Isolation, propagation and rapid molecular detection of the Kalahari truffle, a mycorrhizal fungus occurring in South Africa
- Authors: Adeleke, Rasheed Adegbola
- Date: 2007 , 2013-04-03
- Subjects: Truffles -- Kalahari Desert , Fungi -- Identification , Mycorrhizal fungi -- South Africa , Edible fungi -- South Africa , Mushroom culture -- South Africa , Fungi -- Cultures and culture media -- South Africa , Truffles -- South Africa , Truffles -- Lifecycles , Mycorrhizal fungi -- Lifecycles
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:3889 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002951 , Truffles -- Kalahari Desert , Fungi -- Identification , Mycorrhizal fungi -- South Africa , Edible fungi -- South Africa , Mushroom culture -- South Africa , Fungi -- Cultures and culture media -- South Africa , Truffles -- South Africa , Truffles -- Lifecycles , Mycorrhizal fungi -- Lifecycles
- Description: Terfezia pfeilii is an edible mycorrhizal fungus that thrives in the Kalahari Desert of southern Africa. It is best known by desert dwellers for its flavour and as a source of nutrition. Although the genus Terfezia is generally regarded as being an ectomycorrhizal mycobiont, the exact mycorrhizal type formed by T. pfeilli and its' associated host plants remains uncertain. Discovery of the host plants for T. pfeilii would first be required in order to further investigate the life cycle and cultivation of this truffle. This study focussed on the isolation of mycelia from the ascocarp, optimising the growth conditions of the mycelial cultures, rapid molecular identification of T. pfeilii, investigation of potential helper bacteria and mycorrhizal synthesis experiments. T. pfeilii ascocarps were harvested from the Spitskop Nature Reserve in Upington, South Africa. Ascocarps were successfully identified using both morphological and molecular methods. Despite the delayed growth mostly caused by contaminating microorganisms, the isolation of T. pfeilii mycelia culture was successful. Molecular techniques were used to confirm the identity of the pure culture. Further studies were conducted on ways to improve the growth conditions of the mycelial culture on Fontana medium. An optimum temperature of 32°C, the addition of Bovine Serum Albumin as a nitrogen source and a pH of 7.5 significantly improved the growth of T. pfeilii in vitro. A rapid PeR-based molecular method was developed to speed up the identification of T. pfeilii. Specific primers that can exclusively amplify the ITS region of T. pfeilii were designed and used to identify both the ascocarps and the mycelial culture. The specificity of these primers was confirmed by their inability to amplify DNA from the isolates of contamining fungi obtained during the isolation process. Molecular comparison was made to confirm the reclassification of South African samples of T. pfeilii as Kalaharituber pfeilii as proposed by Ferdman et al.,(2005). However, in this study, the name T. pfeilii has been retained. A total of 17 bacterial isolates were obtained from the fruiting bodies of T. pfeaii and these were tested for stimulation of mycelial growth in vitro, indole production and phosphate solubilising capabilities. Bacterial isolates that showed potential to be Mycorrhization Helper Bacteria (MHB) were identified as Paenibacillus sp., Bacillus sp. and Rhizobium tropici. Selected plant seedlings were inoculated with T. pfeilii cultures or ascocarp slurry in order to re-establish the mycorrhizal association. After 8 months, light microscopy observations revealed an endomycorrhizal type association between Cynodon dactylon and T. pfeilii. This was confirmed with molecular analysis using specific T. pfeilii ITS primers. After 15 months, molecular methods confirmed Acacia erioloba as another host plant. These results have provided essential information paving the way for further investigation into the life cycle and biology of the Kalahari truffle. , KMBT_363 , Adobe Acrobat 9.53 Paper Capture Plug-in
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Adeleke, Rasheed Adegbola
- Date: 2007 , 2013-04-03
- Subjects: Truffles -- Kalahari Desert , Fungi -- Identification , Mycorrhizal fungi -- South Africa , Edible fungi -- South Africa , Mushroom culture -- South Africa , Fungi -- Cultures and culture media -- South Africa , Truffles -- South Africa , Truffles -- Lifecycles , Mycorrhizal fungi -- Lifecycles
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:3889 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002951 , Truffles -- Kalahari Desert , Fungi -- Identification , Mycorrhizal fungi -- South Africa , Edible fungi -- South Africa , Mushroom culture -- South Africa , Fungi -- Cultures and culture media -- South Africa , Truffles -- South Africa , Truffles -- Lifecycles , Mycorrhizal fungi -- Lifecycles
- Description: Terfezia pfeilii is an edible mycorrhizal fungus that thrives in the Kalahari Desert of southern Africa. It is best known by desert dwellers for its flavour and as a source of nutrition. Although the genus Terfezia is generally regarded as being an ectomycorrhizal mycobiont, the exact mycorrhizal type formed by T. pfeilli and its' associated host plants remains uncertain. Discovery of the host plants for T. pfeilii would first be required in order to further investigate the life cycle and cultivation of this truffle. This study focussed on the isolation of mycelia from the ascocarp, optimising the growth conditions of the mycelial cultures, rapid molecular identification of T. pfeilii, investigation of potential helper bacteria and mycorrhizal synthesis experiments. T. pfeilii ascocarps were harvested from the Spitskop Nature Reserve in Upington, South Africa. Ascocarps were successfully identified using both morphological and molecular methods. Despite the delayed growth mostly caused by contaminating microorganisms, the isolation of T. pfeilii mycelia culture was successful. Molecular techniques were used to confirm the identity of the pure culture. Further studies were conducted on ways to improve the growth conditions of the mycelial culture on Fontana medium. An optimum temperature of 32°C, the addition of Bovine Serum Albumin as a nitrogen source and a pH of 7.5 significantly improved the growth of T. pfeilii in vitro. A rapid PeR-based molecular method was developed to speed up the identification of T. pfeilii. Specific primers that can exclusively amplify the ITS region of T. pfeilii were designed and used to identify both the ascocarps and the mycelial culture. The specificity of these primers was confirmed by their inability to amplify DNA from the isolates of contamining fungi obtained during the isolation process. Molecular comparison was made to confirm the reclassification of South African samples of T. pfeilii as Kalaharituber pfeilii as proposed by Ferdman et al.,(2005). However, in this study, the name T. pfeilii has been retained. A total of 17 bacterial isolates were obtained from the fruiting bodies of T. pfeaii and these were tested for stimulation of mycelial growth in vitro, indole production and phosphate solubilising capabilities. Bacterial isolates that showed potential to be Mycorrhization Helper Bacteria (MHB) were identified as Paenibacillus sp., Bacillus sp. and Rhizobium tropici. Selected plant seedlings were inoculated with T. pfeilii cultures or ascocarp slurry in order to re-establish the mycorrhizal association. After 8 months, light microscopy observations revealed an endomycorrhizal type association between Cynodon dactylon and T. pfeilii. This was confirmed with molecular analysis using specific T. pfeilii ITS primers. After 15 months, molecular methods confirmed Acacia erioloba as another host plant. These results have provided essential information paving the way for further investigation into the life cycle and biology of the Kalahari truffle. , KMBT_363 , Adobe Acrobat 9.53 Paper Capture Plug-in
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Catalytic activities of metallophthalocyanines towards detection and transformation of pollutants
- Authors: Agboola, Bolade Oyeyinka
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Phthalocyanines Electrochemistry Pollutants -- Biodegradation Pollutants -- Measurement
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4427 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006922
- Description: Syntheses, spectral, electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical studies of new thiol-derivatised MPc complexes were satisfactorily carried out. For the first time, spectroelectrochemistry gave evidence for the formation of Ni²⁺/Ni⁺ process in a NiPc complex. Significant insights as to the nature of Fe⁺Pc and Ni⁺Pc spectra were obtained. Transformations of chlorophenols using chemical and photochemical methods are presented. For cobalt tetrasulphophthalocyanine catalysed oxidation of chlorophenols using hydrogen peroxide as the oxidant, types of oxidation products formed depended on the solvent conditions. Photolysis of aqueous solutions of chlorophenols in the presence of immobilised non-transition metal phthalocyanine photosensitisers onto Amerlite® was carried out. For the first time, MPcS[subscript mix] complexes were immobilised on Amberlite® for use in heterogeneous photocatalysis. Photolysis of the chlorophenols resulted mainly in the formation of chlorobenzoquinone derivatives. The generation of singlet oxygen (¹O₂) by these immobilised MPc photosensitisers was found to play a major role in their photoactivities. Modifications of gold electrodes with the newly synthesised thiol-derivatised MPc complexes via electropolymerisation and SAM techniques are presented. Cyclic voltammetry, impedance spectroscopy (NiPcs only) and spectroelectrochemical techniques (NiPcs only) confirmed that the complexes formed films on gold electrodes. Stable and well packed SAM films as evidenced by the voltammetric characterisation were obtained. For the first time, optimisation of the time for SAM formation based on CV technique was studied. First example of a formation of MnPc-SAM was achieved. Catalytic activities of the NiPc towards chlorophenol depended on the nature of the NiPc in the polymer films and also anti-fouling ability of the films depended on polymer film thickness. The FeTBMPc polymer modified gold electrode showed the best catalytic activity in terms of peak potential, E[subscript p] when compared to reported work in literature for nitrate electrooxidation. Cyclic voltammetry and spectroscopy studies showed that the CoPcs, FePcs and NiPcs catalysed nitrite oxidation involve 2 electrons in total while that of McPcs involve 1 electron. Better catalytic performance towards sulphite electrooxidation were obtained for the CoPcs, FePcs and MnPcs which have metal based redox processes within the range of the sulphite electrooxidation peak while the NiPcs which did not show metal based oxidation reaction performed less.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Agboola, Bolade Oyeyinka
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Phthalocyanines Electrochemistry Pollutants -- Biodegradation Pollutants -- Measurement
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4427 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006922
- Description: Syntheses, spectral, electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical studies of new thiol-derivatised MPc complexes were satisfactorily carried out. For the first time, spectroelectrochemistry gave evidence for the formation of Ni²⁺/Ni⁺ process in a NiPc complex. Significant insights as to the nature of Fe⁺Pc and Ni⁺Pc spectra were obtained. Transformations of chlorophenols using chemical and photochemical methods are presented. For cobalt tetrasulphophthalocyanine catalysed oxidation of chlorophenols using hydrogen peroxide as the oxidant, types of oxidation products formed depended on the solvent conditions. Photolysis of aqueous solutions of chlorophenols in the presence of immobilised non-transition metal phthalocyanine photosensitisers onto Amerlite® was carried out. For the first time, MPcS[subscript mix] complexes were immobilised on Amberlite® for use in heterogeneous photocatalysis. Photolysis of the chlorophenols resulted mainly in the formation of chlorobenzoquinone derivatives. The generation of singlet oxygen (¹O₂) by these immobilised MPc photosensitisers was found to play a major role in their photoactivities. Modifications of gold electrodes with the newly synthesised thiol-derivatised MPc complexes via electropolymerisation and SAM techniques are presented. Cyclic voltammetry, impedance spectroscopy (NiPcs only) and spectroelectrochemical techniques (NiPcs only) confirmed that the complexes formed films on gold electrodes. Stable and well packed SAM films as evidenced by the voltammetric characterisation were obtained. For the first time, optimisation of the time for SAM formation based on CV technique was studied. First example of a formation of MnPc-SAM was achieved. Catalytic activities of the NiPc towards chlorophenol depended on the nature of the NiPc in the polymer films and also anti-fouling ability of the films depended on polymer film thickness. The FeTBMPc polymer modified gold electrode showed the best catalytic activity in terms of peak potential, E[subscript p] when compared to reported work in literature for nitrate electrooxidation. Cyclic voltammetry and spectroscopy studies showed that the CoPcs, FePcs and NiPcs catalysed nitrite oxidation involve 2 electrons in total while that of McPcs involve 1 electron. Better catalytic performance towards sulphite electrooxidation were obtained for the CoPcs, FePcs and MnPcs which have metal based redox processes within the range of the sulphite electrooxidation peak while the NiPcs which did not show metal based oxidation reaction performed less.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
The perceived economic impact of the city of Johannesburg's storm water attenuation policy on private property developers
- Authors: Aldous, Michael Geoffrey
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Runoff -- South Africa -- Johannesburg , Real estate development -- South Africa -- Johannesburg
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:9668 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/765 , Runoff -- South Africa -- Johannesburg , Real estate development -- South Africa -- Johannesburg
- Description: Stormwater attenuation policy has, over recent years, become a highly contentious issue for the property development community. Increased urbanisation, locally and internationally, has forced municipal authorities to reconsider the role of stormwater management in this evolving urban landscape. It is within this context that the legislative support and municipal policy for stormwater management in the City of Johannesburg has been explored, particularly in terms of the economic impact on property developers. The research aimed to explore the relationship between stormwater attenuation policy and the economic impact thereof on private property developers. Consideration was given to the cost, risk and time factors of legislative and policy requirements within the development process. Further consideration was given to the physical environment that has brought about current pressures. Based upon research of international issues highlighted in countries with well developed attenuation policy, a questionnaire was constructed to evaluate the response of local private property developers to selected issues as key sub-problems. The responses were tested against the developed set of hypotheses. The research indicated that developers had a generally poor level of knowledge with regard to the stormwater management policy of the City of Johannesburg, as well as the supporting legislative requirements of provincial and national policy documents. The results of the survey also indicated that developers were strongly opposed to the loss of developable area, but indicated a limited financial impact of the current stormwater attenuation policy. The risk inherent in incorporating an attenuation facility within a development was identified as being low with little perceived impact. Developers further indicated that the inclusion of attenuation facilities was seen as a significant contributing factor in the delay, approval and acceptance of new developments in which attenuation facilities were required, while maintenance costs were indicated to be of a low level of importance. Recommendations in response to the research findings included the establishment of detailed policy documentation and support for effective distribution channels in conjunction with industry and public focused information campaigns, improved municipal capacity and a greater level of technical support. A need for additional stormwater research and an increase in the capture of relevant data for GIS purposes was identified.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Aldous, Michael Geoffrey
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Runoff -- South Africa -- Johannesburg , Real estate development -- South Africa -- Johannesburg
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:9668 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/765 , Runoff -- South Africa -- Johannesburg , Real estate development -- South Africa -- Johannesburg
- Description: Stormwater attenuation policy has, over recent years, become a highly contentious issue for the property development community. Increased urbanisation, locally and internationally, has forced municipal authorities to reconsider the role of stormwater management in this evolving urban landscape. It is within this context that the legislative support and municipal policy for stormwater management in the City of Johannesburg has been explored, particularly in terms of the economic impact on property developers. The research aimed to explore the relationship between stormwater attenuation policy and the economic impact thereof on private property developers. Consideration was given to the cost, risk and time factors of legislative and policy requirements within the development process. Further consideration was given to the physical environment that has brought about current pressures. Based upon research of international issues highlighted in countries with well developed attenuation policy, a questionnaire was constructed to evaluate the response of local private property developers to selected issues as key sub-problems. The responses were tested against the developed set of hypotheses. The research indicated that developers had a generally poor level of knowledge with regard to the stormwater management policy of the City of Johannesburg, as well as the supporting legislative requirements of provincial and national policy documents. The results of the survey also indicated that developers were strongly opposed to the loss of developable area, but indicated a limited financial impact of the current stormwater attenuation policy. The risk inherent in incorporating an attenuation facility within a development was identified as being low with little perceived impact. Developers further indicated that the inclusion of attenuation facilities was seen as a significant contributing factor in the delay, approval and acceptance of new developments in which attenuation facilities were required, while maintenance costs were indicated to be of a low level of importance. Recommendations in response to the research findings included the establishment of detailed policy documentation and support for effective distribution channels in conjunction with industry and public focused information campaigns, improved municipal capacity and a greater level of technical support. A need for additional stormwater research and an increase in the capture of relevant data for GIS purposes was identified.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Improving construction planning through 4D planning
- Authors: Allen, Christopher James
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Construction industry -- Management , Construction industry -- Computer-aided design
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:9698 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/467 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1011923 , Construction industry -- Management , Construction industry -- Computer-aided design
- Description: Construction Planning will increasingly play a more critical role within the realm of the Built Environment. Existing practices used to plan and communicate the construction process to be undertaken are failing to deliver the desired results for construction companies and clients alike. At a time of unprecedented growth in the industry around the world, which is leading to a general skills shortage, especially in management positions, construction planners are increasingly being asked to deal with more responsibility. As with other industries, technological improvement in the tools at their disposal is one way to address the inadequacies of the present situation. Increasingly, three dimensional design packages are being used to generate construction information which can then be used for quantities calculations, automated manufacturing processes and construction simulation. The latter forms the basis for their use in the process of planning, through new technologies being developed as virtual construction tools or 4D planning, the addition of time to the 3D model environment, but using the elements within the model as the basis for the construction programme. The benefit of using the design information to form the basis of the programme is that the interface tasks and logistical activities, as well as location related constraints, can be identified and then communicated to all levels within the construction team through a time based visual image. The purpose of this study is therefore to establish a scientifically analysed alternative method for the creation, review and delivery of construction programmes. In order to achieve the research objectives, three methodologies have been employed. Firstly, the literature review in the fields of planning including existing methodologies and previous research of 4D related techniques has been analysed. An overview of the perceived weaknesses to current practises and proposed solution will be explored and best case scenarios outlined and further investigated. Secondly, the 51 Lime Street project provides an environment in which the proposed 4D planning techniques have been implemented and the benefits of the process can, through observation / participation methodology, be validated. Thirdly, through interview questionnaires, with Lime St contractors and management, and e-mail questionnaires to a broader sample stratum, data on the ability of the tools, the techniques employed on 51 Lime Street and similar projects have been collated and statistically analysed to validate the reliability and relevance for future implementation. The result of the research will provide management teams with a practical alternative to existing planning methodologies. Construction planners will have alternative technique that can further enhance their role within the project team whilst increasing their ability to communicate the team’s vision to a wider audience, making them and the project more efficient and effective in the process. It has been proposed that clients insist on the use of 3D from the commencement of the design process so that this information can be passed downstream through the construction process and onto facilities management. Planners need to be able to communicate their requirements better and the 4D planning models provide both a more inclusive way of planning alongside a better communications medium in the form of moving images. A picture tells a thousand words.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Allen, Christopher James
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Construction industry -- Management , Construction industry -- Computer-aided design
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:9698 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/467 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1011923 , Construction industry -- Management , Construction industry -- Computer-aided design
- Description: Construction Planning will increasingly play a more critical role within the realm of the Built Environment. Existing practices used to plan and communicate the construction process to be undertaken are failing to deliver the desired results for construction companies and clients alike. At a time of unprecedented growth in the industry around the world, which is leading to a general skills shortage, especially in management positions, construction planners are increasingly being asked to deal with more responsibility. As with other industries, technological improvement in the tools at their disposal is one way to address the inadequacies of the present situation. Increasingly, three dimensional design packages are being used to generate construction information which can then be used for quantities calculations, automated manufacturing processes and construction simulation. The latter forms the basis for their use in the process of planning, through new technologies being developed as virtual construction tools or 4D planning, the addition of time to the 3D model environment, but using the elements within the model as the basis for the construction programme. The benefit of using the design information to form the basis of the programme is that the interface tasks and logistical activities, as well as location related constraints, can be identified and then communicated to all levels within the construction team through a time based visual image. The purpose of this study is therefore to establish a scientifically analysed alternative method for the creation, review and delivery of construction programmes. In order to achieve the research objectives, three methodologies have been employed. Firstly, the literature review in the fields of planning including existing methodologies and previous research of 4D related techniques has been analysed. An overview of the perceived weaknesses to current practises and proposed solution will be explored and best case scenarios outlined and further investigated. Secondly, the 51 Lime Street project provides an environment in which the proposed 4D planning techniques have been implemented and the benefits of the process can, through observation / participation methodology, be validated. Thirdly, through interview questionnaires, with Lime St contractors and management, and e-mail questionnaires to a broader sample stratum, data on the ability of the tools, the techniques employed on 51 Lime Street and similar projects have been collated and statistically analysed to validate the reliability and relevance for future implementation. The result of the research will provide management teams with a practical alternative to existing planning methodologies. Construction planners will have alternative technique that can further enhance their role within the project team whilst increasing their ability to communicate the team’s vision to a wider audience, making them and the project more efficient and effective in the process. It has been proposed that clients insist on the use of 3D from the commencement of the design process so that this information can be passed downstream through the construction process and onto facilities management. Planners need to be able to communicate their requirements better and the 4D planning models provide both a more inclusive way of planning alongside a better communications medium in the form of moving images. A picture tells a thousand words.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Creating value through customer relationships in the services sector
- Authors: Allie, Hisham
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Customer services , Value added
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8740 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/790 , Customer services , Value added
- Description: Many academic studies in the past have focussed on how to create value for businesses in terms of adding profit to the bottom line through performance, and many argue that adding value for the client is also viewed as a profitable business strategy. This strategy translates as a win-win business relationship since long-term relationships ensure customer loyalty, customer retention and repeat business. In the services sector, it is difficult to quantify the worth or value that a particular service has since services are intangible products. The perception of value of such a service is known as “perceived value” since value recognition rests with the consumer who attempts to quantify the worth of that service. It is generally accepted in the services sector that establishing long-term, mutually beneficial, meaningful business relationships add value for the client and helps them to attach a value to the services that company provides. A company cannot establish such relationships without the help of its employees who represents the face of the organisation and implements the value adding strategy on the organisation’s behalf. Recent studies have begun to address this, examining value creation in business relationships in the context of the sale of tangible goods. The process of value creation for customers in services relationships remains underresearched. Perceived value explains why customers choose one particular service over another, why service companies gain competitive advantage by maintaining genuine longterm customer relationships, and why “the personal touch”, created through emotional attributes such as trust, caring and empathy, adds value from customers’ perspective. This dissertation presents a study of perceived value from the perspective of the customer within the context of the delivery of a credence product in a services relationship model. Using grounded theory methodology; following in-depth interviews with consumers of general insurance, a number of customer-value creation dimensions for businesses have been identified. Parallel interviews with members of staff from the supplier company add a further perspective. This research demonstrates how organisations or suppliers in the services industry can add value when delivering a credence product in a services relationship context. It is believed that an understanding of the value-adding dimensions can be implemented to create opportunities to build value for customers, with commensurate benefits for suppliers. Following analysis of the interviews held with each buyer, a total of six value dimensions are identified in the findings chapter. Each dimension is individually described, discussed, and illustrated with quotations from customers and supplier’s staff. Other issues relating to value arising from the interviews are examined in the discussion chapter. Three areas for further research are proposed in the conclusion.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Allie, Hisham
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Customer services , Value added
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8740 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/790 , Customer services , Value added
- Description: Many academic studies in the past have focussed on how to create value for businesses in terms of adding profit to the bottom line through performance, and many argue that adding value for the client is also viewed as a profitable business strategy. This strategy translates as a win-win business relationship since long-term relationships ensure customer loyalty, customer retention and repeat business. In the services sector, it is difficult to quantify the worth or value that a particular service has since services are intangible products. The perception of value of such a service is known as “perceived value” since value recognition rests with the consumer who attempts to quantify the worth of that service. It is generally accepted in the services sector that establishing long-term, mutually beneficial, meaningful business relationships add value for the client and helps them to attach a value to the services that company provides. A company cannot establish such relationships without the help of its employees who represents the face of the organisation and implements the value adding strategy on the organisation’s behalf. Recent studies have begun to address this, examining value creation in business relationships in the context of the sale of tangible goods. The process of value creation for customers in services relationships remains underresearched. Perceived value explains why customers choose one particular service over another, why service companies gain competitive advantage by maintaining genuine longterm customer relationships, and why “the personal touch”, created through emotional attributes such as trust, caring and empathy, adds value from customers’ perspective. This dissertation presents a study of perceived value from the perspective of the customer within the context of the delivery of a credence product in a services relationship model. Using grounded theory methodology; following in-depth interviews with consumers of general insurance, a number of customer-value creation dimensions for businesses have been identified. Parallel interviews with members of staff from the supplier company add a further perspective. This research demonstrates how organisations or suppliers in the services industry can add value when delivering a credence product in a services relationship context. It is believed that an understanding of the value-adding dimensions can be implemented to create opportunities to build value for customers, with commensurate benefits for suppliers. Following analysis of the interviews held with each buyer, a total of six value dimensions are identified in the findings chapter. Each dimension is individually described, discussed, and illustrated with quotations from customers and supplier’s staff. Other issues relating to value arising from the interviews are examined in the discussion chapter. Three areas for further research are proposed in the conclusion.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Implementation of learner-centred education by Grade 4 BETD in-service teachers in selected Namibia schools
- Authors: Amakali, Amram
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1849 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004457
- Description: Before independence Namibia's education system was predominantly teacher-centred. Soon after its independence Namibia embarked on education restructuring and transformation. A new education system, leamer-centred education, was introduced to cater for the needs of all Namibian learners. It was seen as an effective antidote to the stifling teacher-centred practices of the previous education system. A new programme, the Basic Education Teacher Diploma (BETD) was introduced to prepare teachers to teach in a leamer-centred approach. Research has, however, indicated that many Namibian teachers have a somewhat shallow or naIve understanding oflearner-centred education. This small-scale case study, conducted in Oshikoto region, focuses on two Grade 4 teachers. The study examined the two teachers ' perceptions and experiences oflearnercentred education and the teaching strategies they use to develop learners' understanding. The study uses a qualitative approach in its exploration of teachers ' lived experiences of becoming learner-centred. The data emerging from this case study identify a number of misconceptions and understandings of leamer-centred education and its implementation. The findings suggest that teachers ' misconceptions are caused by a lack of deep understanding about the epistemology and theory of learning which underpins Namibia's reform policies and principles.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Amakali, Amram
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1849 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004457
- Description: Before independence Namibia's education system was predominantly teacher-centred. Soon after its independence Namibia embarked on education restructuring and transformation. A new education system, leamer-centred education, was introduced to cater for the needs of all Namibian learners. It was seen as an effective antidote to the stifling teacher-centred practices of the previous education system. A new programme, the Basic Education Teacher Diploma (BETD) was introduced to prepare teachers to teach in a leamer-centred approach. Research has, however, indicated that many Namibian teachers have a somewhat shallow or naIve understanding oflearner-centred education. This small-scale case study, conducted in Oshikoto region, focuses on two Grade 4 teachers. The study examined the two teachers ' perceptions and experiences oflearnercentred education and the teaching strategies they use to develop learners' understanding. The study uses a qualitative approach in its exploration of teachers ' lived experiences of becoming learner-centred. The data emerging from this case study identify a number of misconceptions and understandings of leamer-centred education and its implementation. The findings suggest that teachers ' misconceptions are caused by a lack of deep understanding about the epistemology and theory of learning which underpins Namibia's reform policies and principles.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
An investigation of interpersonal relationships between management and lecturers in a College of Education in Namibia
- Amushigamo, Angelina Popyeni
- Authors: Amushigamo, Angelina Popyeni
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Communication in education -- Namibia Teacher morale -- Namibia Employee motivation -- Namibia Teacher-administrator relationships -- Namibia College teachers -- Job satisfaction -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1850 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004458
- Description: Relationships are regarded as an important aspect of any organization's life. The purpose of this study was to investigate staff perceptions and experiences of interpersonal relationships between management and lecturers in a Namibian College of Education. I conducted a case study at the College where I teach. Two methods were used to collect data. Firstly, semi-structured interviews with two management members, two senior lecturers and two lecturers. Secondly, observation where practical aspects of interpersonal relationships in the College were observed. I used the interpretational data analysis technique to analyse my data. Themes and patterns were identified in the data, coded and sorted into categories. The study revealed staff unhappiness about the current situation in the College as far as communication is concerned. The College's hierarchical structure was described as top-down. As such, it does not allow for face to face communication. There is an absence of any social cohesion or sense of community. Relationships at a College level are characterized by personal conflict and difference. However, the study revealed a satisfaction with communication and relationships at a dl'partmentallevel. Five key features of interpersonal communication that are lacking in the College and that contribute to the unhealthy relationships in the College were identified. These are trust, respect, openness, feedback and the sharing of ideas and knowledge. Due to their absence, the College is divided into cliques. A strong desire for the establishment of interpersonal norms of openness, respect, honesty and trust was expressed. Participants expressed the need to establish an organization structure that allows for interaction with others in the College, flatter structures, teamwork and a collaborative cultu re. The study also emphasized participative democracy in building relationships. Participation in decision making is seen as satisfying the personal need to experience a sense of influence and achievement. There is evidence of a desire for distributed leadership where the College staff as a group of professionals lead the College collectively and collaboratively. There is a strong desire for a College where people are liked , valued, accepted by others and recognized for their efforts. Finally, Organization Development is recommended as an approach to enhance College staff relationships.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Amushigamo, Angelina Popyeni
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Communication in education -- Namibia Teacher morale -- Namibia Employee motivation -- Namibia Teacher-administrator relationships -- Namibia College teachers -- Job satisfaction -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1850 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004458
- Description: Relationships are regarded as an important aspect of any organization's life. The purpose of this study was to investigate staff perceptions and experiences of interpersonal relationships between management and lecturers in a Namibian College of Education. I conducted a case study at the College where I teach. Two methods were used to collect data. Firstly, semi-structured interviews with two management members, two senior lecturers and two lecturers. Secondly, observation where practical aspects of interpersonal relationships in the College were observed. I used the interpretational data analysis technique to analyse my data. Themes and patterns were identified in the data, coded and sorted into categories. The study revealed staff unhappiness about the current situation in the College as far as communication is concerned. The College's hierarchical structure was described as top-down. As such, it does not allow for face to face communication. There is an absence of any social cohesion or sense of community. Relationships at a College level are characterized by personal conflict and difference. However, the study revealed a satisfaction with communication and relationships at a dl'partmentallevel. Five key features of interpersonal communication that are lacking in the College and that contribute to the unhealthy relationships in the College were identified. These are trust, respect, openness, feedback and the sharing of ideas and knowledge. Due to their absence, the College is divided into cliques. A strong desire for the establishment of interpersonal norms of openness, respect, honesty and trust was expressed. Participants expressed the need to establish an organization structure that allows for interaction with others in the College, flatter structures, teamwork and a collaborative cultu re. The study also emphasized participative democracy in building relationships. Participation in decision making is seen as satisfying the personal need to experience a sense of influence and achievement. There is evidence of a desire for distributed leadership where the College staff as a group of professionals lead the College collectively and collaboratively. There is a strong desire for a College where people are liked , valued, accepted by others and recognized for their efforts. Finally, Organization Development is recommended as an approach to enhance College staff relationships.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Investigating grade 10 geography teachers' implementation of a learner-centred approach in selected Namibian schools
- Authors: Angula, Adelheid
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Geography -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- Namibia Student-centered learning -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1851 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004459
- Description: Geography, more than other subjects in the curriculum, plays a central role in general education in equipping learners with skills and competencies needed for modern living and global citizenship. A learner-centred education in Namibia was adopted to provide more opportunities for learners to develop the required skills and competencies irrespective of their different cultural background. This small-scale case study investigated three Grade 10 geography teachers' understanding and implementation ofa learner-centred approach to gain insights into how leamer-centred education is being implemented in the context of Geography. The research design adopted a qualitative approach within an interpretative orientation. Data were collected through interviews, classroom observations and documentary analysis. The research was conducted at three selected schools in Oshikoto Region with three Grade 10 geography teachers The findings revealed, firstly, that teachers have a limited understanding of the key ideas ofLCE, such as, prior knowledge, role of questioning, and social interaction in learning; use of resources and the types of assessment activities which comply with the aims of LCE. Seconclly, the findings revealed that the policy documents, such as syllabuses, that are being used by the participants are not in line with the tenets ofLCE. Thirdly, teachers appeared to have limited subject knowledge, as revealed by their lack of understanding of how to translate the aims and assessment objectives into their daily lessons. The study therefore raises some possibilities for improving the implementation of LCE in the selected schools if the gaps as identified by this study are reduced.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Angula, Adelheid
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Geography -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- Namibia Student-centered learning -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1851 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004459
- Description: Geography, more than other subjects in the curriculum, plays a central role in general education in equipping learners with skills and competencies needed for modern living and global citizenship. A learner-centred education in Namibia was adopted to provide more opportunities for learners to develop the required skills and competencies irrespective of their different cultural background. This small-scale case study investigated three Grade 10 geography teachers' understanding and implementation ofa learner-centred approach to gain insights into how leamer-centred education is being implemented in the context of Geography. The research design adopted a qualitative approach within an interpretative orientation. Data were collected through interviews, classroom observations and documentary analysis. The research was conducted at three selected schools in Oshikoto Region with three Grade 10 geography teachers The findings revealed, firstly, that teachers have a limited understanding of the key ideas ofLCE, such as, prior knowledge, role of questioning, and social interaction in learning; use of resources and the types of assessment activities which comply with the aims of LCE. Seconclly, the findings revealed that the policy documents, such as syllabuses, that are being used by the participants are not in line with the tenets ofLCE. Thirdly, teachers appeared to have limited subject knowledge, as revealed by their lack of understanding of how to translate the aims and assessment objectives into their daily lessons. The study therefore raises some possibilities for improving the implementation of LCE in the selected schools if the gaps as identified by this study are reduced.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
The trouble with culture : Plato's critique of poetry
- Authors: Ansell, James D'Olier
- Date: 2007 , 2013-07-25
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2733 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004460
- Description: In this thesis I argue that Plato's critique of poetry, taken in its proper context, is a serious and relevant critique of popular culture. In the first chapter I argue that the poetic reforms proposed in Books 2 and 3 and Book 10 of Republic stand at the front of a total reform of Greek culture. I argue for the consistency of Plato's whole argument and then I claim that if we get Plato's targets right, not fine art or literature, and focus on appropriate modern analogues then we can see why his critique is still important. If we share his claim that we are influenced by popular culture in important and often insidious ways and agree that culture can promote corrupt values, then we have accepted the core of Plato's challenge. If we find his solution distasteful, then the task is to come up with a democratic alternative. In the remaining two chapters I focus specifically on the challenge to the poets, putting the other reforms to the side. In the second chapter I consider a possible reply to the challenge focusing on the worth of the poetry that was expelled. I first look elsewhere in the Platonic oeuvre at the account of beauty in Symposium and Phaedrus but I argue that neither of them gives anything like aesthetic value that could be usefully applied to poetry. Next I look to some modern accounts of aesthetic value. I argue that while they might go some of the distance against Plato's challenge, they face a difficult task because it is not sufficient positing the value, an account is needed of their positive benefit. In the third chapter I turn to a more direct response to the challenge. Arguably Aristotle offers such a response in the Poetics, in terms of the notion of katharsis. I consider two interpretative candidates for katharsis. The first takes the benefit of poetry to be psychological - katharsis is a purgation of otherwise pathological emotions. I argue that this fails because it misunderstands precisely what Plato's concerns about poetry are, and, furthermore, this account could even be compatible with Plato's worries. The second interpretation takes the benefit of poetry to be ethical- katharsis is a type of ethical clarification which is beneficial in training our emotional responses. I claim that the clarification, and education, is worryingly conventionalist, and doesn't take seriously that Plato's target was popular culture and not great, educative literature. , KMBT_363 , Adobe Acrobat 9.54 Paper Capture Plug-in
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Ansell, James D'Olier
- Date: 2007 , 2013-07-25
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2733 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004460
- Description: In this thesis I argue that Plato's critique of poetry, taken in its proper context, is a serious and relevant critique of popular culture. In the first chapter I argue that the poetic reforms proposed in Books 2 and 3 and Book 10 of Republic stand at the front of a total reform of Greek culture. I argue for the consistency of Plato's whole argument and then I claim that if we get Plato's targets right, not fine art or literature, and focus on appropriate modern analogues then we can see why his critique is still important. If we share his claim that we are influenced by popular culture in important and often insidious ways and agree that culture can promote corrupt values, then we have accepted the core of Plato's challenge. If we find his solution distasteful, then the task is to come up with a democratic alternative. In the remaining two chapters I focus specifically on the challenge to the poets, putting the other reforms to the side. In the second chapter I consider a possible reply to the challenge focusing on the worth of the poetry that was expelled. I first look elsewhere in the Platonic oeuvre at the account of beauty in Symposium and Phaedrus but I argue that neither of them gives anything like aesthetic value that could be usefully applied to poetry. Next I look to some modern accounts of aesthetic value. I argue that while they might go some of the distance against Plato's challenge, they face a difficult task because it is not sufficient positing the value, an account is needed of their positive benefit. In the third chapter I turn to a more direct response to the challenge. Arguably Aristotle offers such a response in the Poetics, in terms of the notion of katharsis. I consider two interpretative candidates for katharsis. The first takes the benefit of poetry to be psychological - katharsis is a purgation of otherwise pathological emotions. I argue that this fails because it misunderstands precisely what Plato's concerns about poetry are, and, furthermore, this account could even be compatible with Plato's worries. The second interpretation takes the benefit of poetry to be ethical- katharsis is a type of ethical clarification which is beneficial in training our emotional responses. I claim that the clarification, and education, is worryingly conventionalist, and doesn't take seriously that Plato's target was popular culture and not great, educative literature. , KMBT_363 , Adobe Acrobat 9.54 Paper Capture Plug-in
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
An investigation of statistical methodologies for evaluating natural herbicides for the control of yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus)
- Authors: Asquith, Ilse Bernadette
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Chemometrics , Weeds
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DTech (Chemistry)
- Identifier: vital:10376 , Chemometrics , Weeds
- Description: The present study was undertaken with the view to evaluate methodologies based on traditional Scheffé experimental designs that study mixtures as a tool for discovery research particularly when seeking new and or improved uses of existing mixtures. For the purpose of this study, the topic of controlling the problematic weed known as Yellow Nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus L. var. esculentus) or “Geel Uintjie”, was selected on a rather ad hoc basis. Yellow Nutsedge is a troublesome perennial weed found in most agricultural countries in the world. Herbicidal control is often difficult because of the weeds’ ability to propagate via tubers, which can remain dormant for a number of years and are also resistant to most synthetic herbicide controls. As a first step the study involved the selection of a group of chemical compounds that would be used in suppressing the germination of Yellow Nutsedge tubers. Treatment with various combinations of these chemical compounds as determined by statistical experimental designs was carried out. A review of the literature, particularly literature concerned with the study of the phenomenon of allelopathy, suggested that various phenolic-D-glucopyranosides could show promise in the suppressing the germination of Yellow Nutsedge tubers. This led to the selection of this group of compounds as the target group of “active” substances for the study. Since the group of phenolic-D-glucopyranosides is quite large, and in order to keep the study to a reasonable size, only four phenolic-D-glucopyranosides were selected namely: 4-nitrophenyl-D-glucopyranoside, 4-chlorophenyl--Dglucopyranoside, arbutin and salicin. This selection was based firstly based on a particular phenolic-D-glucopyranoside being a suspected allelochemical, and secondly the ease of technical synthesis using a catalytic process. In addition to the four selected phenolic-D-glucopyranosides, their aglycones (4,nitrophenol, 4,chlorophenol, hydroquinone and salicyl alcohol) were also included as potential “active” substances in order to discern any potential activity between the phenolic-D-glucopyranosides and the aglycones. iii The selected “active substances” were combined in various combinations according to various mixture designs in such a manner that the sum of the proportions of the various actives in any one mixture was always equal to 1. The mixtures of actives were then used in various germination experiments and three experimental responses were measured namely the germination, average dry mass and length of longest shoot. From the results of these germination studies the canonical form of the polynomial equation describing the variation in each of the three germination responses was calculated and evaluated statistically. These equations were then used to estimate the presence of, and the magnitude of synergism between the various active substances. The results from these screening experiments and their detailed statistical analysis indicated that the response surface model for the germination response contains three synergistic blends (4-nitrophenyl--D-glucopyranoside + arbutin; 4-nitrophenyl--Dglucopyranoside + hydroquinone; and 4-chlorophenyl--D-glucopyranoside + salicin) and one antagonistic blend (4-nitrophenyl--D-glucopyranoside + 4- chlorophenol--D-glucopyranoside). The response surface model for the average dry mass response contains two synergistic blends (4-nitrophenyl--Dglucopyranoside + hydroquinone; and 4-chlorophenol--D-glucopyranoside + salicin) and the same antagonistic blend as for germination response. For both germination and average dry mass responses, the most synergistic blend was found to be the combination of 4-chlorophenyl--D-glucopyranoside and salicin. Two additional tests were conducted and both confirmed the results obtained from the screening designs. These tests involved the identification of the two components responsible for the synergistic activity that resulted in the suppression of the germination of the tubers and growth of the seedlings. The experimental response measuring the longest shoot proved to be erroneous and was excluded from the statistical analysis. In summary, this study has clearly shown that statistically designed experiments based on mixture designs can be used as a powerful tool in identifying and quantifying synergistic (or antagonistic) effects of chemicals on the germination ability of plant seeds.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Asquith, Ilse Bernadette
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Chemometrics , Weeds
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DTech (Chemistry)
- Identifier: vital:10376 , Chemometrics , Weeds
- Description: The present study was undertaken with the view to evaluate methodologies based on traditional Scheffé experimental designs that study mixtures as a tool for discovery research particularly when seeking new and or improved uses of existing mixtures. For the purpose of this study, the topic of controlling the problematic weed known as Yellow Nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus L. var. esculentus) or “Geel Uintjie”, was selected on a rather ad hoc basis. Yellow Nutsedge is a troublesome perennial weed found in most agricultural countries in the world. Herbicidal control is often difficult because of the weeds’ ability to propagate via tubers, which can remain dormant for a number of years and are also resistant to most synthetic herbicide controls. As a first step the study involved the selection of a group of chemical compounds that would be used in suppressing the germination of Yellow Nutsedge tubers. Treatment with various combinations of these chemical compounds as determined by statistical experimental designs was carried out. A review of the literature, particularly literature concerned with the study of the phenomenon of allelopathy, suggested that various phenolic-D-glucopyranosides could show promise in the suppressing the germination of Yellow Nutsedge tubers. This led to the selection of this group of compounds as the target group of “active” substances for the study. Since the group of phenolic-D-glucopyranosides is quite large, and in order to keep the study to a reasonable size, only four phenolic-D-glucopyranosides were selected namely: 4-nitrophenyl-D-glucopyranoside, 4-chlorophenyl--Dglucopyranoside, arbutin and salicin. This selection was based firstly based on a particular phenolic-D-glucopyranoside being a suspected allelochemical, and secondly the ease of technical synthesis using a catalytic process. In addition to the four selected phenolic-D-glucopyranosides, their aglycones (4,nitrophenol, 4,chlorophenol, hydroquinone and salicyl alcohol) were also included as potential “active” substances in order to discern any potential activity between the phenolic-D-glucopyranosides and the aglycones. iii The selected “active substances” were combined in various combinations according to various mixture designs in such a manner that the sum of the proportions of the various actives in any one mixture was always equal to 1. The mixtures of actives were then used in various germination experiments and three experimental responses were measured namely the germination, average dry mass and length of longest shoot. From the results of these germination studies the canonical form of the polynomial equation describing the variation in each of the three germination responses was calculated and evaluated statistically. These equations were then used to estimate the presence of, and the magnitude of synergism between the various active substances. The results from these screening experiments and their detailed statistical analysis indicated that the response surface model for the germination response contains three synergistic blends (4-nitrophenyl--D-glucopyranoside + arbutin; 4-nitrophenyl--Dglucopyranoside + hydroquinone; and 4-chlorophenyl--D-glucopyranoside + salicin) and one antagonistic blend (4-nitrophenyl--D-glucopyranoside + 4- chlorophenol--D-glucopyranoside). The response surface model for the average dry mass response contains two synergistic blends (4-nitrophenyl--Dglucopyranoside + hydroquinone; and 4-chlorophenol--D-glucopyranoside + salicin) and the same antagonistic blend as for germination response. For both germination and average dry mass responses, the most synergistic blend was found to be the combination of 4-chlorophenyl--D-glucopyranoside and salicin. Two additional tests were conducted and both confirmed the results obtained from the screening designs. These tests involved the identification of the two components responsible for the synergistic activity that resulted in the suppression of the germination of the tubers and growth of the seedlings. The experimental response measuring the longest shoot proved to be erroneous and was excluded from the statistical analysis. In summary, this study has clearly shown that statistically designed experiments based on mixture designs can be used as a powerful tool in identifying and quantifying synergistic (or antagonistic) effects of chemicals on the germination ability of plant seeds.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
The family maths programme: facilitators' ability to implement inquiry-based teaching and learning with learners and parents
- Authors: Austin, Pamela Winifred
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Mathematics -- Study and teaching -- South Africa , Inquiry-based learning -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:9483 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/471 , Mathematics -- Study and teaching -- South Africa , Inquiry-based learning -- South Africa
- Description: Despite the fact that the facilitation of inquiry learning is a core methodology in the General Education and Training (GET) band of the South African National Curriculum Statement, rote learning and memorization of algorithms remains common practice in many mathematics classrooms. The inquiry-based Family Maths professional development programme, offered by the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, attempts not only to support the transformative education practices targeted by the South African National Department of Education, but also to extend them beyond the school walls to the community at large. This study investigates the extent to which the Family Maths professional development programme develops facilitators’ ability to implement inquiry-based learning. It also seeks to explore which aspects of the programme are effective in developing an inquiry-based approach. The research undertaken is an empirical study of 39 facilitators and uses both qualitative and quantitative methods. The facilitators’ inquiry beliefs and ability to implement inquiry learning was measured by means of questionnaires, observation schedules and interviews. As the ‘teacher as facilitator of inquiry-based teaching and learning’ is a requirement of all South African teachers, the findings of this research should make a meaningful contribution to the field of mathematics teacher education in the South African context.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Austin, Pamela Winifred
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Mathematics -- Study and teaching -- South Africa , Inquiry-based learning -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:9483 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/471 , Mathematics -- Study and teaching -- South Africa , Inquiry-based learning -- South Africa
- Description: Despite the fact that the facilitation of inquiry learning is a core methodology in the General Education and Training (GET) band of the South African National Curriculum Statement, rote learning and memorization of algorithms remains common practice in many mathematics classrooms. The inquiry-based Family Maths professional development programme, offered by the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, attempts not only to support the transformative education practices targeted by the South African National Department of Education, but also to extend them beyond the school walls to the community at large. This study investigates the extent to which the Family Maths professional development programme develops facilitators’ ability to implement inquiry-based learning. It also seeks to explore which aspects of the programme are effective in developing an inquiry-based approach. The research undertaken is an empirical study of 39 facilitators and uses both qualitative and quantitative methods. The facilitators’ inquiry beliefs and ability to implement inquiry learning was measured by means of questionnaires, observation schedules and interviews. As the ‘teacher as facilitator of inquiry-based teaching and learning’ is a requirement of all South African teachers, the findings of this research should make a meaningful contribution to the field of mathematics teacher education in the South African context.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
The use of thermal modelling in improving rural subsistence aquaculture
- Authors: Bailey, Dylan Francis
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Sustainable aquaculture -- South Africa , Aquaculture industry -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10715 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/473 , Sustainable aquaculture -- South Africa , Aquaculture industry -- South Africa
- Description: There has been a long history of attempts to promote subsistence rural aquaculture within South Africa. Many of these attempts have failed due to inadequate support from government and support agencies. There has been a recent revived interest in promoting rural aquaculture development. Presented in this project are six scenarios demonstrating the potential application of thermal modelling techniques to improving subsistence rural aquaculture. These scenarios were based on a model validated against a real life system, and run with environmental data for the year 2005. Bovine manure, grass thatch, cereal straw and Typha spp. water reeds were tested for thermal performance. These results were then applied to the scenarios. The open and kraal enclosed pond scenarios yielded the widest deviation in temperatures throughout the year, with an average temperature of 3.8oC and 6.0oC above ambient and a temperature range of 10.6oC and 12.4oC for the year respectively. Eliminating solar radiation and reducing wind speed resulted in an average difference of 1.5oC below ambient and a temperature range of 7.5oC for the year. When completely enclosed in a well-sealed traditional Xhosa style hut, the pond had an average difference of 5.6oC below outside ambient temperature, with a range of 7.8oC for the year. A passive solar heating scenario added to the sealed hut scenario, which when run continuously maintained an average difference of 34.7oC above outside ambient temperatures, with a range of 56oC for the year. When a hypothetical 25oC temperature control was included in the model, the system maintained an average of 7.1oC above ambient outside temperatures, with a temperature range of 0.8oC throughout the year. The wider range of temperatures made available through the use of thermal modelling approaches provides a more diverse range of species available for subsistence rural aquaculture at any site, significantly improving its potential.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Bailey, Dylan Francis
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Sustainable aquaculture -- South Africa , Aquaculture industry -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10715 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/473 , Sustainable aquaculture -- South Africa , Aquaculture industry -- South Africa
- Description: There has been a long history of attempts to promote subsistence rural aquaculture within South Africa. Many of these attempts have failed due to inadequate support from government and support agencies. There has been a recent revived interest in promoting rural aquaculture development. Presented in this project are six scenarios demonstrating the potential application of thermal modelling techniques to improving subsistence rural aquaculture. These scenarios were based on a model validated against a real life system, and run with environmental data for the year 2005. Bovine manure, grass thatch, cereal straw and Typha spp. water reeds were tested for thermal performance. These results were then applied to the scenarios. The open and kraal enclosed pond scenarios yielded the widest deviation in temperatures throughout the year, with an average temperature of 3.8oC and 6.0oC above ambient and a temperature range of 10.6oC and 12.4oC for the year respectively. Eliminating solar radiation and reducing wind speed resulted in an average difference of 1.5oC below ambient and a temperature range of 7.5oC for the year. When completely enclosed in a well-sealed traditional Xhosa style hut, the pond had an average difference of 5.6oC below outside ambient temperature, with a range of 7.8oC for the year. A passive solar heating scenario added to the sealed hut scenario, which when run continuously maintained an average difference of 34.7oC above outside ambient temperatures, with a range of 56oC for the year. When a hypothetical 25oC temperature control was included in the model, the system maintained an average of 7.1oC above ambient outside temperatures, with a temperature range of 0.8oC throughout the year. The wider range of temperatures made available through the use of thermal modelling approaches provides a more diverse range of species available for subsistence rural aquaculture at any site, significantly improving its potential.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Characterisation of InAs-based epilayers by FTIR spectroscopy
- Authors: Baisitse, Tshepiso Revonia
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , Gallium arsenide semiconductors
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10534 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/474 , Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , Gallium arsenide semiconductors
- Description: This study focuses on the characterization of InAs and InAs1-xSbx epitaxial layers by infrared reflectance and transmittance spectroscopy and Hall measurements. Reflectance measurements were performed in order to obtain the dielectric parameters and to extract from these information about the electrical properties (mobility and carrier concentration) of this important III-V material system. The transmittance measurements were used to determine the bandgap of InAsSb. Infrared reflectivity and transmittance measurements were performed in the wavelength range 200 – 2000 cm-1 on InAs and InAsSb layers grown on three types of substrates. A classical two oscillator model that takes into account both the free carriers and the lattice, was used to analyse the reflectance data using the BMDP® computer curve fitting software. The dielectric parameters and the electrical properties (carrier concentration and mobility) were extracted from the simulations. Due to the low free carrier concentration in the epitaxial structures, the plasma resonance frequency (ωp) values obtained from the simulations of reflectance spectra measured above 200 cm-1, were in the order of 20-30 cm-1. These low values were confirmed by direct measurements of ωp in reflectance spectra obtained in the range 15-200 cm-1. The simulated carrier concentration and mobility values determined optically were compared to the values determined by Hall measurements at room temperature and previously reported values by other researchers. The simulated values obtained were in reasonable agreement with the Hall values. The simulated and measured carrier concentrations obtained for InAs layers were significantly higher than the intrinsic carrier concentration for InAs at room temperature, indicating notable concentrations of donors resulting from the growth process.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Baisitse, Tshepiso Revonia
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , Gallium arsenide semiconductors
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10534 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/474 , Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , Gallium arsenide semiconductors
- Description: This study focuses on the characterization of InAs and InAs1-xSbx epitaxial layers by infrared reflectance and transmittance spectroscopy and Hall measurements. Reflectance measurements were performed in order to obtain the dielectric parameters and to extract from these information about the electrical properties (mobility and carrier concentration) of this important III-V material system. The transmittance measurements were used to determine the bandgap of InAsSb. Infrared reflectivity and transmittance measurements were performed in the wavelength range 200 – 2000 cm-1 on InAs and InAsSb layers grown on three types of substrates. A classical two oscillator model that takes into account both the free carriers and the lattice, was used to analyse the reflectance data using the BMDP® computer curve fitting software. The dielectric parameters and the electrical properties (carrier concentration and mobility) were extracted from the simulations. Due to the low free carrier concentration in the epitaxial structures, the plasma resonance frequency (ωp) values obtained from the simulations of reflectance spectra measured above 200 cm-1, were in the order of 20-30 cm-1. These low values were confirmed by direct measurements of ωp in reflectance spectra obtained in the range 15-200 cm-1. The simulated carrier concentration and mobility values determined optically were compared to the values determined by Hall measurements at room temperature and previously reported values by other researchers. The simulated values obtained were in reasonable agreement with the Hall values. The simulated and measured carrier concentrations obtained for InAs layers were significantly higher than the intrinsic carrier concentration for InAs at room temperature, indicating notable concentrations of donors resulting from the growth process.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Purchasing determinants of food insercurity conditions amongst shoppers in Klipplaat
- Ballantine, Nicole Marguerite
- Authors: Ballantine, Nicole Marguerite
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Food -- Safety measures , Food supply -- South Africa -- Klipplaat , Households -- South Africa -- Klipplaat , Quality of life -- South Africa -- Klipplaat
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9404 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/835 , Food -- Safety measures , Food supply -- South Africa -- Klipplaat , Households -- South Africa -- Klipplaat , Quality of life -- South Africa -- Klipplaat
- Description: This study sought to investigate the purchasing determinants of food insecurity conditions in Klipplaat, in the Eastern Cape. The study comprised a pilot study and main study (n=459) making use of an adapted version of the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale. It was found that food insecurity conditions in Klipplaat were high, with most households experiencing food insecurity conditions between three and ten times per month. Income level was found to have a significant effect on food insecurity conditions in Klipplaat. The availability of efficient transport and refrigeration was also found to significantly influence the experience of food insecurity conditions.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Ballantine, Nicole Marguerite
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Food -- Safety measures , Food supply -- South Africa -- Klipplaat , Households -- South Africa -- Klipplaat , Quality of life -- South Africa -- Klipplaat
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9404 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/835 , Food -- Safety measures , Food supply -- South Africa -- Klipplaat , Households -- South Africa -- Klipplaat , Quality of life -- South Africa -- Klipplaat
- Description: This study sought to investigate the purchasing determinants of food insecurity conditions in Klipplaat, in the Eastern Cape. The study comprised a pilot study and main study (n=459) making use of an adapted version of the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale. It was found that food insecurity conditions in Klipplaat were high, with most households experiencing food insecurity conditions between three and ten times per month. Income level was found to have a significant effect on food insecurity conditions in Klipplaat. The availability of efficient transport and refrigeration was also found to significantly influence the experience of food insecurity conditions.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Creative misreadings: allegory in Tracey Rose's Ciao Bella
- Authors: Bateman, Genevieve
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Rose, Tracey, 1974- Artists -- South Africa Women artists -- South Africa Performance artists -- South Africa Women in art
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MFA
- Identifier: vital:2473 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1009506
- Description: This thesis will aim to investigate the extent to which Tracey Rose's Ciao Bella can be said to allegorically perform a dialectical enfolding of the dichotomous categories of meaning/nonmeaning; image/text; past/present and original/translation. The dual concepts of performance and performativity will be utilized as a means to explore the notion of interpretation as a meaning-making process and as an engagement between artist, artwork and viewer that is necessarily open-ended and in a state of constant change and flux. Rose's performance of Ciao Bella will be read as one that questions the illusion of unmediated representation by parodying and creatively misreading a multiplicity of visual, textual and musical representations so as to foreground the politics of representation. The representational figure of allegory, as one that defines itself in opposition to the Romantic conception of the unified symbol, will be put to work so as to reveal the ways in which Rose's performance works to critically undermine various positivistic attitudes toward self-identity, gender, race, politics, history, authorial intention and interpretation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Bateman, Genevieve
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Rose, Tracey, 1974- Artists -- South Africa Women artists -- South Africa Performance artists -- South Africa Women in art
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MFA
- Identifier: vital:2473 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1009506
- Description: This thesis will aim to investigate the extent to which Tracey Rose's Ciao Bella can be said to allegorically perform a dialectical enfolding of the dichotomous categories of meaning/nonmeaning; image/text; past/present and original/translation. The dual concepts of performance and performativity will be utilized as a means to explore the notion of interpretation as a meaning-making process and as an engagement between artist, artwork and viewer that is necessarily open-ended and in a state of constant change and flux. Rose's performance of Ciao Bella will be read as one that questions the illusion of unmediated representation by parodying and creatively misreading a multiplicity of visual, textual and musical representations so as to foreground the politics of representation. The representational figure of allegory, as one that defines itself in opposition to the Romantic conception of the unified symbol, will be put to work so as to reveal the ways in which Rose's performance works to critically undermine various positivistic attitudes toward self-identity, gender, race, politics, history, authorial intention and interpretation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Improving the service quality of a civil consulting engineering firm through benchmarking
- Authors: Bellingan, Werner
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Performance -- Measurement , Quality assurance -- Measurement
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8746 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/743 , Performance -- Measurement , Quality assurance -- Measurement
- Description: The civil engineering industry in South Africa has seen a steady decline in the number of professionals during the last few decades, however it is expected that the government and private sectors are to spend over R200 billion on infrastructure in the next few years. This increases the demand on civil consulting engineering firms to achieve greater productivity, with reduced time and human resources, which has had a profound effect on the quality of service delivered to clients. These firms need to gain a competitive advantage by consistently providing Service Excellence, which is superior to their competitors. One way of achieving this is by benchmarking firms against their competitors. In this research paper the Service Quality and Service Recovery procedures of Company X in Port Elizabeth were benchmarked against its competitors using a customised form of the recognised SERVQUAL research instrument - the SERVPERF questionnaire. The results proved to be invaluable because the survey revealed insightful information which can be used to their strategic benefit. Civil consulting engineering firms need to be aware that Service Excellence is an imperative in the service industry, but do not necessarily have to be perfect. Firms simply need to outperform their competitors to be rated as market leaders. Strategies to improve the Service Quality and Service Recovery of the firm under review are suggested and this work concludes with suggestions for future research projects, which may be beneficial to the researcher, the civil engineering industry and the economy of South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Bellingan, Werner
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Performance -- Measurement , Quality assurance -- Measurement
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8746 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/743 , Performance -- Measurement , Quality assurance -- Measurement
- Description: The civil engineering industry in South Africa has seen a steady decline in the number of professionals during the last few decades, however it is expected that the government and private sectors are to spend over R200 billion on infrastructure in the next few years. This increases the demand on civil consulting engineering firms to achieve greater productivity, with reduced time and human resources, which has had a profound effect on the quality of service delivered to clients. These firms need to gain a competitive advantage by consistently providing Service Excellence, which is superior to their competitors. One way of achieving this is by benchmarking firms against their competitors. In this research paper the Service Quality and Service Recovery procedures of Company X in Port Elizabeth were benchmarked against its competitors using a customised form of the recognised SERVQUAL research instrument - the SERVPERF questionnaire. The results proved to be invaluable because the survey revealed insightful information which can be used to their strategic benefit. Civil consulting engineering firms need to be aware that Service Excellence is an imperative in the service industry, but do not necessarily have to be perfect. Firms simply need to outperform their competitors to be rated as market leaders. Strategies to improve the Service Quality and Service Recovery of the firm under review are suggested and this work concludes with suggestions for future research projects, which may be beneficial to the researcher, the civil engineering industry and the economy of South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
The role of the euthecosome pteropod, limacina retroversa, in the polar frontal zone, Southern Ocean
- Authors: Bernard, Kim Sarah
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Pteropoda Limacidae Zooplankton -- Antarctic Ocean Copepoda Phytoplankton
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:5761 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005449
- Description: The aim of the present study was to assess the ecological role of the euthecosome pteropod, Limacina retroversa, in particular, and the mesozooplankton community, in general, in the pelagic ecosystem of the Polar Frontal Zone (PFZ), Southern Ocean. Data were collected from four oceanographic surveys to the Indian sector of the PFZ during austral autumn 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2005. Copepods, mainly Calanus simillimus, Oithona similis, Clausocalanus spp. and Ctenocalanus spp., typically dominated total mesozooplankton counts, accounting for, on average, between 75.5 % and 88.1 % (Mean = 77.4 %; SD = 13.4 %) of the total, during the present investigation. Results of the study indicate that L. retroversa may, at times, contribute substantially to total mesozooplankton abundances. During the study, L. retroversa contributed between 0.0 and 30.0 % (Mean = 5.3 %; SD = 7.1 %) to total mesozooplankton numbers. Significant small-scale variability in abundance and size structure of L. retroversa and abundance of copepods was minimal. Inter-annual variability, on the other hand, was significant between some years. Total pteropod numbers were greatest during April 2002 and 2004, while copepods exhibited greatest abundances during April 2004 only. Pearson’s Correlation analysis suggested that L. retroversa abundances were positively correlated to total surface chlorophyll-a (chl-a) concentrations. The significantly lower chl-a concentrations recorded during April 2005 may explain the reduced pteropod numbers observed during that survey. The size class structure of L. retroversa comprised mainly small and mediumsized individuals during all four surveys. This corresponds well with records from the northern hemisphere (sub-Arctic and Arctic waters) where Limacina spp. are reported to exhibit maximum spawning during mid to late-summer. Higher abundances of large individuals only occurred during April 2005, when chl-a concentrations were very low; possibly the result of delayed spawning, due to reduced food availability. Ingestion rates of the four most abundant copepods, determined using the gut fluorescence technique, ranged between 159.32 ng (pigm) ind⁻¹ day⁻¹ and 728.36 ng (pigm) ind⁻¹ day⁻¹ (Mean = 321.01 ng (pigm) ind⁻¹ day⁻¹; SD = 173.91 ng (pigm) ind⁻¹ day). Ingestion rates of L. retroversa were much higher, ranging from an average of 4 28.68 ng (pigm) ind⁻¹ day⁻¹ in April 2002 to 4 196.88 ng (pigm) ind⁻¹day⁻¹in April 2005 (Mean = 4157.36 ng (pigm) ind⁻¹ day⁻¹; SD = 35.37 ng (pigm) ind⁻¹day⁻¹). Average daily grazing rates for the pteropod varied between 0.39 mg (pigm) m⁻² day⁻¹ in April 2005 and 17.69 mg (pigm) m-2 day-1 in April 2004 (Mean = 6.13 mg (pigm) m⁻² day⁻¹; SD = 11.04 mg (pigm) m⁻² day⁻¹); corresponding average daily grazing impacts ranged between 8.4 % and 139.8 % of the phytoplankton standing stock in April 2005 and 2004, respectively (Mean = 48.5 %; SD = 84.5 %). Average daily grazing rates of the four copepods ranged from 4.58 mg (pigm) m⁻² day⁻¹ to 8.77 mg (pigm) m⁻² day⁻¹ -1, during April 2002 and 2004, respectively (Mean = 6.28 mg (pigm) m⁻² day⁻¹; SD = 5.94 mg (pigm) m⁻² day⁻¹). Collectively, the copepods removed an average of between 31.6 % and 89.8 % of the phytoplankton standing stock per day, during April 2002 and 2004, respectively (Mean = 70.8 %; SD = 86.7 %). The daily grazing impact of the copepods accounted for an average of between 40.4 % and 87.8 % of the total zooplankton grazing impact, during April 2004 and 2005, respectively (Mean = 75.0 %; SD = 65.5 %). L. retroversa was responsible for an average of 52.4 % and 59.5 % of the total zooplankton grazing impact, during April 2002 and 2004, respectively. However, during April 2005, when L. retroversa numbers were significantly lower than previous years, the pteropod contributed an average of only 7.5 % to the total zooplankton grazing impact. Thus, during the present investigation,the pteropod was responsible for removing a mean of 48.9 % of the available phytoplankton (SD = 74.9 %). The predation impact of the dominant carnivorous macrozooplankton and micronekton in the PFZ was determined during April 2004 and 2005 using daily ration estimates obtained from the literature. Additionally, gut content analysis was used to determine the contribution of L. retroversa to the diet of the dominant predators. Average predation impact ranged from 1.1 % and 5.7 % of the total mesozooplankton standing stock during April 2004 and 2005, respectively (Mean = 3.8 %; SD = 12.3 %). Chaetognaths and euphausiids dominated total carnivore numbers and made the greatest contributions to total predation impact during both years. Copepods appeared to be the main prey item of the dominant carnivorous macrozooplankton-micronekton in the region. L. retroversa was only detected in the gut contents of the amphipod, Themisto gaudichaudi, but not in either of the chaetognath species (Eukrohnia hamata and Sagitta gazellae) or the myctophid fish (Electrona spp.). The pteropod was found in 19 % of amphipod guts dissected. Pearson’s Correlation analyses showed that the four major predatory zooplankton groups found in the PFZ (chaetognaths, euphausiids, amphipods and myctophid fish) were positively correlated to abundances of L. retroversa, suggesting that the pteropod might be an important prey item for many of the carnivorous macrozooplankton/micronekton in the PFZ. To conclude, L. retroversa may play an important role in the pelagic ecosystem of the PFZ, in austral autumn. However, ocean acidification and calcium carbonate undersaturation (as a result of increased anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions), that is predicted to occur within the next 50 – 100 years, will most likely have significant implications for the Sub-Antarctic pelagic ecosystem if L. retroversa cannot adapt quickly enough to the changes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
The role of the euthecosome pteropod, limacina retroversa, in the polar frontal zone, Southern Ocean
- Authors: Bernard, Kim Sarah
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Pteropoda Limacidae Zooplankton -- Antarctic Ocean Copepoda Phytoplankton
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:5761 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005449
- Description: The aim of the present study was to assess the ecological role of the euthecosome pteropod, Limacina retroversa, in particular, and the mesozooplankton community, in general, in the pelagic ecosystem of the Polar Frontal Zone (PFZ), Southern Ocean. Data were collected from four oceanographic surveys to the Indian sector of the PFZ during austral autumn 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2005. Copepods, mainly Calanus simillimus, Oithona similis, Clausocalanus spp. and Ctenocalanus spp., typically dominated total mesozooplankton counts, accounting for, on average, between 75.5 % and 88.1 % (Mean = 77.4 %; SD = 13.4 %) of the total, during the present investigation. Results of the study indicate that L. retroversa may, at times, contribute substantially to total mesozooplankton abundances. During the study, L. retroversa contributed between 0.0 and 30.0 % (Mean = 5.3 %; SD = 7.1 %) to total mesozooplankton numbers. Significant small-scale variability in abundance and size structure of L. retroversa and abundance of copepods was minimal. Inter-annual variability, on the other hand, was significant between some years. Total pteropod numbers were greatest during April 2002 and 2004, while copepods exhibited greatest abundances during April 2004 only. Pearson’s Correlation analysis suggested that L. retroversa abundances were positively correlated to total surface chlorophyll-a (chl-a) concentrations. The significantly lower chl-a concentrations recorded during April 2005 may explain the reduced pteropod numbers observed during that survey. The size class structure of L. retroversa comprised mainly small and mediumsized individuals during all four surveys. This corresponds well with records from the northern hemisphere (sub-Arctic and Arctic waters) where Limacina spp. are reported to exhibit maximum spawning during mid to late-summer. Higher abundances of large individuals only occurred during April 2005, when chl-a concentrations were very low; possibly the result of delayed spawning, due to reduced food availability. Ingestion rates of the four most abundant copepods, determined using the gut fluorescence technique, ranged between 159.32 ng (pigm) ind⁻¹ day⁻¹ and 728.36 ng (pigm) ind⁻¹ day⁻¹ (Mean = 321.01 ng (pigm) ind⁻¹ day⁻¹; SD = 173.91 ng (pigm) ind⁻¹ day). Ingestion rates of L. retroversa were much higher, ranging from an average of 4 28.68 ng (pigm) ind⁻¹ day⁻¹ in April 2002 to 4 196.88 ng (pigm) ind⁻¹day⁻¹in April 2005 (Mean = 4157.36 ng (pigm) ind⁻¹ day⁻¹; SD = 35.37 ng (pigm) ind⁻¹day⁻¹). Average daily grazing rates for the pteropod varied between 0.39 mg (pigm) m⁻² day⁻¹ in April 2005 and 17.69 mg (pigm) m-2 day-1 in April 2004 (Mean = 6.13 mg (pigm) m⁻² day⁻¹; SD = 11.04 mg (pigm) m⁻² day⁻¹); corresponding average daily grazing impacts ranged between 8.4 % and 139.8 % of the phytoplankton standing stock in April 2005 and 2004, respectively (Mean = 48.5 %; SD = 84.5 %). Average daily grazing rates of the four copepods ranged from 4.58 mg (pigm) m⁻² day⁻¹ to 8.77 mg (pigm) m⁻² day⁻¹ -1, during April 2002 and 2004, respectively (Mean = 6.28 mg (pigm) m⁻² day⁻¹; SD = 5.94 mg (pigm) m⁻² day⁻¹). Collectively, the copepods removed an average of between 31.6 % and 89.8 % of the phytoplankton standing stock per day, during April 2002 and 2004, respectively (Mean = 70.8 %; SD = 86.7 %). The daily grazing impact of the copepods accounted for an average of between 40.4 % and 87.8 % of the total zooplankton grazing impact, during April 2004 and 2005, respectively (Mean = 75.0 %; SD = 65.5 %). L. retroversa was responsible for an average of 52.4 % and 59.5 % of the total zooplankton grazing impact, during April 2002 and 2004, respectively. However, during April 2005, when L. retroversa numbers were significantly lower than previous years, the pteropod contributed an average of only 7.5 % to the total zooplankton grazing impact. Thus, during the present investigation,the pteropod was responsible for removing a mean of 48.9 % of the available phytoplankton (SD = 74.9 %). The predation impact of the dominant carnivorous macrozooplankton and micronekton in the PFZ was determined during April 2004 and 2005 using daily ration estimates obtained from the literature. Additionally, gut content analysis was used to determine the contribution of L. retroversa to the diet of the dominant predators. Average predation impact ranged from 1.1 % and 5.7 % of the total mesozooplankton standing stock during April 2004 and 2005, respectively (Mean = 3.8 %; SD = 12.3 %). Chaetognaths and euphausiids dominated total carnivore numbers and made the greatest contributions to total predation impact during both years. Copepods appeared to be the main prey item of the dominant carnivorous macrozooplankton-micronekton in the region. L. retroversa was only detected in the gut contents of the amphipod, Themisto gaudichaudi, but not in either of the chaetognath species (Eukrohnia hamata and Sagitta gazellae) or the myctophid fish (Electrona spp.). The pteropod was found in 19 % of amphipod guts dissected. Pearson’s Correlation analyses showed that the four major predatory zooplankton groups found in the PFZ (chaetognaths, euphausiids, amphipods and myctophid fish) were positively correlated to abundances of L. retroversa, suggesting that the pteropod might be an important prey item for many of the carnivorous macrozooplankton/micronekton in the PFZ. To conclude, L. retroversa may play an important role in the pelagic ecosystem of the PFZ, in austral autumn. However, ocean acidification and calcium carbonate undersaturation (as a result of increased anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions), that is predicted to occur within the next 50 – 100 years, will most likely have significant implications for the Sub-Antarctic pelagic ecosystem if L. retroversa cannot adapt quickly enough to the changes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
An investigation into the popularity of Zimbabwe's first health communication soap opera, Studio 263 : a qualitative reception study of Bulawayo students aged between 15 and 20 years
- Authors: Bhebhe-Mpofu, Adilaid
- Date: 2007 , 2014-08-18
- Subjects: Studio 263 (Television program) , Television soap operas -- Zimbabwe , Television viewers -- Zimbabwe , Mass media and children -- Zimbabwe , Television and children -- Zimbabwe , AIDS (Disease) -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3531 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013310
- Description: Within the context of debates concerning the reception and interpretation of media texts by television audiences, this qualitative reception study explores how a sample of Bulawayo students negotiate meanings from Zimbabwe's first health communication soap opera, Studio 263. The study thus examines the reasons behind the popularity of this programme with this target audience. The findings of the study reveal that meaning making is a complex process that is dependent on a variety of factors which include, among others, the socio-cultural context of media consumption, gender, economic disposition and age. It particularly maintains that gender and lived realities influence the interpretation and negotiation of meanings in this particular study. , Adobe Acrobat Pro 11.0.0 Paper Capture Plug-in
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Bhebhe-Mpofu, Adilaid
- Date: 2007 , 2014-08-18
- Subjects: Studio 263 (Television program) , Television soap operas -- Zimbabwe , Television viewers -- Zimbabwe , Mass media and children -- Zimbabwe , Television and children -- Zimbabwe , AIDS (Disease) -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3531 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013310
- Description: Within the context of debates concerning the reception and interpretation of media texts by television audiences, this qualitative reception study explores how a sample of Bulawayo students negotiate meanings from Zimbabwe's first health communication soap opera, Studio 263. The study thus examines the reasons behind the popularity of this programme with this target audience. The findings of the study reveal that meaning making is a complex process that is dependent on a variety of factors which include, among others, the socio-cultural context of media consumption, gender, economic disposition and age. It particularly maintains that gender and lived realities influence the interpretation and negotiation of meanings in this particular study. , Adobe Acrobat Pro 11.0.0 Paper Capture Plug-in
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Transcending state-centrism: new regionalism and the future of Southern African regional integration
- Authors: Blaauw, Lesley
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Southern African Development Community Southern African Customs Union Southern African Development Coordination Conference Regionalism -- Africa, Southern Africa, Southern -- Economic integration
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:2761 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002971
- Description: This dissertation argues that in the 1990s and beyond, the character and functions of regions and regionalism have experienced a major transformation. This requires a reconceptualisation of regions and regionalism that transcends state-centrism. The argument here is that the definition of regions and regionalism needs to recognise that other actors also participate in the construction of regions and the practise of regionalism. Up to now, however, theories of integration incompletely deal with outcomes appropriate to developing countries, states and regions. In the context where people remain vulnerable to top-down forms of regionalism driven by the forces of globalisation, this calls for a new approach in the analytical study of regionalism in a transnational context. The contention is that new regionalism, and its variant, developmental regionalism pay attention to the role those organised civil society actors and those marginalised by both globalisation and regionalisation play in promoting regionalism in a transnational context. Historically, state-centric regionalism in southern Africa was not aimed at achieving developmental objectives. In the case of SACU, the argument is that South Africa used its economic strength in a hegemonial way. To counter-act apartheid South Africa’s economic hegemony, SADCC was formed. SADCC achieved limited success in the fields of infrastructural development and in attracting donor aid. The end of the Cold War and the downfall of apartheid compelled these organisations to recast their objectives and purpose. For SACU this meant changing from an organisation dominated by South Africa to a fully-fledged inter-state one. Disconcertedly, however, about the reforms undertook by SACU, is that the disposition of member states remain important in determining the content and scope of regionalism. SADC, on the other hand, has also not sufficiently reform itself to achieve the ambitious goals it set-out for itself. Moreover, while SADC has since its inception in 1992 set-out to involve non-state actors in its regional integration efforts, limited institutional reform in 2000 and beyond, and elites at the forefront of institutional restructuring make it difficult for non-state actors to contribute to sustainable regional integration. In conclusion, this dissertation maintains that sustainable regionalist orders are best built by recognising that beyond the geometry of state-sovereignty, civil society organisations with a regional focus and the ordinary people of the region also contribute to regioness and as such to the re-conceptualisation of regional community in southern Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Transcending state-centrism: new regionalism and the future of Southern African regional integration
- Authors: Blaauw, Lesley
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Southern African Development Community Southern African Customs Union Southern African Development Coordination Conference Regionalism -- Africa, Southern Africa, Southern -- Economic integration
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:2761 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002971
- Description: This dissertation argues that in the 1990s and beyond, the character and functions of regions and regionalism have experienced a major transformation. This requires a reconceptualisation of regions and regionalism that transcends state-centrism. The argument here is that the definition of regions and regionalism needs to recognise that other actors also participate in the construction of regions and the practise of regionalism. Up to now, however, theories of integration incompletely deal with outcomes appropriate to developing countries, states and regions. In the context where people remain vulnerable to top-down forms of regionalism driven by the forces of globalisation, this calls for a new approach in the analytical study of regionalism in a transnational context. The contention is that new regionalism, and its variant, developmental regionalism pay attention to the role those organised civil society actors and those marginalised by both globalisation and regionalisation play in promoting regionalism in a transnational context. Historically, state-centric regionalism in southern Africa was not aimed at achieving developmental objectives. In the case of SACU, the argument is that South Africa used its economic strength in a hegemonial way. To counter-act apartheid South Africa’s economic hegemony, SADCC was formed. SADCC achieved limited success in the fields of infrastructural development and in attracting donor aid. The end of the Cold War and the downfall of apartheid compelled these organisations to recast their objectives and purpose. For SACU this meant changing from an organisation dominated by South Africa to a fully-fledged inter-state one. Disconcertedly, however, about the reforms undertook by SACU, is that the disposition of member states remain important in determining the content and scope of regionalism. SADC, on the other hand, has also not sufficiently reform itself to achieve the ambitious goals it set-out for itself. Moreover, while SADC has since its inception in 1992 set-out to involve non-state actors in its regional integration efforts, limited institutional reform in 2000 and beyond, and elites at the forefront of institutional restructuring make it difficult for non-state actors to contribute to sustainable regional integration. In conclusion, this dissertation maintains that sustainable regionalist orders are best built by recognising that beyond the geometry of state-sovereignty, civil society organisations with a regional focus and the ordinary people of the region also contribute to regioness and as such to the re-conceptualisation of regional community in southern Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Continuous auditing technologies and models
- Authors: Blundell, Adrian Wesley
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Auditing , Auditing -- Data processing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9798 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/476 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1011922 , Auditing , Auditing -- Data processing
- Description: Continuous auditing is not a totally new concept, but it has not been widely implemented, and has existed mostly as a point of debate amongst the auditing fraternity. This may soon change, as continuous auditing has become a topic of great interest, especially in the last decade. This may be due to a combination of reasons. In the last decade, much of the confidence in auditors’ reports was lost due to corporate governance scandals. This also brought about a greater desire for faster, more reliable reporting on which to base decisions. This desire has been transposed into regulations such as the Sarbanes-Oxley act in the United States, which encourages real-time auditing activities, which would benefit from continuous auditing. A second, possible contributing factor to the heightened interest in continuous auditing is that much of the requisite technology has matured to a point where it can be successfully used to implement continuous auditing. It is the technologies which form the focus of this research. It is therefore, the primary objective of this research to investigate and identify the essential technologies, and identify and define their roles within a continuous auditing solution. To explore this area, three models of continuous auditing are compared according to the roles of the technologies within them. The roots of some auditing technologies which can be adapted to the paradigm of continuous auditing are explored, as well as new technologies, such as XML-based reporting languages. In order to fully explore these technologies, the concepts of data integrity and data quality are first defined and discussed, and some security measures which contribute to integrity are identified. An obstacle to implementing a continuous model is that even with the newly available technologies, the multitudes of systems which are used in organisations, produce data in a plethora of data formats. In performing an audit the continuous auditing system needs to first gather this data and then needs to be able to compare “apples with apples”. Therefore, the technologies which can be used to acquire and standardise the data are identified.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Blundell, Adrian Wesley
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Auditing , Auditing -- Data processing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9798 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/476 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1011922 , Auditing , Auditing -- Data processing
- Description: Continuous auditing is not a totally new concept, but it has not been widely implemented, and has existed mostly as a point of debate amongst the auditing fraternity. This may soon change, as continuous auditing has become a topic of great interest, especially in the last decade. This may be due to a combination of reasons. In the last decade, much of the confidence in auditors’ reports was lost due to corporate governance scandals. This also brought about a greater desire for faster, more reliable reporting on which to base decisions. This desire has been transposed into regulations such as the Sarbanes-Oxley act in the United States, which encourages real-time auditing activities, which would benefit from continuous auditing. A second, possible contributing factor to the heightened interest in continuous auditing is that much of the requisite technology has matured to a point where it can be successfully used to implement continuous auditing. It is the technologies which form the focus of this research. It is therefore, the primary objective of this research to investigate and identify the essential technologies, and identify and define their roles within a continuous auditing solution. To explore this area, three models of continuous auditing are compared according to the roles of the technologies within them. The roots of some auditing technologies which can be adapted to the paradigm of continuous auditing are explored, as well as new technologies, such as XML-based reporting languages. In order to fully explore these technologies, the concepts of data integrity and data quality are first defined and discussed, and some security measures which contribute to integrity are identified. An obstacle to implementing a continuous model is that even with the newly available technologies, the multitudes of systems which are used in organisations, produce data in a plethora of data formats. In performing an audit the continuous auditing system needs to first gather this data and then needs to be able to compare “apples with apples”. Therefore, the technologies which can be used to acquire and standardise the data are identified.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007