and challenges of the existing domestic (legislative and constitutional norms) in protecting child rights in the Southern African country. The impetus behind this iii examination is to recommend a comprehensive and holistic effort to curb child marriage and suggest a consolidated legal and non-legal approach to end it
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Chinatown
- Authors: Kamfer, Ronelda S.
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Afrikaans poetry -- 21st century
- Language: Afrikaans
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/142375 , vital:38074
- Description: Creative work portfolio.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Kamfer, Ronelda S.
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Afrikaans poetry -- 21st century
- Language: Afrikaans
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/142375 , vital:38074
- Description: Creative work portfolio.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Chirema Chine Mazano Chinotamba Chakazendama Madziro
- Authors: Mapondera, Wallen
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Art, Zimbabwean , Art -- Economic aspects -- Zimbabwe , Artists -- Zimbabwe , Takadiwa, Moffet , Nyandoro, Gareth , Clottey, Serge Attiku , Mapondera, Wallen -- Exhibitions
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MFA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/147457 , vital:38638
- Description: This mini-thesis has developed as a practice-based supporting document to the exhibition Chirema Chine Mazano Chinotamba Chakazendama Madziro. The exhibition responds to how people become innovative in finding alternative means of survival and staying relevant in an economically depressed country. Zimbabwe is often the first country that comes to mind when people talk about hyperinflation; the situation was and still is intolerable, but somehow its citizens find means to pull through. Unemployment and poverty are the main causes of physical and mental problems for an individual. With this thesis, I highlight the innovations employed by Zimbabweans as a way of keeping themselves busy. I approach this through analysing the Zimbabwean general public’s creative reactions, and by tracing Zimbabwean visual artists’ use of found objects as a reaction to the country’s economic hardships. As people have been pushed to find alternative ways of survival, Zimbabwean artists in particular also shifted from using conventional art materials due to their unavailability. They began to redefine what art material is by employing objects in their artworks that previously had a non-art function. As such, there is a growing need to recognise, classify and document the shifts and establish platforms to generate growth of these innovations. In this minithesis I discuss my own practice, and I analyse the works of Moffat Takadiwa, Gareth Nyandoro and Serge Attiku Clottey.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Mapondera, Wallen
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Art, Zimbabwean , Art -- Economic aspects -- Zimbabwe , Artists -- Zimbabwe , Takadiwa, Moffet , Nyandoro, Gareth , Clottey, Serge Attiku , Mapondera, Wallen -- Exhibitions
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MFA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/147457 , vital:38638
- Description: This mini-thesis has developed as a practice-based supporting document to the exhibition Chirema Chine Mazano Chinotamba Chakazendama Madziro. The exhibition responds to how people become innovative in finding alternative means of survival and staying relevant in an economically depressed country. Zimbabwe is often the first country that comes to mind when people talk about hyperinflation; the situation was and still is intolerable, but somehow its citizens find means to pull through. Unemployment and poverty are the main causes of physical and mental problems for an individual. With this thesis, I highlight the innovations employed by Zimbabweans as a way of keeping themselves busy. I approach this through analysing the Zimbabwean general public’s creative reactions, and by tracing Zimbabwean visual artists’ use of found objects as a reaction to the country’s economic hardships. As people have been pushed to find alternative ways of survival, Zimbabwean artists in particular also shifted from using conventional art materials due to their unavailability. They began to redefine what art material is by employing objects in their artworks that previously had a non-art function. As such, there is a growing need to recognise, classify and document the shifts and establish platforms to generate growth of these innovations. In this minithesis I discuss my own practice, and I analyse the works of Moffat Takadiwa, Gareth Nyandoro and Serge Attiku Clottey.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Choreographies of protest performance as recruitment to activism and the movement of perception during the 2015 re-emergence of student activism at Rhodes University
- Authors: Qoza, Phiwokazi
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: College students -- Political activity -- South Africa , Student protesters -- South Africa , Student movements -- South Africa , Higher education and state -- South Africa , Performance art -- Political aspects -- South Africa , Protest songs -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/141692 , vital:37997
- Description: It has been argued that individuals participate in activism due to an identification with the preferences and interests of an emerging group of actors or in solidarity with a pre-existing network that has resorted to a number of protest repertoires in order to make claims or demands. Additionally, an emerging instance of protest is often linked to an image of previous protest events through the employment of a combination of master frames which function as discursive articulation of the encounter in familiar terms, creating a frame resonance which recruits adherents and constituents. To understand why some bystanders to protest transcended to actors in protest and the development of frames within a protest cycle, a performance ethnography is employed to observe and analyse choreographies of protest which took place at an institution of higher education in South Africa during the 2015 re-emergence of wide-spread student activism. It is found that in encountering an atmosphere of protest there emerged a relation of feeling, referred to as “feeling the vibe or atmosphere”, which those who became protest performers resolved in ways which increased their capacity to act in favour of co-constituting that atmosphere. During the encounter between the bystander body and the atmosphere of protest, non-linear somatic communication, characterised by active and passive gestures and postures, occurred through which protest performers developed contact and connection with other bodies as a result of the displacement of space. This thesis suggests that participation in activism can be about going with the flow of movement in an uncertain and ambiguous moment and is not limited to an identification with the pre-existing organization of preferences and interests as a frame of resonance emerges to signify somatic communication which differentiated bodies in the duration of protest performance. Therefore, this thesis uses the theory of affect to situate student activism in-between the politics of performance and the performance of politics whereupon the rhythm of song creates an opening for the kinaesthetic to create form from spontaneous movement of the body as an event of the movement of perception and the perception of movement.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Qoza, Phiwokazi
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: College students -- Political activity -- South Africa , Student protesters -- South Africa , Student movements -- South Africa , Higher education and state -- South Africa , Performance art -- Political aspects -- South Africa , Protest songs -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/141692 , vital:37997
- Description: It has been argued that individuals participate in activism due to an identification with the preferences and interests of an emerging group of actors or in solidarity with a pre-existing network that has resorted to a number of protest repertoires in order to make claims or demands. Additionally, an emerging instance of protest is often linked to an image of previous protest events through the employment of a combination of master frames which function as discursive articulation of the encounter in familiar terms, creating a frame resonance which recruits adherents and constituents. To understand why some bystanders to protest transcended to actors in protest and the development of frames within a protest cycle, a performance ethnography is employed to observe and analyse choreographies of protest which took place at an institution of higher education in South Africa during the 2015 re-emergence of wide-spread student activism. It is found that in encountering an atmosphere of protest there emerged a relation of feeling, referred to as “feeling the vibe or atmosphere”, which those who became protest performers resolved in ways which increased their capacity to act in favour of co-constituting that atmosphere. During the encounter between the bystander body and the atmosphere of protest, non-linear somatic communication, characterised by active and passive gestures and postures, occurred through which protest performers developed contact and connection with other bodies as a result of the displacement of space. This thesis suggests that participation in activism can be about going with the flow of movement in an uncertain and ambiguous moment and is not limited to an identification with the pre-existing organization of preferences and interests as a frame of resonance emerges to signify somatic communication which differentiated bodies in the duration of protest performance. Therefore, this thesis uses the theory of affect to situate student activism in-between the politics of performance and the performance of politics whereupon the rhythm of song creates an opening for the kinaesthetic to create form from spontaneous movement of the body as an event of the movement of perception and the perception of movement.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Cloud computing for competitive advantage: A case of rural SMEs in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa
- Authors: Mpongwana , Mbongo Mhlanga
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Cloud computing -- Economic aspects , Business enterprises -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/50415 , vital:42166
- Description: The emergence of new ICTs over the past decades has had a substantial impact on commerce and to societies in general. However, the high costs and the relevant skills and expertise that are associated with the implementation and maintenance of the latest ICTs impedes SMEs from taking full advantage of their use. The introduction and adoption of cloud computing has addressed some of these challenges for SMEs. Despite this, SMEs in rural South Africa have not fully adopted or realized the advantages of cloud computing, which could be owing to a number of factors.The aim of this study was to explore how rural SMEs in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa can leverage on the capabilities of cloud computing for competitive advantage. The study adopted an interpretivist, quantitative approach to identifying the enablers and barriers of cloud computing adoption. The research population was defined as all the SMEs that operate outside of Buffalo City and Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipalities. Convenience and snowball sampling techniques were used as non-probability sampling methods. Data was collected from the participants using a structured self-administered online questionnaire. The Technology-Organization-Environment framework was used as a basis in formulating the research theoretical framework, focusing on technological, organizational and environmental elements that could potentially influence adoption of cloud computing by rural SMEs. Microsoft Power BI was used to present demographic information as well as descriptive statistics for the factors included in the proposed research model. IBM SPSS 22 was used for correlation and linear regression analysis. The review of related literature revealed that access to markets, access to finance, inadequate public infrastructure and lack of skilled resources are some of the major challenges that rural SMEs face. This study found seven of the statistically examined factors to be significant predictors of cloud adoption by rural Eastern Cape SMEs. These are market demand, use of online-based marketing, having formal business plans, reliable electricity, awareness of SaaS, use of basic Internet-based services such as email and websites as well as Internet costs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Mpongwana , Mbongo Mhlanga
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Cloud computing -- Economic aspects , Business enterprises -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/50415 , vital:42166
- Description: The emergence of new ICTs over the past decades has had a substantial impact on commerce and to societies in general. However, the high costs and the relevant skills and expertise that are associated with the implementation and maintenance of the latest ICTs impedes SMEs from taking full advantage of their use. The introduction and adoption of cloud computing has addressed some of these challenges for SMEs. Despite this, SMEs in rural South Africa have not fully adopted or realized the advantages of cloud computing, which could be owing to a number of factors.The aim of this study was to explore how rural SMEs in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa can leverage on the capabilities of cloud computing for competitive advantage. The study adopted an interpretivist, quantitative approach to identifying the enablers and barriers of cloud computing adoption. The research population was defined as all the SMEs that operate outside of Buffalo City and Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipalities. Convenience and snowball sampling techniques were used as non-probability sampling methods. Data was collected from the participants using a structured self-administered online questionnaire. The Technology-Organization-Environment framework was used as a basis in formulating the research theoretical framework, focusing on technological, organizational and environmental elements that could potentially influence adoption of cloud computing by rural SMEs. Microsoft Power BI was used to present demographic information as well as descriptive statistics for the factors included in the proposed research model. IBM SPSS 22 was used for correlation and linear regression analysis. The review of related literature revealed that access to markets, access to finance, inadequate public infrastructure and lack of skilled resources are some of the major challenges that rural SMEs face. This study found seven of the statistically examined factors to be significant predictors of cloud adoption by rural Eastern Cape SMEs. These are market demand, use of online-based marketing, having formal business plans, reliable electricity, awareness of SaaS, use of basic Internet-based services such as email and websites as well as Internet costs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Coherent detection of data and timing signals over optical fiber for telescope networks
- Authors: Nfanyana, Ketshabile
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Fiber optics , Very large array telescopes
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/49226 , vital:41612
- Description: Telescope networks are increasingly being developed with networks such as the SKA telescope demanding the use of high-end technology to be incorporated. These networks require accurate clock signals to be transported to antennas as well as massive data to be transported from individual parabolic array antennas to a central computer for data analysis. To achieve this, optical fiber technology forms the backbone of these networks, proving high speed transmission and required bandwidth. For a distributed telescope network, coherent detection technology serves as the ideal optical fiber technology candidate for transport of information to a correlator. Use of this technology constitutes too many benefits. Sensitivity of the system is improved, and advanced modulation formats can be employed thereby improving spectral efficiency. Furthermore, coherent detection allows for digital signal processing algorithms to be employed for equalization of transmission impairments such as chromatic dispersion (CD), polarization mode dispersion (PMD), phase noise and nonlinear effects in the electrical domain. CD equalization is performed in the time or frequency domain using digital filters which suppress the fibers dispersion effectively. PMD equalization is usually performed in the time domain through the use of adaptive filters which employ algorithms such as least mean squares (LMS) and constant modulus algorithm (CMA). These algorithms further equalize residual CD. In mitigation of phase noise (carrier phase recovery), feed-forward and feedback carrier phase algorithms are used. Fiber nonlinearities and other impairments are compensated using the digital backpropagation algorithm which solves for the Manakov equation and nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NLSE). Distribution of stable clock signals to individual antennas is an important aspect of telescope networks. Clock signals are used to drive the digitizers and time stamping of received antenna information. These clock signals can be distributed using coherent detection technology by phase modulating the clock so as to provide inherent phase modulation robustness to noise through the fiber. In this thesis, we present coherent detection of non-return-to-zero pseudorandom binary sequence (PRBS-7) using binary phase shift keying (BPSK) through 26.6 km non-zero dispersion shifted fiber (NZDSF) at 10 Gbps. Digital signal processing for equalization of CD and PMD was performed offline using MATLAB software. For residual CD and PMD equalization, the LMS algorithm was used. The performance of the system, bit error rate (BER), was compared with that of an intensity modulated on-off keying (OOK) signal at the same bit rate. Basing on receiver sensitivity performance of OOK at 10-9 bit error rate, BPSK achieved superior performance with receiver sensitivity improvements of 18.37 dB and 13.89 dB attained for back-to-back and transmission over fiber, respectively. Phase modulation transmission of a 4 GHz clock signal was also conducted. Frequency instability, Allan variance and phase noise, of phase modulated clock was compared with that of intensity modulated clock. Moreover, we present an all optical clock generation scheme using frequency heterodyning technique. Allan variance values in the range of 10-10 were attained. The frequency instability of this clock generation scheme was quantified using the spectrum analyzer method. Furthermore, an all-photonic technique for data latency tracking of 5G networks over optical fiber is presented. The technique is spectrally efficient and is able to track latency down to the nano second timescale.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Nfanyana, Ketshabile
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Fiber optics , Very large array telescopes
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/49226 , vital:41612
- Description: Telescope networks are increasingly being developed with networks such as the SKA telescope demanding the use of high-end technology to be incorporated. These networks require accurate clock signals to be transported to antennas as well as massive data to be transported from individual parabolic array antennas to a central computer for data analysis. To achieve this, optical fiber technology forms the backbone of these networks, proving high speed transmission and required bandwidth. For a distributed telescope network, coherent detection technology serves as the ideal optical fiber technology candidate for transport of information to a correlator. Use of this technology constitutes too many benefits. Sensitivity of the system is improved, and advanced modulation formats can be employed thereby improving spectral efficiency. Furthermore, coherent detection allows for digital signal processing algorithms to be employed for equalization of transmission impairments such as chromatic dispersion (CD), polarization mode dispersion (PMD), phase noise and nonlinear effects in the electrical domain. CD equalization is performed in the time or frequency domain using digital filters which suppress the fibers dispersion effectively. PMD equalization is usually performed in the time domain through the use of adaptive filters which employ algorithms such as least mean squares (LMS) and constant modulus algorithm (CMA). These algorithms further equalize residual CD. In mitigation of phase noise (carrier phase recovery), feed-forward and feedback carrier phase algorithms are used. Fiber nonlinearities and other impairments are compensated using the digital backpropagation algorithm which solves for the Manakov equation and nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NLSE). Distribution of stable clock signals to individual antennas is an important aspect of telescope networks. Clock signals are used to drive the digitizers and time stamping of received antenna information. These clock signals can be distributed using coherent detection technology by phase modulating the clock so as to provide inherent phase modulation robustness to noise through the fiber. In this thesis, we present coherent detection of non-return-to-zero pseudorandom binary sequence (PRBS-7) using binary phase shift keying (BPSK) through 26.6 km non-zero dispersion shifted fiber (NZDSF) at 10 Gbps. Digital signal processing for equalization of CD and PMD was performed offline using MATLAB software. For residual CD and PMD equalization, the LMS algorithm was used. The performance of the system, bit error rate (BER), was compared with that of an intensity modulated on-off keying (OOK) signal at the same bit rate. Basing on receiver sensitivity performance of OOK at 10-9 bit error rate, BPSK achieved superior performance with receiver sensitivity improvements of 18.37 dB and 13.89 dB attained for back-to-back and transmission over fiber, respectively. Phase modulation transmission of a 4 GHz clock signal was also conducted. Frequency instability, Allan variance and phase noise, of phase modulated clock was compared with that of intensity modulated clock. Moreover, we present an all optical clock generation scheme using frequency heterodyning technique. Allan variance values in the range of 10-10 were attained. The frequency instability of this clock generation scheme was quantified using the spectrum analyzer method. Furthermore, an all-photonic technique for data latency tracking of 5G networks over optical fiber is presented. The technique is spectrally efficient and is able to track latency down to the nano second timescale.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Combination ecosystem green engineering and early life history processes to enhance the intertidal biodiversity in the Port of East London
- Authors: Mafanya, Sandisiwer
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Biotic communities -- South Africa -- East London , Perna -- Ecology --South Africa -- South Africa-- East London , Mexilhao mussel -- Ecology -- South Africa -- East London , Habitat (Ecology) -- Modification -- South Africa -- East London , Benthic animals -- Effect of habitat modification on -- South Africa -- East London , Harbors -- Environmental aspects -- South Africa -- East London
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/166376 , vital:41357
- Description: Marine coastal ecosystems are highly impacted by anthropogenic activities, including the development of, and practices within, harbours and/or ports. Artificial structures associated with harbours have a different chemical composition, texture and orientation than that of the natural benthic habitats they have replaced, and are therefore not generally favourable for the settlement and occurrence of indigenous species. Attempts are being made to identify what structures and materials can be used to aid in the rehabilitation of native species within harbours. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of utilising environmentally-friendly artificial structures (tiles) with varying complexity (crevices and ridges with different depths) with ecological engineers (the indigenous bivalve Perna perna), on the associated benthic biodiversity within an international port in South Africa (Port of East London). The objectives of the study were to test the effects of artificial habitat complexity and the presence of bivalves on 1) the growth, mortality and biomass of a selected model species of ecosystem engineer (P. perna), and 2) the associated intertidal biodiversity. Tiles seeded with bivalves (P. perna) were deployed at two sites in the Port of East London and monitored monthly over a period of 12 months (November 2016-October 2017) to assess survival, growth and associated biodiversity. Environmental variables were also measured every month. The results of the three-way repeated measures ANOVAs indicated that tile treatment (especially high complexity of 2.5 and 5 cm) had an effect on the diversity of mobile species, length, height and biomass of the bivalves used as model ecosystem engineer, indicating the potentials for protection from wave dislodgement and refuge provision. Treatment (especially flat tiles) also had an effect on sessile/sedentary species diversity, indicating the greater proportion of space provided by these non-complex tiles. In addition, month had an effect on the mortality, height and biomass of the bivalves. Mortality was highest in October 2017, while the growth in height and biomass of P. perna were largest in January and October 2017 respectively. The use of artificial tiles also had a positive effect on the survival, growth, and biomass of bivalves (especially the length, weight and dry weight in 2.5 cm and 5 cm complexity). Additionally, this research investigated patterns of settlement and recruitment of the local bivalve population (P. perna) in the Port of East London and adjacent natural coastline to understand the early life history temporal and spatial dynamics of this model ecosystem engineer species. Settlement and recruitment were assessed every month by deploying and replacing artificial collectors for a total period of 19 months (November 2016-May 2018). The results of the two-way ANOVAs indicated that month and site (port vs natural) had an effect on settlement and recruitment of bivalves. Settlement and recruitment of bivalves were highest in July 2017 (port) and March 2018 (natural rocky shore). This study has highlighted that the use of artificial concrete tiles with increased complexity, as well as the investigation of the early stages of mussel populations could be important to consider in a framework of rehabilitation of urban coastal environments such as the Port of East London. Ecological engineering (in terms of increased complexity and heterogeneity) has indeed the potentials to be incorporated in South African programmes aiming at improving natural biodiversity in coastal urban environments. Nonetheless, the spatio-temporal variability of early driver of mussel populations (settlement and recruitment) is also an important feature to be closely monitored if biodiversity in South African coastal armouring is to be enhanced effectively and in the long term.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Mafanya, Sandisiwer
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Biotic communities -- South Africa -- East London , Perna -- Ecology --South Africa -- South Africa-- East London , Mexilhao mussel -- Ecology -- South Africa -- East London , Habitat (Ecology) -- Modification -- South Africa -- East London , Benthic animals -- Effect of habitat modification on -- South Africa -- East London , Harbors -- Environmental aspects -- South Africa -- East London
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/166376 , vital:41357
- Description: Marine coastal ecosystems are highly impacted by anthropogenic activities, including the development of, and practices within, harbours and/or ports. Artificial structures associated with harbours have a different chemical composition, texture and orientation than that of the natural benthic habitats they have replaced, and are therefore not generally favourable for the settlement and occurrence of indigenous species. Attempts are being made to identify what structures and materials can be used to aid in the rehabilitation of native species within harbours. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of utilising environmentally-friendly artificial structures (tiles) with varying complexity (crevices and ridges with different depths) with ecological engineers (the indigenous bivalve Perna perna), on the associated benthic biodiversity within an international port in South Africa (Port of East London). The objectives of the study were to test the effects of artificial habitat complexity and the presence of bivalves on 1) the growth, mortality and biomass of a selected model species of ecosystem engineer (P. perna), and 2) the associated intertidal biodiversity. Tiles seeded with bivalves (P. perna) were deployed at two sites in the Port of East London and monitored monthly over a period of 12 months (November 2016-October 2017) to assess survival, growth and associated biodiversity. Environmental variables were also measured every month. The results of the three-way repeated measures ANOVAs indicated that tile treatment (especially high complexity of 2.5 and 5 cm) had an effect on the diversity of mobile species, length, height and biomass of the bivalves used as model ecosystem engineer, indicating the potentials for protection from wave dislodgement and refuge provision. Treatment (especially flat tiles) also had an effect on sessile/sedentary species diversity, indicating the greater proportion of space provided by these non-complex tiles. In addition, month had an effect on the mortality, height and biomass of the bivalves. Mortality was highest in October 2017, while the growth in height and biomass of P. perna were largest in January and October 2017 respectively. The use of artificial tiles also had a positive effect on the survival, growth, and biomass of bivalves (especially the length, weight and dry weight in 2.5 cm and 5 cm complexity). Additionally, this research investigated patterns of settlement and recruitment of the local bivalve population (P. perna) in the Port of East London and adjacent natural coastline to understand the early life history temporal and spatial dynamics of this model ecosystem engineer species. Settlement and recruitment were assessed every month by deploying and replacing artificial collectors for a total period of 19 months (November 2016-May 2018). The results of the two-way ANOVAs indicated that month and site (port vs natural) had an effect on settlement and recruitment of bivalves. Settlement and recruitment of bivalves were highest in July 2017 (port) and March 2018 (natural rocky shore). This study has highlighted that the use of artificial concrete tiles with increased complexity, as well as the investigation of the early stages of mussel populations could be important to consider in a framework of rehabilitation of urban coastal environments such as the Port of East London. Ecological engineering (in terms of increased complexity and heterogeneity) has indeed the potentials to be incorporated in South African programmes aiming at improving natural biodiversity in coastal urban environments. Nonetheless, the spatio-temporal variability of early driver of mussel populations (settlement and recruitment) is also an important feature to be closely monitored if biodiversity in South African coastal armouring is to be enhanced effectively and in the long term.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Combining DNA barcoding and morphology to identify larval fishes from the nearshore environment off the south-east coast of South Africa
- Authors: Somana, Zinzi Sinazo
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Fishes -- Larvae -- South Africa -- Identification , Fishes -- Genetics -- Research -- Technique , Fishes -- South Africa -- Classification , Genetic markers
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/144605 , vital:38362
- Description: The early life history stages of most marine fish species are undescribed. The problem is, most of these fishes have pelagic larvae which are minute, delicate forms. Linking the larval stage to an adult counterpart is extremely challenging as larvae are morphologically different from the adults. Historically, larval fish identification relied solely on distinguishing morphological characteristics and meristic measurements, which has resulted in taxonomic confusion and misidentification. The introduction of the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) barcoding technique as an alternative approach has been successful in positively identifying larval fishes. The correct identification of larval specimens is the key to a better understanding of larval ecology, which underpins the success of any adult fish population. This study aimed to positively identify larval fishes of the south-east coast of South Africa using morphological characteristics and DNA barcoding. Larval and eggs specimens for this study were collected from the shallow nearshore waters of the south-east coast of South Africa. A total of 177 larval specimens were used for morphological analysis. Body shape, gut shape, pigmentation and morphometric measurements (such as body depth, preanal length and total body length) were used to identify each specimen to the family level. In addition, a fragment of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene (COI) was adopted for sequencing to identify larval fish specimens and fish eggs. Sequences generated from this study were compared to those in the Barcode of Life Database (BOLD). When there were no close matches to a sequence, the GenBank nucleic acid sequence database, maintained by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), was used as an alternative. A total of 18 different families were identified through morphology. Seventy-seven of the 177 larval specimens were not subjected to morphological identification due to physical damage. The majority of larvae identified using morphological characteristics belonged to either the Sparidae, Tripterygiidae or Gobiesocidae fish families. Through DNA barcoding, 12 fish families, 16 genera and 18 different species were identified. Ten DNA barcodes (categorised as ‘no match’) from 10 different larval specimens were not identified through any of the online databases. Therefore, the 2% threshold value was used to identify members of the same species. The K2P genetic distance relationships were calculated among the no match sequences and downloaded probability matches from NCBI. This resulted in two unknown specimens assigned to the Blenniidae and Gobiidae. All other taxa were identified to species level, except specimens representing the Gobiidae and Tripterygiidae families. Based on the K2P genetic distances Gobiidae representatives were categorised as members of the Caffrogobius genus. Twenty-eight barcodes represented specimens from the Tripterygiidae. DNA barcode data from COI was analysed using the standard phylogenetic procedures in MEGA6 to examine relationships and differentiation among sequences. These could not be identified to the lowest taxonomic rank due to limited sequence data to compare them with. The sequence data from these specimens gave different results in the two online databases. BOLD results were to family level (Tripterygiidae) and NCBI to the species level (Clinidae: Pavoclinus profundus). Results in this study confirmed the efficiency of the DNA barcoding technique in species level identification of fish larvae. The evidence from genetic barcodes of the Tripterygiidae specimens, supported by morphological characteristics, suggests the need for thorough research to identify the individuals to the species level. The fact that this study identified taxonomically problematic Gobiidae and Tripterygiidae specimens suggests that studies similar to this may highlight additional diversity and help to resolve the taxonomy of other species in these families. However, the lack of reference sequence data from the adult specimens, and especially those with cryptic diversity, were both shortcomings for the positive identification of larvae. With that being said, it shows the necessity for more research to be conducted on barcoding of larvae in general as to accommodate all kinds of species from biodiversity to economic perspectives.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Somana, Zinzi Sinazo
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Fishes -- Larvae -- South Africa -- Identification , Fishes -- Genetics -- Research -- Technique , Fishes -- South Africa -- Classification , Genetic markers
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/144605 , vital:38362
- Description: The early life history stages of most marine fish species are undescribed. The problem is, most of these fishes have pelagic larvae which are minute, delicate forms. Linking the larval stage to an adult counterpart is extremely challenging as larvae are morphologically different from the adults. Historically, larval fish identification relied solely on distinguishing morphological characteristics and meristic measurements, which has resulted in taxonomic confusion and misidentification. The introduction of the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) barcoding technique as an alternative approach has been successful in positively identifying larval fishes. The correct identification of larval specimens is the key to a better understanding of larval ecology, which underpins the success of any adult fish population. This study aimed to positively identify larval fishes of the south-east coast of South Africa using morphological characteristics and DNA barcoding. Larval and eggs specimens for this study were collected from the shallow nearshore waters of the south-east coast of South Africa. A total of 177 larval specimens were used for morphological analysis. Body shape, gut shape, pigmentation and morphometric measurements (such as body depth, preanal length and total body length) were used to identify each specimen to the family level. In addition, a fragment of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene (COI) was adopted for sequencing to identify larval fish specimens and fish eggs. Sequences generated from this study were compared to those in the Barcode of Life Database (BOLD). When there were no close matches to a sequence, the GenBank nucleic acid sequence database, maintained by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), was used as an alternative. A total of 18 different families were identified through morphology. Seventy-seven of the 177 larval specimens were not subjected to morphological identification due to physical damage. The majority of larvae identified using morphological characteristics belonged to either the Sparidae, Tripterygiidae or Gobiesocidae fish families. Through DNA barcoding, 12 fish families, 16 genera and 18 different species were identified. Ten DNA barcodes (categorised as ‘no match’) from 10 different larval specimens were not identified through any of the online databases. Therefore, the 2% threshold value was used to identify members of the same species. The K2P genetic distance relationships were calculated among the no match sequences and downloaded probability matches from NCBI. This resulted in two unknown specimens assigned to the Blenniidae and Gobiidae. All other taxa were identified to species level, except specimens representing the Gobiidae and Tripterygiidae families. Based on the K2P genetic distances Gobiidae representatives were categorised as members of the Caffrogobius genus. Twenty-eight barcodes represented specimens from the Tripterygiidae. DNA barcode data from COI was analysed using the standard phylogenetic procedures in MEGA6 to examine relationships and differentiation among sequences. These could not be identified to the lowest taxonomic rank due to limited sequence data to compare them with. The sequence data from these specimens gave different results in the two online databases. BOLD results were to family level (Tripterygiidae) and NCBI to the species level (Clinidae: Pavoclinus profundus). Results in this study confirmed the efficiency of the DNA barcoding technique in species level identification of fish larvae. The evidence from genetic barcodes of the Tripterygiidae specimens, supported by morphological characteristics, suggests the need for thorough research to identify the individuals to the species level. The fact that this study identified taxonomically problematic Gobiidae and Tripterygiidae specimens suggests that studies similar to this may highlight additional diversity and help to resolve the taxonomy of other species in these families. However, the lack of reference sequence data from the adult specimens, and especially those with cryptic diversity, were both shortcomings for the positive identification of larvae. With that being said, it shows the necessity for more research to be conducted on barcoding of larvae in general as to accommodate all kinds of species from biodiversity to economic perspectives.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Come listen quickly
- Authors: Gouws, Leigh-Anne
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: South African fiction (English) -- 21st century
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/141559 , vital:37985
- Description: Creative work portfolio.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Gouws, Leigh-Anne
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: South African fiction (English) -- 21st century
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/141559 , vital:37985
- Description: Creative work portfolio.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Commercial maritime higher education needs in South Africa
- Authors: Allison, Lee-Ann
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Marine resources
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/47496 , vital:40117
- Description: Seaborne cargo trade accounts for over 80% of the physical volume of global trade. Maritime transport thus fulfills an integral function in the economy of the world. South Africa generates approximately 3.5% of the world’s seaborne trade by value and 1.61% by tonnage, but the business of shipping all that cargo is undertaken by foreign firms. Operation Phakisa, the Comprehensive Maritime Transport Policy, and the South African Maritime Road Map, in pursuance of the National Development Plan, aim to revive the commercial maritime sector. In order to meet the demand for the skills and innovative abilities sought at executive and managerial levels in the commercial maritime sector, higher education in the knowledge of maritime business is increasingly becoming a prerequisite. Investment in higher education of quality and relevance in the maritime field would contribute to achieving the goals of the government for harnessing the potential of South Africa’s blue economy. The literature is researched in order to establish an authoritative view that the knowledge and the inspiration for entrepreneurial activity in the maritime sector can be imparted through higher education; and for example, that a viable shipping sector can contribute to the growth of a country’s economy. The South African maritime sector is then described. The commercial maritime higher education available at universities and other institutions of higher learning in South Africa, as well as in other African countries and elsewhere in the world, is examined, in order to be able to identify the degree and diploma courses available. Maritime courses imply not only the content of the educational material, but also the method whereby the knowledge is instilled in learners, and which extends well beyond the classroom. A survey, by way of the personal interviews of leaders in maritime business, maritime government affairs, and academics teaching maritime topics, is then undertaken to ascertain their views on the education required to promote the maritime sector in South Africa, using the list of subjects available for study worldwide, to assist their choice. The literature research and the interview survey by design also enable the secondary aims of the study to be achieved. Those aims include determining how awareness of the maritime domain could be raised and how co-operation between academia, business, and government, known as the triple helix could be organized, to promote the growth of the maritime sector. The results of the survey are analyzed and tabulated, in order to illustrate the extent of the agreement between those interviewed and the conclusions reached. These conclusions establish: (i) that the commercial maritime education currently available in South Africa, is inadequate to meet the aim of the government to the sector; (ii) that a post-graduate degree iv in the specified maritime studies incorporating a period of internship, and following on the first degree in business subjects, is required; (iii) that a triple helix of co-operation between academia, business, and the government is essential to grow the commercial maritime sector in which South African entrepreneurs educated in such business will have the advantage; (iv) that greater awareness of the maritime domain is essential in South Africa if entrepreneurship in maritime business is to be cultivated; and (v)that such awareness can be cultivated in various ways; but it should start by including more maritime topics in the current school curricula.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Allison, Lee-Ann
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Marine resources
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/47496 , vital:40117
- Description: Seaborne cargo trade accounts for over 80% of the physical volume of global trade. Maritime transport thus fulfills an integral function in the economy of the world. South Africa generates approximately 3.5% of the world’s seaborne trade by value and 1.61% by tonnage, but the business of shipping all that cargo is undertaken by foreign firms. Operation Phakisa, the Comprehensive Maritime Transport Policy, and the South African Maritime Road Map, in pursuance of the National Development Plan, aim to revive the commercial maritime sector. In order to meet the demand for the skills and innovative abilities sought at executive and managerial levels in the commercial maritime sector, higher education in the knowledge of maritime business is increasingly becoming a prerequisite. Investment in higher education of quality and relevance in the maritime field would contribute to achieving the goals of the government for harnessing the potential of South Africa’s blue economy. The literature is researched in order to establish an authoritative view that the knowledge and the inspiration for entrepreneurial activity in the maritime sector can be imparted through higher education; and for example, that a viable shipping sector can contribute to the growth of a country’s economy. The South African maritime sector is then described. The commercial maritime higher education available at universities and other institutions of higher learning in South Africa, as well as in other African countries and elsewhere in the world, is examined, in order to be able to identify the degree and diploma courses available. Maritime courses imply not only the content of the educational material, but also the method whereby the knowledge is instilled in learners, and which extends well beyond the classroom. A survey, by way of the personal interviews of leaders in maritime business, maritime government affairs, and academics teaching maritime topics, is then undertaken to ascertain their views on the education required to promote the maritime sector in South Africa, using the list of subjects available for study worldwide, to assist their choice. The literature research and the interview survey by design also enable the secondary aims of the study to be achieved. Those aims include determining how awareness of the maritime domain could be raised and how co-operation between academia, business, and government, known as the triple helix could be organized, to promote the growth of the maritime sector. The results of the survey are analyzed and tabulated, in order to illustrate the extent of the agreement between those interviewed and the conclusions reached. These conclusions establish: (i) that the commercial maritime education currently available in South Africa, is inadequate to meet the aim of the government to the sector; (ii) that a post-graduate degree iv in the specified maritime studies incorporating a period of internship, and following on the first degree in business subjects, is required; (iii) that a triple helix of co-operation between academia, business, and the government is essential to grow the commercial maritime sector in which South African entrepreneurs educated in such business will have the advantage; (iv) that greater awareness of the maritime domain is essential in South Africa if entrepreneurship in maritime business is to be cultivated; and (v)that such awareness can be cultivated in various ways; but it should start by including more maritime topics in the current school curricula.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Commercial maritime higher education needs in South Africa
- Authors: Allison, Lee-Anne
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Education, Higher -- Curricula , Education, Higher -- Research Merchant marine Shipping -- Economic aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/50350 , vital:42111
- Description: Seaborne cargo trade accounts for over 80% of the physical volume of global trade. Maritime transport thus fulfils an integral function in the economy of the world. South Africa generates approximately 3.5% of the world’s seaborne trade by value and 1.61% by tonnage; but the business of shipping all that cargo is undertaken by foreign firms. Operation Phakisa, the Comprehensive Maritime Transport Policy and the South African Maritime Road Map, in pursuance of the National Development Plan, aim to revive the commercial maritime sector. In order to meet the demand for the skills and innovative abilities sought at executive and managerial levels in the commercial maritime sector, higher education in the knowledge of maritime business is increasingly becoming a prerequisite. Investment in higher education of quality and relevance in the maritime field would contribute to achieving the goals of the government for harnessing the potential of South Africa’s blue economy. The literature is researched in order to establish an authoritative view that the knowledge and the inspiration for entrepreneurial activity in the maritime sector can be imparted through higher education; and for example, that a viable shipping sector can contribute to the growth of a country’s economy. The South African maritime sector is then described. The commercial maritime higher education available at universities and other institutions of higher learning in South Africa, as well as in other African countries and elsewhere in the world, is examined, in order to be able to identify the degree and diploma courses available. Maritime courses imply not only the content of the educational material, but also the method whereby the knowledge is instilled in learners, and which extends well beyond the classroom. A survey, by way of the personal interviews of leaders in maritime business, maritime government affairs, and academics teaching maritime topics, is then undertaken to ascertain their views on the education required to promote the maritime sector in South Africa, using the list of subjects available for study worldwide, to assist their choice. The literature research and the interview survey by design also enable the secondary aims of the study to be achieved. Those aims include determining how awareness of the maritime domain could be raised and how co-operation between academia, business and government, known as the triple helix could be organised, to promote the growth of the maritime sector. The results of the survey are analysed and tabulated, in order to illustrate the extent of the agreement between those interviewed and the conclusions reached. These conclusions establish: that the commercial maritime education currently available in South Africa, is inadequate to meet the aim of the government to the sector; that a post-graduate degree in the specified maritime studies incorporating a period of internship, and following on a first degree in business subjects, is required; that a triple helix of co-operation between academia, business and the government is essential to grow the commercial maritime sector in which South African entrepreneurs educated in such business will have the advantage; that greater awareness of the maritime domain is essential in South Africa if entrepreneurship in maritime business is to be cultivated; and that such awareness can be cultivated in various ways; but it should start by including more maritime topics in the current school curricula.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Allison, Lee-Anne
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Education, Higher -- Curricula , Education, Higher -- Research Merchant marine Shipping -- Economic aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/50350 , vital:42111
- Description: Seaborne cargo trade accounts for over 80% of the physical volume of global trade. Maritime transport thus fulfils an integral function in the economy of the world. South Africa generates approximately 3.5% of the world’s seaborne trade by value and 1.61% by tonnage; but the business of shipping all that cargo is undertaken by foreign firms. Operation Phakisa, the Comprehensive Maritime Transport Policy and the South African Maritime Road Map, in pursuance of the National Development Plan, aim to revive the commercial maritime sector. In order to meet the demand for the skills and innovative abilities sought at executive and managerial levels in the commercial maritime sector, higher education in the knowledge of maritime business is increasingly becoming a prerequisite. Investment in higher education of quality and relevance in the maritime field would contribute to achieving the goals of the government for harnessing the potential of South Africa’s blue economy. The literature is researched in order to establish an authoritative view that the knowledge and the inspiration for entrepreneurial activity in the maritime sector can be imparted through higher education; and for example, that a viable shipping sector can contribute to the growth of a country’s economy. The South African maritime sector is then described. The commercial maritime higher education available at universities and other institutions of higher learning in South Africa, as well as in other African countries and elsewhere in the world, is examined, in order to be able to identify the degree and diploma courses available. Maritime courses imply not only the content of the educational material, but also the method whereby the knowledge is instilled in learners, and which extends well beyond the classroom. A survey, by way of the personal interviews of leaders in maritime business, maritime government affairs, and academics teaching maritime topics, is then undertaken to ascertain their views on the education required to promote the maritime sector in South Africa, using the list of subjects available for study worldwide, to assist their choice. The literature research and the interview survey by design also enable the secondary aims of the study to be achieved. Those aims include determining how awareness of the maritime domain could be raised and how co-operation between academia, business and government, known as the triple helix could be organised, to promote the growth of the maritime sector. The results of the survey are analysed and tabulated, in order to illustrate the extent of the agreement between those interviewed and the conclusions reached. These conclusions establish: that the commercial maritime education currently available in South Africa, is inadequate to meet the aim of the government to the sector; that a post-graduate degree in the specified maritime studies incorporating a period of internship, and following on a first degree in business subjects, is required; that a triple helix of co-operation between academia, business and the government is essential to grow the commercial maritime sector in which South African entrepreneurs educated in such business will have the advantage; that greater awareness of the maritime domain is essential in South Africa if entrepreneurship in maritime business is to be cultivated; and that such awareness can be cultivated in various ways; but it should start by including more maritime topics in the current school curricula.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Commonplaces
- Authors: Orsmond, Joseph Granger
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: South African fiction (English) -- 21st century
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/144061 , vital:38307
- Description: My thesis is a collection of short to medium length poems. All of the subject matter is sustained by reflections, anecdotes or stories. The pieces in the collection are concerned with experiences linked to the seemingly ordinary and mundane. In this regard, I am inspired by how Alan Ziegler (in “Tales of Teaching” and Love at First Sight) and Raymond Carver (All of Us: The collected Poems) find stories in subject matter which is so commonplace, that it is often ignored creatively. Likewise, the lyricism and modes of expression of William Carlos Williams, Federico García Lorca and Luis Cernuda have informed how I write and structure my poetry.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Orsmond, Joseph Granger
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: South African fiction (English) -- 21st century
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/144061 , vital:38307
- Description: My thesis is a collection of short to medium length poems. All of the subject matter is sustained by reflections, anecdotes or stories. The pieces in the collection are concerned with experiences linked to the seemingly ordinary and mundane. In this regard, I am inspired by how Alan Ziegler (in “Tales of Teaching” and Love at First Sight) and Raymond Carver (All of Us: The collected Poems) find stories in subject matter which is so commonplace, that it is often ignored creatively. Likewise, the lyricism and modes of expression of William Carlos Williams, Federico García Lorca and Luis Cernuda have informed how I write and structure my poetry.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Community-driven solid waste management initiatives in Missionvale
- Authors: Kwava, Eunice
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Factory and trade waste
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MDS
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/48709 , vital:41064
- Description: Solid waste management is particularly challenging in poor communities where socio-economic issues take precedence over keeping a clean environment. This study explores the effectiveness of community-driven waste management strategies that are implemented in Missionvale, a poverty-stricken township that forms part of the Nelson Mandela Metropole, located in South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the sustainability of the community-driven waste management practices in the township. This was premised on the understanding that having the community at the centre of waste management is important and community initiatives coupled with support from key stakeholders, yields the desired outcome: sustainable waste management. The objectives of the study were: (i) to understand what happens to the solid waste generated in Missionvale; (ii) to assess the effects of the waste and its disposal (or lack thereof) in Missionvale; (iii) to identify the challenges faced by the public in implementing waste management initiatives for sustainable development; and (iv) to establish the waste management practices in Missionvale and their effectiveness. The study found that whilst waste management is a secondary, less important issue to community respondents who are struggling with more pressing socio-economic hurdles, there are nevertheless efforts from informal waste pickers, local businesses, non-governmental entities and some individual community members to keep their environment clean. This occurs against the backdrop of the municipality’s failure in its task to provide consistent waste collection and disposal.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Kwava, Eunice
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Factory and trade waste
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MDS
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/48709 , vital:41064
- Description: Solid waste management is particularly challenging in poor communities where socio-economic issues take precedence over keeping a clean environment. This study explores the effectiveness of community-driven waste management strategies that are implemented in Missionvale, a poverty-stricken township that forms part of the Nelson Mandela Metropole, located in South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the sustainability of the community-driven waste management practices in the township. This was premised on the understanding that having the community at the centre of waste management is important and community initiatives coupled with support from key stakeholders, yields the desired outcome: sustainable waste management. The objectives of the study were: (i) to understand what happens to the solid waste generated in Missionvale; (ii) to assess the effects of the waste and its disposal (or lack thereof) in Missionvale; (iii) to identify the challenges faced by the public in implementing waste management initiatives for sustainable development; and (iv) to establish the waste management practices in Missionvale and their effectiveness. The study found that whilst waste management is a secondary, less important issue to community respondents who are struggling with more pressing socio-economic hurdles, there are nevertheless efforts from informal waste pickers, local businesses, non-governmental entities and some individual community members to keep their environment clean. This occurs against the backdrop of the municipality’s failure in its task to provide consistent waste collection and disposal.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Compliance with good distribution practice guidelines for cold chain products among pharmaceutical wholesalers in South Africa
- Authors: Masebe, Zandisile
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Pharmaceutical industry
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPharm
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/46390 , vital:39581
- Description: Background: The South African pharmaceutical cold chain distribution industry is highly regulated. Cold chain pharmaceutical products require storage in a cold room, in a temperature-controlled environment between (2°C-8°C) and the cold chain must be maintained at all times throughout the distribution process. The incorrect handling, storage, transport and distribution of cold chain products may reduce the potency and therapeutic effectiveness of the product which in turn may result in treatment failure. The research was aimed at determining the level of compliance to current Good Distribution Practice guidelines for cold chain products among pharmaceutical wholesalers and distributors in South Africa. Methodology: The study made use of quantitative research techniques. A purpose designed online questionnaire was used as a data collection tool from the study participants. The judgmental sampling technique was used in this study as it was found to be the most appropriate method for the research question. Phase one of the study was to conduct a pilot study at two Port Elizabeth pharmaceutical wholesalers. The data was analysed using Microsoft Excel®, chi-square test for goodness of fit and content analysis. The data was further analysed using a descriptive and inferential statistics approach to determine the level of compliance to regulatory guidelines for cold chain products.Results:The results obtained from the empirical study revealed that less than 50% of the study respondents indicated compliance to the factors listed in the regulatory guidelines for cold chain products distribution.These factors include cold chain monitoring, alternative power sources, validation of cold chain boxes and route transport validation.Conclusion:The wholesale pharmaceutical industry is experiencing challenges to comply with factors necessary to ensure compliance with GDP guidelines for cold chain products. Through the study it was proven that there is evidence of commitment by the industry to implement the GWP and GPP amendment guidelines, despite less than 50% of the respondents reporting compliance to the guidelines. Recommendations were provided to improve the level of compliance to guidelines for cold chain products by pharmaceutical wholesalers in South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Masebe, Zandisile
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Pharmaceutical industry
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPharm
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/46390 , vital:39581
- Description: Background: The South African pharmaceutical cold chain distribution industry is highly regulated. Cold chain pharmaceutical products require storage in a cold room, in a temperature-controlled environment between (2°C-8°C) and the cold chain must be maintained at all times throughout the distribution process. The incorrect handling, storage, transport and distribution of cold chain products may reduce the potency and therapeutic effectiveness of the product which in turn may result in treatment failure. The research was aimed at determining the level of compliance to current Good Distribution Practice guidelines for cold chain products among pharmaceutical wholesalers and distributors in South Africa. Methodology: The study made use of quantitative research techniques. A purpose designed online questionnaire was used as a data collection tool from the study participants. The judgmental sampling technique was used in this study as it was found to be the most appropriate method for the research question. Phase one of the study was to conduct a pilot study at two Port Elizabeth pharmaceutical wholesalers. The data was analysed using Microsoft Excel®, chi-square test for goodness of fit and content analysis. The data was further analysed using a descriptive and inferential statistics approach to determine the level of compliance to regulatory guidelines for cold chain products.Results:The results obtained from the empirical study revealed that less than 50% of the study respondents indicated compliance to the factors listed in the regulatory guidelines for cold chain products distribution.These factors include cold chain monitoring, alternative power sources, validation of cold chain boxes and route transport validation.Conclusion:The wholesale pharmaceutical industry is experiencing challenges to comply with factors necessary to ensure compliance with GDP guidelines for cold chain products. Through the study it was proven that there is evidence of commitment by the industry to implement the GWP and GPP amendment guidelines, despite less than 50% of the respondents reporting compliance to the guidelines. Recommendations were provided to improve the level of compliance to guidelines for cold chain products by pharmaceutical wholesalers in South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Comprehensive characterization of the antidiabetic potential of selected plants and macrofungi from Africa using an in vitro target-directed screening platform and cellomics
- Authors: Pringle, Nadine Alex
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Hypoglycemic agents
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/46750 , vital:39653
- Description: Several synthetic antidiabetic drugs have been developed to date, however, most are accompanied by adverse side-effects while remaining expensive and largely inaccessible to the vast majority of those who need it. To provide enough scientific evidence to support the inclusion of more affordable African antidiabetic medicinal plants and macrofungi into healthcare programs, this study sought out to develop a comprehensive in vitro antidiabetic target-directed screening platform incorporating high content screening and analysis/ cellomics. To test the success of this model, the potential antidiabetic mechanisms of five plants (Aspalathus linearis, Brachylaena discolor, Carpobrotus deliciosus, Sutherlandia frutescens and Tarchonanthus camphoratus) and two macrofungal species (Ganoderma lucidum and Hericium erinaceus) were explored. The screening model consisted of approximately 22 assays exploring the antidiabetic effects of selected aqueous and ethanolic extracts in five well-characterised antidiabetic targets: the intestine, liver, skeletal muscle, adipose tissue/ obesity and pancreatic β-cells. These targets were further categorised and scored under three mechanistic classes/ therapeutic targets (postprandial hyperglycaemia; insulin resistance and inflammation; pancreatic β-cell function) to elucidate their potential mechanisms of action and select appropriate animal models for future studies. Almost any normal or diabetic rodent model would be suitable to explore the antidiabetic potential of extracts such as A. linearis, B. discolor ethanol, C. deliciosus ethanol or T. camphoratus which obtained high cumulative scores under postprandial hyperglycaemia while high fat diet and genetic models of obesity appear more suited towards extracts such as H. erinaceus aqueous that obtained their highest cumulative score under insulin resistance. In general, a combination of rodent models ranging from non-obese models to models of obesity and β-cell destruction presenting symptoms from all three mechanistic classes should be considered due to the pleiotropic nature of the tested extracts, however, establishing appropriate experimental designs is crucial. To demonstrate the versatility of the screening platform and emphasise the importance of in vitro screening pertaining to diabetic complications, a more detailed biochemical investigation into the potential therapeutic benefits of A. linearis in the treatment of diabetic wounds was conducted. Several properties supporting the therapeutic potential of rooibos were highlighted with the green and fermented extracts presenting distinctly different characteristics. The pro-inflammatory nature of fermented rooibos may have therapeutic value for wounds characterised with a delayed initial inflammatory phase, such as early diabetic wounds while the green extract appears more suited to wounds burdened with excessive inflammation as it attenuated COX-2 levels and effectively protected fibroblasts against oxidative stress. To date, this appears to be the most comprehensive antidiabetic screening platform in existence and consequently provides the only feasible solution that will enable natural product antidiabetic research to progress to the point where natural products can be commercialised and incorporated into meaningful healthcare programs. Future research should be focussed towards further expanding this model by incorporating additional targets, more sophisticated cell culturing techniques, multiplexed high content screening assays and carrying out combination treatments that explore the antidiabetic effects of two or more crude extracts to establish whether they are capable of acting in a synergistic manner.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Pringle, Nadine Alex
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Hypoglycemic agents
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/46750 , vital:39653
- Description: Several synthetic antidiabetic drugs have been developed to date, however, most are accompanied by adverse side-effects while remaining expensive and largely inaccessible to the vast majority of those who need it. To provide enough scientific evidence to support the inclusion of more affordable African antidiabetic medicinal plants and macrofungi into healthcare programs, this study sought out to develop a comprehensive in vitro antidiabetic target-directed screening platform incorporating high content screening and analysis/ cellomics. To test the success of this model, the potential antidiabetic mechanisms of five plants (Aspalathus linearis, Brachylaena discolor, Carpobrotus deliciosus, Sutherlandia frutescens and Tarchonanthus camphoratus) and two macrofungal species (Ganoderma lucidum and Hericium erinaceus) were explored. The screening model consisted of approximately 22 assays exploring the antidiabetic effects of selected aqueous and ethanolic extracts in five well-characterised antidiabetic targets: the intestine, liver, skeletal muscle, adipose tissue/ obesity and pancreatic β-cells. These targets were further categorised and scored under three mechanistic classes/ therapeutic targets (postprandial hyperglycaemia; insulin resistance and inflammation; pancreatic β-cell function) to elucidate their potential mechanisms of action and select appropriate animal models for future studies. Almost any normal or diabetic rodent model would be suitable to explore the antidiabetic potential of extracts such as A. linearis, B. discolor ethanol, C. deliciosus ethanol or T. camphoratus which obtained high cumulative scores under postprandial hyperglycaemia while high fat diet and genetic models of obesity appear more suited towards extracts such as H. erinaceus aqueous that obtained their highest cumulative score under insulin resistance. In general, a combination of rodent models ranging from non-obese models to models of obesity and β-cell destruction presenting symptoms from all three mechanistic classes should be considered due to the pleiotropic nature of the tested extracts, however, establishing appropriate experimental designs is crucial. To demonstrate the versatility of the screening platform and emphasise the importance of in vitro screening pertaining to diabetic complications, a more detailed biochemical investigation into the potential therapeutic benefits of A. linearis in the treatment of diabetic wounds was conducted. Several properties supporting the therapeutic potential of rooibos were highlighted with the green and fermented extracts presenting distinctly different characteristics. The pro-inflammatory nature of fermented rooibos may have therapeutic value for wounds characterised with a delayed initial inflammatory phase, such as early diabetic wounds while the green extract appears more suited to wounds burdened with excessive inflammation as it attenuated COX-2 levels and effectively protected fibroblasts against oxidative stress. To date, this appears to be the most comprehensive antidiabetic screening platform in existence and consequently provides the only feasible solution that will enable natural product antidiabetic research to progress to the point where natural products can be commercialised and incorporated into meaningful healthcare programs. Future research should be focussed towards further expanding this model by incorporating additional targets, more sophisticated cell culturing techniques, multiplexed high content screening assays and carrying out combination treatments that explore the antidiabetic effects of two or more crude extracts to establish whether they are capable of acting in a synergistic manner.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Computer aided approaches against Human African Trypanosomiasis
- Authors: Kimuda, Magambo Phillip
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: African trypanosomiasis , African trypanosomiasis -- Chemotherapy , Genomics , Macrophage migration inhibitory factor , Trypanosoma brucei , Pteridines , Tetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase , Adenylic acid , Molecular dynamics , Principal components analysis , Bioinformatics , Single nucleotide polymorphisms , Single Nucleotide Variants , Candidate Gene Association Study (CGAS)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/142542 , vital:38089
- Description: The thesis presented here is divided into two parts under a common theme that is the use of computer based tools, genomics, and in vitro experiments to develop innovative ways of tackling Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT). Part I of this thesis focused on the human host genetic determinants while Part II focused on the discovery of novel chemotherapeutics against the parasite. Part I is further sub-divided into two parts: The first involves a Candidate Gene Association Study (CGAS) on an African population to identify genetic determinants associated with disease and/or susceptibility to HAT. The second involves studying the effects of missense Single Nucleotide Variants (SNVs) on protein structure, dynamics, and function using Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF) as a case study. Part II is also sub-divided into two parts: The first involves a computer based rational drug discovery of potential inhibitors against the Trypanosoma the folate pathway; particularly by targeting Trypanosoma brucei Pteridine Reductase (TbPTR1) which is an enzyme used by trypanosomes to overcome T. brucei Dihydrofolate Reductase (TbDHFR) inhibition. Lastly the derivation of CHARMM force-field parameters that can be used to accurately model the geometry and dynamics of the T. brucei Phosphodiesterase B1 enzyme (TbrPDEB1) bimetallic active site center. The derived parameters were then used in MD simulations to characterise protein-ligand residue interactions that are important in TbrPDEB1 inhibition with the goal of targeting the cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate (cAMP) signalling pathway. In the CGAS we were unable to detect any genetic associations in the Ugandan cohort analysed that passed correction for multiple testing in spite of the study being sufficiently powered. Additionally, our study found no association of the Apo lipoprotein 1 (APOL1) G2 allele association with protection against acute HAT that has been previously reported. Future investigations for example, Genome Wide Association Studies using larger samples sizes (>3000 cases and controls) are required. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a cytokine that is important in both innate and adaptive immunity that has been shown to play a role in T. brucei pathogenicity using murine models. A total of 27 missense SNVs were modelled using homology modelling to create MIF protein mutants that were investigated using in silico effect prediction tools, molecular dynamics (MD), Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and Dynamic Residue Network (DRN) analysis. Our results demonstrate that mutations P2Q, I5M, P16Q, L23F, T24S, T31I, Y37H, H41P, M48V, P44L, G52C, S54R, I65M, I68T, S75F, N106S, and T113S caused significant conformational changes. Further, DRN analysis showed that residues P2, T31, Y37, G52, I65, I68, S75, N106, and T113S are part of a similar local residue interaction network with functional significance. These results show how polymorphisms such as missense SNVs can affect protein conformation, dynamics, and function. Trypanosomes are auxotrophic for folates and pterins but require them for survival. They scavenge them from their hosts. PTR1 is a multifunctional enzyme that is unique to trypanosomatids that reduces both pterins and folates. In the presence of DHFR inhibitors, PTR1 is over-expressed thus providing an escape from the effects of DHFR inhibition. Both TbPTR1 and TbDHFR are pharmacologically and genetically validated drug targets. In this study 5742 compounds were screened using molecular docking, and 13 promising binding modes were further analysed using MD simulations. The trajectories were analysed using RMSD, Rg, RMSF, PCA, Essential Dynamics Analysis (EDA), Molecular Mechanics Poisson–Boltzmann surface area (MM-PBSA) binding free energy calculations, and DRN analysis. The computational screening approach allowed us to identify five of the compounds, named RUBi004, RUBi007, RUBi014, RUBi016 and RUBi018 that exhibited antitrypanosomal growth activities against trypanosomes in culture with IC50 values of 12.5 ± 4.8 μM, 32.4 ± 4.2 μM, 5.9 ± 1.4 μM, 28.2 ± 3.3 μM, and 9.7 ± 2.1 μM, respectively. Further when used in combination with WR99210 a known TbDHFR inhibitor RUBi004, RUBi007, RUBi014 and RUBi018 showed antagonism while RUBi016 showed an additive effect. These results indicate that the four compounds might be competing with TbDHFR while RUBi016 might be more specific for TbPTR1. These compounds provide scaffolds that can be further optimised to improve their potency and specificity. Lastly, using a systematic approach we derived CHARMM force-field parameters to accurately describe the TbrPDEB1 bi-metal catalytic center. For dynamics, we employed mixed bonded and non-bonded approach. We optimised the structure using a two-layer QM/MM ONIOM (B3LYP/6-31(g): UFF). The TbrPDEB1 bi-metallic center bonds, angles, and dihedrals were parameterized by fitting the energy profiles from Potential Energy Surface (PES) scans to the CHARMM potential energy function. The parameters were validated by means of MD simulations and analysed using RMSD, Rg, RMSF, hydrogen bonding, bond/angle/dihedral evaluations, EDA, PCA, and DRN analysis. The force-field parameters were able to accurately reproduce the geometry and dynamics of the TbrPDEB1 bi-metal catalytic center during MD simulations. Molecular docking was used to identify 6 potential hits, that inhibited trypanosome growth in vitro. The derived force-field parameters were used to simulate the 6 protein-ligand complexes with the aim of elucidating crucial protein-ligand residue interactions. Using the most potent ligand RUBi022 that had an IC50 of 14.96 μM we were able to identify key residue interactions that can be of use in in silico prediction of potential TbrPDEB1 inhibitors. Overall we demonstrate how bioinformatics tools can complement current disease eradication strategies. Future work will focus on identifying variants identified in Genome Wide Association Studies and partnering with wet labs to carry out further enzyme-ligand activity relationship studies, structure determination or characterisation of appropriate protein-ligand complexes by crystallography, and site specific mutation studies
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Kimuda, Magambo Phillip
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: African trypanosomiasis , African trypanosomiasis -- Chemotherapy , Genomics , Macrophage migration inhibitory factor , Trypanosoma brucei , Pteridines , Tetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase , Adenylic acid , Molecular dynamics , Principal components analysis , Bioinformatics , Single nucleotide polymorphisms , Single Nucleotide Variants , Candidate Gene Association Study (CGAS)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/142542 , vital:38089
- Description: The thesis presented here is divided into two parts under a common theme that is the use of computer based tools, genomics, and in vitro experiments to develop innovative ways of tackling Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT). Part I of this thesis focused on the human host genetic determinants while Part II focused on the discovery of novel chemotherapeutics against the parasite. Part I is further sub-divided into two parts: The first involves a Candidate Gene Association Study (CGAS) on an African population to identify genetic determinants associated with disease and/or susceptibility to HAT. The second involves studying the effects of missense Single Nucleotide Variants (SNVs) on protein structure, dynamics, and function using Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF) as a case study. Part II is also sub-divided into two parts: The first involves a computer based rational drug discovery of potential inhibitors against the Trypanosoma the folate pathway; particularly by targeting Trypanosoma brucei Pteridine Reductase (TbPTR1) which is an enzyme used by trypanosomes to overcome T. brucei Dihydrofolate Reductase (TbDHFR) inhibition. Lastly the derivation of CHARMM force-field parameters that can be used to accurately model the geometry and dynamics of the T. brucei Phosphodiesterase B1 enzyme (TbrPDEB1) bimetallic active site center. The derived parameters were then used in MD simulations to characterise protein-ligand residue interactions that are important in TbrPDEB1 inhibition with the goal of targeting the cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate (cAMP) signalling pathway. In the CGAS we were unable to detect any genetic associations in the Ugandan cohort analysed that passed correction for multiple testing in spite of the study being sufficiently powered. Additionally, our study found no association of the Apo lipoprotein 1 (APOL1) G2 allele association with protection against acute HAT that has been previously reported. Future investigations for example, Genome Wide Association Studies using larger samples sizes (>3000 cases and controls) are required. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a cytokine that is important in both innate and adaptive immunity that has been shown to play a role in T. brucei pathogenicity using murine models. A total of 27 missense SNVs were modelled using homology modelling to create MIF protein mutants that were investigated using in silico effect prediction tools, molecular dynamics (MD), Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and Dynamic Residue Network (DRN) analysis. Our results demonstrate that mutations P2Q, I5M, P16Q, L23F, T24S, T31I, Y37H, H41P, M48V, P44L, G52C, S54R, I65M, I68T, S75F, N106S, and T113S caused significant conformational changes. Further, DRN analysis showed that residues P2, T31, Y37, G52, I65, I68, S75, N106, and T113S are part of a similar local residue interaction network with functional significance. These results show how polymorphisms such as missense SNVs can affect protein conformation, dynamics, and function. Trypanosomes are auxotrophic for folates and pterins but require them for survival. They scavenge them from their hosts. PTR1 is a multifunctional enzyme that is unique to trypanosomatids that reduces both pterins and folates. In the presence of DHFR inhibitors, PTR1 is over-expressed thus providing an escape from the effects of DHFR inhibition. Both TbPTR1 and TbDHFR are pharmacologically and genetically validated drug targets. In this study 5742 compounds were screened using molecular docking, and 13 promising binding modes were further analysed using MD simulations. The trajectories were analysed using RMSD, Rg, RMSF, PCA, Essential Dynamics Analysis (EDA), Molecular Mechanics Poisson–Boltzmann surface area (MM-PBSA) binding free energy calculations, and DRN analysis. The computational screening approach allowed us to identify five of the compounds, named RUBi004, RUBi007, RUBi014, RUBi016 and RUBi018 that exhibited antitrypanosomal growth activities against trypanosomes in culture with IC50 values of 12.5 ± 4.8 μM, 32.4 ± 4.2 μM, 5.9 ± 1.4 μM, 28.2 ± 3.3 μM, and 9.7 ± 2.1 μM, respectively. Further when used in combination with WR99210 a known TbDHFR inhibitor RUBi004, RUBi007, RUBi014 and RUBi018 showed antagonism while RUBi016 showed an additive effect. These results indicate that the four compounds might be competing with TbDHFR while RUBi016 might be more specific for TbPTR1. These compounds provide scaffolds that can be further optimised to improve their potency and specificity. Lastly, using a systematic approach we derived CHARMM force-field parameters to accurately describe the TbrPDEB1 bi-metal catalytic center. For dynamics, we employed mixed bonded and non-bonded approach. We optimised the structure using a two-layer QM/MM ONIOM (B3LYP/6-31(g): UFF). The TbrPDEB1 bi-metallic center bonds, angles, and dihedrals were parameterized by fitting the energy profiles from Potential Energy Surface (PES) scans to the CHARMM potential energy function. The parameters were validated by means of MD simulations and analysed using RMSD, Rg, RMSF, hydrogen bonding, bond/angle/dihedral evaluations, EDA, PCA, and DRN analysis. The force-field parameters were able to accurately reproduce the geometry and dynamics of the TbrPDEB1 bi-metal catalytic center during MD simulations. Molecular docking was used to identify 6 potential hits, that inhibited trypanosome growth in vitro. The derived force-field parameters were used to simulate the 6 protein-ligand complexes with the aim of elucidating crucial protein-ligand residue interactions. Using the most potent ligand RUBi022 that had an IC50 of 14.96 μM we were able to identify key residue interactions that can be of use in in silico prediction of potential TbrPDEB1 inhibitors. Overall we demonstrate how bioinformatics tools can complement current disease eradication strategies. Future work will focus on identifying variants identified in Genome Wide Association Studies and partnering with wet labs to carry out further enzyme-ligand activity relationship studies, structure determination or characterisation of appropriate protein-ligand complexes by crystallography, and site specific mutation studies
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Conceptualisations of and responses to plagiarism in the South African higher education system
- Mphahlele, Martha Matee (Amanda)
- Authors: Mphahlele, Martha Matee (Amanda)
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Plagiarism , Plagiarism -- Prevention -- South Africa , Education, Higher -- Moral and ethical aspects , Education, Higher -- South Africa , Cheating (Education) -- South Africa , College students -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- South Africa , College discipline -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/162642 , vital:40963
- Description: Violations of academic integrity are a cause for concern in universities around the world and plagiarism is one of the most significant examples of these academic integrity issues with which universities are grappling . The approach taken to managing plagiarism depends to a large extent on the understanding of the phenomenon within institutions. This study investigated how plagiarism is conceptualised and responded to in the South African Higher Education system and how this impacts on teaching and learning. Data was collected from 25 out of the 26 South African public universities; the missing university had just been established and did not yet have policies or processes in place. The data was primarily in the form of documents known in these institutions as ‘plagiarism policies’, along with a wealth of other related policies and reports. This was supplemented by interviews as a means of verifying the document analysis with seven plagiarism committee members from across the three institutional types in South Africa, namely: traditional universities, comprehensive universities, and universities of technology. Using Bhaskar’s (2008) critical realism as a metatheory and Archer’s (1995) social realism as both a substantive theory and analytical framework, the experiences and events of plagiarism management were critically examined. Critical realism consider s these experiences and events at the level of the e mpirical and the actual , in order to identify the mechanisms at the l evel of the r eal from which these emerge. Social realism argues that when undertaking such an analysis in the social world, this entails identifying the emergent properties of both the parts (structure and culture) and people (agents). Therefore, the data was analysed using Archer’s analytical dualism to identify structural, cultural and agential mechanisms shaping the understanding of plagiarism and the practices associated with managing the phenomenon. The study found that dominant in the sector was an un derstanding of plagiarism as always being an intentional act, with implications for teaching and learning practices, which then focused on identifying and punishing incidents of plagiarism in student writing. A legal discourse was found to permeate the universities’ plagiarism management systems, such that most procedures replicated the legal framework. This was seen to undermine the identity of universities as teaching and learning spaces and of students as novice members of the disciplinary fields. The study further highlighted that due to plagiarism being perceived as an intentional act, punishment in almost all universities is prioritised as the key means of attending to plagiarism in the se institutions. This emerged as a structural constraint to students’ acquisition of academic writing norms. Such understandings and approaches were seen to be complementary to the risk-aversion of many institutions in a globalised era of university rankings. As increased bureaucracy has been put in place to attend to incidents of plagiarism, including obligatory reporting thereof, an unintentional consequence emerged, where it was at times simpler for academics to ignore incidences of plagiarism than to act on them. Turnitin was frequently referred to across the data as the preferred text - matching tool, but Turnitin together with other text-matching tools , was often used in a way that complemented the understanding of plagiarism as always being an intentional act. The stu dy found that text - matching software was largely misunderstood to be plagiarism software, where the similarity index was perceived to be a measure of plagiarism. This led to an understanding that students needed to paraphrase texts in order to avoid detect ion by the program me, and this may inadvertently encourage plagiarism , as students are taught to write towards the software. The research found that in those instances where educational responses to plagiarism were in place, they often demonstrated a lack of understanding of academic literacies development and the extent to which norms of knowledge production are disciplinary specific. Most (but not all) of the data about educational responses focused on add-on workshops and the signing of a declaration form, indicating that the student has not plagiarised. The workshops were seen to emphasise technical skills, such as the punctuation norms of referencing, and were often offered in a generic format by people outside of the target disciplines. These workshops were found to ignore the connection between the technical skills of referencing and the norms of knowledge construction, with a potential deleterious effect on the development of authorial identity. Finally, the data showed a few instances where particular institutions acknowledged that plagiarism occurs along a continuum, where on one side is intentional plagiarism associated with cheating and requiring punishment, and on the other side is unintentional plagiarism, which is understood to require an educational response , and was seen to emerge from either a lack of understanding of academic literacy norms , or from negligence. Literacy development with regard to taking on the norms of knowledge-making in the academy was seen to be a complex and lengthy process that was fundamental to educational endeavours of facilitating epistemological access, while cases of negligence were seen to be mainly caused by technical oversight rather than a lack of access to the relevant knowledge production norms. The study concludes by arguing that cases of intentional plagiarism require quick and appropriate punishment, but that there also needs to be an institution-wide understanding that unintentional plagiarism often emerges from students failing to access the specific knowledge-making norms of the discipline. There is thus a need for academics to be aware of the complexities related to taking on literacy practices, and who also understand the role of feedback in this process. But it ought not to be assumed that academics would have such insights simply by virtue of their expertise in the discipline. These academics need to have carefully constructed staff development support, as they take on such pedagogical approaches. The study argues that the dominant conceptualisation of plagiarism in the domain of culture as an intentional act and the complementary policies and processes in the domain of structure as focusing on detecting and punishing incidents of plagiarism, fail to address plagiarism in appropriate educational ways.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Mphahlele, Martha Matee (Amanda)
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Plagiarism , Plagiarism -- Prevention -- South Africa , Education, Higher -- Moral and ethical aspects , Education, Higher -- South Africa , Cheating (Education) -- South Africa , College students -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- South Africa , College discipline -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/162642 , vital:40963
- Description: Violations of academic integrity are a cause for concern in universities around the world and plagiarism is one of the most significant examples of these academic integrity issues with which universities are grappling . The approach taken to managing plagiarism depends to a large extent on the understanding of the phenomenon within institutions. This study investigated how plagiarism is conceptualised and responded to in the South African Higher Education system and how this impacts on teaching and learning. Data was collected from 25 out of the 26 South African public universities; the missing university had just been established and did not yet have policies or processes in place. The data was primarily in the form of documents known in these institutions as ‘plagiarism policies’, along with a wealth of other related policies and reports. This was supplemented by interviews as a means of verifying the document analysis with seven plagiarism committee members from across the three institutional types in South Africa, namely: traditional universities, comprehensive universities, and universities of technology. Using Bhaskar’s (2008) critical realism as a metatheory and Archer’s (1995) social realism as both a substantive theory and analytical framework, the experiences and events of plagiarism management were critically examined. Critical realism consider s these experiences and events at the level of the e mpirical and the actual , in order to identify the mechanisms at the l evel of the r eal from which these emerge. Social realism argues that when undertaking such an analysis in the social world, this entails identifying the emergent properties of both the parts (structure and culture) and people (agents). Therefore, the data was analysed using Archer’s analytical dualism to identify structural, cultural and agential mechanisms shaping the understanding of plagiarism and the practices associated with managing the phenomenon. The study found that dominant in the sector was an un derstanding of plagiarism as always being an intentional act, with implications for teaching and learning practices, which then focused on identifying and punishing incidents of plagiarism in student writing. A legal discourse was found to permeate the universities’ plagiarism management systems, such that most procedures replicated the legal framework. This was seen to undermine the identity of universities as teaching and learning spaces and of students as novice members of the disciplinary fields. The study further highlighted that due to plagiarism being perceived as an intentional act, punishment in almost all universities is prioritised as the key means of attending to plagiarism in the se institutions. This emerged as a structural constraint to students’ acquisition of academic writing norms. Such understandings and approaches were seen to be complementary to the risk-aversion of many institutions in a globalised era of university rankings. As increased bureaucracy has been put in place to attend to incidents of plagiarism, including obligatory reporting thereof, an unintentional consequence emerged, where it was at times simpler for academics to ignore incidences of plagiarism than to act on them. Turnitin was frequently referred to across the data as the preferred text - matching tool, but Turnitin together with other text-matching tools , was often used in a way that complemented the understanding of plagiarism as always being an intentional act. The stu dy found that text - matching software was largely misunderstood to be plagiarism software, where the similarity index was perceived to be a measure of plagiarism. This led to an understanding that students needed to paraphrase texts in order to avoid detect ion by the program me, and this may inadvertently encourage plagiarism , as students are taught to write towards the software. The research found that in those instances where educational responses to plagiarism were in place, they often demonstrated a lack of understanding of academic literacies development and the extent to which norms of knowledge production are disciplinary specific. Most (but not all) of the data about educational responses focused on add-on workshops and the signing of a declaration form, indicating that the student has not plagiarised. The workshops were seen to emphasise technical skills, such as the punctuation norms of referencing, and were often offered in a generic format by people outside of the target disciplines. These workshops were found to ignore the connection between the technical skills of referencing and the norms of knowledge construction, with a potential deleterious effect on the development of authorial identity. Finally, the data showed a few instances where particular institutions acknowledged that plagiarism occurs along a continuum, where on one side is intentional plagiarism associated with cheating and requiring punishment, and on the other side is unintentional plagiarism, which is understood to require an educational response , and was seen to emerge from either a lack of understanding of academic literacy norms , or from negligence. Literacy development with regard to taking on the norms of knowledge-making in the academy was seen to be a complex and lengthy process that was fundamental to educational endeavours of facilitating epistemological access, while cases of negligence were seen to be mainly caused by technical oversight rather than a lack of access to the relevant knowledge production norms. The study concludes by arguing that cases of intentional plagiarism require quick and appropriate punishment, but that there also needs to be an institution-wide understanding that unintentional plagiarism often emerges from students failing to access the specific knowledge-making norms of the discipline. There is thus a need for academics to be aware of the complexities related to taking on literacy practices, and who also understand the role of feedback in this process. But it ought not to be assumed that academics would have such insights simply by virtue of their expertise in the discipline. These academics need to have carefully constructed staff development support, as they take on such pedagogical approaches. The study argues that the dominant conceptualisation of plagiarism in the domain of culture as an intentional act and the complementary policies and processes in the domain of structure as focusing on detecting and punishing incidents of plagiarism, fail to address plagiarism in appropriate educational ways.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Conceptualising community radio: from global histories to the Kenyan example
- Authors: Korir, Geoffrey Kiplimo
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Community radio , Community radio -- Kenya , Community development -- Kenya , Social change -- Kenya , Radio broadcasting -- Kenya
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/165766 , vital:41279
- Description: This study sets out to gain insight into the way that the establishment of community radio in Kenya is located within the global history of ideas about such radio. The first four chapters in this study provide terms of reference for this examination through a series of literature reviews. It sets out, firstly, to locate the internationally shared conceptualisaiton of community radio within an existing spectrum of approaches to social analysis. It proposes that community radio can be located at the critical, emancipatory end of this spectrum. It then maps out the global circulation of ideas about community radio and proposes that such circulation was informed by the broader history of critical, emancipatory social analysis. The final literature review then deals with community radio in Kenya and examines the way in which the establishment of this sector was shaped by the social and political history of this country. It is argued that the establishment of a community radio sector became possible only when support for emancipatory approaches to media became acceptable in Kenya, in context of the establishment of multiparty democracy. It is proposed, further, that the articulation of a vision for community radio in Kenya depended in part on the existence of international support for such radio and in part on the efforts of local actors in civil society. The empirical component then focuses on the way global ideas about community radio have become realised in Kenya. The study achieves this purpose by drawing on qualitative interviews with individuals from within civil society who have participated in the history of the establishment and growth of community radio in Kenya. These individuals demonstrate consciousness of the internationally shared set of principles that can facilitate a successful establishment of community radio. However, they are also sceptical of the assumption that guidelines for community radio are universally applicable. They point, in particular, to the challenges involved in the realisation of these guidelines in an environment in which economic resources are limited, and which is characterised by extreme social inequality and conflict. The study concludes that it is individuals such as these participants, who are embedded within the local context, who are best placed to articulate locally appropriate alternatives to these guidelines.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Korir, Geoffrey Kiplimo
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Community radio , Community radio -- Kenya , Community development -- Kenya , Social change -- Kenya , Radio broadcasting -- Kenya
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/165766 , vital:41279
- Description: This study sets out to gain insight into the way that the establishment of community radio in Kenya is located within the global history of ideas about such radio. The first four chapters in this study provide terms of reference for this examination through a series of literature reviews. It sets out, firstly, to locate the internationally shared conceptualisaiton of community radio within an existing spectrum of approaches to social analysis. It proposes that community radio can be located at the critical, emancipatory end of this spectrum. It then maps out the global circulation of ideas about community radio and proposes that such circulation was informed by the broader history of critical, emancipatory social analysis. The final literature review then deals with community radio in Kenya and examines the way in which the establishment of this sector was shaped by the social and political history of this country. It is argued that the establishment of a community radio sector became possible only when support for emancipatory approaches to media became acceptable in Kenya, in context of the establishment of multiparty democracy. It is proposed, further, that the articulation of a vision for community radio in Kenya depended in part on the existence of international support for such radio and in part on the efforts of local actors in civil society. The empirical component then focuses on the way global ideas about community radio have become realised in Kenya. The study achieves this purpose by drawing on qualitative interviews with individuals from within civil society who have participated in the history of the establishment and growth of community radio in Kenya. These individuals demonstrate consciousness of the internationally shared set of principles that can facilitate a successful establishment of community radio. However, they are also sceptical of the assumption that guidelines for community radio are universally applicable. They point, in particular, to the challenges involved in the realisation of these guidelines in an environment in which economic resources are limited, and which is characterised by extreme social inequality and conflict. The study concludes that it is individuals such as these participants, who are embedded within the local context, who are best placed to articulate locally appropriate alternatives to these guidelines.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Conflict related sexual violence against males:recognition by and responses of humanitarian organizations in Africa
- Authors: Akurut, Catherine
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Male rape victims -- Africa , Gender in conflict management --Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/46648 , vital:39605
- Description: The study investigated the knowledge, attitudes, and experiences of humanitarian service providers concerning the recognition of and response to the phenomenon of male victims of conflict-related sexual violence against males. Sources of literature in respect to the awareness, understanding, and recognition of conflict-related sexual violence against males were explored. Perceptions about the recognition of male victims were discovered. Response strategies available to male victims were explored through the experiences of humanitarian organisation representatives, including, inter alia, programme managers, gender-based violence advisers, protection officers and activists. Mechanisms to augment any existing practices to allow for the care of and support for male victims were examined. A qualitative research approach was used to explore the topic of this study. Data was collected using semi-structured interview questions that were developed. And document review was also used as the second means of data collection. The research participants were recruited using purposive sampling, which was complemented by snowballing until data saturation. Triangulation was used by combining the two data collection methods to avoid relying on one source. A narrative literature review was aimed to obtain further information about the phenomenon of conflict-related sexual violence against males.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Akurut, Catherine
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Male rape victims -- Africa , Gender in conflict management --Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/46648 , vital:39605
- Description: The study investigated the knowledge, attitudes, and experiences of humanitarian service providers concerning the recognition of and response to the phenomenon of male victims of conflict-related sexual violence against males. Sources of literature in respect to the awareness, understanding, and recognition of conflict-related sexual violence against males were explored. Perceptions about the recognition of male victims were discovered. Response strategies available to male victims were explored through the experiences of humanitarian organisation representatives, including, inter alia, programme managers, gender-based violence advisers, protection officers and activists. Mechanisms to augment any existing practices to allow for the care of and support for male victims were examined. A qualitative research approach was used to explore the topic of this study. Data was collected using semi-structured interview questions that were developed. And document review was also used as the second means of data collection. The research participants were recruited using purposive sampling, which was complemented by snowballing until data saturation. Triangulation was used by combining the two data collection methods to avoid relying on one source. A narrative literature review was aimed to obtain further information about the phenomenon of conflict-related sexual violence against males.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Conservation biology of an apex predator in the Anthropocene : poaching, pastoralism and lions in multi-use landscapes, South-Eastern Africa
- Authors: Everatt, Kristoffer T
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Conservation biology -- Africa, Southern
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/48290 , vital:40839
- Description: Many of the world’s apex predators are experiencing catastrophic declines as a result of competition with humans. Understanding the mechanisms and ecosystem impacts of apex predator declines is a fundamental ecological question crucial to conserving the Earth’s biodiversity and functioning ecosystems. In this thesis I used the African lion Panthera leo, as a model species to investigate the impacts of anthropogenic pressures on the conservation and ecology of an apex predator. Specifically, I investigated the relative and cumulative influences of pastoralism and poaching on lion occurrence, population connectivity, ecological role, space use, prey selection and viability across a 73 000 km2 multi-use landscape in southern Africa. Using landscape occupancy spoor surveys, I tested the hypotheses that lions were most limited by either interference or by exploitative competition with humans and identified thresholds of lion tolerance to human activities. My results showed that lions occupied only a fraction of the landscape and were limited by a combination of interference and exploitative competition with humans. Interference competition with pastoralism however was the biggest driver limiting lion occupancy, creating a clear disturbance threshold for lions cumulating in their near complete loss from the landscape. I employed call-up surveys, pride monitoring and mortality analysis to investigate the numerical impacts of anthropogenic pressures on the viability of a lion sub-population. I found that persecution by pastoralists was the greatest source of lion mortalities across the landscape. However, the targeted poaching of lions for body parts had emerged as the greatest threat to lions in a nominally protected National Park where I documented a steep population decline and collapse of lion prides. I used GPS tracking and diet analysis of lions at the human-wildlands interface to test if lions foraged optimally or were constrained by competition with humans. I fount that individual lions appeared to select for prey and habitat optimally, while also showing some level of risk avoidance towards anthropogenic pressures. I then considered landscape resistances to test if sink habitats may provide connectivity between sources or act as ecological traps. I found that potential connectivity for lions between the region’s two source populations was limited by a loss of habitat and prey. Furthermore, the impacts of by-catch in snares risked transforming the few remaining potential conservation corridors into ecological traps. Finally, I examined interactions between lions and syntopic mesopredators across gradients of anthropogenic pressures to test if the functional role of lions was affected by human pressures. I found that lions showed limited suppression of mesopredators, however, anthropogenic pressures increased lion’s interactions with syntopic predators. As an apex predator, lions have evolved limited capacity to mitigate top-down competitive pressures, however, like many of the world’s apex predators, they are becoming increasingly limited by anthropogenic pressures. This study provides a predictive understanding of an apex predator’s ecological responses to top-down anthropogenic pressures which can be applied globally to the question of conservation in the Anthropocene.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Everatt, Kristoffer T
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Conservation biology -- Africa, Southern
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/48290 , vital:40839
- Description: Many of the world’s apex predators are experiencing catastrophic declines as a result of competition with humans. Understanding the mechanisms and ecosystem impacts of apex predator declines is a fundamental ecological question crucial to conserving the Earth’s biodiversity and functioning ecosystems. In this thesis I used the African lion Panthera leo, as a model species to investigate the impacts of anthropogenic pressures on the conservation and ecology of an apex predator. Specifically, I investigated the relative and cumulative influences of pastoralism and poaching on lion occurrence, population connectivity, ecological role, space use, prey selection and viability across a 73 000 km2 multi-use landscape in southern Africa. Using landscape occupancy spoor surveys, I tested the hypotheses that lions were most limited by either interference or by exploitative competition with humans and identified thresholds of lion tolerance to human activities. My results showed that lions occupied only a fraction of the landscape and were limited by a combination of interference and exploitative competition with humans. Interference competition with pastoralism however was the biggest driver limiting lion occupancy, creating a clear disturbance threshold for lions cumulating in their near complete loss from the landscape. I employed call-up surveys, pride monitoring and mortality analysis to investigate the numerical impacts of anthropogenic pressures on the viability of a lion sub-population. I found that persecution by pastoralists was the greatest source of lion mortalities across the landscape. However, the targeted poaching of lions for body parts had emerged as the greatest threat to lions in a nominally protected National Park where I documented a steep population decline and collapse of lion prides. I used GPS tracking and diet analysis of lions at the human-wildlands interface to test if lions foraged optimally or were constrained by competition with humans. I fount that individual lions appeared to select for prey and habitat optimally, while also showing some level of risk avoidance towards anthropogenic pressures. I then considered landscape resistances to test if sink habitats may provide connectivity between sources or act as ecological traps. I found that potential connectivity for lions between the region’s two source populations was limited by a loss of habitat and prey. Furthermore, the impacts of by-catch in snares risked transforming the few remaining potential conservation corridors into ecological traps. Finally, I examined interactions between lions and syntopic mesopredators across gradients of anthropogenic pressures to test if the functional role of lions was affected by human pressures. I found that lions showed limited suppression of mesopredators, however, anthropogenic pressures increased lion’s interactions with syntopic predators. As an apex predator, lions have evolved limited capacity to mitigate top-down competitive pressures, however, like many of the world’s apex predators, they are becoming increasingly limited by anthropogenic pressures. This study provides a predictive understanding of an apex predator’s ecological responses to top-down anthropogenic pressures which can be applied globally to the question of conservation in the Anthropocene.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020