Beyond mastery: jazz, gender and power in postapartheid South Africa
- Authors: Williams, Ulagh
- Date: 2023-10-13
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/432505 , vital:72876 , DOI 10.21504/10962/432512
- Description: This dissertation studies the musical lives of seven South African women who have built highprofile national and international careers as jazz musicians. Empirically it records self-reported experiences and actions that they have identified as relevant to their success within a notoriously patriarchal field. Drawing on feminist research methods and Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis the dissertation strives to develop an empathic yet critical epistemological framework attuned to the complexities of their lived experiences as women and as jazz musicians. Theoretically it investigates the power relations at play in the myriad ways they negotiate or have been impelled to negotiate gender and patriarchy as musicians. Chapter one draws attention to the ubiquity of patriarchy in South African and international jazz culture, and highlights the research participants’ numerous successes to date as performers, educators, composers, and bandleaders. Chapter two positions this study in relation to cognate work in South African jazz studies, international feminist jazz studies and feminist phenomenology. Chapters three to five successively consider the participants’ early enculturation as musical and gendered subjects, their agentic responses to structures of patriarchy and/or race as emerging and established professionals, and the ways these experiences have found expression in some of their musical utterances as performers and composers. Fusing art and activism, the participants challenge and transcend masculinist discourses of mastery that still dominate South African jazz as a field of production and aesthetic practice. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Humanities, Music and Musicology, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-10-13
High-resolution hydraulic modelling as an approach to planning rehabilitation interventions in unchanneled valley-bottom palmiet wetlands: a case study of the Kromme River
- Authors: Langner, Wiebke
- Date: 2023-10-13
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/424610 , vital:72168
- Description: This study employs high-resolution hydraulic modelling techniques to inform the planning of rehabilitation interventions in unchanneled valley-bottom palmiet wetlands, using the upper Kromme River wetlands as a case study. It investigates the impact of geomorphic processes on the morphology of the valley, how changes in valley morphology affect the flow characteristics (velocity, stream power, depth) of the river, and how these changes affect the geomorphic dynamics of the wetlands. An aerial LiDAR survey was conducted for a 23km-long reach of the upper Kromme River where the wetlands are situated. A high-resolution (5 m) DTM was created from the LiDAR data to examine the valley morphology. Focusing on three major wetland basins, the relationship between valley morphology and geomorphic processes was examined using high-resolution imagery that accompanied the LiDAR survey and Google Satellite imagery. The hydraulic modelling software HEC-RAS was used to investigate the spatial variation in velocity, stream power, and water depth down the surveyed length of the river. The model outputs provide insight into the effect of valley morphology on flow characteristics. The river appears to have a graded longitudinal profile, such that there is a systematic reduction in slope down its length. Water flowing down the river works, through the processes of erosion and deposition, to control the longitudinal slope, channel planform, and geometry to create a valley with a gentle longitudinal slope (approximately 1%) and a broad, near-horizontal valley-bottom in the mountainous landscape of the Cape Fold Mountains. The overall form of the Kromme River valley and wetlands is primarily a consequence of repeated cycles of cutting and filling. Tributary alluvial fans control the initiation of gully erosion in the wetlands, but their effect is diminished in a downstream direction. Despite a 10-fold increase in discharge down the 23km length of river for a given flood magnitude, there is no significant increase in flow velocity, stream power, or depth in a downstream direction. Consequently, the kinetic energy of the water in the lower wetland basin is surprisingly low. These conditions favour the establishment of palmiet. Flows in eroded reaches are much higher than in non-eroded reaches where discharge is spread across a broad valley bottom. In terms of palmiet establishment and regeneration, this means that areas dominated by depositional processes are best suited to the establishment of palmiet. Based on this information, optimal sites to trial new wetland rehabilitation strategies that employ palmiet were selected. This work supports the importance of understanding the role of geomorphology in wetland structure and dynamics when approaching wetland rehabilitation and is likely to be more sympathetic to natural processes than current interventions. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Geography, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-10-13
Jazz pedagogical strategies: an A/R/Tographic investigation into the implementation of the South African jazz CAPS syllabus
- Authors: Rungan, Natalie
- Date: 2023-10-13
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/432488 , vital:72875 , DOI 10.21504/10962/432488
- Description: The Jazz stream of the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement Further Education and Training music curriculum was introduced in South Africa in 2012 (DBE, 2011a). Despite the intentions of the government to promote diversity, social transformation, and inclusion, subject music is still weighted towards Western Art Music, perpetuating past biases of a Eurocentric model for music education. This study, which uses a mixed-method approach, seeks to create strategies to advance Jazz education in South Africa through an a/r/tographic analysis of the author’s Jazz pedagogical methods at Durban High School in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. Key approaches include curriculum theory, currere, a/r/tography, among others. After reviewing Jazz pedagogy in the U.S.A. and South Africa as a starting point, using Pinar’s (1994) method of currere, the author demonstrates how past personal music educational processes have led to present Jazz pedagogical methods. Six original compositions were written that outline the influences that infused these methods and added to the creative output related to this research. Interviews were conducted with key stakeholders in the Jazz community to gain perspective about the current state of Jazz education, and with students to provide insight into their reactions to the Jazz stream of CAPS. This presents new information about the curriculum from a learners’ perspective. Ethical clearance for research with children was sought and received (Appendix A). Findings show that the ability of learners to recognise the value in, and identity relating to, their African culture through Jazz points to a pivotal departure from previous Eurocentric music education models. However, despite South Africa being positioned as one of the only countries offering Jazz as a subject choice to high school learners, the selection of Jazz in the subject of Music remains underutilised. This study concludes that for Jazz education to advance in South African high schools, there needs to be intentional engagement with Jazz professionals at the high school level. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Humanities, Music and Musicology, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-10-13
The development of ionic zinc(II) phthalocyanines for sono-photodynamic combination therapy of cervical and breast cancer
- Authors: Nene, Lindokuhle Cindy
- Date: 2023-03-31
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/422565 , vital:71958 , DOI 10.21504/10962/422565
- Description: This study focuses on the development of the sono-photodynamic combination therapy (SPDT) activity of phthalocyanines (Pcs) on the cervical and breast cancer cell lines in vitro. The SPDT technique utilizes ultrasound in combination with light to elicit cytotoxic effects for cancer eradication. In this work, a selection of tetra-peripherally substituted Zn(II) cationic and zwitterionic Pcs were prepared. The photophysical parameters of the Pcs were determined including their fluorescence behaviours and efficiency of the triplet excited state population. The effects of the ultrasonic parameters (frequencies (MHz) and power (W.cm-2)) on the stability of the Pcs were evaluated. Four parameters were evaluated: Par I (1 MHz: 1 W.cm-2), Par II (1 MHz: 2 W.cm-2), Par III (3 MHz: 1 W.cm-2) and Par IV (3 MHz: 2 W.cm-2). The stability of the Pcs reduced with the increase in the ultrasonic power (for Par II and Par IV). The Par I showed the least degradation compared to the other parameters and was therefore used for the SPDT treatments. The sonodynamic (SDT), photodynamic (PDT) therapy activities of the Pcs were studied and compared to their SPDT efficacies. The Pcs showed reactive oxygen species generation during the SDT, PDT and SPDT treatments. For the SDT and SPDT, singlet oxygen (1O2) and hydroxyl radicals (•OH) were detected. For PDT, only the 1O2 were detected. The cell cytotoxicity studies for the Pcs showed relatively higher therapeutic efficacies for the SDT treatments compared to the PDT treatments, where the SPDT showed higher therapeutic efficacies compared to both the SDT and PDT monotreatments on both the cell lines in vitro. Overall, the combination treatments were better compared to the monotreatments. The activities of the Pcs were compared by their differences in structures, including the type of R-group, type of quaternizing agent and type of nanoparticle conjugates. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Chemistry, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-03-31
Implications of changing land use and introducing extralimital giraffe on vegetation in the subtropical thicket, South Africa
- Authors: Trafford, Bronwyn Kate
- Date: 2023-03-29
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/422356 , vital:71935
- Description: Land use change has increased in southern Africa as many livestock farms convert to game reserves, to restore degraded and overgrazed lands. This leads to a change in herbivore communities with potential positive and negative consequences for vegetation and landscape productivity. This study aimed to look at the effect of land use change and subsequent herbivore community changes, on thicket vegetation structure, composition, and landscape productivity. To attain the study objectives, data were collected from four game reserves and their adjacent livestock farms within the Eastern Cape province in South Africa. These sites were selected because they are within the Subtropical Thicket biome (similar vegetation) and were once used for livestock farming. At each study site, vegetation composition and structure were assessed using a unique bush clump sampling technique along fence line contrasts. Six plots were sampled at each site, three plots on the game reserve lands and three plots on the adjacent livestock farmlands during the dry (July/August 2020) and wet (January/February 2021) seasons. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), in-situ leaf area index (LAI) and the fraction of intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (FIPAR), were used to assess vegetation productivity between the two land use types. Additionally, diet of an extralimital herbivore, giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis), was assessed during contrasting seasons (dry and wet) to infer the role this species might have on these landscapes. The diet of giraffes was assessed through field observations, recording plant species that giraffes were feeding on. Floristic results showed that there were no differences in vegetation structure, species composition and richness between the two land types. There was no difference in the overall diversity of plant species on the game reserves than in the adjacent livestock farms. The primary productivity was greater on the game reserves compared to the livestock farms. Field observations of giraffe feeding showed that they fed predominantly on Vachellia karroo followed by Searsia longispina. Their diets did not differ between the two seasons. My study provides an insight into the effects of changing land use and this information can be used to infer the extent to which these changes might have on restoration of degraded landscape and how land use changes may be effective in restoring the degraded thicket vegetation caused by overgrazing and overstocking of domestic livestock. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Zoology and Entomology, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-03-29
Selection of DNA aptamers against Cancer-Targeting Murine Antibodies
- Authors: Nisbet, Laura Jade
- Date: 2023-03-29
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/422426 , vital:71941
- Description: Access restricted. Access embargoed until 2025. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Biotechnology Innovation Centre, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-03-29
Molecular identification of potential ciprofloxacin degrading bacteria and determination of its possible breakdown intermediates in rivers, Eastern Cape
- Authors: Ncgauzele, Zenande Rose
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/403003 , vital:69913
- Description: Thesis embargoed. To be released early 2026. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharmacy, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
Synthesis and evaluation of the medicinal potential of novel 4-hydroxycoumarin derivatives
- Authors: Manyeruke, Meloddy Hlatini
- Date: 2022-04-08
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/164458 , vital:41120 , doi:10.21504/10962/164458
- Description: This research has focused on the synthesis and biological evaluation of a broad range of compounds characterised by the presence of the pharmacologically significant 4-hydroxycoumalin scaffold. The compounds were designed to contain additional pharmachophoric centres to enhance bioactivity and generate lead compounds with dualaction potential. The use of 4-hydroxycoumarin as the primary synthon enabled access to various series of 4-hydroxycoumarin conjugates, the reactive 3-position on the 4-hydroxycoumarin moiety being exploited for regioselective construction of the targeted compounds in several steps. Some of the reactants required in the construction of these compounds were specially synthesised and included propargyloxy benzaldehydes, benzyloxy benzaldehydes and 2,3-dihydroxysuccino-dihydride. Overall, eight different families of novel compounds were accessed, comprising conjugates of 4-hydroxycoumarin with bisethylidenesuccinohyrazide, trifluoroacetamide, amino, benzyloxyphenyl-iminoethyl, benzylidenehyrazinyl-thiazoyl, benzylidenehydrazonoethyl, propargyloxybenzylidenehydrazonoethyl and phenylacryloyl moieties using protocols that required minimal work-up and purification. The eighty novel compounds synthesised in the study were fully characterised using HMRS and advanced NMR techniques. Cytotoxicity, HIV-1 IN and PR inhibitory, and antitrypanosomal, antimalarial and anti-Mtb assays were conducted on the synthesised coumarin derivatives. Several compounds exhibited activity against HIV-1 IN, the most potent being a bis-ethylidenesuccinohyrazide with an IC50 value of 3.5 μM. Various compounds exhibited anti-malarial activity (% pLDH viability in the range 62-77%), anti-trypanosomal activity (the most potent with an IC50 = 0.9 μM against T.b. brucei) and a measure of anti-Mtb activity. Apart from two chalconyl derivatives, none of the synthesised compounds exhibited significant cytotoxicity. Conflicting results were obtained from the in silico docking studies; in some cases supporting the observed in vitro assay data while, in others, exhibiting no correlation. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Chemistry, 2020
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- Date Issued: 2022-04-08