Teaching reading in Rukwangali in four Grade 3 Namibian classrooms : a case study
- Authors: Siyave, Theresia Nerumbu
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Reading (Elementary) -- Namibia Reading teachers -- Training of -- Namibia Kwangali language -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- Namibia Literacy -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- Namibia Native language and education -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1798 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003683
- Description: This study aims to explore four grade 3 teachers’ understanding of teaching reading in Rukwangali, a home language in Namibia in Kavango region and to observe the strategies they use as well as the activities they set for their learners. During my School Based Studies (SBS), I noticed that learners were not reading with understanding. My interest was also stimulated by a study carried out in Namibia that found that the literacy levels for Namibian learners were poor compared to those of other African countries. This is a qualitative case study carried out within an interpretive paradigm. It seeks to understand the meaning that people attached to human actions. I selected the participants purposefully and in terms of convenience, as all three schools selected are situated in Rundu, the town in which I work as a college lecturer. The research tools I employed were semi-structured interviews, document analysis, classroom observation, and stimulated recall discussions on the lessons I observed. I used a variety of methods to triangulate data and enhance validity. This study reveals that teachers use multiple methods to teach reading. These methods include phonics and syllabification to help struggling learners to decode difficult and long (polysyllabic) words and the look-and-say method for whole word recognition and meaning making at word and sentence level. In addition, they also use the thematic approach to teaching and learning to expand learners’ vocabulary and enhance their understanding of the texts they read and to make their lessons learnercentred. However, the problems of language, lack of reading books written in Rukwangali and large class sizes constrain the teachers from teaching in a more learner-centred way. Therefore, the study gives some tentative recommendations to remedy this situation.
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Teaching struggling adolescent readers in Namibia : a case study
- Authors: Simanga, Elizabeth Miyaze
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Reading (Secondary) -- Namibia Reading comprehension -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- Namibia Reading -- Remedial teaching -- Namibia Reading teachers -- Training of -- Namibia Second language acquisition -- Namibia English language -- Study and teaching -- Foreign speakers -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1876 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005639
- Description: Though research has been conducted on many issues since Namibia's independence in 1990, none of these studies has investigated how English Second Language (ESL) teachers teach and support struggling adolescent readers (SARs) to read. Utilising qualitative research techniques such as classroom observations, semi-structured interviews and document analysis, this case study looked at strategies, methods, and resources used by five ESL secondary school teachers to teach SARs to read in two regions in Namibia, Caprivi and Otjozondjupa regions. Two of the five participants were male teachers. The presence of SARs in the classes observed was established by using informal methods such as the ESL teachers' experience (Caprivi region), while a sample of questions from PIRLS 2001 (Mullis, Martin, Gonzalez, & Kennedy (2003) was compiled to form a test used in the Otjozondjupa region. The findings show that despite undergoing initial teacher training and majoring in English, the five ESL secondary school teachers were not trained to teach SARs either how to read or how to support them. In addition, the study found that there was a shortage of reading materials in all five selected schools.
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Testing the existence and direction of "spill-over" of mussel recruits beyond the boundaries of marine protected areas
- Authors: Ludford, Adam
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Marine parks and reserves -- South Africa -- Transkei , Marine resources conservation -- South Africa -- Transkei , Mussels -- Ecology -- South Africa -- Transkei , Mexilhao mussel -- Reproduction -- South Africa -- Transkei , Mexilhao mussel -- Behavior -- South Africa -- Transkei
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5786 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005474 , Marine parks and reserves -- South Africa -- Transkei , Marine resources conservation -- South Africa -- Transkei , Mussels -- Ecology -- South Africa -- Transkei , Mexilhao mussel -- Reproduction -- South Africa -- Transkei , Mexilhao mussel -- Behavior -- South Africa -- Transkei
- Description: Landscape ecology helps in predicting the influence of habitat fragmentation on populations. Marine protected areas (MPAs) are expected to create areas of good quality patches and so improve connectivity among shores. MPAs are believed not only to protect adult populations, but also to enhance recruitment both within MPAs and on surrounding exploited shores, therefore improving their ability to recover from overexploitation. As such, MPAs are a preferred management tool for the conservation of natural populations. Although MPAs have been demonstrated to enhance adult abundances, little work has been done on their ability to provide so called "spill-over" of recruits nor has the generality of the influence of MPAs been investigated in a single region with multiple control sites. The Transkei region, on the east coast of South Africa, and the intertidal mussel, Perna perna, offer an ideal system to test the generality of the influence of MPAs on surrounding shores, due to the presence of multiple MPAs and exploited control sites. Patterns of adult abundance were surveyed at four MPAs and two comparably sized exploited control sites. Adult abundances were, in general, found to be higher within MPAs than at exploited control sites, with adult abundances decreasing towards the edge of MPAs and decreasing even more on the outside shores. To simplify the sorting procedure for samples of mussel recruits, a new method using fractionated elutriation was devised and tested. This new method was found to be more accurate, although not statistically significant but also substantially more time consuming. The increase in accuracy although not statistically significant could be biologically significant, especially when looking at low numbers. This new method could, therefore, be very useful especially when [...] is low. Recruitment was estimated over three months during the main reproductive season at two of the MPAs and at appropriate control sites. I predicted that recruitment patterns would mirror the patterns found in adult abundances and that there would be directionality in patterns of recruitment, with northern sites having greater recruitment due to the direction of near-shore ocean currents. Contrary to this, there were no correlations between adult abundance and recruitment for any of the months or sites, with no clear spatial pattern of recruitment in any of the three months. There was, however, a slight trend of greater recruitment at northern sites. To explain the lack of consistency in recruitment and adult abundances, wind data were used to examine the near-shore surface currents in this area, with theoretical surface currents showing similar patterns to those observed for recruitment. From a landscape perspective, the good patches created by MPAs supply recruits to the surrounding matrix but the low quality of habitat in the matrix prevents rehabilitation. The quality of the matrix must therefore be first improved by reseeding these shores. These results emphasise that while MPAs may function in protecting adult abundances, their influence on supplying recruits and hence recovery of near-by exploited shores may be overestimated. This lack of influence on near-by exploited shores highlights the need for reseeding of shores in conjunction with suitable management plans.
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Textual representations of migrants and the process of migration in selected South African media a combined critical discourse analysis and corpus linguistics study
- Authors: Crymble, Leigh
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Immigrants in mass media -- South Africa Mass media and foreign workers -- South Africa Refugees -- Press coverage -- South Africa Xenophobia in mass media -- South Africa Critical discourse analysis Corpora (Linguistics) Sunday Times (Johannesburg, South Africa) City Press (Johannesburg, South Africa) Mail & Guardian
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2342 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002624
- Description: South Africa has long been associated with racial and ethnic issues surrounding prejudice and discrimination and despite a move post-1994 to a democratic ‘rainbow nation’ society, the country has remained plagued by unequal power relations. One such instance of inequality relates to the marginalisation of migrants which has been realised through xenophobic attitudes and actions, most notably the violence that swept across the country in 2008. Several reasons have been suggested in an attempt to explain the cause of the violence, including claims that migrants are taking ‘our jobs and our women’, migrants are ‘illegal and criminal’ and bringing ‘disease and contamination’ with them from their countries of origin. Although widely accepted that many, if not all, of these beliefs are based on ignorance and hearsay, these extensive generalisations shape and reinforce prejudiced ideologies about migrant communities. It is thus only when confronted with evidence that challenges this dominant discourse, that South Africans are able to reconsider their views. Williams (2008) suggests that for many South Africans, Africa continues to be the ‘dark continent’ that is seen as an ominous, threatening force of which they have very little knowledge. For this reason, anti-immigrant sentiment in a South African context has traditionally been directed at African foreigners. In this study I examine the ways in which African migrants and migrant communities, as well as the overall processes of migration, are depicted by selected South African print media: City Press, Mail & Guardian and Sunday Times. Using a combined Corpus Linguistics and Critical Discourse Analysis approach, I investigate the following questions: How are migrants and the process of migration into South Africa represented by these established newspapers between 2006 and 2010? Are there any differences or similarities between these representations? In particular, what ideologies regarding migrants and migrant communities underlie these representations? My analysis focuses on the landscape of public discourse about migration with an exploration of the rise and fall of the terminologies used to categorise migrants and the social implications of these classifications. Additionally, I analyse the expansive occurrences of negative representations of migrants, particularly through the use of ‘othering’ pronouns ‘us’ versus ‘them’ and through the use of metaphorical language which largely depicts these individuals as en masse natural disasters. I conclude that these discursive elements play a crucial role in contributing to an overall xenophobic rhetoric. Despite subtle differences between the three newspapers which can be accounted for based on their political persuasions and agendas, it is surprising to note how aligned these publications are with regard to their portrayal of migrants. With a few exceptions, this representation positions these individuals as powerless and disenfranchised and maintains the status quo view of migrants as burdens on the South African economy and resources. Overall, the newspaper articles contribute to mainstream dominant discourse on migrants and migration with the underlying ideology that migrants are responsible for the hardships suffered by South African citizens. Thus, this study contributes significantly to existing bodies of research detailing discourse on migrants and emphasises the intrinsic links between language, ideology and society.
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The contribution made by Mr Justice EF Watermeyer to South African tax jurisprudence
- Authors: Thackwell, Robert Colin
- Date: 2011
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:881 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001635
- Description: The objective of this thesis is to highlight the colossal contributions made by the late Justice Watermeyer to South African tax jurisprudence. His contributions are viewed from a practical application point of view as well as from a statutory interpretative perspective. The style and technique with which he delivered his judgments are also considered to be a contribution in their own right. The core of this thesis is the analysis of seven of Justice Watermeyer‟s most influential judgments. The development and application of the principle or principles developed in each of these seven judgments is then traced chronologically through case law up until recent judgments. It is most notable that each and every phrase contained in section 11(a) of the Income Tax Act has been interpreted by Justice Watermeyer. These interpretations are still viewed as correct statements of the applicable law and will continue to be referred to on a regular basis given the fact that section 11(a) is one of the most widely contested provisions in the Income Tax Act. Several references to his approach to statutory interpretation are made through the course of the case analyses. Whilst significant evidence of a purposive oriented approach to interpretation appears in some judgments, such evidence is lacking in others. An absolute or conclusive submission in terms of his approach to statutory interpretation is not sufficiently supported. His style of judgment is also referred to and commented on, with particular focus placed on his use of illustrative examples. The contribution to South African tax law by Justice Watermeyer is found to be nothing short of enormous. He was and continues to be influential with respect to section 11(a),the definition of gross income in section 1, common law principles of tax avoidance as well as the interpretation of statutory laws of tax avoidance. It is anticipated that some of his interpretations with respect to statutory rules of tax avoidance will be referred to when the relatively new anti-avoidance provisions become the subject of litigation.
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The critical natural capital of the Buffalo City Municipality, South Africa : harnessing local action for biodiversity conservation
- Authors: Hagen, Brett
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Natural resources -- South Africa -- Buffalo City , Biodiversity conservation -- South Africa -- Buffalo City , Ecosystem services -- South Africa -- Buffalo City , Nature conservation -- South Africa -- Buffalo City , Environmental protection -- South Africa -- Buffalo City , Environmental degradation -- South Africa -- Buffalo City , Restoration ecology -- South Africa -- Buffalo City
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4753 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007075 , Natural resources -- South Africa -- Buffalo City , Biodiversity conservation -- South Africa -- Buffalo City , Ecosystem services -- South Africa -- Buffalo City , Nature conservation -- South Africa -- Buffalo City , Environmental protection -- South Africa -- Buffalo City , Environmental degradation -- South Africa -- Buffalo City , Restoration ecology -- South Africa -- Buffalo City
- Description: Globally, ecosystems provide services of almost twice the value of global gross national product (Costanza et al., 2006). The Buffalo City Municipality (BCM), South Africa contains biodiversity of national and international importance (Pierce, 2003; Pierce et al., 2005). Despite this, the municipality continues to experience loss of both urban and rural biodiversity (Buffalo City Municipality, 2006a). This study sought to determine the status of biodiversity, and the potential for ecosystem services to contribute to conservation, within the BCM. Biodiversity features, including ecosystem type, species of special concern and biodiversity processes, were identified and mapped using a GIS to produce a biodiversity priority index for the BCM. Current transformation status was then mapped to determine the level of ecosystem degradation within the BCM. Priority biodiversity areas as well as individual biodiversity features were spatially overlain against current transformation status and protected areas and analysed using a GIS to determine the level of degradation and protection of BCM biodiversity. In total 3.5 % of total BCM biodiversity was protected. Of the 24 ecosystem types, 11 (45%) had less than 1% under protection, while 16 (67%) had less than five percent protected. Not restorable areas, thus completely lost to biodiversity conservation, comprised just less than a quarter of the total BCM area while un-impacted areas comprised just 12.3%. Twenty five ecosystem services were identified as being provided by intact natural ecosystems within the BCM. The natural capital providing these services was identified and mapped to produce an ecosystem service index (ESI) using a GIS. This ecosystem service index and the biodiversity priority index were overlain to determine their level of correlation. Overall ESI correlation with priority biodiversity was weak although several individual ecosystem services, including carbon sequestration, showed correlation. Using the above data layers an implementation plan and conservation framework was proposed to assist the coordination of local conservation action within the BCM. It is concluded that ecosystem services are a potentially useful tool for conservationists at the local level seeking to ensure that biodiversity has relevance to and receives protection from broader society.
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The democratisation of art CAP as an alternative art space in South Africa
- Authors: Lochner, Eben
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Arts and society -- South Africa Democracy and the arts -- South Africa Art -- Political aspects -- South Africa Apartheid and art -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2409 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002205
- Description: While formal arts education was inaccessible to many during Apartheid, community-based centres played a significant role in the training of previously disadvantaged artists. By engaging in a socio-political critique of the history of South African art, this thesis argues that even though alternative art spaces are often marginalised, they remain essential to the diversification and democratisation of contemporary South African art today with its re-entry into the international art scene. According to Lize van Robbroeck (2004:52), “some of the fundamental ideals of community arts need to be revised to enrich, democratize and diversify [South Africa's] cultural practice.” The aim of my Thesis is to investigate this statement in relation to the contribution the Community Arts Project (CAP) in Cape Town (1977-2003). CAP and other art centres have played an indispensable role in the establishment of black artists and in producing a locally reflective artistic practice in South Africa, even into the 21st century. Through researching the changes the organisation underwent between the 1980s and 1990s, the ways in which such art centres constantly need to respond to the changing sociopolitical landscape around them become clear. Within South Africa these centres were seen to play a significant part in the liberation struggle and then later in nation building. While these centres were well supported by foreign donors in the late 1980s, such funding was withdrawn in 1991 and the majority of art centres collapsed, illustrating to some degree that the training of artist was not valued outside the context of the struggle against apartheid. By interviewing key people and by reading documentation stored at the Manuscripts and Archives department of UCT I have discovered some of the different benefits and hindrances of working in community art centres both during and after Apartheid. This thesis argues that these centres still play a vital role in contributing to the development of South Africa's local art practice and should not be relegated to the sideline.
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The demography and population dynamics of a re-introduced black rhinoceros population on the Great Fish River Reserve, Eastern Cape Province
- Authors: Fike, Bradley Robin
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Black rhinoceros -- South Africa -- Great Fish River Valley , Population biology -- South Africa -- Great Fish River Valley , Black rhinoceros -- Habitat -- South Africa -- Great Fish River Valley , Black rhinoceros -- Adaptation -- South Africa -- Great Fish River Valley , Black rhinoceros -- Ecology -- South Africa -- Great Fish River Valley
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5948 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020869
- Description: The re-introduction of black rhinoceros onto the Great Fish River Reserve in the Eastern Cape, following the species absence for over a century, created an opportunity to study this species in the thicket biome, and in particular the succulent thicket of the Great Fish River valley. The thicket biome is quite different from the habitats in which other extant populations of these animals are found and where studies of their demography have been undertaken. Data collection occurred from May 1986, with the arrival of the first four animals to December 2008, when the population was estimated to be 144 individuals. A variety of monitoring techniques were used including direct ground observations, aerial helicopter census, aerial monitoring by microlight aircraft, camera traps and opportunistic observations, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. The combination of methods and effort has resulted in the population being recognized as completely known with up to 97% of the animals being located at least once per year with a mean frequency of sightings of 11.5 per animal per year. In 2008, the population was about 20% juvenile, 36% sub-adult and 44% adult with a female biased sex ratio of 1.3 females per male. Mean age at first birth was about 80 months and this increased significantly with increasing density of black rhinoceroses. Mean intercalf interval was about 28 months and 41% of adult females gave birth each year. Mortality rates were low for juveniles, higher for sub-adults and higher for males than females. There was a weak but significant positive effect of density on male mortality. Population growth rate was about 10% and was not significantly affected by density. These results suggest that this population is beginning to show the first indications of density dependant constraints and that harvesting should be implemented in order to maintain the productive tempo. A secondary goal of the Management Plan will then be realized as the population functions as a donor to establish founder populations elsewhere within the Diceros bicornis minor range.
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The design and synthesis of multidentate N-heterocyclic carbenes as metathesis catalyst ligands
- Authors: Truscott, Byron John
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Carbenes (Methylene compounds) , Heterocyclic compounds , Ligands , Ligands -- Design , Metathesis (Chemistry) , Catalysis
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4304 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004962 , Carbenes (Methylene compounds) , Heterocyclic compounds , Ligands , Ligands -- Design , Metathesis (Chemistry) , Catalysis
- Description: This study has focused on the design and preparation of bi– and tridentate N–Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC) ligands in order to investigate the effect of a multidentate approach to the formation, stability and catalytic activity of coordination complexes. Chapters 1 – 3 provide background information of relevant catalysis, carbene and coordination chemistry, followed by previous work performed within our research group. In Chapter 4 attention is given to the synthetic aspects of the research conducted, comprising two distinct approaches to the preparation of unsymmetrical saturated and unsaturated NHCs. Firstly, an investigation of the saturated NHC ligands yielded three novel, unsymmetrical pro–ligands, viz., two halopropyl imidazolinium salts and a bidentate hydroxypropyl imidazolinium salt. Secondly, eight imidazolium salts have been generated, including a hydroxypropyl analogue and novel decyl and tridentate malonyl derivatives. These compounds were prepared using microwave–assisted methodology for the alkylation of N– mesitylimidazole – an approach that drastically reduced reaction times (from 8 hours – 7 days to ca. 0.5 – 2 hours) and facilitated isolation of the imidazolium salts. Many of the compounds prepared in this study are novel and were fully characterized using HRMS and 1– and 2–D NMR analysis. Coordination studies using a selection of the prepared pro–ligands afforded an alkoxy–NHC silver derivative and four novel Ru–complexes, viz., Grubbs II–type Ru–complexes containing:– chloropropyl imidazolinylidene; propenyl imidazolylidene; and bidentate alkoxypropyl imidazolylidene ligands. Furthermore, a well–defined benzyl mesitylimidazolylidene Ru–complex has been isolated, which exhibited good stability in air. DFT–level geometry–optimization studies, using the Accelrys DMol3 package have given valuable insights into the likely geometries of the prepared and putative catalysts.
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The development and assessment of a fixed dose combination tablet of Ranitidine and Metronidazole
- Authors: King'ori, Loti David
- Date: 2011 , 2011-04-07
- Subjects: Ulcers -- Treatment , Ranitidine -- Evaluation , Metronidazole -- Evaluation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:3858 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013359
- Description: The oral route of drug administration is convenient since it is acceptable to most patients and the manufacturing processes used to produce tablets and capsules are relatively simple when compared to those used to manufacture other types of dosage forms. Metronidazole (MTZ) and Ranitidine (RTD) have been used in combination, as part of triple therapy for the treatment of ulcers. However the use of large numbers of tablets and long duration of therapy makes adherence to drug treatment challenging for patients. Therefore the formulation of a fixed dose combination (FDC) of MTZ and RTD may improve patient adherence to therapy and consequently may reduce morbidity and mortality due to ulcers. A stability indicating HPLC method for the simultaneous analysis of MTZ and RTD was developed and validated according to the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines. The method was sensitive, selective, precise, accurate and linear.Preformulation studies were performed on the active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) alone and in combination with potential excipients. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) studies revealed a potential interaction between MTZ and RTD, however the interaction was not apparent following IR analysis of the same samples. DSC analyses of the API in combination with potential excipients revealed that the compounds were compatible with most materials with the exception of a binary mixture of RTD and Dibasic calcium phosphate (DCP) that exhibited a potential interaction. Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) of MTZ and RTD revealed that both compounds exhibited thermal stability. The Carrs Index (CI) and Hausner Ratio (HR) values of MTZ and RTD indicated that both compounds exhibited poor flow and compressibility properties, whereas the CI and HR values for (Microcrystalline cellulose) MCC and DCP indicated better flowability and compressibility characteristics.Direct compression and wet granulation processes were assessed to identify a suitable method of manufacture of FDC tablets of MTZ and RTD. The blends were evaluated using bulk and tapped density and the resultant tablets were evaluated for weight uniformity, crushing strength, tensile strength and disintegration time. The wet granulation method of manufacture produced tablets that showed acceptable pharmacotechnical properties: this approach was therefore used as the method of manufacture of FDC tablets of MTZ and RTD. Tablet formulations comprised of API, viz. MTZ and RTD and different compositions of MCC, DCP, Sodium starch glycolate (SSG) and Croscarmellose sodium (CCS), were manufactured in order to screen for an appropriate diluent and disintegrant composition for use in response surface studies. Assays of tablet content and in vitro drug release were undertaken using the validated HPLC method. Tablets in which MCC and CCS were used appeared to produce better assay and dissolution results as compared to those manufactured using DCP and SSG. Consequently a formulation comprised of MCC and CCS was selected and used in studies in which the effect(s) of level two formulation and composition changes as described in the Scale and Post Approval Changes for Immediate Release (SUPAC-IR) Guidelines on tablet disintegration and in vitro release were assessed. A Box-Behnken statistical design was used for the investigation of the effect of input factors, viz. CCS, (Polyvinyl pyrollidone K30) PVP-K30 and magnesium stearate on measured responses, viz. disintegration time and percent drug release in 10 minutes (Q10). CCS appeared to have an inverse linear relationship on disintegration time and a linear relationship with the Q10 for MTZ and RTD, whereas PVP-K30 and magnesium stearate appeared to have an antagonistic effect on the measured responses. Furthermore CCS and magnesium stearate exhibited an interaction that had an agonistic effect on the Q10 value for RTD. A numerical optimization approach was used to predict a formulation composition that would produce tablets that exhibited a disintegration time and Q10 values for MTZ and RTD that fell within the constraints set in our laboratory. The resultant model was found to be accurate and had a percent prediction error of < 5% for all measured response variables.FDC tablets of MTZ and RTD have been successfully produced. The disintegration of the tablet and dissolution of the API were within compendial specifications and the tablets are of suitable quality and have the potential to be further investigated to reduce the pill burden in the treatment of ulcers.
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The development and implementation of a mental toughness training programme for young cricketers
- Authors: Pattison, Stuart
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Cricket -- Psychological aspects -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Cricket -- Training -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Cricket players -- Mental health -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Mental discipline , Toughness (Personality trait) , Success -- Psychological aspects , Personal coaching -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , School sports -- South Africa -- Grahamstown
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: vital:3037 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002546 , Cricket -- Psychological aspects -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Cricket -- Training -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Cricket players -- Mental health -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Mental discipline , Toughness (Personality trait) , Success -- Psychological aspects , Personal coaching -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , School sports -- South Africa -- Grahamstown
- Description: Modern research being conducted on Mental Toughness is now shifting away from efforts aimed at developing definitions for the construct and instead moving toward efforts at understanding its development. This particular research study focuses on the development and implementation of a Mental Toughness programme designed specifically for, and tailored exclusively to, the needs of schoolboy cricket at Kingswood College in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape. The programme development was an intricate process and the research procedure was guided by the Organisational Development Process model. Data from a focus group as well as various individual interviews were integrated with currently existing Mental Toughness literature and theory to devise this particular Mental Toughness programme. The programme entails educating the athletes on six specific mental skills and incorporates elements of practical application as well as awareness of the importance and influence of Mental Toughness and mental training in a sporting sphere. The programme took the form of mental skills workshops held over a three week period. An analysis was conducted post-programme to document the experience of the athletes as a result of exposure to the programme. Results drawn from the array of analysis procedures were used to help identify the level of success of the Mental Toughness intervention as well as help validify current Mental Toughness models. In addition to highlighting the benefits as a result of the programme experience, various recommendations were drawn in order to shed light on the programme limitations and assist future researchers with understanding the intricacies behind better and more efficient programme implementation.
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The development and technologizing of selected Sepedi ICT terminology
- Authors: Magagane, Raesetja Linah
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Northern Sotho language -- Terms and phrases Northern Sotho language -- Terminology Northern Sotho language -- Computer-assisted instruction Communication -- Technological innovations
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3581 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002156
- Description: It is my wish that the Sepedi language speakers, through the development and technologization of certain Sepedi ICT terminology, are able to operate a computer in their own language, and implement the new developed and technologized ICT terminology (technologization). The pupils and students at their various institutions should be made comfortable in using the developed and technologized Sepedi language terminology. In the long run the Sepedi language speakers should be ensured access to the web in order to find information about Sepedi language, culture and terms in disciplines such as ICT. It is recommended in this thesis that higher learning institutions offer bursaries to students to develop all South African languages in such a manner that they can be used in all high status functions.
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The development of an in vitro system for the production of drug metabolites using microsomal enzymes from bovine liver
- Authors: Morrison, Roxanne
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Drugs -- Metabolism , Xenobiotics -- Metabolism , Metabolites , Drugs -- Testing , Toxicity testing -- In vitro , Doping in horse racing -- Control -- Research
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4087 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007698 , Drugs -- Metabolism , Xenobiotics -- Metabolism , Metabolites , Drugs -- Testing , Toxicity testing -- In vitro , Doping in horse racing -- Control -- Research
- Description: Drug metabolism is a specialised subset of xenobiotic metabolism, pertaining to the breakdown and elimination of pharmaceutical drugs. The enzymes involved in these pathways are the cytochrome P450 family of isozymes. Metabolism is an important factor in determining the pharmacological effects of drugs. The main aim of this study was to develop a system whereby the major metabolites of drugs can be produced in vitro. An in vitro system was developed and optimised using commercially prepared microsomes from rat liver and coumarin (by monitoring its conversion to 7-hydroxycoumarin) as a model. The optimum running conditions for the incubations were 50 μM coumarin, 50 μg protein/ml microsomes, 1 mM NADP⁺, 5 mM G6P and 1U/ml G6PDH incubated for 30 minutes at 38℃. The HPLC method for the detection of coumarin and 7-hydroxycoumarin was also validated with respect to linearity, reproducibility, precision, accuracy and lower limits of detection and quantification. The system developed was then tested using microsomes prepared from fresh bovine liver on these ten drugs of interest in doping control in horse racing: diazepam, nordiazepam, oxazepam, promazine, acepromazine, chlorpromazine, morphine, codeine, etoricoxib and lumiracoxib. The bovine liver microsomes were prepared using differential centrifugation and had activity on a par with the commercial preparations. This in vitro system metabolised the drugs and produced both phase I and II metabolites, similar to those observed in humans and horses in vivo. For example, the major metabolites of the benzodiazepine drug, diazepam, nordiazepam, temazepam and oxazepam as well as the glucuronidated phase II products were all found after incubations with the bovine liver microsomes. The metabolism of the drugs was also investigated in silico using the computational procedure, MetaSite. MetaSite was able to successfully predict known metabolites for most of the drugs studied. Differences were observed from the in vitro incubations and this is most likely due to MetaSite using only human cytochrome P450s for analysis.
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The development of isiZulu as an academic language for the teaching of fundamental concepts in economics
- Authors: Makhatini, Freedom Nkanyiso
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Zulu language -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- South Africa African languages -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- South Africa Economics -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3589 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002164
- Description: This thesis looks at language as the medium of all our ideas and sentiments. The thesis represents a position statement regarding the development of isiZulu as an academic language. The field of Economics is used to merely illustrate and support the points that are being made in this work. It is argued that each language is viewed as the means of expression of the cultural heritage of its people, and it remains a reflection of cultural groups who speak that particular language. It is a fact that indigenous African Languages have been, for obvious reasons, blatantly understudied during the apartheid years in South Africa (Rudwick 2004). Languages have market value and the desirability of English as the most important global language today has an effect in most Black learners in South Africa. The study examined the development of indigenous African languages, isiZulu in particular, in Zululand University where ninety percent of students and lecturers are isiZulu first language speakers, and came to a conclusion that there is an urgent need for Black South African students to learn academic subjects through their mother tongues. This would help them in thorough understanding and interpretation of analytic text presented in a foreign language such as English. The study advocates that isiZulu, which is the mother-tongue of many students at the University of Zululand, should be a language for upward mobility to these students, but as the situation stands, isiZulu becomes a neglected or marginalised language since it is not the normal medium of instruction and it is not used for effective communication in their education system.
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The discoursal construction of female physical identity in selected works in children's literature
- Authors: Hunt, Sally Ann
- Date: 2011 , 2013-09-20
- Subjects: Rowling, J K -- Criticism and interpretation Lewis, C S (Clive Staples), 1898-1963 -- Criticism and interpretation Girls in literature Girls -- Identity Human body in literature Gender identity in literature Sex role in literature Children's stories, English -- History and criticism Young women in literature Women in literature
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:2377 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005965
- Description: This thesis reports on an analysis of the discursive construction of female and male physical identity in children’s literature and explicitly combines corpus linguistic methods with a critical discourse approach. Based on three novels from each of the Chronicles of Narnia and the Harry Potter series, it shows clear gendering of body parts, not only in terms of the purely quantitative preferences for certain body parts to be associated with one or other gender, but in terms of discourse prosody, or the uses to which the body parts are put. Human body parts in these series are mostly used in the following four ways, all of which show differences in realisation in terms of gender: · to describe individuals, physically, in order to distinguish one from the other; · to convey emotion, unintentionally as well as consciously; · for physical interaction between people and · for interaction with the world more broadly: responses to danger and agency, i.e. the ability to act on the world and the nature of what is achieved. The use of body parts by characters to express emotion and act agentively on the world is revealed to be strongly gendered in the two series. I characterise the most prominent patterns in terms of the bodily products blood, sweat and tears, of which the last is strongly connected to female characters, who are generally associated with emotion. The other two, referring to active participation in fighting and injury, as well as agency, are almost exclusively reserved for males, with female characters rendered unable to act on the physical world as a result of overwhelming feelings. The females’ response to danger suggests stereotyped discourses of inequality which see women and girls as requiring protection and being physically incapable. Thus gender is still a particularly salient aspect in these widely-read examples of children’s literature, despite plots which appear to be fairly positive towards women. The strength of the inclusion of a corpus approach in this study lies in its capacity to reveal objective, and often fairly covert, trends in language use. These in turn enrich the critical analysis of discourses in these influential texts, which facilitates social change through linguistic analysis.
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The disempowering faces of the flexible firm: a case study of Gaborone Private Hospital
- Authors: Makorie, Theona Tariro
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Gaberone Private Hospital -- Employees , Gaberone Private Hospital -- Personnel management , Gaberone Private Hospital -- Management , Nursing services -- Administration , Nurses -- Employment -- Botswana , Nursing -- Law and legislation -- Botswana , Hospitals -- Medical staff -- Botswana , Hospitals -- Administration -- Botswana
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3352
- Description: The purpose of the study was to investigate the ways in which the practice of t the Flexible Firm Model (FFM) disempowered the non-citizen professional nurses at Gaborone Private Hospital (GPH) in Gaborone, Botswana. GPH is a member of the Life Health care group of private hospitals based in South Africa. This study sought to probe the manner in which the practice of FFM influenced the employment relationship for non-citizen professional nurses. It also sought to examine the impact of the nature of the employment relationship on career development and representation and participation. Both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies were applied. Questionnaires were used to collect quantitative data. Thirty-five questionnaires were issued out to professional nursing staff and thirty-three responses were received. The response rate was ninety-four percent. The qualitative research data consisted of twelve in-depth interviews with professional nurses, the human resources manager , a professional nurse agency owner and a private clinic co-owner. Document analysis in the form of labour legislation, employee guides and employment contracts was used to validate data collected from the in-depth interviews. The results from the questionnaire revealed that an overwhelming majority of the professional nurses were Non-Citizens' dependent contractors. Although just under half of the participants held two or more previous contracts with GPH, an overwhelming majority had never been promoted. In addition, none of the participants were affiliated to the Botswana Nurses Association (BNA), the local equivalency of a professional nursing trade union. The in-depth interviews disclosed a sense of helplessness at their perceived disempowerment within the employment relationship, a poor career development and weak representation and participation. This study concluded that disempowerment at GPH was manifested through worker representation and participation and in effective skill upgrade. These forms of disempowerment were made worse by the global professional nurse shortage and maladministration of avail able human resources. Effective use of human resources and continued education could be employed to circumvent the adverse results of disempowerment.
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The diversity of aquatic insects in the Tsitsikamma region, with implications for aquatic ecosystem conservation
- Authors: Bellingan, Terence Andrew
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Aquatic insects -- South Africa -- Tsitsikamma , Aquatic insects -- Classification -- South Africa -- Tsitsikamma , Aquatic ecology -- South Africa -- Tsitsikamma , Ecosystem management -- South Africa -- Tsitsikamma , Stream conservation -- South Africa -- Tsitsikamma
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5664 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005348 , Aquatic insects -- South Africa -- Tsitsikamma , Aquatic insects -- Classification -- South Africa -- Tsitsikamma , Aquatic ecology -- South Africa -- Tsitsikamma , Ecosystem management -- South Africa -- Tsitsikamma , Stream conservation -- South Africa -- Tsitsikamma
- Description: As a result of research carried out within the last decade to assess the diversity of macroinvertebrates of the Salt River in the Western Cape Province, South Africa, surveys of macroinvertebrates of 20 sites on 11 selected rivers from the same mountain range source were undertaken. This was done to make a preliminary assessment of the conservation status of the rivers of this region. Aquatic insects from the orders Ephemeroptera, Odonata, Plecoptera, Megaloptera, Trichoptera and the dipteran family Simuliidae were collected using techniques to maximize the number of taxa found. The insects collected were identified to species level where possible. Water physicochemical parameters were recorded at all sites for each sampling trip to characterize these rivers and to establish a set of baseline data for future comparisons. These parameters included measurements made on site and analysis of the concentrations of all the major ions in water samples in the laboratory. Multivariate analyses including Principle Components Analysis and Canonical Correspondence Analysis were used to reveal patterns within the water physicochemistry and species distributional data. Results include the identification of 123 species from 70 genera and 30 families. A total of 31 species were found to be undescribed, of which 17 were not previously collected and are thus completely new to science. In addition, four of these species could not be placed into any known genus. The analysis of water physicochemistry showed a clear distinction between rivers of Table Mountain sandstone and Bokkeveld shale origin. Downstream effects of anthropogenic influences were discernable too. Distinct macroinvertebrate assemblages were found based upon stream order and water chemistry composition. pH proved to be the most important driver of invertebrate assemblage composition. The high levels of endemism of the macroinvertebrates found within the upper reaches of these rivers and their degree of ecological specialization make these systems a priority for the conservation of aquatic biodiversity on a national and global scale.
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The druggable antimalarial target 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase: purfication, kinetic characterization and inhibition studies
- Authors: Goble, Jessica Leigh
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Antimalarials -- Development Plasmodium falciparum Drug development Plasmodium falciparum -- Purification Plasmodium falciparum -- Inhibitors Enzyme kinetics Malaria -- Chemotherapy
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:3949 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004008
- Description: Plasmodium falciparum 1–deoxy–D–xylulose–5 phosphatereductoisomerase (PfDXR) plays a role in isoprenoid biosynthesis in the malaria parasite and is absent in the human host, making this parasite enzyme an attractive target for antimalarial drug design. To characterize PfDXR, it is necessary to produce large quantities of the enzyme in a soluble and functional form. However, the over–production of malarial proteins in prokaryotic host systems often results in the formation of truncated proteins or insoluble protein aggregates. A heterologous expression system was developed for the production of active PfDXR using codon harmonization and tight control of expression in the presence of lac repressor. Yields of up to 2 mg/l of enzyme were reported using the optimised expression system, which is 8 to 10– fold greater than previously reported yields. The kinetic parameters Km, Vmax and kcat were determined for PfDXR; values reported in this study were consistent with those reported in the literature for other DXR enzymes. A three–dimensional model of the malarial drug target protein PfDXR was generated, and validated using structure–checking programs and protein docking studies. Structural and functional features unique to PfDXR were identified using the model and comparative sequence analyses with apicomplexan and non–apicomplexan DXR proteins. Residues Val44 and Asn45, essential for NADPH binding; and catalytic hatch residues Lys224 and Lys226, which are unique to the species of Plasmodium, were mutated to resemble those of E. coli DXR. Interestingly,these mutations resulted in significant reductions in substrate affinity, when compared to the unmutated PfDXR. Mutant enzymes PfDXR(VN43,44AG) and PfDXR(KK224,226NS) also demonstrated a decreased ability to turnover substrate by 4–fold and 2–fold respectively. This study indicates a difference in the role of the catalytic hatch of PfDXR with regards to the way in which it captures substrates. The study also highlights subtle differences in cofactor binding to PfDXR, compared with the well characterized EcDXR enzyme. The validated PfDXR model was also used to develop a novel efficient in silico screening method for potential tool compounds for use in the rational design of novel DXR inhibitors. Following in silico screening of 46 potential DXR inhibitors, a two–tiered in vitro screening approach was undertaken. DXR inhibition was assessed for the 46 novel compounds using an NADPH– ependant DXP enzyme inhibition assay and antimalarial potential was assessed using P.falciparum–infected erythrocyte growth assays. Select compounds were tested in human cells in order to determine whether they were toxic to the host. From the parallel in silico and in vitro drug screening, it was evident that only a single compound demonstrated reasonable potential binding to DXR (determined using in silico docking), inhibited DXR in vitro and inhibited P. falciparum growth, without being toxic to human cells. Its potential as a lead compound in antimalarial drug development is therefore feasible. Two outcomes were evident from this work. Firstly, analogues of known antimalarial natural products can be screened against malaria, which may then lead towards the rational design of novel compounds that are effective against a specific antimalarial drug target enzyme, such as PfDXR. Secondly, the rational design of novel compounds against a specific antimalarial drug target enzyme can be untaken by adopting a coupled in silico and in vitro approach to drug discovery.
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The effect of mussel bed structure on the associated infauna in South Africa and the interaction between mussel and epibiotic barnacles
- Authors: Jordaan, Tembisa Nomathamsanqa
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Mytilidae -- South Africa , Mytilus galloprovincialis -- South Africa , Mussel culture -- South Africa , Shellfish culture -- South Africa , Perna -- South Africa , Barnacles -- South Africa , Mussels -- South Africa , Mussels -- Ecology , Barnacles -- Ecology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5675 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005360 , Mytilidae -- South Africa , Mytilus galloprovincialis -- South Africa , Mussel culture -- South Africa , Shellfish culture -- South Africa , Perna -- South Africa , Barnacles -- South Africa , Mussels -- South Africa , Mussels -- Ecology , Barnacles -- Ecology
- Description: Mussels are important ecological engineers on intertidal rocks where they create habitat that contributes substantially to overall biodiversity. They provide secondary substratum for other free-living, infaunal or epifaunal organisms, and increase the surface area for settlement by densely packing together into complex multilayered beds. The introduction of the alien invasive mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis has extended the upper limit of mussels on the south coast of South Africa, potentially increasing habitat for associated fauna. The aim of this study was to describe the structure of mussel beds, the general biodiversity associated with multi- and monolayered mussel beds of indigenous Perna perna and alien M. galloprovincialis, and to determine the relationship between mussels and epibiotic barnacles. This was done to determine the community structure of associated macrofauna and the role of mussels as biological facilitators. Samples were collected in Plettenberg Bay, South Africa, where M. galloprovincialis dominates the high mussel zone and P. perna the low zone. Three 15 X 15 cm quadrats were scraped off the rock in the high and low zones, and in the mid zone where the two mussel species co-exist. The samples were collected on 3 occasions. In the laboratory mussel-size was measured and sediment trapped within the samples was separated through 75 μm, 1 mm and 5 mm mesh. The macrofauna was sorted from the 1 mm and 5 mm sieves and identified to species level where possible. The epibiotic relationship between mussels and barnacles was assessed by measuring the prevalence and intensity of barnacle infestation and the condition index of infested mussels. Multivariate analysis was used on the mean abundance data of the species for each treatment (Hierarchical clustering, multidimensional scaling, analysis of similarity and similarity of percentages) and ANOVA was used for most of the statistical analyses. Overall, the results showed that tidal height influences the species composition and abundance of associated fauna. While mussel bed layering influenced the accumulation of sediments; it had no significant effect on the associated fauna. Time of collection also had a strong effect. While there was an overlap of species among samples from January, May and March, the principal species contributing to similarity among the March samples were not found in the other two months. The outcomes of this study showed that low shore mussel beds not only supported a higher abundance and diversity of species, but were also the most structurally complex. Although the condition index of mussels did not correlate to the percentage cover of barnacle epibionts, it was also evident that low shore mussels had the highest prevalence. The levels of barnacle infestation (intensity) for each mussel species were highest where it was common and lowest where it was least abundant. This is viewed as a natural artefact of the distribution patterns of P. perna and M. galloprovincialis across the shore. Mussels are more efficient as facilitators on the low mussel zone than the high mussel zone possibly because they provide habitats that are more effective in protecting the associated macrofauna from the effects of competition and predation, than they are at eliminating the effects of physical stress on the high shore. Although mussels create less stressful habitats and protect organisms from the physical stress of the high shore, there are clear limitations in their ability to provide ideal habitats. The biological associations in an ecosystem can be made weak or strong depending on the external abiotic factors and the adaptability of the affected organisms.
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The existence of the value premium on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange from 1972 to 2001 and extrapolation as explanation
- Authors: Beukes, Anna
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Johannesburg Stock Exchange Stocks -- Prices -- South Africa Rational expectations (Economic theory) Investments -- Psychological aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:977 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002711
- Description: This study investigates the existence of the value premium in South Africa’s equity market, and tests extrapolation as a possible explanation for it. The value premium refers to the widely reported superior performance of share price returns of value companies compared to growth companies. The value premium represents an anomaly in mainstream rational finance theory, because it should not persist, unless it could be explained as the result of some composite form of risk. What is highly vexing is the fact that the value premium not only persists in most financial markets over a long period, but that the risk explanation cannot be upheld convincingly. This contributed to the rise of behavioral finance, an approach which introduces psychological factors to provide new explanations for financial phenomena. The behavioral finance explanation for the value premium observation is extrapolation (the tendency to project recent experience too far into the future). This study applies propositions and methods from behavioral finance to investigate the South African equity market. The existence of a value premium in South Africa was investigated by using twenty-nine years’ worth of accounting and share price data. The study employed one- and two-dimensional tests for portfolio formation, and tracked share price returns for up to five years after portfolio formation. The results indicated that a statistically and economically significant value premium existed in South Africa for the period between 1972 and 2001. Extrapolation as a potential explanation for the value premium observation was investigated by applying internationally used methods. Extrapolation was found to provide a robust explanation for the South African value premium.
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