Knowledge practices and student access and success in General Chemistry at a Large South African University
- Authors: Mtombeni, Thabile Nokuthula
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Chemistry -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- South Africa , Knowledge management , Education, Higher -- Curricula -- South Africa , Critical realism , Social integration -- South Africa , Educational equalization -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/62873 , vital:28305
- Description: This dissertation reports on an investigation into the structuring principles of the General Chemistry curriculum at a Large South African University (LSAU). Student learning in the introductory modules of General Chemistry is critical for access to a range of fields since it is a requisite course for a variety of degree programmes. However, there is ample evidence that success in this subject remains a major challenge, particularly for black students. My quest in this study was to explore how the curriculum could enable greater epistemic access and thus include more students in science programmes at the LSAU. I investigated the organising principles underlying the curriculum practices of the General Chemistry module and explored the effects of the curriculum structure on student learning. Theoretically and conceptually, the study was underpinned by a social realist approach which holds that knowledge is stratified, differentiated, and has real emergent properties, powers and effects. The research question that I attempted to answer in this study was: How do knowledge practices privileged in the General Chemistry curriculum at the LSAU enable or constrain student learning? I adopted an intensive research design approach to conduct a qualitative case study using social realism and LCT as theoretical and analytical lenses. I used empirical data such as curriculum documents and interviews with lecturers to uncover the underlying generative mechanisms of the curriculum. I adopted a multi-layered data analysis process to make visible the underlying organising principles informing knowledge practices in the curriculum so that I could explain their potential effects on student learning. The first level of analysis explored the context of the curriculum and associated knowledge practices, and examined the pedagogic discourse evident in the curriculum. The second level of analysis revealed the inner logic structuring the curriculum and the associated knowledge practices. I used Maton’s Legitimation Code Theory (LCT): Specialisation to identify the specialisation codes, gazes and insights generated by the curriculum. For the third level of analysis, LCT: Semantics was used to generate the semantic profiles of learning activities to determine the extent to which the curriculum structure made cumulative learning possible. From the findings, it is evident that the verticality of knowledge in General Chemistry points to a recontextualising principle that prescribes the selection and arrangement of knowledge, and the special relationship of actors and discourses. As a result, the strong framing of the instructional discourse of General Chemistry curriculum structure is likely to constrain epistemological access for large numbers of students. In order to improve epistemological access to the field, weaker framing of the instructional discourse in introductory science is necessary. Weaker framing of the General Chemistry curriculum would require, in particular, changes to pacing, and that the evaluative criteria are made explicit. This is especially necessary when certain abstract and complex curricular content is taught, especially in the first semester. The findings also indicate that the nature of the organising principles in the curriculum are significant for improving epistemological access to knowledge. In terms of LCT: Specialisation, the General Chemistry curriculum generated a knowledge code and downplayed differences among social categories of students, thus positioning all equally in relation to the knowledge and practices of the field. Therefore, the structuring of the curriculum emphasises and legitimates students who have attained specialist knowledge without considering the nature of the new student coming into the educational setting. Simply, what is privileged is both the object of study (theoretical knowledge) and how it is studied (procedural knowledge). This finding is in line with the general outcomes of Chemistry education. In addition, the purist insight generated by the curriculum further attests to where the emphasis is placed in the curriculum. I argue that the lack of social relations in the curriculum poses a challenge for the holistic development of students as science knowers. The analysis of the learning activities shows rapid code shifts that indicate changes in cognitive demand and modes of thinking required of students. I argue that signposting the changes in complexity of knowledge and in the mode of thinking required could make learning, and thus epistemological access, more possible. Given the imperative of access to powerful knowledge, I contend that the curriculum should be reshaped to enable epistemological access for more students.
- Full Text:
Leadership development within a Learner Representative Council (LRC) in a rural secondary school in the Oshana region, Namibia
- Authors: Da Silva, Rolens
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Student participation in administration Namibia , Student government Namibia , Educational leadership Namibia , Qualitative research
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/62808 , vital:28282
- Description: The Namibian Education Act (Namibia. Education Act No. 16 of 2001) mandates state secondary school learners to be included in school leadership through a body of learners known as the Learner Representative Council (LRC). The few studies carried out on the LRC in schools reveal that very little has been achieved in terms of learner leadership development. This study explored and provided insight into possible reasons for this, and recommendations. The research questions driving the study were: How is learner leadership currently understood and practised in the school? What are the enabling and constraining factors in the school as far as learner leadership development is concerned? And what can be done to promote learner leadership development? This study is an interpretive case study of learner leadership in the LRC in a Namibian state secondary school in the Oshana region. The conceptual framework used was distributed leadership. The Cultural Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) was used as an analytical tool. The research participants were the LRC members, school principal, Heads of Departments representing the school management members, the School Board Chairperson representing parents and the LRC liaison teacher and were all purposively selected. Data was collected through document analysis, open-ended questionnaires, interviews and non-participant observation. Data analysis took the form of inductively – identifying themes emerged from the data and deductively – using CHAT to surface the systemic contradictions within the learners’ activity system. The data revealed that learner leadership was mostly understood from a management perspective and equated with the formal authority of the LRC in the school. The data further revealed that the LRC performed more leadership roles stretched from inside the classroom, outside the classroom, on the School Board and outside the school. To capture this complexity, I developed a model which may prove useful for future studies of learner leadership. The data also indicated that much support was offered to the LRC members in the school; for example, support from the LRC liaison teacher, the School Management Team and generally from the school, through LRC leadership training. Using CHAT, the findings revealed that the historical context and cultural conventions contradicted the LRC leadership development in the school. In line with a distributed leadership theory, the study recommends that learner leadership should not be limited by position and authority but should be exercised by all learners, through the development and establishment of learner leader clubs in the school. The study also recommends that schools should embark on change initiatives which challenge their traditionally held beliefs and attitudes.
- Full Text:
Leadership development within a learner representative council: a Namibian primary school case study
- Authors: Tjihuro, Jaqueline
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: School management and organization Namibia , Educational leadership Namibia , Student participation in administration Namibia , Student government Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/61558 , vital:28036
- Description: Learners in Namibian primary schools are seemingly not brave enough to stand and raise their voice on issues that concern them. This is what Shekupakela-Nelulu (2008) wrote after a study she conducted on the Learners’ Representative Council (LRC) of a school in Namibia. She refers to a time when “the involvement of students in school affairs was seen by the regime as a political act and attempts by student leaders to involve themselves in educational issues were often quashed” (ibid., p. i). This situation will be all too familiar to South African readers, where a public holiday, Youth Day, was declared to mark the apartheid regime’s brutal treatment of learner protestors on June 16, 1976. While Namibia has not experienced events of such magnitude, the notion of learner voice is equally problematic and worthy of investigation. The absence of leadership development opportunities for learners has led to this research study which seeks to answer the central research question: How can learner leadership be developed in a LRC? I used an interpretive paradigm, adopting a qualitative approach in the study. Concurrently, the study was framed and guided by the second generation of Cultural Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) as an analytical tool to achieve my research goal. The following questions guided the study in two phases. Phase one: What were the perceived causes for the nonsustainability of the learner leadership (LL) club at the school? Phase two: How is the notion of learner leadership understood in the school? How is leadership developed on the LRC? What enables and constrains leadership development of learners on the LRC? The research participants were thirty LRC members from grades 6 and 7 and15 teachers who teach the LRC members. The principal and three HOD’s were also research participants being part of the Senior Management team. One of the HOD’s also fulfils the role of the guardian teacher to the LRC. A school board chairperson also participated in the Change Laboratory Workshop. Data was generated through multiple data sources such as questionnaires, individual interviews, a focus group interview and observation. The findings from phase one of the study revealed that the learner leadership club’s intervention was a success during the 2014 academic year, but the absence of the learner leadership club as an extra-mural activity affected the sustainability of the club into the next academic year 2015. Findings from phase two revealed that leadership opportunities did exist at the school for learner leadership development. However, a few challenges emerged relating to traditional views of leadership and constraining factors that could affect learner leadership development at the school. Thus, Change Laboratory workshops were held to find solutions to the challenges, in order to promote and enhance learner leadership development, hopefully for the future of the Namibian child.
- Full Text:
Learner voice and leadership: a study of a Learner Representative Council in a primary school in Namibia
- Authors: Kapuire, Dominika Bertha
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Educational leadership -- Namibia , School management and organization -- Namibia , Student government -- Namibia , Student participation in administration -- Namibia , Education, Primary -- Namibia , Cultural Historical Activity Theory
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/62177 , vital:28135
- Description: Numerous literature world-wide emphasises the significance of learner voice and leadership in schools. These concerns are not new to the education system of Namibia, because the education system is shaped by policy which encourages the voices of all stakeholders in the schools. The Education Act 16 of 2001 introduced the Learner Representative Council (LRC) as a legitimised body in secondary schools which represents learners in school level decision-making. Learner Representative Council members in secondary schools are allowed to sit in on School Board meetings and voice their concerns about issues at the school. The Act also involved parents, allowing them to air their views on behalf of their children, by becoming part of the School Board. Although this is what the Act 16 of 2001 introduced, recent researchers have urged for the need to develop learner voice and leadership in schools, as many schools have turned a blind eye to its significance. This is also what prompted me to conduct a study on the development of learner voice and leadership. This research was conducted within the context of learner leadership at a primary school in the Otjozondjupa region, Namibia, focusing on the school’s existing Learner Representative Council (LRC). The study explores the underlying reasons for the current problems in the LRC structure and beyond, opening up leadership opportunities, and promoting learner voice at the school. Participants in the research were drawn from learners, teachers, heads of department, and the principal. As a qualitative case study in the interpretive paradigm, the study employed a range of data collection strategies - questionnaires, interviews, focus group interviews, observation and Change Laboratory (CL) workshops - to gather data to answer key research questions: How is the LRC currently involved in the leadership of the school? What are the factors inhibiting the development of learner leadership in the school? What opportunities exist for the development of learner voice and leadership within the LRC? How can learner voice and leadership be developed through Change Laboratory (CL) workshops? The research was underpinned by the second generation of Cultural-Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) as an analytical framework. CHAT had the potential to bring problems and challenges into focus, which was then used to open up expansive learning in the CL workshops. Data collected from the participants was surfaced as mirror data in these workshops. The study showed that the LRC was not active in their leadership roles and that they were not given enough opportunities to function freely in their roles. These learners were under a traditional system of leadership, whereby teachers had all the control and say in the learners’ leadership roles. The development of learner leadership was only recognised through the leadership training camp. Many factors that inhibited the development of learner voice and leadership also emerged in the study. Lastly, the notion of developing learner voice was also not understood by some teachers, which showed in their contradicting views. This study recommends that learner leadership should be developed, starting at an early age in the primary school. It also recommends that learners, however young, should be given a platform to contribute to the decision making at their schools.
- Full Text:
Left-invariant optimal control problems of the Engel group: classification, stability, and integration
- Authors: McLean, Catherine Eve
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/62949 , vital:28323 , http://doi.org/10.21504/10962/62949
- Description: Expected release date-April 2020
- Full Text:
Long-term analysis of ionospheric response during geomagnetic storms in mid, low and equatorial latitudes
- Authors: Matamba, Tshimangadzo Merline
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Ionospheric storms , Coronal mass ejections , Corotating interaction regions , Solar flares , Global Positioning System , Ionospheric critical frequencies , Equatorial Ionization Anomaly (EIA)
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/63991 , vital:28517
- Description: Understanding changes in the ionosphere is important for High Frequency (HF) communications and navigation systems. Ionospheric storms are the disturbances in the Earth’s upper atmosphere due to solar activities such as Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs), Corotating interaction Regions (CIRs) and solar flares. This thesis reports for the first time on an investigation of ionospheric response to great geomagnetic storms (Disturbance storm time, Dst ≤ −350 nT) that occurred during solar cycle 23. The storm periods analysed were 29 March - 02 April 2001, 27 - 31 October 2003, 18 - 23 November 2003 and 06 - 11 November 2004. Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), Total Electron Content (TEC) and ionosonde critical frequency of F2 layer (foF2) data over northern hemisphere (European sector) and southern hemisphere (African sector) mid-latitudes were used to study the ionospheric responses within 15E° - 40°E longitude and ±31°- ±46° geomagnetic latitude. Mid-latitude regions within the same longitude sector in both hemispheres were selected in order to assess the contribution of the low latitude changes especially the expansion of Equatorial Ionization Anomaly (EIA) also known as the dayside ionospheric super-fountain effect during these storms. In all storm periods, both negative and positive ionospheric responses were observed in both hemispheres. Negative ionospheric responses were mainly due to changes in neutral composition, while the expansion of the EIA led to pronounced positive ionospheric storm effect at mid-latitudes for some storm periods. In other cases (e.g 29 October 2003), Prompt Penetration Electric Fields (PPEF), EIA expansion and large scale Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances (TIDs) were found to be present during the positive storm effect at mid-latitudes in both hemispheres. An increase in TEC on the 28 October 2003 was because of the large solar flare with previously determined intensity of X45± 5. A further report on statistical analysis of ionospheric storm effects due to Corotating Interaction Region (CIR)- and Coronal Mass Ejection (CME)-driven storms was performed. The storm periods analyzed occurred during the period 2001 - 2015 which covers part of solar cycles 23 and 24. Dst≤ -30 nT and Kp≥ 3 indices were used to identify the storm periods considered. Ionospheric TEC derived from IGS stations that lie within 30°E - 40°E geographic longitude in mid, low and equatorial latitude over the African sector were used. The statistical analysis of ionospheric storm effects were compared over mid, low and equatorial latitudes in the African sector for the first time. Positive ionospheric storm effects were more prevalent during CME-driven and CIR-driven over all stations considered in this study. Negative ionospheric storm effects occurred only during CME-driven storms over mid-latitude stations and were more prevalent in summer. The other interesting finding is that for the stations considered over mid-, low, and equatorial latitudes, negative-positive ionospheric responses were only observed over low and equatorial latitudes. A significant number of cases where the electron density changes remained within the background variability during storm conditions were observed over the low latitude stations compared to other latitude regions.
- Full Text:
Macroinvertebrate and diatom assemblage responses to pollution, with emphasis on salinity, in the Kat River, Eastern Cape South Africa
- Authors: Mgaba, Ntombekhaya
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Water -- Pollution -- South Africa -- Kat River , Stream salinity -- South Africa -- Kat River , Sewage disposal plants -- South Africa , Environmental monitoring -- South Africa -- Kat River , Water quality -- South Africa -- Kat River , South African Scoring System version 5 (SASS5) , Macroinvertebrate Response Assessment Index (MIRAI)
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/63279 , vital:28389
- Description: Salinity has been implicated as one of the major contributors to deteriorating water quality of freshwater ecosystems around the globe. In South Africa, anthropogenic activities such as mining, agriculture, industry and wastewater treatment works (WWTWs) are the major sources of increasing salinity levels of freshwater resources. The main focus of this study was to assess the impact of salinity on water quality of the Kat River using macroinvertebrates and diatoms as bioindicators. Biomonitoring using macroinvertebrates and diatom communities and concurrent sampling of water physicochemical variables were conducted bi-monthly from December 2015 to November 2016.This period covered summer and winter, and the study was conducted at five selected sites (Sites 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5) along the length of the Kat River. For macroinvertebrates biomonitoring, the South African Scoring System version 5 (SASS5) and Macroinvertebrate Response Assessment Index (MIRAI) were applied to collect and analyse data, while the Taylor et al (2006) protocol for collecting and analysing diatom assemblages was modified and used for diatom collection and analysis. Water physicochemical variables, including hydrogen ion concentration (pH), electrical conductivity (EC), dissolved oxygen (DO), temperature, turbidity and stream flow were determined in situ using appropriate multiprobe meter and/or techniques. Nutrients (NO3-N, NO2-N, NH4-N and PO4-P) were analysed in the laboratory using appropriate analytical methods. All data were subjected to appropriate statistical analyses and statistical decisions were made at an alpha value of 0.05. Particularly, multivariate analyses of both macroinvertebrates and diatoms assemblages were conducted using canonical correspondence analysis and Bray-Curtis similarity analysis, while indicator species analysis was used to determine which species is/are more significant with respect to biomonitoring in the Kat River. Biotic diversity indices were also measured and used to discriminate between least and most impacted sites. The Kat River water quality was found to have experienced a varying degree of modification compared to Generic Resources Water Quality Objectives limits. Change in DO, stream flow, EC, nutrients and turbidity exerted the greatest influenced on the macroinvertebrates assemblage structure, with organisms at Sites 4 and 5 (downstream sites) showing more significant negative impact compared to organisms at Sites 1, 2 and 3 (upstream sites). Analysis of the diatom biomonitoring showed more negative impact at Sites 2, 4 and 5 compared to Sites 1 and 3. Fort Beaufort Wastewater Treatment Works and small-scale farming activities, as well as leaking of pipes carrying sewage, were found to be the likely major sources of anthropogenic activities responsible for the observed increased salinity and other pollutants in the Kat River. Overall, this study found macroinvertebrates (identified up to the family level) as good for biomonitoring to assess or predict water quality of the Kat River, while diatoms were found to be most suitable for biomonitoring to assess salinity in the Kat River.
- Full Text:
Malume’s bones
- Authors: Mokhele, Sizakele
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Creative writing (Higher education) -- South Africa , South African poetry (English) -- 21st century
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/63132 , vital:28366
- Description: My poetry is about real stories: poverty, love, politics, past pains and healing. I try to follow the example of Amiri Baraka who says his poetry is whatever he thinks he is, that he makes poetry with “what can be saved out the garbage of our lives”. My collection also preserves and embraces demotic language, which is also a part of who I am. I am influenced by Baraka’s and Ike Muila’s use of demotics, and the way that poets such as Antonio Jacinto, Costa Andrade and Mafika Gwala tackle political matters in a colourful and powerful way. I have also been inspired by ancient Chinese poets to explore love and eroticism, particularly how it plays out in the eyes of my people.
- Full Text:
Mannich base metal complexes and their thiocyanate analogues as catalysts in the oxidation of Catechol
- Authors: Ayeni, Ayowole Olaolu
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Mannich bases , Catechol , Catechol -- Oxidation , Thiocyanates , Catalysts
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/62339 , vital:28156
- Description: The study focused on the design of new Cu(II) and Fe(III) complexes, with or without thiocyanate (NCS-), as possible candidates of catechol oxidation using 3,5-di-tert-butyl catechol (3,5-DTBC) as substrate. Two classes of Mannich bases were studied depending on the active methylene group from which they were formed, being either p-cresol or acetaminophen. The ligands were characterised by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. Crystal structures of three of the ligands are newly reported, along with detailed discussion of polymorphism observed in one of the ligands, and the nature of the hydrogen within the ligands in the solid state as well as in solution. The Mannich bases behaved as bidentate (NO), tridentate (NNO) and tetradentate (NNOO) ligands on coordination to Cu(II) and Fe(III) ions in which the hydroxyl group may be protonated or deprotonated. Coordination was determined by IR spectroscopy, investigating shifts in vOH, vC-O and in vCNC of the Mannich bases. The vCNC stretching frequencies v1 and v2 of asymmetrical piperazine Mannich bases were observed to shift upward in few cases upon complexation and this is attributed to (chair-boat) conformational change. The mode of coordination of the thiocyanate was determined by IR spectroscopy. Of the forty metal complexes investigated, six groups of metal complexes were identified as follows: (i) Ma(Ln)aClb-cH2O; (ii) Ma(HLn)a(NCS)aClb; (iii) Ma(Ln)a(NCS)aClb; (iv) Ma(HLn)aClb-cH2O; (v) Ma(Ln)a(NCS)a-cH2O; (vi) Ma(HLn)a(NCS)a-cH2O where a = 1 - 2 ; b = 1 - 4, c = 1 - 8. Molar conductivity values of 4.38 - 161.77 Q-1.cm2.mol-1 for the Cu(II) and Fe(III) complexes in DMSO showed that they range from non-electrolytes to 1:1 and 1:2 electrolytes. Electronic spectra for the ligands and the complexes were conducted in DMF and DMSO. The ligands are characterised by and n→n* and n→n* transitions. Intraligand charge transfer transitions peculiar to the nitro group were observed at about 430 nm for the nitro containing ligands. On coordination, these bands overshadowed the d-d transitions particularly for the nitro-Mannich bases. On complexation, ligand to metal charge transfer transitions associated with the hydroxyl were observed between 320 - 420 nm. Charge transfer transitions associated with the thiocyanates were also observed and discussed. The d-d transitions for high spin Fe(III) complexes are spin forbidden and generally uninformative. Those of Cu(II) are spin allowed and allow tentative structural proposals. Square planar and octahedral geometry are generally prevalent in the Cu(II) complexes with trigonal bipyramidal observed in few instances. The Fe(III) complexes are generally octahedral. Thirty-nine of the forty synthesised Cu(II) and Fe(III) complexes were catalytically active on the substrate (3,5-DTBC) in DMF with turnover rates (kcat) reported in the range of 1.86 ± 0.09 to 112.32 ± 3.72 h-1. From this pool of complexes, sixteen isostructural pairs were identified in terms of geometry, molecular formula and the source of the Mannich base and the following conclusions were made: The presence of thiocyanate in the metal complexes reduce catecholase activity; the Cu(II) complexes generally have better activity but the Fe(III) complexes become more relatively active with highly electron donating groups while the Cu(II) complexes become less; dinuclear complexes have greater activity than the mononuclear.
- Full Text:
Measuring the elasticity of electricity demand in South Africa: implications for future demand and supply
- Authors: Kosiorek, Sebastian
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Electric power consumption -- South Africa , Electric power distribution -- South Africa , Electric power production -- South Africa , Electric power failures -- South Africa , Electric utilities -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Autoregression (Statistics) , Renewable energy sources -- South Africa , Energy policy -- South Africa , Integrated Resource Plan
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/62472 , vital:28196
- Description: A key economic issue for government is the ability to effectively match electricity supply to electricity demand, because of the substantial economic losses in the case of where there is too little supply, or the waste of scarce resources where there is too much supply. In the case of South Africa, this issue, the importance of which was highlighted by the power shortages and associated “rolling blackouts” experience in 2008, has led to the creation of the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) as a means to decide how energy policy will be developed. Recently, however, the IRP 2010 and its subsequent 2013 and 2016 (draft) updates have been criticised as being too optimistic in regards to their projections of economic growth and electricity demand, making the recommendations in these documents to be flawed. Using monthly data from January 1990 to May 2017, together with Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) bounds testing for cointegration, this paper measures changes in the elasticity of electricity demand as a result of the massive price hikes over the past decade. Thereafter, the implications of changed electricity as well as possibly lower Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth in the future for forecasts of possible future demand for electricity are examined. From these revised forecasts, it is possible to make appropriate recommendations in regards to electricity supply policy for South Africa including what possible energy mix is needed as well as the requirements for creating new supply to meet possible future demand. It is concluded that future electricity demand is likely to be much lower than forecast in the IRP 2010 and IRP 2013 documents. The degree of uncertainty in electricity demand growth suggests that large-scale increases in supply capacity taking years to construct, such as coal or nuclear, should be avoided. Small, incremental increases in supply that are able to come on stream swiftly, such as gas, solar and wind power, are likely to be more appropriate for meeting South Africa’s future needs.
- Full Text:
Medicine use in swallowing-impaired patients: Pharmacists’ knowledge, practice and information needs
- Authors: Masilamoney, Mehrusha
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Deglutition disorders , Drugs -- Administration , Oral medication -- Administration , Pharmacists -- Practice , South African Pharmacy Council
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MPharm
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/61940 , vital:28086
- Description: Dysphagia, or swallowing impairment, is a growing problem that affects 13.5% of the general population. The ability to swallow is essential for patients taking oral medicines, so this presents a challenge for swallowing-impaired (SI) patients as tablets and capsules will usually require modification prior to ingestion. Pharmacists should play a central role in advising SI patients about their medicine use, as well as problems that may impact on safety, adherence and therapeutic outcome. However, little is known about pharmacists’ level of knowledge, their practice and their information needs when dealing with SI patients and their use of medicines. The aim of this study was to investigate pharmacist knowledge, practice and information needs relating to the support of SI patients and their medicine-related needs. The study design included both quantitative and qualitative methods. A quantitative questionnaire was developed to collect data on the knowledge, practice and information needs of pharmacists and was piloted in 10 pharmacists, which resulted in minor modifications. The questionnaire was converted to a web-based survey and emailed to all pharmacists registered with the South African Pharmacy Council. Two knowledge scores were generated by summating correct responses: knowledge of dysphagia (KOD) and knowledge of medicine use (KOMU) in SI patients. Correlation analysis was used to investigate the strength of the relationship between specific variables with KOD and KOMU using the Pearson correlation coefficient. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with pharmacists from community, hospital and primary healthcare clinics in both a small town and a major metropole. The aim was to gain deeper understanding of issues arising from the survey, and to explore preferences for topic-specific information materials. All interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. A total of 439 pharmacists responded to the survey, with 67% being females.The mean KOD score out of a maximum score of 10 was 6.1 ± 1.8. KOD was inadequate (<5) in just over one-third (37.8%) of pharmacists. The mean KOMU score achieved (maximum score 17) was 9.4 ± 2.0, with inadequate knowledge (<10) being established in just over two-thirds of pharmacists (70.8%). Age, length of registration as a pharmacist, and years of practice in a setting with direct patient interaction were significantly but weakly correlated with KOMU, whereas KOD showed no significant association with these variables. Qualification significantly influenced both KOD and KOMU; the highest group with adequate knowledge had either a Masters or a PharmD degree. Fewer than half the pharmacists (44%) never ask patients about their swallowing ability, and most (86%) reported no knowledge of locally available viscosity enhancers. Almost all pharmacists were interested in receiving information materials on assisting SI patients with their medicine use. Three major themes emerged from the semi-structured interviews. Pharmacists recognised their knowledge deficit and felt that lack of both undergraduate training and formal training during practice, as well as limited exposure to SI patients, were contributing factors. Barriers to their practice with SI patients included lack of time, lack of institutional support and lack of easily accessible references on the pharmacists’ role in supporting medicine use in SI patients. Lastly, most pharmacists were not prepared to take ownership of medicine-related problems in SI patients and had conflicting opinions of the pharmacists’ role, usually shifting the responsibility of medicine use in SI patients to nurses. This is the first study to investigate pharmacist knowledge of medicine use in SI patients. The findings indicate that pharmacists do not have the requisite knowledge when dealing with SI patients and their medicine-taking issues despite being the most highly trained healthcare professionals in this field. Lack of undergraduate training, in-house training and limited exposure to SI patients were reported to contribute to poor knowledge. Current practice revealed that there appears to be poor communication among different healthcare professionals, pharmacists were reluctant to work with and/or train nurses on appropriate medicine use in SI patients, and there appeared to be ambiguity surrounding the role of a pharmacist. This research identified that pharmacists regard this topic to be highly relevant to their everyday practice and are keen to receive more information and training relating to this area of study. Information materials were designed and will be made accessible to all pharmacists registered in South Africa.
- Full Text:
Mining, agriculture and wetland ecological infrastructure in the Upper Komati catchment (South Africa): contestations in a complex social-ecological system
- Authors: Keighley, Tia-Kristi
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Wetland ecology -- Komati River Watershed , Coal mines and mining -- Environmental aspects -- Komati River Watershed , Agriculture -- Environmental aspects -- Komati River Watershed , Acid mine drainage -- Komati River Watershed , Water quality -- Physiological effect -- Komati River Watershed , Wetland conservation -- Komati River Watershed , National Freshwater Ecosystem Priority Areas (NFEPAs)
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/63810 , vital:28491
- Description: Wetlands provide a wide variety of natural benefits (ecosystem services) from the natural environment to human populations, making them key examples of ecological infrastructure. However, the use of wetlands and their associated catchments is often contested by different users, making them nodes of conflict. Thus, there is a range of pressures on many wetlands which can ultimately lead to degradation or destruction. This study investigated the X11B quaternary catchment in the Upper Inkomati basin, Mpumalanga, South Africa. This catchment is characterised by a network of wetlands and streams that provide catchment residents with water. The sub-catchment is heavily used, dominated by the agricultural sector and coal mining. To understand the contestation, a contextual analysis was carried out. Selected wetland conditions and ecosystem services, along with user perceptions and the value of wetland-use, were assessed. Wetlands were observably in a relatively healthy condition. The resilience of wetlands and the efficiency of the ecosystem services they offer, especially in mediating water quality, were clear. The early results indicated a healthy landscape despite multiple-user impact from human activity. The health scores and provision of ecosystem services, along with the identified National Freshwater Ecosystem Priority Areas (NFEPAs) and red-listed fauna and flora, provide a substantial grounding for advocating the conservation of the wetlands of the contested X11B catchment. When water quality measures were added to the wetland health and ecosystem service assessment, low pH levels and high electrical conductivity were recorded. Both measures indicate coal mining impacts, more specifically Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) impacts, since AMD typically has sulphate as the dominant salt ion, and high concentrations of trace elements and metal ions. Concentrations breaching the recommended resource quality objectives (RQOs) of trace elements and ions, found in fertilizers and pesticides, were recorded in most sites, suggesting agricultural impacts on the landscape’s hydrology. Further, these agricultural impacts would add to the compromising effect of the wetlands’ capacity to remove pollutants from the water body. Livestock farming on all sites were also near wetlands which may have limited the vegetation cover of grazed land, so increasing runoff and the volume of water entering wetlands and compromising their ecosystem services. Poor water quality has implications for biophysical processes, which play an important role in the functioning of wetlands, for the benefit of users. Without the water quality measures, ecosystem health and ecosystem service methodology used suggested a healthy catchment. However, simple field water quality measures indicated past and present mining impacts. Therefore, the mandatory use of water chemistry is recommended in the assessment of wetlands in catchments with past and present mining activity taking place. Without this, repercussions would include wetland loss, and a more thorough investigation into the water quality and its effects on the wetland ecosystems is suggested. Further ecological investigation of water chemistry (heavy metals, ions, nutrients and trace elements) and macroinvertebrate assemblages identified links to water chemistry impacts on macroinvertebrate abundance and diversity. Abundance results based on the presence, absence and abundance of macroinvertebrates at the different sites did not reveal any clear patterns associated with different landscape users. Diversity, on the other hand, was related to land-use, where sites with high mining use had lower macroinvertebrate diversity than other sites. Related, concurrent, hydro-pedology research produced a more comprehensive understanding of the impact of mining on hydro-connectivity that clearly indicates mining as the cause of long-term deterioration of functional wetland health in a way that is practically impossible to restore. This study suggests that wetlands provide a strong ecosystem service of intermittent resetting of the wetland sediment adsorptive capacity for toxic metal and other salt ions. The hypothesis arising from the work is that, in the case of another heavy rainfall event, the town of Carolina risks another AMD crisis. As sediments are likely to be accumulating and saturated with toxic metal ions. Further AMD-related changes in acidity will increase the mobilisation of adsorbed ions. Future flooding and flushing of wetlands will therefore once again move toxic metal ions through the system, and possibly re-contaminate the Boesmanspruit dam. The value of the study is in delivering specific evidence on the impacts of mining (and to a lesser extent agriculture) on wetland quality. Overall, this study, combined with additional research, indicates that in the X11B catchment, mining impacts are long-term and more serious than agriculture. In terms of contestation the research indicates that reliance on bio-physical data and knowledge is inadequate in resolving conflict between coal mining and other land- and water-users. The study demonstrates the necessity of insight into the social system and the value of a transdisciplinary approach in addressing land-use conflicts and wetland protection.
- Full Text:
Mna, Nosigidi
- Authors: Matyobeni, Simthembile
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Creative writing (Higher education) -- South Africa , Xhosa poetry -- 21st century , South African poetry (English) -- 21st century
- Language: Xhosa , English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/64412 , vital:28541
- Description: This thesis is a collection of poems. These are lyric poems. Animystic poets like Christopher Okigbo and Wole Soyinka are the principal models in terms of style. Animystic poetry projects ideas and emotions in a hallucinatory and profoundly visionary manner. The collection has a variety of themes such as marginality, identity, history, and domestic abuse. Diverse language registers are used in the poems in order that the setting of each poem, whether historical or contemporary, is realised. , Le thesisi ngumbongo omde osekelezelwe kumlinganiswa oyintloko, uNosigidi. Esi simbo sokuyila isihobe siva ngomlimandlela owenziwa ziimbongi ezifana noJ. R. R. Jolobe no‐Aime Cesaire. Indumasiso ethi “UThuthula” kaJolobe inefuthe kwimo yokwakhiwa kweminye imibongo edibanisa le mbali. Asiyiyo yonke imibhalo yezi mbongi ethe ncakasana ukungqamana nale mbali‐sihobe kaNosigidi. Imibongo ekuthiwa yi‐‘Animystic poetry’ isetyenzisiwe kakhulu kule mibongo. Sigqaliwe kunye nesihobe nesikaSappho, kuba yimbongi ebhale kakhulu ngamandla elizwi lamanina. USappho ngakumbi ubhala kakhulu kwisihobe sakhe ngamanina athandana namanye. Owona mxo walo mbongo kukugqala ibali koNosigidi okhule esazi kamhlophe ukuba yena uthandana namanye amanina. Isizathu soku kukuba nabo obu bomi kuyafuneka kubhaliwe ngabo ngendlela enenkathalo kuncwadi lwesiXhosa. Nasekusabeleni ubizo lwakhe kwintwaso uNosigidi uya enamathidala, de obo bomi bentumekelelo abamkele ngazo zozibini.
- Full Text:
Modelling Ionospheric vertical drifts over the African low latitude region
- Authors: Dubazane, Makhosonke Berthwell
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Ionospheric drift , Magnetometers , Functions, Orthogonal , Neural networks (Computer science) , Ionospheric electron density -- Africa , Communication and Navigation Outage Forecasting Systems (C/NOFS)
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/63356 , vital:28396
- Description: Low/equatorial latitudes vertical plasma drifts and electric fields govern the formation and changes of ionospheric density structures which affect space-based systems such as communications, navigation and positioning. Dynamical and electrodynamical processes play important roles in plasma distribution at different altitudes. Because of the high variability of E × B drift in low latitude regions, coupled with various processes that sometimes originate from high latitudes especially during geomagnetic storm conditions, it is challenging to develop accurate vertical drift models. This is despite the fact that there are very few instruments dedicated to provide electric field and hence E × B drift data in low/equatorial latitude regions. To this effect, there exists no ground-based instrument for direct measurements of E×B drift data in the African sector. This study presents the first time investigation aimed at modelling the long-term variability of low latitude vertical E × B drift over the African sector using a combination of Communication and Navigation Outage Forecasting Systems (C/NOFS) and ground-based magnetometer observations/measurements during 2008-2013. Because the approach is based on the estimation of equatorial electrojet from ground-based magnetometer observations, the developed models are only valid for local daytime. Three modelling techniques have been considered. The application of Empirical Orthogonal Functions and partial least squares has been performed on vertical E × B drift modelling for the first time. The artificial neural networks that have the advantage of learning underlying changes between a set of inputs and known output were also used in vertical E × B drift modelling. Due to lack of E×B drift data over the African sector, the developed models were validated using satellite data and the climatological Scherliess-Fejer model incorporated within the International Reference Ionosphere model. Maximum correlation coefficient of ∼ 0.8 was achieved when validating the developed models with C/NOFS E × B drift observations that were not used in any model development. For most of the time, the climatological model overestimates the local daytime vertical E × B drift velocities. The methods and approach presented in this study provide a background for constructing vertical E ×B drift databases in longitude sectors that do not have radar instrumentation. This will in turn make it possible to study day-to-day variability of vertical E×B drift and hopefully lead to the development of regional and global models that will incorporate local time information in different longitude sectors.
- Full Text:
Modelling plant water use of the grassland and thicket biomes in the Eastern Cape, South Africa: towards an improved understanding of the impact of invasive alien plants on soil chemistry, biomass production and evapotranspiration
- Authors: Gwate, Onalenna
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Grasslands -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Invasive plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rangelands -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Range ecology-- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rangelands -- Water-supply , Rangelands -- Weed control , Evapotranspiration , Plant-water relationships
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/54800 , vital:26617
- Description: It is imperative to understand the strong coupling between the carbon capture process and water use to sustainably manage rangelands. Woody encroachment is undermining rangelands grass production. Evapotranspiration (ET) highlights the links between ecosystem carbon capture process and water use. It forms the biggest flux of the hydrological cycle after precipitation yet it is not well understood. The Grassland and the Albany Thicket (AT) biomes in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, provide an interesting space to study the dynamics in rangelands biomass production and the associated water use. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to contribute towards management of rangelands by understanding the dynamics in rangeland grass production and water use. To achieve this aim, the impact of Acacia mearnsii, an invasive alien plant, on soil chemical properties and rangelands grass production was investigated. This was achieved by analysing the biophysical attributes of A. mearnsii as they related to grass production. Secondly, selected soil variables that could be used as a prognosis for landscape recovery or deterioration were evaluated. In addition, aboveground grass biomass was measured in areas cleared of A. mearnsii and regression equations were prepared to help model aboveground grass biomass in areas cleared of A. mearnsi. The thesis also explored dynamics in water vapour and energy fluxes in these two biomes using an eddy covariance system. Consequently, water vapour and energy fluxes were evaluated in order to understand landscape water use and energy partitioning in the landscape. The study also tested the application of Penman-Monteith equation based algorithms for estimating ET with micrometeorological techniques used for validation. Pursuant to this, the Penman- Monteith-Leuning (PML) and Penman-Monteith-Palmer (PMP) equations were applied. In addition, some effort was devoted to improving the estimates of ET from the PMP by incorporating a direct soil evaporation component. Finally, the influence of local changes in catchment characteristics on ET was explored through the application of a variant of the Budyko framework and investigating dynamics in the evaporative index as well as applying tests for trends and shifts on ET and rainfall data to detect changes in mean quaternary catchment rainfall and ET. Results revealed that A. mearnsii affected soil chemical properties and impaired grass production in rangelands. Hence, thinning of canopies provided an optimal solution for enhanced landscape water use to sequestrate carbon, provide shade, grazing, and also wood fuel. It was also shown that across sites, ET was water limited since differences between reference ET and actual ET were large. ET was largely sensitive to vapour pressure deficit and surface conductance than to net radiation, indicating that the canopies were strongly coupled with the boundary layer. Rangeland ET was successfully simulated and evaporation from the soil was the dominant flux, hence there is scope for reducing the so-called ‘unproductive’ water use. Further, it was shown that the PML was better able to simulate ET compared to the PMP model as revealed by different model evaluation metrics such as the root mean square error, absolute mean square error and the root mean square observations standard deviation ratio. The incorporation of a soil evaporation component in the PMP model improved estimates of ET as revealed by the root mean square error. The results also indicated that both the catchment parameter (w) and the evaporative index were important in highlighting the impacts of land cover change on ET. It was also shown that, despite changes in the local environment such as catchment characteristics, global forces also affected ET at a local scale. Overall, the study demonstrated that combining remote sensing and ground based observations was important to better understand rangeland grass production and water use dynamics.
- Full Text:
Morphological and genetic variation of Gymnothorax undulatus (Anguilliformes: Muraenidae) in the Western Indian Ocean
- Authors: Sithole, Yonela
- Date: 2018
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/63722 , vital:28476
- Description: Expected release date-April 2019
- Full Text:
Movement of coastal fishery species in Southern Africa: research trends, characterisation of behaviours and a case study on fishery implications
- Authors: Maggs, Jade Quinton
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Fishery management -- Africa, Southern , Fisheries -- Africa, Southern , Fisheries -- Catch effort , Fisheries -- Environmental aspects , Fisheries --Monitoring , Biotelemetry , Sustainable fisheries -- Africa, Southern , Overfishing -- Africa, Southern
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/60574 , vital:27798
- Description: Movement of fishes is an integral part of their daily life, but has significant implications for fishery management. As with nearly all coastal countries, South Africa relies on coastal fisheries as a renewable resource, but many stocks have been overexploited for decades. Although it has long been recognised that an understanding of fish movement is necessary for effective management, it is with some difficulty that the subject has been studied in the past. In recent years, however, improvements in technology have provided the means for more in-depth investigations into fish movement. This research has revealed a range of complex movement behaviours. Movement in fishes occurs on a variety of temporal and spatial scales leading to the characteristic patterns of distribution and abundance observed in marine ecosystems. Fishes move nearly constantly in search of food, shelter or reproductive opportunities. Observations of behaviours such as long-term site fidelity, longdistance migration and natal homing are enabling ecologists to understand patterns of distribution and abundance within a species' range. Fish movement around the South African coast has been studied on numerous occasions but this has largely been confined to studies on single species. Movement behaviour of multiple species has been studied, but this has been limited to spatially localised marine protected area research. There has been little attempt in southern Africa to synthesize interspecific movement behaviour over wide spatial scales.Unprecedented concern over the biological effects of overexploitation, together with rapid technological advances in biotelemetry, have provided the impetus for much research, on a global scale, into the movement of marine animals. I reviewed 101 marine and estuarine fish movement studies from southern Africa, published from 1928 to 2014, with the aim of synthesising research trends and findings. Trends showed an increasing emphasis on fish movement research in publications in the sub-tropical and warm-temperate biogeographic regions along the south and east coasts of southern Africa. Although 63% of publications featured only marine studies, research into fine-scale habitat use in estuaries has been on the increase, concomitant with increasing accessibility of biotelemetry. Overall, 26 fish families were identified in the surveyed literature with regionally endemic sparids featuring in 32% of the publications. Ten movement themes were identified in the surveyed literature, including broad-scale movement patterns, which featured in 68% of studies, followed by fine- scale habitat usage (33%) and protected areas (26%). The most prominent phenomenon, emerging from this research, is that of partial migration, which describes the occurrence of resident and migratory behaviour within a coexisting animal population. Substantial progress has also been made in unravelling the complexities of fine-scale movements in marine reserves and habitat usage in estuaries. While this knowledge has enabled more effective management of South Africa's multi-user, multi-species fisheries, focus should now be directed at improving our understanding of the commonalities in movement behaviour, the associated driving forces behind this behaviour and the extent of movement across reserve boundaries. Mark-recapture data, collected over the past 30 years by the Oceanographic Research Institute’s Cooperative Fish Tagging Project (ORICFTP), were used to investigate broad- scale movement patterns of 30 prominent coastal fishery species (Chapter 4). Fishes were tagged with plastic dart tags along the coastline of southern Africa from Angola to Mozambique. This exercise yielded more than 10000 recaptures. The 30 chosen species represented 14 families, although 12 species belonged to a single family (Sparidae). Overall, 67% of recaptures were reported from the original tagging locality and 73% were recorded within 5 km of the tagging locality. The remaining observations extended from 6-3000 km. Movements were assigned to four distance bins (0-5 km, 6-50km, 51-500km and >500 km) and modelled with an ordinal logistic regression. Species, life-stage (juvenile/adult) and time- at-liberty were included as predictor variables. Model coefficients were then included in a cluster analysis, which produced two primary groupings of species (Category I and II), with two sub-groupings (Category IIa and IIb). Category I species were characterised by wide-ranging movements, greatest median recapture length and highest trophic levels. Category II species were characterised by residency, lower median recapture length and lower trophic levels. These findings have implications for fisheries management. Exploitation of resident species may lead to localised depletion, but their diffuse spatial distribution may offer some resilience. In contrast, even localised targeting of migratory species may pose a population level risk if individuals are known to aggregate. Life-cycle diversity or intra-population variability describes the existence of alternative strategies or tactics among coexisting individuals within an animal population (Chapter 5). Partial migration is a specific case of life-cycle diversity where coexisting groups exhibit either resident or migratory (wide-ranging) behaviour within a single population. Mark- recapture data collected under the auspices of the ORICFTP were used to investigate the occurrence and nature of life-cycle diversity in the movement behaviour of five non- diadromous fish species around the coastline of southern Africa. Among the five species were three teleosts (Category I and IIa) and two elasmobranchs (Category I). A fish was considered to have remained resident if recaptured within 0-5 km after 365 days at liberty. A fish was considered to have undertaken a wide-ranging movement if recaptured more than 50 km away from the release site in 365 days or less. A total of 1848 individuals from the five study species were recaptured during the study, of which 73% of the observations were classified as being resident. Binomial logistic regression confirmed that species, life-stage (juvenile/adult) and ecoregion were significant (p < 0.001) predictors of the probability of wide-ranging behaviour. A Gaussian model confirmed that species and ecoregion were also significant (p < 0.001) predictors of direction and distance of wide-ranging movement. However, the direction and distance of wide-ranging movements in juveniles did not differ significantly (p > 0.05) to that of adults. The median growth rate was mostly greater in wide- ranging individuals; however, this was only statistically significant (p < 0.05) in two cases. These findings provide unequivocal evidence of life-cycle diversity in five fish species, with vastly different life-histories. This ecological phenomenon may provide species resilience at the population level and needs to be considered in fisheries management initiatives. The movement of fishes is a fundamental aspect to consider when designing fishery management regimes. Unfortunately, traditional management strategies have often disregarded movement behaviour to the detriment of fish populations (Chapter 6). As a case study, the management of Lichia amia (Category I: wide-ranging) was evaluated in the context of its movement behaviour. Long-term catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) datasets were examined for three South African recreational fishery sectors. The CPUE was standardised using generalized linear models (delta-Gamma/hurdle approach) to reduce the effect of factors other than abundance. Factors that were available for this purpose were year, month and locality/zone. Year was included in every model as the primary objective was to detect trends in abundance over time. Although standardised CPUE for all sectors showed an overall long-term decline, there was considerable variability in trends between the different recreational sectors and between datasets. Contrasting trends between competitive shore angling and general shore angling datasets were ascribed to hyperstability in competitive CPUE data. Hyperstability in this case was mostly influenced by rapidly improving technology, techniques and communication networks amongst competitive anglers. Month and locality were significant factors explaining the probability of catching L. amia. This suggests that the predictable aggregatory behaviour of this species could further compound the observed CPUE hyperstability. Although the CPUE responded positively for six years after implementation of the first minimum size and bag limits, and for one year after the decommercialisation of the species, these regulations and their amendments failed to arrest a long-term decline in the CPUE despite the ample evidence for hyperstability. It is clear from this case study that the predictable nature of wide-ranging behaviour in L. amia has made the population vulnerable to exploitation. This has led to the demise in the population, which could have been worse if not for the occurrence of intra-population variability in its movement behaviour, which may provide some measure of resilience.
- Full Text:
Naming in Germany in the 20th century: a sociological study of naming in times of social change, with a focus on statistical problems in empirical onomastic research
- Authors: Huschka, Denis
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Onomastics , Names, Personal -- Germany , Names, German -- Etymology , Names, German -- Social aspects , German language -- Etymology -- Names , German Socio Economic Panel Study (SOEP)
- Language: German , English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/63054 , vital:28359
- Description: In this thesis names are used as social indicators to observe social change in Germany in the 20th century. The German Socio Economic Panel Study (SOEP) offers the rare opportunity to analyse representative survey data of first names. The empirical results of the analyses in this thesis offer a comprehensive picture on how the naming reality in Germany looks like and how naming changed in a period of about 100 years. Names can serve as social indicators. It is demonstrated how chosen names mirror social change in the German society: Name choices have become less traditional and more individual. Over time names from other world regions and cultures have found their way into the German culture. There are more different names in use today than 100 years ago and the names have become more evenly distributed over the population. Today children are less likely to share their names with many of their peers. These are signs of an increasingly individualised, transnationalised modern behaviour of the people in contemporary Germany. Almost all of these developments started earlier and tend to be more pronounced for girl’s names. The secularisation of the German society - however - did not cause substantial changes in naming over time. Christian names still are used to the greatest extent, but – possibly – not because they are regarded as being of Christian origin. The analyses of the social-structural influences on naming touch on some effects of education and status. The analyses of differences in naming between the two German states during the time of division adds some evidence to the real-life experience that naming in the communist East Germany was much more oriented towards the free western hemisphere – a kind of silent protest. Obviously naming was a possibility to distance oneself from an un-loved regime. On a methodological level referring to onomastics, the so-called „Large Number of are Events-Zone (LNRE)“, a feature of the distribution of names that has mostly been handled inappropriately up to now, is discussed with respect to its effects on name statistics when using samples. An alternative approach is proposed for the appropriate handling of this feature. , In der vorliegenden Arbeit werden Vornamen als soziale Indikatoren benutzt, um gesellschaftlichen Wandel im 20. Jahrhundert zu beschreiben. Das Soziooekonomische Panel (SOEP) bietet die seltene Möglichkeit, Umfragedaten über die Vornamen der Deutschen repräsentativ auszuwerten. Die empirischen Ergebnisse der vorliegenden Arbeit bieten einen umfassenden Einblick in die deutsche Vornamensrealität und über die Entwicklungen der Namensvergabe in 100 Jahren. Namen sind soziale Indikatoren. Es wird aufgezeigt, wie die Namensgebung den sozialen Wandel in der deutschen Gesellschaft spiegelt: Namenwahlen weisen über die Zeit weniger traditionelle Bezüge auf, sie wurden individueller. Namen aus anderen Kulturen und Ländern fanden Eingang in die deutsche Kultur. Es werden mehr verschiedene Namen benutzt als vor 100 Jahren und die typischerweise hoch konzentrierten Verteilungen der Vornamen stellen sich über die Zeit etwas weniger konzentriert dar. Heute geborene Kinder teilen ihre Namen mit anteilig weniger anderen Kindern ihrer Kohorte. Dies sind Anzeichen für eine individualisierte, transnational orientierte moderne Gesellschaft. Fast alle dieser Entwicklungen sind für Mädchennamen früher und in deutlicherem Maße zu beobachten. Die Säkularisierung der deutschen Gesellschaft hat hingegen wenig Einfluss auf die Vornamenswahlen genommen. Nach wie vor werden vor allem christliche Namen vergeben, auch wenn der christliche Bezug unter Umständen nicht mehr der maßgebliche Grund für die Auswahl ist. Die Analyse der sozialstrukturellen Einflüsse auf Namenswahlen bestätigt einige Effekte von Bildung und Status der Mütter. Die Analyse der Unterschiede in der Namensgebung der beiden deutschen Staaten während der 40 jährigen Teilung zeigt, dass der lebensweltliche Eindruck einer zunehmenden West-Orientierung der Namenswahlen ostdeutscher Eltern nicht trügt. Offenbar waren westliche Namen eine Möglichkeit, sich vom ungeliebten Regime zu distanzieren. Auf einer statistisch-methodischen Ebene wird eine bislang in der empirischen Onomastik unrichtig gehandhabte Besonderheit von Vornamensverteilungen – die Large Number of Rare Events-Zone (LNRE) – diskutiert und Lösungsvorschläge für den statistisch korrekten Umgang mit dieser Besonderheit in Gruppenvergleichen auf der Basis von Stichproben vorgelegt.
- Full Text:
Narrated experiences of the pre-termination of pregnancy counselling healthcare encounter in the Eastern Cape public health sector
- Authors: Mavuso, Jabulile Mary-Jane Jace
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Abortion counseling -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Abortion -- Psychological aspects , Abortion -- Social aspects , Pro-choice movement -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Reproductive rights -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Women -- Sexual behavior -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Women -- South Africa -- Social conditions
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/62928 , vital:28311
- Description: Research that has been conducted about experiences of pre-abortion counselling tends to investigate either womxn's1 or healthcare providers' experiences separately, with research on womxn's experiences of abortion and abortion counselling dominating this area of research. Although some of the studies on womxn's abortion experiences have explored womxn's experiences of interactions between themselves and healthcare providers, these aspects have been underreported. To my knowledge, research that also explores womxn's interactions among themselves in the waiting room has not been done. Furthermore, research that explores the pre-termination of pregnancy healthcare encounter, where womxn's and healthcare providers' experiences of waiting room interactions and of pre-abortion counselling practices are seen as interrelated, has not been conducted. Research that has been conducted among womxn's experiences show that womxn have varying experiences of pre-abortion counselling, with some finding it useful while other womxn have found it to be lacking in relevance to their specific situation or needs. Research conducted among healthcare providers also points to varying experiences, with some healthcare providers stratifying womxn's reasons for abortion according to the acceptability of the request. This study explores health service providers’ and womxn’s narrated experiences of the pre-termination of pregnancy healthcare encounter (waiting room interactions and pre-abortion counselling) in the Eastern Cape public health sector. An African feminist post-structural approach, which enables analysis of how discursive structures and power relations may underpin African womxn's experiences of oppression and resistance, was used. Fusing this approach with a narrative-discursive analysis, enabled an exploration of the discursive resources drawn upon and the power relations referred to by participants when constructing micro-narratives and accounts of their experiences of waiting room interactions and pre-abortion counselling practices. This fusion enabled an understanding of the micro (individual) and macro (social) and how they interact and come to bear on experiences of the pre-abortion counselling healthcare encounter. Womxn's micro-narratives and healthcare providers' accounts were compared for convergences and divergences in the pre-abortion counselling practices they described. The implications of these convergences and divergences and of the power relations referred to by participants for pre-abortion counselling service provision are discussed. The research referred to in this study were conducted in contexts where abortion is legal, although the conditions under which it may be accessed differ across and within contexts. This present study is contextualised by the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act No. 92 of 1996 which legalises abortion and stipulates that abortion counselling should be made available to womxn but should be non-mandatory and non-directive. Data were collected at three abortion facilities located in public hospitals in the Eastern Cape. Open-ended, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 womxn after they received pre-abortion counselling, and four healthcare providers involved in abortion service provision. Data were analysed using an extended narrative-discursive approach which entailed exploring patterns in and across participants' talk. These patterns took the form of discursive resources (discourses and the subject positions they made available, and canonical narratives), power relations, and micro-narratives and accounts of their experiences of pre-abortion counselling practices and waiting room interactions. Participants described the following pre-abortion counselling practices: information-giving practices, consent practices, administering of LARCs, a waiting period and third-party involvement. In describing these processes, participants drew on an awfulisation of abortion discourse, moralising discourses, pronatalist discourses, and liberal discourses to construct (micro-)narratives in which liberal, pastoral and authoritarian counselling practices and power relations were constructed and referred to. In their micro-narratives, most womxn described the counselling as informative, beneficial and healing whilst also describing shock, hurt, pain and distress at the various kinds of information they received. Healthcare providers drew on discourses and canonical narratives (such as the hero and personal testimony) to justify liberal, pastoral and authoritarian counselling practices which were underpinned by constructing abortion and unintended pregnancy as problematic. The pre-abortion counselling practices that were described were directive in two ways: the coercion of contraceptive uptake post-abortion, and information provision practices which effectively work to delegitimise and persuade womxn against abortion.
- Full Text:
NetwIOC: a framework for the automated generation of network-based IOCS for malware information sharing and defence
- Authors: Rudman, Lauren Lynne
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Malware (Computer software) , Computer networks Security measures , Computer security , Python (Computer program language)
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/60639 , vital:27809
- Description: With the substantial number of new malware variants found each day, it is useful to have an efficient way to retrieve Indicators of Compromise (IOCs) from the malware in a format suitable for sharing and detection. In the past, these indicators were manually created after inspection of binary samples and network traffic. The Cuckoo Sandbox, is an existing dynamic malware analysis system which meets the requirements for the proposed framework and was extended by adding a few custom modules. This research explored a way to automate the generation of detailed network-based IOCs in a popular format which can be used for sharing. This was done through careful filtering and analysis of the PCAP hie generated by the sandbox, and placing these values into the correct type of STIX objects using Python, Through several evaluations, analysis of what type of network traffic can be expected for the creation of IOCs was conducted, including a brief ease study that examined the effect of analysis time on the number of IOCs created. Using the automatically generated IOCs to create defence and detection mechanisms for the network was evaluated and proved successful, A proof of concept sharing platform developed for the STIX IOCs is showcased at the end of the research.
- Full Text: