The cognitive rehabilitation of a sample of children living with HIV : a specific focus on the cognitive rehabilitation of sustained attention
- Authors: Basterfield, Candice
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: HIV-positive children -- Rehabilitation , Antiretroviral agents , HIV (Viruses) -- Side effects , Brain damage -- Patients -- Rehabilitation , Cognition disorders -- Patients -- Rehabilitation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: vital:3258 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017881
- Description: Pharmacological interventions to treat Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) with antiretrovirals (ARVs), have dramatically improved the survival rates of HIV positive children maturing into adulthood. However, HIV-associated neurocognitive decline still persists in the era of ARVs. Within the framework of brain plasticity, a number of researchers have begun to assess the feasibility of cognitive rehabilitation therapy as a complement to ARVs to reverse neurocognitive decline as a result of HIV (e.g., Becker et al., 2012). Only one study has been conducted in South Africa, by Zondo & Mulder (2014), assessing the efficacy of cognitive rehabilitation in a paediatric sample. The current research builds on the above mentioned study by implementing an experimental approach to examine the effect of cognitive rehabilitation in a sample of both HIV positive and HIV negative children. Five HIV positive and six HIV negative children were assigned to either an experimental or control group. The experimental group underwent two months of cognitive rehabilitation therapy remediating sustained attention, whereas the control group took part in placebo activities. Sustained attention measures were taken before and after the intervention training sessions, using a sustained attention subtest from the Test of Everyday Attention for Children (TEA-CH). A Mann Whitney U Test revealed that the experimental group (Mdn=38.50) did not differ significantly from the control group (Mdn = 37.00) after the cognitive rehabilitation intervention, U=12.00, z= -.55, p= .66, r= -.17. But a Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test found that there was a significant improvement from pretest scores (Mdn=31.00) to posttest scores (Mdn=38.00) following the rehabilitation for HIV positive participants in the sample, T=15.00, z = -2.02, p= .04, r= -.90. This raises the possibility that cognitive rehabilitation could be used as a low cost intervention in underdeveloped contexts
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Basterfield, Candice
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: HIV-positive children -- Rehabilitation , Antiretroviral agents , HIV (Viruses) -- Side effects , Brain damage -- Patients -- Rehabilitation , Cognition disorders -- Patients -- Rehabilitation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: vital:3258 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017881
- Description: Pharmacological interventions to treat Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) with antiretrovirals (ARVs), have dramatically improved the survival rates of HIV positive children maturing into adulthood. However, HIV-associated neurocognitive decline still persists in the era of ARVs. Within the framework of brain plasticity, a number of researchers have begun to assess the feasibility of cognitive rehabilitation therapy as a complement to ARVs to reverse neurocognitive decline as a result of HIV (e.g., Becker et al., 2012). Only one study has been conducted in South Africa, by Zondo & Mulder (2014), assessing the efficacy of cognitive rehabilitation in a paediatric sample. The current research builds on the above mentioned study by implementing an experimental approach to examine the effect of cognitive rehabilitation in a sample of both HIV positive and HIV negative children. Five HIV positive and six HIV negative children were assigned to either an experimental or control group. The experimental group underwent two months of cognitive rehabilitation therapy remediating sustained attention, whereas the control group took part in placebo activities. Sustained attention measures were taken before and after the intervention training sessions, using a sustained attention subtest from the Test of Everyday Attention for Children (TEA-CH). A Mann Whitney U Test revealed that the experimental group (Mdn=38.50) did not differ significantly from the control group (Mdn = 37.00) after the cognitive rehabilitation intervention, U=12.00, z= -.55, p= .66, r= -.17. But a Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test found that there was a significant improvement from pretest scores (Mdn=31.00) to posttest scores (Mdn=38.00) following the rehabilitation for HIV positive participants in the sample, T=15.00, z = -2.02, p= .04, r= -.90. This raises the possibility that cognitive rehabilitation could be used as a low cost intervention in underdeveloped contexts
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
The consideration and improvement of the sustainability performance monitoring framework for South African water boards
- Authors: Thompson, Craig Howard
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: South Africa -- Department of Water Affairs -- Management , Water-supply -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Performance -- Management , Environmental auditing -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:858 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018916
- Description: The South African Constitution ensures the right to adequate water, health services and a healthy environment (Government Gazette, 1996: 1251, 1255). Associated legislation and national strategies require that water resources and water services are rendered in a sustainable manner to ensure the rights enshrined in the Constitution are realised (Trialogue, 2010: 34; Government Gazette, 1998(c):11; Department of Water Affairs (DWA), 2003:9). South Africa is the 30th driest country in the world (DWA, 2013: iii), has impounded most of its surface water resources and has utilised 40 percent of the groundwater resource with remaining groundwater water quality uncertain (DWA, 2013:6-7). Despite achieving the basic water and sanitation Millennium Development Goals approximately 2.2 million and 4.5 million households still require access to basic services respectively (DWA, 2013:28-29). South Africa’s ten water boards play a key role in bulk water service provision. They supply 57 percent of the countries domestic water supply (DWA, 2013:19) and are required to provide sustainable water services (Government Gazette, 1997:35). The Department of Water Affairs (Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) as of June 2014) is mandated to monitor the performance of water boards and monitors of water boards through a Share Holders Compact (SHC) (Government Gazette, 1997: 50). The aim of the research is to achieve the following objectives: 1. Describe best practice for sustainability monitoring frameworks for water services. 2. Outline South Africa’s water services mandatory and voluntary requirements with regards to sustainability monitoring. 3. Evaluate South Africa’s current water services performance monitoring framework for water boards against findings from goals one and two. 4. Develop an improved framework for assessing South African water board’s performance in their compliance and sustainability journey. 5. Demonstrate the improved framework functionality with a sample of water boards audited performance data from the 2012/13 financial year. A qualitative normative theory evaluation research method was utilised to achieve first three objectives of the research. The objectives to first understand current best practice for sustainability monitoring frameworks and the mandatory requirements for water services sustainability monitoring frameworks in South Africa was achieved via an extensive literature review. The evaluation research method was used where South Africa’s current water services monitoring framework for water boards was evaluated for its adequacy to monitor sustainability compared with legislated requirements, national and international best practices (Hall et al, 2004: 55). Data collection for the evaluation research was sourced via documentation analysis. The 2012/13 water board audited annual reports, relevant national water services legislation, national and global water service sustainability monitoring best practices were critically reviewed. The review yielded a “thick description” of sustainability performance monitoring framework requirements that was used to evaluate the SHC (Holliday, 2002: 79). Despite the mandatory participation requirement for successful sustainability performance monitoring being met, the SHC was found to have inadequate aspects. It lacks an outcomes based approach, does not include environmental indicators, does not allow water board sustainability performance comparison and cannot indicate where individual water boards are on their sustainability journey. An improved sustainability performance monitoring framework for South African water boards is therefore proposed. This was developed with the assistance of an expert focus group drawn from multiple disciplines and organizations relevant to water board sustainability (Litosseliti, 2003: 8 and Hall et al, 2004: 51). The functionality of the framework is then demonstrated using 2012/13 audited performance data sourced from the annual reports of Overberg, Amatola, Rand and Umgeni Water boards. The proposed Water Services Sustainability Monitoring Framework (WSSMF) quantifies performance in terms of 10 water utility outcomes that are measured with 88 performance indicators that encompass the financial, social, environmental and governance dimensions of sustainability. The WSSMF demonstrated that the legislated intentions and best practice recommendations can be incorporated into an improved version of the SHC. Further refinement of the WSSMF is required. In depth engagement with DWS and all the water boards would promote the refinement of the indicator set, performance thresholds for indicators and indicator weighting. Further testing through a pilot project initiative would allow the WSSMF to be developed into a robust and adequate sustainability performance monitoring framework for South African water boards (Rametsteiner et al, 2011: 64; Muga and Mihelcic, 2008: 438; McAlphine and Birnie, 2005: 247 and van Leeuwen et al, 2012: 2192).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Thompson, Craig Howard
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: South Africa -- Department of Water Affairs -- Management , Water-supply -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Performance -- Management , Environmental auditing -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:858 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018916
- Description: The South African Constitution ensures the right to adequate water, health services and a healthy environment (Government Gazette, 1996: 1251, 1255). Associated legislation and national strategies require that water resources and water services are rendered in a sustainable manner to ensure the rights enshrined in the Constitution are realised (Trialogue, 2010: 34; Government Gazette, 1998(c):11; Department of Water Affairs (DWA), 2003:9). South Africa is the 30th driest country in the world (DWA, 2013: iii), has impounded most of its surface water resources and has utilised 40 percent of the groundwater resource with remaining groundwater water quality uncertain (DWA, 2013:6-7). Despite achieving the basic water and sanitation Millennium Development Goals approximately 2.2 million and 4.5 million households still require access to basic services respectively (DWA, 2013:28-29). South Africa’s ten water boards play a key role in bulk water service provision. They supply 57 percent of the countries domestic water supply (DWA, 2013:19) and are required to provide sustainable water services (Government Gazette, 1997:35). The Department of Water Affairs (Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) as of June 2014) is mandated to monitor the performance of water boards and monitors of water boards through a Share Holders Compact (SHC) (Government Gazette, 1997: 50). The aim of the research is to achieve the following objectives: 1. Describe best practice for sustainability monitoring frameworks for water services. 2. Outline South Africa’s water services mandatory and voluntary requirements with regards to sustainability monitoring. 3. Evaluate South Africa’s current water services performance monitoring framework for water boards against findings from goals one and two. 4. Develop an improved framework for assessing South African water board’s performance in their compliance and sustainability journey. 5. Demonstrate the improved framework functionality with a sample of water boards audited performance data from the 2012/13 financial year. A qualitative normative theory evaluation research method was utilised to achieve first three objectives of the research. The objectives to first understand current best practice for sustainability monitoring frameworks and the mandatory requirements for water services sustainability monitoring frameworks in South Africa was achieved via an extensive literature review. The evaluation research method was used where South Africa’s current water services monitoring framework for water boards was evaluated for its adequacy to monitor sustainability compared with legislated requirements, national and international best practices (Hall et al, 2004: 55). Data collection for the evaluation research was sourced via documentation analysis. The 2012/13 water board audited annual reports, relevant national water services legislation, national and global water service sustainability monitoring best practices were critically reviewed. The review yielded a “thick description” of sustainability performance monitoring framework requirements that was used to evaluate the SHC (Holliday, 2002: 79). Despite the mandatory participation requirement for successful sustainability performance monitoring being met, the SHC was found to have inadequate aspects. It lacks an outcomes based approach, does not include environmental indicators, does not allow water board sustainability performance comparison and cannot indicate where individual water boards are on their sustainability journey. An improved sustainability performance monitoring framework for South African water boards is therefore proposed. This was developed with the assistance of an expert focus group drawn from multiple disciplines and organizations relevant to water board sustainability (Litosseliti, 2003: 8 and Hall et al, 2004: 51). The functionality of the framework is then demonstrated using 2012/13 audited performance data sourced from the annual reports of Overberg, Amatola, Rand and Umgeni Water boards. The proposed Water Services Sustainability Monitoring Framework (WSSMF) quantifies performance in terms of 10 water utility outcomes that are measured with 88 performance indicators that encompass the financial, social, environmental and governance dimensions of sustainability. The WSSMF demonstrated that the legislated intentions and best practice recommendations can be incorporated into an improved version of the SHC. Further refinement of the WSSMF is required. In depth engagement with DWS and all the water boards would promote the refinement of the indicator set, performance thresholds for indicators and indicator weighting. Further testing through a pilot project initiative would allow the WSSMF to be developed into a robust and adequate sustainability performance monitoring framework for South African water boards (Rametsteiner et al, 2011: 64; Muga and Mihelcic, 2008: 438; McAlphine and Birnie, 2005: 247 and van Leeuwen et al, 2012: 2192).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
The constitutionality of section 32 of the Labour Relations Act
- Authors: Hemsley, Michael Norman
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Labor laws and legislation -- South Africa Labor unions -- South Africa Collective bargaining -- South Africa , Industrial relations -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/11070 , vital:26882
- Description: Collective bargaining is the process whereby employees act as a collective unit whilst negotiating terms and conditions of employment with employers. The collective unit typically takes the form of a trade union, mandated by its members to negotiate on their behalf. By negotiating collectively the inherent imbalance of power between employer and individual employee is seen to be neutralised. The process of collective bargaining enjoys legal status in South Africa and around the world. The Industrial Conciliation Act of 1924 institutionalised collective bargaining for the first time in the form of the Industrial-Council system. This sectoral bargaining system stood firm throughout the pre-democracy period but initially excluded non-white employees. Industrial unrest in the 1970s was the catalyst for the Wiehan commission which ultimately brought all employees into the fold. By the dawn of democracy in South Africa the bargaining system enjoyed wide-spread support and legitimacy. This was particularly so amongst the COSATU-led labour movement which enjoyed a position of political strength. This support and strength were reflected in the contents of both the Labour Relations Act and the Constitution which enshrined the constitutional right to engage in collective bargaining. Possibly the most debated aspect of the Council system has been the question of extending agreements to non-parties. Those in favour argue that the Council system cannot function in the absence of extensions. This is so because what would then effectively be a voluntary system would not attract sufficient volunteers. Those against argue that extensions act as a barrier to economic activity, particularly for small and new businesses. Legislation has, since 1924, facilitated the extension of agreements as long as certain criteria are met. Section 32 of the Labour Relations Act is the current extension vehicle. The extension criteria have vacillated over time and especially so in recent history with section 32 being subject to change in every post-democracy amendment to the Act. Possibly the most serious challenge to the extension status quo has come in the form of a constitutional challenge by the Free-Market Foundation. The Foundation advances old economic arguments but links these to an alleged impingement of constitutional rights. The challenge comes at a time when the country is experiencing the most significant socio-political turbulence since democracy. This includes the most enduring strike in our history, a landmark-employer lock-out and a parliamentary facelift. The Metal and Engineering Industries Bargaining Council oversees the biggest manufacturing sector in the South African economy. This status prompted the Council to submit its own responding papers in the Free-Market case. Particularly fascinating is that an employer party to the Council not only supports the Foundation case but has also lodged its own proceedings against the extension of the 2014 Engineering agreement. Both these cases are still pending and the outcomes have the potential to transform the political and economic landscape of our country.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Hemsley, Michael Norman
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Labor laws and legislation -- South Africa Labor unions -- South Africa Collective bargaining -- South Africa , Industrial relations -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/11070 , vital:26882
- Description: Collective bargaining is the process whereby employees act as a collective unit whilst negotiating terms and conditions of employment with employers. The collective unit typically takes the form of a trade union, mandated by its members to negotiate on their behalf. By negotiating collectively the inherent imbalance of power between employer and individual employee is seen to be neutralised. The process of collective bargaining enjoys legal status in South Africa and around the world. The Industrial Conciliation Act of 1924 institutionalised collective bargaining for the first time in the form of the Industrial-Council system. This sectoral bargaining system stood firm throughout the pre-democracy period but initially excluded non-white employees. Industrial unrest in the 1970s was the catalyst for the Wiehan commission which ultimately brought all employees into the fold. By the dawn of democracy in South Africa the bargaining system enjoyed wide-spread support and legitimacy. This was particularly so amongst the COSATU-led labour movement which enjoyed a position of political strength. This support and strength were reflected in the contents of both the Labour Relations Act and the Constitution which enshrined the constitutional right to engage in collective bargaining. Possibly the most debated aspect of the Council system has been the question of extending agreements to non-parties. Those in favour argue that the Council system cannot function in the absence of extensions. This is so because what would then effectively be a voluntary system would not attract sufficient volunteers. Those against argue that extensions act as a barrier to economic activity, particularly for small and new businesses. Legislation has, since 1924, facilitated the extension of agreements as long as certain criteria are met. Section 32 of the Labour Relations Act is the current extension vehicle. The extension criteria have vacillated over time and especially so in recent history with section 32 being subject to change in every post-democracy amendment to the Act. Possibly the most serious challenge to the extension status quo has come in the form of a constitutional challenge by the Free-Market Foundation. The Foundation advances old economic arguments but links these to an alleged impingement of constitutional rights. The challenge comes at a time when the country is experiencing the most significant socio-political turbulence since democracy. This includes the most enduring strike in our history, a landmark-employer lock-out and a parliamentary facelift. The Metal and Engineering Industries Bargaining Council oversees the biggest manufacturing sector in the South African economy. This status prompted the Council to submit its own responding papers in the Free-Market case. Particularly fascinating is that an employer party to the Council not only supports the Foundation case but has also lodged its own proceedings against the extension of the 2014 Engineering agreement. Both these cases are still pending and the outcomes have the potential to transform the political and economic landscape of our country.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
The contribution of agricultural projects to poverty alleviation: Ncera Macadamia project
- Authors: Mafanya, Kungeka Vuyisa
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Agricultural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Poverty -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/8890 , vital:26439
- Description: The aim of this project was to determine the extent to which an agricultural project contributes to the alleviation of poverty in a community. This was done through a case study of one agricultural project based in Kidds Beach, in the Eastern Cape. The research was conducted utilizing the qualitative research method. The findings depicted that the standard of living for the community had altered due the employment opportunities afforded by the project. The findings also illustrated the project is the only one of its nature in the Eastern Cape and that similar projects are in the process of being established in communities in the Transkei. The cultivation of macadamia nuts is costly and the target market is concentrated largely in Europe. The success of the first crop and the dividends procured, the project has proven itself to be a sound method of community and rural development which can encourage investment from other parties.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Mafanya, Kungeka Vuyisa
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Agricultural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Poverty -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/8890 , vital:26439
- Description: The aim of this project was to determine the extent to which an agricultural project contributes to the alleviation of poverty in a community. This was done through a case study of one agricultural project based in Kidds Beach, in the Eastern Cape. The research was conducted utilizing the qualitative research method. The findings depicted that the standard of living for the community had altered due the employment opportunities afforded by the project. The findings also illustrated the project is the only one of its nature in the Eastern Cape and that similar projects are in the process of being established in communities in the Transkei. The cultivation of macadamia nuts is costly and the target market is concentrated largely in Europe. The success of the first crop and the dividends procured, the project has proven itself to be a sound method of community and rural development which can encourage investment from other parties.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
The design of a multi-purpose motor sports pit complex for Kyalami
- Authors: De Bruyn, Sheldon
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Racetracks (Automobile racing) -- South Africa -- Midrand Sports facilities -- South Africa -- Midrand
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MArch
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/39337 , vital:35088
- Description: Since the invention of the motor car over 100 years ago, people have been trying to improve its technical capabilities by constantly pushing its limits. Motor sport developed out of this desire for technical mastery of speed, which led to the first Formula 1 Championship in 1960 at Silverstone, England. The sport’s popularity increased and spread to the corners of the world. Since 1962, Formula 1 had been hosted by South Africa. Technological developments on Formula 1 cars then would, years later, be adapted for regular road cars. Parallel with the development of the sports cars was the development of the buildings to stay abreast with the requirements of increasing crowds, larger media presence and technologies, and construction methods and materials. These buildings evolved from simple single storey buildings to multi-floor complexes that accommodated thousands of spectators and team players. However, as the buildings pushed the envelopes, and their scale increased, some of the essence of the sports culture from old was lost. Large grandstands and pit complex buildings have created a sterile environment for the spectacle of the sport. Area prolonged absence from the Formula 1 calendar; firstly, from ancones and then, for financial reasons, a newly injected interest and ownership from Porsche South Africa saw a grand return of Formula 1 to local soil. This happened at the historically significant racing site of Kyalami. What is exciting about this project is the opportunity that arises to connect (through design) the spectator back to the track and sport in a more meaningful way that strongly reminds us of the sport of earlier days of the sport. With the influence of old architectural typologies and embracing the technological advances, the proposed pit complex shows a balance between pushing the architectural envelope and increasing spectator value.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: De Bruyn, Sheldon
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Racetracks (Automobile racing) -- South Africa -- Midrand Sports facilities -- South Africa -- Midrand
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MArch
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/39337 , vital:35088
- Description: Since the invention of the motor car over 100 years ago, people have been trying to improve its technical capabilities by constantly pushing its limits. Motor sport developed out of this desire for technical mastery of speed, which led to the first Formula 1 Championship in 1960 at Silverstone, England. The sport’s popularity increased and spread to the corners of the world. Since 1962, Formula 1 had been hosted by South Africa. Technological developments on Formula 1 cars then would, years later, be adapted for regular road cars. Parallel with the development of the sports cars was the development of the buildings to stay abreast with the requirements of increasing crowds, larger media presence and technologies, and construction methods and materials. These buildings evolved from simple single storey buildings to multi-floor complexes that accommodated thousands of spectators and team players. However, as the buildings pushed the envelopes, and their scale increased, some of the essence of the sports culture from old was lost. Large grandstands and pit complex buildings have created a sterile environment for the spectacle of the sport. Area prolonged absence from the Formula 1 calendar; firstly, from ancones and then, for financial reasons, a newly injected interest and ownership from Porsche South Africa saw a grand return of Formula 1 to local soil. This happened at the historically significant racing site of Kyalami. What is exciting about this project is the opportunity that arises to connect (through design) the spectator back to the track and sport in a more meaningful way that strongly reminds us of the sport of earlier days of the sport. With the influence of old architectural typologies and embracing the technological advances, the proposed pit complex shows a balance between pushing the architectural envelope and increasing spectator value.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
The design of a new opera house for central, Port Elizabeth
- Authors: Chilton, Marc John
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Theaters -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth -- Designs and plans Centers for the performing arts -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Theater architecture -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/15356 , vital:28224
- Description: Urban decentralization and inner city decay is a ubiquitous phenomenon of social and economic circumstance. The rise of sub-urban sprawl around new centres has encouraged urban degeneration and produced unsustainable cities, particularly in South Africa. Consequently, the loss of cultural assets in decaying historic centres, specifi cally in Port Elizabeth, reveals issues pertinent to loss of place and heritage. In combatting urban degeneration, the utilization of culture and the arts has proven to be a powerful rejuvenation strategy. The vision of the Mandela Bay Development Agency, and similar successful global precedents, suggest that a cultural precinct could effectively tackle urban decay in the historic core. This premise guides the proposal.The principal aim of this treatise is the design of a new Opera House acting as a catalyst for the proposed cultural district, based on the inner-city rejuvenation of Central. This aim is achieved by several objectives, which are explored in an effort to unveil potential and appropriate design responses: An investigation of the Opera House typology, which uncovers its dignity, vitality and signifi cance within past and present cities; An exploration of context, which reveals the opportunities to transform identity and urban cultural practise; Research into technical, spatial and physical demands of the program provide depth and root the design responses in reality. As a result, the Opera House sits as a gateway building into the precinct, as well as a cultural and physical landmark within the city. A duality of expression presents both a contrast and self-similarity in the historic context, simultaneously rooting the building in place while conveying a unique character.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Chilton, Marc John
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Theaters -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth -- Designs and plans Centers for the performing arts -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Theater architecture -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/15356 , vital:28224
- Description: Urban decentralization and inner city decay is a ubiquitous phenomenon of social and economic circumstance. The rise of sub-urban sprawl around new centres has encouraged urban degeneration and produced unsustainable cities, particularly in South Africa. Consequently, the loss of cultural assets in decaying historic centres, specifi cally in Port Elizabeth, reveals issues pertinent to loss of place and heritage. In combatting urban degeneration, the utilization of culture and the arts has proven to be a powerful rejuvenation strategy. The vision of the Mandela Bay Development Agency, and similar successful global precedents, suggest that a cultural precinct could effectively tackle urban decay in the historic core. This premise guides the proposal.The principal aim of this treatise is the design of a new Opera House acting as a catalyst for the proposed cultural district, based on the inner-city rejuvenation of Central. This aim is achieved by several objectives, which are explored in an effort to unveil potential and appropriate design responses: An investigation of the Opera House typology, which uncovers its dignity, vitality and signifi cance within past and present cities; An exploration of context, which reveals the opportunities to transform identity and urban cultural practise; Research into technical, spatial and physical demands of the program provide depth and root the design responses in reality. As a result, the Opera House sits as a gateway building into the precinct, as well as a cultural and physical landmark within the city. A duality of expression presents both a contrast and self-similarity in the historic context, simultaneously rooting the building in place while conveying a unique character.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
The design of a seaside hydrotherapy facility in Nelson Mandela Bay, Beachview
- Authors: Van Jaarsveld, Nadine
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Health resorts -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth -- Designs and plans Hydrotherapy , Recreational therapy
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/18663 , vital:28703
- Description: This treatise is about the design of a seaside hydrotherapy facility which will treat health conditions through the healing properties of water therapy and nature, as well as improving the wellness of the users. The purpose of this treatise is to understand the architectural aspects involved in a seaside hydrotherapy facility, such as the theoretical, the contextual, spatial, and the physical aspects. The facility will be located in Nelson Mandela Bay at Beachview in a therapeutic setting on the seafront, and will not only provide specialized thalassotherapy, but also give the users the benefit of the mental healing properties of the ocean. The building itself aims to promote healing and relaxation and challenges the designer to make maximum use of these elements. The nature of hydrotherapy facilities requires the provision for recovery, which indicates the setting up of overnight amenities as well as daily access. With this in mind, the relationship between these two groups of users and their connections, are explored. The facility proposes to use design as a way to connect the sea, land and architecture, in order to form an integrated relationship for the beneficial use of the user. An architectural design is proposed which is formed of specific sets of architectural issues that were identified and analysed. The work of professionals and other architectural designs with similar challenges were studied in terms of their particular responses and their relationships were analysed in relation to a seaside hydrotherapy facility.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Van Jaarsveld, Nadine
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Health resorts -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth -- Designs and plans Hydrotherapy , Recreational therapy
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/18663 , vital:28703
- Description: This treatise is about the design of a seaside hydrotherapy facility which will treat health conditions through the healing properties of water therapy and nature, as well as improving the wellness of the users. The purpose of this treatise is to understand the architectural aspects involved in a seaside hydrotherapy facility, such as the theoretical, the contextual, spatial, and the physical aspects. The facility will be located in Nelson Mandela Bay at Beachview in a therapeutic setting on the seafront, and will not only provide specialized thalassotherapy, but also give the users the benefit of the mental healing properties of the ocean. The building itself aims to promote healing and relaxation and challenges the designer to make maximum use of these elements. The nature of hydrotherapy facilities requires the provision for recovery, which indicates the setting up of overnight amenities as well as daily access. With this in mind, the relationship between these two groups of users and their connections, are explored. The facility proposes to use design as a way to connect the sea, land and architecture, in order to form an integrated relationship for the beneficial use of the user. An architectural design is proposed which is formed of specific sets of architectural issues that were identified and analysed. The work of professionals and other architectural designs with similar challenges were studied in terms of their particular responses and their relationships were analysed in relation to a seaside hydrotherapy facility.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
The design of a Tesla automotive factory for the Coega Development Corporation
- Authors: Raciti, Riccardo
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Architecture, Industrial -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Factories -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality -- Designs and plans , Automobile factories -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth -- Designs and plans , Coega Development Corporation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/18949 , vital:28759
- Description: This treatise will explore the suitable design of a 21st century fully sustainable automotive manufacturing facility for the company: Tesla Motors. It will investigate how the factory will sit in its cosmic context in conjunction with creating public and industrial spaces, based on the nature of the building and corporation. This proposal seeks to: Have a relevant expression and public interface for a factory of that type belonging in a cosmic landscape. Embark upon a critical investigate on of factories as a typology and related issues and concerns. Establish a stimulating and creative platform through which highly skilled international and local automotive leaders, academia, students and entrepreneurs can be in dialogue. Through the critical engagement of these fields a well-structured methodology will be formulated, as well as a hypothetical architectural response relating to the 21st century factory.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Raciti, Riccardo
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Architecture, Industrial -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Factories -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality -- Designs and plans , Automobile factories -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth -- Designs and plans , Coega Development Corporation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/18949 , vital:28759
- Description: This treatise will explore the suitable design of a 21st century fully sustainable automotive manufacturing facility for the company: Tesla Motors. It will investigate how the factory will sit in its cosmic context in conjunction with creating public and industrial spaces, based on the nature of the building and corporation. This proposal seeks to: Have a relevant expression and public interface for a factory of that type belonging in a cosmic landscape. Embark upon a critical investigate on of factories as a typology and related issues and concerns. Establish a stimulating and creative platform through which highly skilled international and local automotive leaders, academia, students and entrepreneurs can be in dialogue. Through the critical engagement of these fields a well-structured methodology will be formulated, as well as a hypothetical architectural response relating to the 21st century factory.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
The design of Makana monument in Grahamstown: pathway of memory inspired by nature, mediating public and sacred space, as a regenerative mechanism of a forgotten place
- Authors: Almon, Peta Pryor
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Monuments -- South Africa -- Grahamstown Historic buildings -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Historic sites -- South Africa -- Grahamstown Architecture and society -- History -- 21st century
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MArch
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/41283 , vital:36431
- Description: Since 1994 the post-apartheid heritage discourse has become one of the primary tools to deal with culture, identity and citizenship in South Africa. It is one of the means by which a democratic national identity is being forged and the production of new monuments is the physical manifestation of this discourse. The South African landscape holds many suppressed or unarticulated histories; histories which are a function of socio-political and land battles throughout the years of colonisation and apartheid. In society, socio-political ideals are supported by daily practices, which in turn affect social structures. These structures and the values that they uphold, in turn are interned in the monument. The monument then radiates these through its physical form. Monuments are therefore a collective mirror from which society can position itself, expressing socio-political ideals that are reinforced by community actions. This treatise explores monument as a mechanism of social regeneration towards the vision of a democratic landscape. The treatise investigates the making of monuments by analysing philosophical positions, characteristics with the intention of extracting principles, and types of monuments. This was done in order to gain an understanding as to why monuments exist, the fundamental principles involved, and the architectural approaches to these. The work is centred around Grahamstown, focusing on heritage within the city. This heritage is explicitly represented in over seventy sites within the city. Through an analysis of these heritage sites, it became clear that there is an imbalance of represented histories; mainly favouring the colonial histories while the African histories remain unarticulated or poorly represented. This imbalance is testimony to the socio-political ideals over time which in turn affected the morphology of the city over time. This resulted in contrasting spatial structures; the colonial side of town structured by a grid plan centred on a major axial route from which the spatial hierarchy extends, and the township side which is characterised by a repetitive, non-hierarchical grid layout. The landscape of the city underpins this spatial layout where features are used to enforce socio-political ideals. The structuring elements of the landscape are crucial in this regard. Surrounding hills create a bowl condition in which the city is located which in turn is divided in half by a river reinforcing the two sides of the city. Two entry points into the city are demarcated by prominent hills, positioned directly opposite each other on either side of the city. Gunfire Hill on the west is accentuated by the 1820 Settlers Monument, while opposite to the east is Makana’s Kop surrounded by the township and remains unarticulated and known only by oral histories. This clear imbalance in the representation of histories is commonly characteristic in the South African landscape and settlement patterns. The treatise seeks to arrive at an architectural intervention that is a step towards reducing this imbalance, as well as representing these suppressed histories appropriately. Vincent Scully’s notion of architecture mimicking nature was used as a theoretical lens through which the approach to the architecure and landscape were viewed. Consequently, phenomenological ideas are used as an architectural approach which aims to integrate people, nature and heritage in the form of a monument. In line with this, African traditions and beliefs were investigated, specifically the inherent relationship between nature, human spirit and settlement. The proposal is the Makana Monument located on Makana’s Kop, maintining the principles of monuments while facilitating the social needs of the surrounding community within the township of Hlalani. The site is physically monumental in nature, due to its steep slope and prominent tree line. Presented with a naturally sacred site that is positoned at the centre of a community and contains significant history pertaining to Grahamstown. These themes became the informants of the design. The aim is to maintain the natural vertical prominence of the site by creating a building that gives definition through contrasting horizontal retaining walls positioned along the contour lines. Located at a crucial point on the slope, it mediates public and sacred space. Routes through and into the building are informed by the energies of existing desire lines of people’s pathways. The intention of the building is to give dignity to a sacred natural landscape, facilitate the needs of the community, and appropriately recognise the supressed heritage.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Almon, Peta Pryor
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Monuments -- South Africa -- Grahamstown Historic buildings -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Historic sites -- South Africa -- Grahamstown Architecture and society -- History -- 21st century
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MArch
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/41283 , vital:36431
- Description: Since 1994 the post-apartheid heritage discourse has become one of the primary tools to deal with culture, identity and citizenship in South Africa. It is one of the means by which a democratic national identity is being forged and the production of new monuments is the physical manifestation of this discourse. The South African landscape holds many suppressed or unarticulated histories; histories which are a function of socio-political and land battles throughout the years of colonisation and apartheid. In society, socio-political ideals are supported by daily practices, which in turn affect social structures. These structures and the values that they uphold, in turn are interned in the monument. The monument then radiates these through its physical form. Monuments are therefore a collective mirror from which society can position itself, expressing socio-political ideals that are reinforced by community actions. This treatise explores monument as a mechanism of social regeneration towards the vision of a democratic landscape. The treatise investigates the making of monuments by analysing philosophical positions, characteristics with the intention of extracting principles, and types of monuments. This was done in order to gain an understanding as to why monuments exist, the fundamental principles involved, and the architectural approaches to these. The work is centred around Grahamstown, focusing on heritage within the city. This heritage is explicitly represented in over seventy sites within the city. Through an analysis of these heritage sites, it became clear that there is an imbalance of represented histories; mainly favouring the colonial histories while the African histories remain unarticulated or poorly represented. This imbalance is testimony to the socio-political ideals over time which in turn affected the morphology of the city over time. This resulted in contrasting spatial structures; the colonial side of town structured by a grid plan centred on a major axial route from which the spatial hierarchy extends, and the township side which is characterised by a repetitive, non-hierarchical grid layout. The landscape of the city underpins this spatial layout where features are used to enforce socio-political ideals. The structuring elements of the landscape are crucial in this regard. Surrounding hills create a bowl condition in which the city is located which in turn is divided in half by a river reinforcing the two sides of the city. Two entry points into the city are demarcated by prominent hills, positioned directly opposite each other on either side of the city. Gunfire Hill on the west is accentuated by the 1820 Settlers Monument, while opposite to the east is Makana’s Kop surrounded by the township and remains unarticulated and known only by oral histories. This clear imbalance in the representation of histories is commonly characteristic in the South African landscape and settlement patterns. The treatise seeks to arrive at an architectural intervention that is a step towards reducing this imbalance, as well as representing these suppressed histories appropriately. Vincent Scully’s notion of architecture mimicking nature was used as a theoretical lens through which the approach to the architecure and landscape were viewed. Consequently, phenomenological ideas are used as an architectural approach which aims to integrate people, nature and heritage in the form of a monument. In line with this, African traditions and beliefs were investigated, specifically the inherent relationship between nature, human spirit and settlement. The proposal is the Makana Monument located on Makana’s Kop, maintining the principles of monuments while facilitating the social needs of the surrounding community within the township of Hlalani. The site is physically monumental in nature, due to its steep slope and prominent tree line. Presented with a naturally sacred site that is positoned at the centre of a community and contains significant history pertaining to Grahamstown. These themes became the informants of the design. The aim is to maintain the natural vertical prominence of the site by creating a building that gives definition through contrasting horizontal retaining walls positioned along the contour lines. Located at a crucial point on the slope, it mediates public and sacred space. Routes through and into the building are informed by the energies of existing desire lines of people’s pathways. The intention of the building is to give dignity to a sacred natural landscape, facilitate the needs of the community, and appropriately recognise the supressed heritage.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
The design of veterinary clinics for three physical context types of in South Africa
- Authors: Kruger, Azille
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Clinics -- Design and construction Health facilities -- Design and construction , Health facilities -- Planning
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MArch
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/41295 , vital:36441
- Description: This treatise design aims to cater for the state of veterinary service provision in South Africa. With a shift in management and the implementation of the Veterinary Community Service Act, the opportunity to explore the challenge of veterinary service delivery from an architectural point of view was seized. As the daughter of a Veterinarian and a student of architecture wondering on the architectural implications and challenges faced by veterinarians, I was presented with an opportunity to investigate, and develop an approach towards formulating a solution for efficient veterinary service delivery facilities across the country. Pondering this challenge led to testing the world model of standardisation, focussing on standardisation in architecture, and the general issue of universal responses as opposed to the development of a particular architectural response. What emerged formed the basis of the challenge for the treatise: To develop a solution based on the development of a prefabricated modularized system of component veterinary clinics for three different context types and in so doing grapple with the notion of manufactured spaces’ ability to create meaningful place.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Kruger, Azille
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Clinics -- Design and construction Health facilities -- Design and construction , Health facilities -- Planning
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MArch
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/41295 , vital:36441
- Description: This treatise design aims to cater for the state of veterinary service provision in South Africa. With a shift in management and the implementation of the Veterinary Community Service Act, the opportunity to explore the challenge of veterinary service delivery from an architectural point of view was seized. As the daughter of a Veterinarian and a student of architecture wondering on the architectural implications and challenges faced by veterinarians, I was presented with an opportunity to investigate, and develop an approach towards formulating a solution for efficient veterinary service delivery facilities across the country. Pondering this challenge led to testing the world model of standardisation, focussing on standardisation in architecture, and the general issue of universal responses as opposed to the development of a particular architectural response. What emerged formed the basis of the challenge for the treatise: To develop a solution based on the development of a prefabricated modularized system of component veterinary clinics for three different context types and in so doing grapple with the notion of manufactured spaces’ ability to create meaningful place.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
The development of biological tools to aid in the genetic investigation of the black (Diceros bicornis) and white (Ceratotherium simum) rhinoceros mitochondrial genomes
- Authors: Parsons, Michelle
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/56059 , vital:26769
- Description: The black (Diceros bicornis) and white (Ceratotherium simum) rhinoceros are found in South Africa. A decline in the populations of these species has resulted due to human activities such as habitat fragmentation and poaching. This has contributed to the loss of genetic diversity amongst the black and white rhinoceros. Conservation and anti-poaching efforts are needed to help maintain genetic diversity. These efforts could be improved through the development of non-invasive techniques to examine DNA from threatened animals. The aim of this research was to develop a molecular technique which would allow for the identification of the black and white rhinoceros and to develop a molecular technique which would allow for intraspecies genetic variation to be examined. DNA extractions were performed on matched faecal and tissue samples that were collected from two regions in South Africa. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primer sets were designed to investigate several regions of the rhinoceros mitochondrial genome. PCR optimisation was completed for the target regions. Sequencing was conducted on all final PCR products. The cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COIi) gene allowed for the rhinoceros family to be identified. This region was digested with the HindIII restriction enzyme, which allowed for the specific identification of either the black or white rhinoceros. A subsequent region of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COIii) as well as the D-loop, hypervariable regions (HV1 and HV2), cytochrome b (cytb) and 16s rRNA regions were investigated. These regions displayed potential for establishing geographic origin for black rhinoceros samples, whereas the D-loop and HV2 show potential for the white rhinoceros. The white rhinoceros displayed sequence variation in the HV2 and cytb region, while variation was observed in the COIi and HV1 for the black rhinoceros. All investigated target regions allowed for the rhinoceros family to be identified. The COI (COIi and COIii), HV2 and cytb regions allowed for the subspecies of rhinoceros to be identified, however the D-loop was not able to identify the white rhinoceros species. The 16s rRNA and HV1 regions allowed for the correct subspecies of rhinoceros to be identified, however as the primers were only compatible for the black rhinoceros therefore a subsequent investigation is required for the white rhinoceros. The establishment of this novel PCR based technique to identify white and black rhinoceros will allow for efficient species identification in wildlife forensic cases. A biological method was established to study intraspecies variation for the white and black rhinoceros; however the investigated target regions did not yield sufficient genetic variation. The core techniques developed in this study will be valuable for future studies that wish to investigate genetic variation in mammal species.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Parsons, Michelle
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/56059 , vital:26769
- Description: The black (Diceros bicornis) and white (Ceratotherium simum) rhinoceros are found in South Africa. A decline in the populations of these species has resulted due to human activities such as habitat fragmentation and poaching. This has contributed to the loss of genetic diversity amongst the black and white rhinoceros. Conservation and anti-poaching efforts are needed to help maintain genetic diversity. These efforts could be improved through the development of non-invasive techniques to examine DNA from threatened animals. The aim of this research was to develop a molecular technique which would allow for the identification of the black and white rhinoceros and to develop a molecular technique which would allow for intraspecies genetic variation to be examined. DNA extractions were performed on matched faecal and tissue samples that were collected from two regions in South Africa. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primer sets were designed to investigate several regions of the rhinoceros mitochondrial genome. PCR optimisation was completed for the target regions. Sequencing was conducted on all final PCR products. The cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COIi) gene allowed for the rhinoceros family to be identified. This region was digested with the HindIII restriction enzyme, which allowed for the specific identification of either the black or white rhinoceros. A subsequent region of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COIii) as well as the D-loop, hypervariable regions (HV1 and HV2), cytochrome b (cytb) and 16s rRNA regions were investigated. These regions displayed potential for establishing geographic origin for black rhinoceros samples, whereas the D-loop and HV2 show potential for the white rhinoceros. The white rhinoceros displayed sequence variation in the HV2 and cytb region, while variation was observed in the COIi and HV1 for the black rhinoceros. All investigated target regions allowed for the rhinoceros family to be identified. The COI (COIi and COIii), HV2 and cytb regions allowed for the subspecies of rhinoceros to be identified, however the D-loop was not able to identify the white rhinoceros species. The 16s rRNA and HV1 regions allowed for the correct subspecies of rhinoceros to be identified, however as the primers were only compatible for the black rhinoceros therefore a subsequent investigation is required for the white rhinoceros. The establishment of this novel PCR based technique to identify white and black rhinoceros will allow for efficient species identification in wildlife forensic cases. A biological method was established to study intraspecies variation for the white and black rhinoceros; however the investigated target regions did not yield sufficient genetic variation. The core techniques developed in this study will be valuable for future studies that wish to investigate genetic variation in mammal species.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
The developmental impact of non-contributory social grants in South Africa : a study of Ezibeleni, Queenstown
- Authors: Xaba, Mzingaye Brilliant
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Economic assistance, Domestic -- South Africa , Poor -- South Africa -- Queenstown , Poverty -- South Africa -- Queenstown , South Africa -- Economic conditions -- 1991- , South Africa -- Social conditions -- 1994-
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: vital:3402 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018919
- Description: Amartya Sen argued that poverty was the “deprivation” of the capability to lead a “good life”, therefore ending poverty meant meeting basic physical and social needs, and enabling meaningful economic and political choices. The principal objective of this research was to investigate whether (and if so, in what ways) post-apartheid state-provided non-contributory cash social grants in South Africa reduced “poverty” in Sen’s sense. This thesis used Ezibeleni, a historically black working class township at Queenstown, in the Eastern Cape, as a reference area. Using in-depth interviews, it found that social grants did help reduce poverty, both in terms of helping meet basic needs and enabling grant recipients to make more choices, including facilitating job searches and small businesses. However, it was also found that grants fall short of ending poverty, as the grants were too small to adequately cover basic needs in the context of large family sizes, a serious and long-term lack of resources, persistent unemployment, and high indebtedness, and could also enable only a limited expansion of choices. The grants played a positive role, but were inadequate to remove the “unfreedoms” facing the poor.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Xaba, Mzingaye Brilliant
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Economic assistance, Domestic -- South Africa , Poor -- South Africa -- Queenstown , Poverty -- South Africa -- Queenstown , South Africa -- Economic conditions -- 1991- , South Africa -- Social conditions -- 1994-
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: vital:3402 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018919
- Description: Amartya Sen argued that poverty was the “deprivation” of the capability to lead a “good life”, therefore ending poverty meant meeting basic physical and social needs, and enabling meaningful economic and political choices. The principal objective of this research was to investigate whether (and if so, in what ways) post-apartheid state-provided non-contributory cash social grants in South Africa reduced “poverty” in Sen’s sense. This thesis used Ezibeleni, a historically black working class township at Queenstown, in the Eastern Cape, as a reference area. Using in-depth interviews, it found that social grants did help reduce poverty, both in terms of helping meet basic needs and enabling grant recipients to make more choices, including facilitating job searches and small businesses. However, it was also found that grants fall short of ending poverty, as the grants were too small to adequately cover basic needs in the context of large family sizes, a serious and long-term lack of resources, persistent unemployment, and high indebtedness, and could also enable only a limited expansion of choices. The grants played a positive role, but were inadequate to remove the “unfreedoms” facing the poor.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
The diets of co-occuring anurans in a small South African river: assessments using stomach contents, stable isotope ratios and fatty acid profiles
- Authors: Sikutshwa, Likho
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/54405 , vital:26562
- Description: During their life cycle amphibians change their habitat and feeding, and are important consumers in both terrestrial and aquatic habitats. The trophic ecology of anurans has been studied intensively using gut content analysis, but very little work has been done using biochemical techniques such as stable isotope and fatty acid analyses. These biochemical techniques produce data that allow for additional inferences about the trophic ecology of anurans, as they reveal what the organisms assimilated over time rather than what was recently ingested. The investigation of the feeding ecology and trophic interactions of anurans using gut content analyses together with stable isotope and fatty acid analyses will help us to better understand their ecological roles. The objective of this thesis was to assess the feeding ecology of four anurans (Amietia angolensis, Amietophyrnus rangeri, Strongylopus grayii and Xenopus laevis) in a temperate river using a combination of gut content, stable isotope and fatty acid analyses. Frogs, tadpoles and potential food sources were sampled in two sites (upstream and downstream) in the Kowie River, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Gut content analyses identified 147 prey items belonging to 12 prey orders in the stomachs of the sampled specimens. In both A. angolensis and S. grayii the most important prey category was Coleoptera, followed by Hemiptera, Diptera and Hymenoptera at both sites. Aquatic prey items (aquatic hemipterans, chirinomids and blackflies) were the most important food sources for X. laevis (Alimentary Index (IAi) = 6.4; 5.2; 4.2). In Am. rangeri, Hymenoptera was the most important prey category (IAi = 8.3). The trophic niche overlap between A. angolensis and S. grayii was biologically significant (> 0.6), and in the remaining species there was no significant trophic niche overlap. Amietia angolensis showed a larger trophic niche (Levin’s measure; B = 7.7 and Bst = 0.84 downstream, and upstream B = 7.6 (Bst = 0.82) compared to the other species. The gut content analyses showed that frogs feed on a variety of prey items that constitutes food sources from both aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Stable isotopes indicated that aquatic derived sources contributed significantly more towards the diets of X. laevis, A. angolensis tadpoles and S. grayii tadpoles compared with the other anurans, whereas aquatic and terrestrial derived food sources contributed equally to the diets of A. angolensis and S. grayii. Increased trophic positions in A. angolensis and S. grayii occurred throughout their development. The four different species had similar fatty acid profiles in the upstream region, and fairly similar δ13C values, suggesting that they probably consumed similar food. Fatty acid profiles of anurans in the downstream region showed distinct separations among the species. Tadpoles had high levels of diatom-associated fatty acids (20:5ω3; A. angolensis tadpole – 8.4 %, S. grayii tadpole – 9.4 % upstream and downstream; 9.1 and 6.1 % total fatty acids (TFA), respectively). All four species had substantial contributions from bacterial fatty acids, and large proportions of saturated fatty acids (30.6 - 50.0 %) including those with 14 and 18 carbons, indicating that bacterial and detritus food sources played an important role in their diets. The fatty acid profiles revealed high proportions of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and essential fatty acids (EFAs) in all species, indicating a good quality of food and that the quality of food consumed was similar among species. The results demonstrated the usefulness of a combination of traditional techniques (gut content techniques) and biochemical techniques (stable isotopes and fatty acid analysis) for assessing consumption and assimilation. The amphibian assemblages examined derived much of their energy from terrestrial and aquatic sources. This information will allow more precise and comprehensive assessments of trophic interactions in freshwater habitats, along with aiding in future amphibian conservation and management efforts.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Sikutshwa, Likho
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/54405 , vital:26562
- Description: During their life cycle amphibians change their habitat and feeding, and are important consumers in both terrestrial and aquatic habitats. The trophic ecology of anurans has been studied intensively using gut content analysis, but very little work has been done using biochemical techniques such as stable isotope and fatty acid analyses. These biochemical techniques produce data that allow for additional inferences about the trophic ecology of anurans, as they reveal what the organisms assimilated over time rather than what was recently ingested. The investigation of the feeding ecology and trophic interactions of anurans using gut content analyses together with stable isotope and fatty acid analyses will help us to better understand their ecological roles. The objective of this thesis was to assess the feeding ecology of four anurans (Amietia angolensis, Amietophyrnus rangeri, Strongylopus grayii and Xenopus laevis) in a temperate river using a combination of gut content, stable isotope and fatty acid analyses. Frogs, tadpoles and potential food sources were sampled in two sites (upstream and downstream) in the Kowie River, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Gut content analyses identified 147 prey items belonging to 12 prey orders in the stomachs of the sampled specimens. In both A. angolensis and S. grayii the most important prey category was Coleoptera, followed by Hemiptera, Diptera and Hymenoptera at both sites. Aquatic prey items (aquatic hemipterans, chirinomids and blackflies) were the most important food sources for X. laevis (Alimentary Index (IAi) = 6.4; 5.2; 4.2). In Am. rangeri, Hymenoptera was the most important prey category (IAi = 8.3). The trophic niche overlap between A. angolensis and S. grayii was biologically significant (> 0.6), and in the remaining species there was no significant trophic niche overlap. Amietia angolensis showed a larger trophic niche (Levin’s measure; B = 7.7 and Bst = 0.84 downstream, and upstream B = 7.6 (Bst = 0.82) compared to the other species. The gut content analyses showed that frogs feed on a variety of prey items that constitutes food sources from both aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Stable isotopes indicated that aquatic derived sources contributed significantly more towards the diets of X. laevis, A. angolensis tadpoles and S. grayii tadpoles compared with the other anurans, whereas aquatic and terrestrial derived food sources contributed equally to the diets of A. angolensis and S. grayii. Increased trophic positions in A. angolensis and S. grayii occurred throughout their development. The four different species had similar fatty acid profiles in the upstream region, and fairly similar δ13C values, suggesting that they probably consumed similar food. Fatty acid profiles of anurans in the downstream region showed distinct separations among the species. Tadpoles had high levels of diatom-associated fatty acids (20:5ω3; A. angolensis tadpole – 8.4 %, S. grayii tadpole – 9.4 % upstream and downstream; 9.1 and 6.1 % total fatty acids (TFA), respectively). All four species had substantial contributions from bacterial fatty acids, and large proportions of saturated fatty acids (30.6 - 50.0 %) including those with 14 and 18 carbons, indicating that bacterial and detritus food sources played an important role in their diets. The fatty acid profiles revealed high proportions of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and essential fatty acids (EFAs) in all species, indicating a good quality of food and that the quality of food consumed was similar among species. The results demonstrated the usefulness of a combination of traditional techniques (gut content techniques) and biochemical techniques (stable isotopes and fatty acid analysis) for assessing consumption and assimilation. The amphibian assemblages examined derived much of their energy from terrestrial and aquatic sources. This information will allow more precise and comprehensive assessments of trophic interactions in freshwater habitats, along with aiding in future amphibian conservation and management efforts.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
The Ecca type section (Permian, South Africa) : an outcrop analogue study of conventional and unconventional hydrocarbon reservoirs
- Authors: Campbell, Stuart Alexander
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Hydrocarbon reservoirs -- Ecca Group , Geology, Stratigraphic -- Permian , Paleogeography -- Ecca Group , Shale gas -- Ecca Group , Shale gas reservoirs -- Ecca Group , Ecca Group , Ripon Formation (South Africa) , Collingham Formation (South Africa)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5083 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018199
- Description: The Karoo Basin of South Africa holds an estimated 906 billion to 11 trillion cubic meters of unconventional shale gas within the shales of the Whitehill and Collingham formations of the Ecca Group. Evaluation of this potential resource has been limited due to the lack of exploration and a scarcity of existing drill core data. In order to circumnavigate this problem this study was undertaken to evaluate the potential target horizons exposed in outcrops along the southern portion of the Karoo Basin, north of Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape Province. Detailed field logging was done on the exposed Whitehill and Collingham formations as well as a possible conventional sandstone (turbidite) reservoir, the Ripon Formation, along road cuttings of the Ecca Pass. Palaeocurrent data, jointing directions and fossil material were also documented. Samples were analysed for mineralogy, porosity, permeability, and total organic carbon content (TOC). The extensively weathered black shales of the Whitehill Formation contain a maximum TOC value of 0.9% and the Collingham Formation shales contain a maximum TOC value of 0.6%. The organic lithic arkose sandstones of the Ripon Formation are classified as ‘tight rock’ with an average porosity of 1% and an average permeability of 0.05 mD. The Whitehill Formation in the southern portion of the Karoo Basin has experienced organic matter loss due to low grade metamorphism as well as burial to extreme depths, thus reducing shale gas potential. The Ripon Formation is an unsuitable conventional reservoir along the southern basin boundary due to extensive cementation and filling of pore spaces.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Campbell, Stuart Alexander
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Hydrocarbon reservoirs -- Ecca Group , Geology, Stratigraphic -- Permian , Paleogeography -- Ecca Group , Shale gas -- Ecca Group , Shale gas reservoirs -- Ecca Group , Ecca Group , Ripon Formation (South Africa) , Collingham Formation (South Africa)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5083 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018199
- Description: The Karoo Basin of South Africa holds an estimated 906 billion to 11 trillion cubic meters of unconventional shale gas within the shales of the Whitehill and Collingham formations of the Ecca Group. Evaluation of this potential resource has been limited due to the lack of exploration and a scarcity of existing drill core data. In order to circumnavigate this problem this study was undertaken to evaluate the potential target horizons exposed in outcrops along the southern portion of the Karoo Basin, north of Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape Province. Detailed field logging was done on the exposed Whitehill and Collingham formations as well as a possible conventional sandstone (turbidite) reservoir, the Ripon Formation, along road cuttings of the Ecca Pass. Palaeocurrent data, jointing directions and fossil material were also documented. Samples were analysed for mineralogy, porosity, permeability, and total organic carbon content (TOC). The extensively weathered black shales of the Whitehill Formation contain a maximum TOC value of 0.9% and the Collingham Formation shales contain a maximum TOC value of 0.6%. The organic lithic arkose sandstones of the Ripon Formation are classified as ‘tight rock’ with an average porosity of 1% and an average permeability of 0.05 mD. The Whitehill Formation in the southern portion of the Karoo Basin has experienced organic matter loss due to low grade metamorphism as well as burial to extreme depths, thus reducing shale gas potential. The Ripon Formation is an unsuitable conventional reservoir along the southern basin boundary due to extensive cementation and filling of pore spaces.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
The economics of institutions, institutional governance and efficiency: the case of water distribution in Lower Sundays River Valley
- Authors: Madigele, Patricia Kefilwe
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/54777 , vital:26611
- Description: The institutional dynamics, policies and legislation that were prevalent during the apartheid era have left imprints that are difficult to ignore as they still dictate the interaction between different elements in the water sector to date. During the apartheid era, the formulation of policies was informed by racial segregation, resulting in a socio-economic pattern that dictated the distribution and access of resources for the people of different races in the country. Post-apartheid, the National Water Act has established the basis for management of water resources on a catchment basis (for equity, efficiency and sustainability), and the Water Services Act aims to ensure everybody has access to basic water supply and sanitation services. Regardless of the improvements in water supply to the rural sector made by the South African government, many of the current patterns of water use are still characterised by inequality, inefficiency, and inadequacy. The poor remain marginalised, and emerging farmers and poor rural communities have limited access to water resources while water continues to be used inefficiently by some farmers in the agricultural sector with few incentives to improve its water use efficiency. Despite the existence of the thriving citrus industry in the area, around 60% of people in the Sundays River Valley Municipality (SRVM) live below the poverty datum line. The inequality between the municipal populace and the commercial citrus industry is noticeable and the inequitable water redistribution is prevalent in the Lower Sundays River Valley (LSRV). The problem of disrupted water supply is prevalent in the catchment. However, there is also currently no physical shortage of water in the catchment. Therefore, the currently experienced problems with water supply in the LSRV are consequence of a lack of effective institutions and infrastructure, not of physical water scarcity. It is argued in this paper that there is a notable lack of understanding about the design of institutions for water management in developing countries. The vast majority of research on water management and access is premised on neoclassical economics ideas related to water markets and pricing among others. The neoclassical economics approach, however, does not adequately define the role of institutions in shaping the direction of water access and supply. This study uses new institutional economics (NIE) arguments to define the institutional arrangements and dynamics defining the water sector in South Africa, using the Lower Sunday River Water Users Association (LSR-WUA) as the case study. It aims at analysing the institutional governance and performance of the using equity, efficiency and effectiveness as key indicators. The various research methods employed in this study include; interpretive and post-positivist paradigms, quantitative and qualitative research, the case study research method and in-depth key informant interviews. It is concluded that that the current and future decisions made by the LSR-WUA are not entirely independent of those made in the past under Sundays River Irrigation Board (SRIB). The thesis argues that such factors as old effective networks, vested interests of commercial farmers, sunk costs towards the building of canals, among other factors, may have influenced the dependence of the LSR-WUA on the SRIB’s set path. It is further concluded that the absence of contractual agreement between the LRS-WUA which acts as the bulk water supplier, and the SRVM which acts as both the water services authority (WSA) and the water service provider (WSP) creates an institutional arrangement deficiency. Such an institutional arrangement vacuum can lead to a failure of the water institutions in the catchment to provide water resources effectively. The study further argues that because the post-apartheid National Water Policy of South Africa is largely influenced by neoclassical economics foundations, the desired results in the water sector, such as equitable distribution of water resources, have not yet been fulfilled completely.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Madigele, Patricia Kefilwe
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/54777 , vital:26611
- Description: The institutional dynamics, policies and legislation that were prevalent during the apartheid era have left imprints that are difficult to ignore as they still dictate the interaction between different elements in the water sector to date. During the apartheid era, the formulation of policies was informed by racial segregation, resulting in a socio-economic pattern that dictated the distribution and access of resources for the people of different races in the country. Post-apartheid, the National Water Act has established the basis for management of water resources on a catchment basis (for equity, efficiency and sustainability), and the Water Services Act aims to ensure everybody has access to basic water supply and sanitation services. Regardless of the improvements in water supply to the rural sector made by the South African government, many of the current patterns of water use are still characterised by inequality, inefficiency, and inadequacy. The poor remain marginalised, and emerging farmers and poor rural communities have limited access to water resources while water continues to be used inefficiently by some farmers in the agricultural sector with few incentives to improve its water use efficiency. Despite the existence of the thriving citrus industry in the area, around 60% of people in the Sundays River Valley Municipality (SRVM) live below the poverty datum line. The inequality between the municipal populace and the commercial citrus industry is noticeable and the inequitable water redistribution is prevalent in the Lower Sundays River Valley (LSRV). The problem of disrupted water supply is prevalent in the catchment. However, there is also currently no physical shortage of water in the catchment. Therefore, the currently experienced problems with water supply in the LSRV are consequence of a lack of effective institutions and infrastructure, not of physical water scarcity. It is argued in this paper that there is a notable lack of understanding about the design of institutions for water management in developing countries. The vast majority of research on water management and access is premised on neoclassical economics ideas related to water markets and pricing among others. The neoclassical economics approach, however, does not adequately define the role of institutions in shaping the direction of water access and supply. This study uses new institutional economics (NIE) arguments to define the institutional arrangements and dynamics defining the water sector in South Africa, using the Lower Sunday River Water Users Association (LSR-WUA) as the case study. It aims at analysing the institutional governance and performance of the using equity, efficiency and effectiveness as key indicators. The various research methods employed in this study include; interpretive and post-positivist paradigms, quantitative and qualitative research, the case study research method and in-depth key informant interviews. It is concluded that that the current and future decisions made by the LSR-WUA are not entirely independent of those made in the past under Sundays River Irrigation Board (SRIB). The thesis argues that such factors as old effective networks, vested interests of commercial farmers, sunk costs towards the building of canals, among other factors, may have influenced the dependence of the LSR-WUA on the SRIB’s set path. It is further concluded that the absence of contractual agreement between the LRS-WUA which acts as the bulk water supplier, and the SRVM which acts as both the water services authority (WSA) and the water service provider (WSP) creates an institutional arrangement deficiency. Such an institutional arrangement vacuum can lead to a failure of the water institutions in the catchment to provide water resources effectively. The study further argues that because the post-apartheid National Water Policy of South Africa is largely influenced by neoclassical economics foundations, the desired results in the water sector, such as equitable distribution of water resources, have not yet been fulfilled completely.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
The effect of extracellular Hsp90β and TGF-β1 on colon cancer biology
- Authors: Perks, Tamarin
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/55896 , vital:26753
- Description: The TGF-β signaling pathway is known to be one of the most commonly mutated pathways in human cancers, while Hsp90 is a bone fide drug target that is involved in regulating the conformation and activity of many oncoproteins. The role of intracellular Hsp90 in cancer has thus far been established and there is a growing link between extracellular Hsp90 and cancer metastasis, as well as the role of TGF-β in metastasis. This study aimed to analyse the interaction between Hsp90 (both intracellular and extracellular) and the TGF-β machinery in cancer cells, as well as to determine the effect of these proteins on cellular responses on the biology of cancer cells. This was achieved by studying the expression of Hsp90; TGF-βRII and TGF-β1 in cancer cell lines of various origins using flow cytometry, ELISA, and western blot analysis. The genetically paired SW480 and SW620 colon cancer cell lines, derived from a primary tumour and lymph node metastasis, respectively, were selected for further study due to differences in expression levels and activation of the TGF-β1 pathway. SW480 cells expressed double the level of TGF-βRII compared to SW620 cells, while SW620 expressed two times more extracellular TGF-β1 than SW480 cells. A direct interaction between TGF-β1 and Hsp90β was determined in vitro, and confirmed in vivo in SW620 cells. Growth, adhesion and migration were analysed in SW480 and SW620 cells. SW480 cells adhered significantly faster than SW620 cells, while SW620 cells had a greater rate of migration. Inhibiting the TGF-β pathway, specifically TGF-βRI, using SB 431542, as well as inhibiting Hsp90 with novobiocin, caused an increase in migration in SW480 cells. Only the addition of TGF-β1 in combination with Hsp90 as well as SB 431542 caused an increase in migration in SW620 cells. The canonical TGF-β1/TGF-βRI/TGF-βRII pathway may be constitutively active in SW620 cells and the inhibition of TGF-βRI may suggest an alternate pathway or receptor in both SW480 and SW620 cells.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Perks, Tamarin
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/55896 , vital:26753
- Description: The TGF-β signaling pathway is known to be one of the most commonly mutated pathways in human cancers, while Hsp90 is a bone fide drug target that is involved in regulating the conformation and activity of many oncoproteins. The role of intracellular Hsp90 in cancer has thus far been established and there is a growing link between extracellular Hsp90 and cancer metastasis, as well as the role of TGF-β in metastasis. This study aimed to analyse the interaction between Hsp90 (both intracellular and extracellular) and the TGF-β machinery in cancer cells, as well as to determine the effect of these proteins on cellular responses on the biology of cancer cells. This was achieved by studying the expression of Hsp90; TGF-βRII and TGF-β1 in cancer cell lines of various origins using flow cytometry, ELISA, and western blot analysis. The genetically paired SW480 and SW620 colon cancer cell lines, derived from a primary tumour and lymph node metastasis, respectively, were selected for further study due to differences in expression levels and activation of the TGF-β1 pathway. SW480 cells expressed double the level of TGF-βRII compared to SW620 cells, while SW620 expressed two times more extracellular TGF-β1 than SW480 cells. A direct interaction between TGF-β1 and Hsp90β was determined in vitro, and confirmed in vivo in SW620 cells. Growth, adhesion and migration were analysed in SW480 and SW620 cells. SW480 cells adhered significantly faster than SW620 cells, while SW620 cells had a greater rate of migration. Inhibiting the TGF-β pathway, specifically TGF-βRI, using SB 431542, as well as inhibiting Hsp90 with novobiocin, caused an increase in migration in SW480 cells. Only the addition of TGF-β1 in combination with Hsp90 as well as SB 431542 caused an increase in migration in SW620 cells. The canonical TGF-β1/TGF-βRI/TGF-βRII pathway may be constitutively active in SW620 cells and the inhibition of TGF-βRI may suggest an alternate pathway or receptor in both SW480 and SW620 cells.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
The effect of GH family affiliations of mannanolytic enzymes on their synergistic associations during the hydrolysis of mannan-containing substrates
- Authors: Malgas, Samkelo
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Lignocellulose , Biomass energy , Ethanol as fuel , Polysaccharides , Sugar -- Inversion , Glycosidases , Galactoglucomannans , Oligosaccharides
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4148 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017909
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Malgas, Samkelo
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Lignocellulose , Biomass energy , Ethanol as fuel , Polysaccharides , Sugar -- Inversion , Glycosidases , Galactoglucomannans , Oligosaccharides
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4148 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017909
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
The effect of grain and soya bean-based diets on chicken production, some egg quality traits, and the potential for allergen carryover to eggs and meat
- Authors: Dokora, Adia-En-Michelle
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Chickens -- Nutrition Chickens --Feeding and feeds Meat -- Quality
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/2946 , vital:28192
- Description: This study determined the effect of maize-, whole wheat-, soya bean-based-diets on the growth performance, egg quality and dressing percentage of chickens, as well as the potential for soy and gluten allergen carryover to eggs and meat from chickens. Twenty 36-week-old Lorham White (LW) hens were divided into two groups and kept in individual cages until they reached 39-weeks of age, with water and feed supplied ad libitum. Ten LW hens were fed a maize/soya bean-based diet (T1) and the other ten birds were fed a maize/soya bean-based diet with a 15 percent whole wheat inclusion (T2) for a period of four weeks, with weekly individual hen weights and group feed consumption figures being recorded. After a two-week diet adaptation period, six eggs per treatment group were collected every second day from the LW hens’ to measure egg quality traits. Every third day, over a 29-day period, six eggs per treatment were collected and analysed for the presence of soy, gluten and gluten-derived peptides using allergen specific enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) kits. For the broiler trial, a total of 160 Ross 308 mixed sex day old chicks were used in a completely randomized design. Two dietary treatments were assigned to eight cages (replicate) per treatment, with ten birds per cage. The Ross 308 broiler feeding programme consisted of three phases, starter (day 1 to day 10), grower (day 11 to day 20) and finisher (day 21 to day 28). At the beginning of the trial all chicks were fed T1 which contained a maize/soya bean-based diet for a period of 10 days and then eight cages with 10 birds per cage were randomly selected and fed the T2 diet, which contained a maize/soya bean-based diet with a 15 percent whole wheat inclusion, until they reached 28 days of age. Weekly live weights, feed intake, average daily gain and the average daily feed intake were recorded and calculated. At the end of the grower (day 21) and finisher phase (day 28), one broiler bird was selected per cage to have eight (8) birds per treatment and 16 birds per phase that were slaughtered and breast meat samples were analysed in duplicate for the presence of soy and gluten allergens using ELISA kits. The dressing percentage of hot carcasses was also determined at the end of the finisher phase on eight birds per treatment. For LW hens, live weight (LW) at 39 weeks of age, the average daily feed intake (ADFI) and weekly feed intakes (FI) were significantly different (P < 0.05) between treatments with birds on T2 recording higher gains. As birds age in weeks increased, significant differences (P < 0.05) in live weight values were recorded. Egg quality traits measured (shell weight, yolk weight, albumen weight, albumen height and Haugh units) were significantly different (P < 0.05) between treatments, with eggs from hens receiving T1 recording higher mean values. As hens got older, the colour of egg yolk improved, producing eggs with higher b* (yellowness) values and lower L* (lightness) and a* (redness) mean values. The Haugh unit, significantly improved (P < 0.05) as the hens got older, signifying better quality of eggs. For the broiler birds, growth traits measured indicated that there were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in live weight (LW), average daily feed intake (ADFI), weekly feed intake (FI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), cumulative feed intake (CFI) and cumulative gain (CG) between treatments. No significant differences (P > 0.05) between dressing percentage of broilers from the two treatments were observed. As birds grew, significant differences (P < 0.05) in LW, FI, AFI, FCR, and CFI, over a four-week period were recorded. Results of the allergen analyses indicated that soy and gluten allergens were not carried over from feed into eggs and meat of chickens fed a maize/soya bean-based diet and a maize/soya bean-based with a 15 percent whole wheat inclusion, respectively. In conclusion, a maize/soya bean-based diet and maize/soya bean-based diet with a 15 percent whole wheat inclusion that contained soy and gluten allergens, are feed sources that promote and stimulate 36-week-old LW hen and Ross 308 chicken growth.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Dokora, Adia-En-Michelle
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Chickens -- Nutrition Chickens --Feeding and feeds Meat -- Quality
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/2946 , vital:28192
- Description: This study determined the effect of maize-, whole wheat-, soya bean-based-diets on the growth performance, egg quality and dressing percentage of chickens, as well as the potential for soy and gluten allergen carryover to eggs and meat from chickens. Twenty 36-week-old Lorham White (LW) hens were divided into two groups and kept in individual cages until they reached 39-weeks of age, with water and feed supplied ad libitum. Ten LW hens were fed a maize/soya bean-based diet (T1) and the other ten birds were fed a maize/soya bean-based diet with a 15 percent whole wheat inclusion (T2) for a period of four weeks, with weekly individual hen weights and group feed consumption figures being recorded. After a two-week diet adaptation period, six eggs per treatment group were collected every second day from the LW hens’ to measure egg quality traits. Every third day, over a 29-day period, six eggs per treatment were collected and analysed for the presence of soy, gluten and gluten-derived peptides using allergen specific enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) kits. For the broiler trial, a total of 160 Ross 308 mixed sex day old chicks were used in a completely randomized design. Two dietary treatments were assigned to eight cages (replicate) per treatment, with ten birds per cage. The Ross 308 broiler feeding programme consisted of three phases, starter (day 1 to day 10), grower (day 11 to day 20) and finisher (day 21 to day 28). At the beginning of the trial all chicks were fed T1 which contained a maize/soya bean-based diet for a period of 10 days and then eight cages with 10 birds per cage were randomly selected and fed the T2 diet, which contained a maize/soya bean-based diet with a 15 percent whole wheat inclusion, until they reached 28 days of age. Weekly live weights, feed intake, average daily gain and the average daily feed intake were recorded and calculated. At the end of the grower (day 21) and finisher phase (day 28), one broiler bird was selected per cage to have eight (8) birds per treatment and 16 birds per phase that were slaughtered and breast meat samples were analysed in duplicate for the presence of soy and gluten allergens using ELISA kits. The dressing percentage of hot carcasses was also determined at the end of the finisher phase on eight birds per treatment. For LW hens, live weight (LW) at 39 weeks of age, the average daily feed intake (ADFI) and weekly feed intakes (FI) were significantly different (P < 0.05) between treatments with birds on T2 recording higher gains. As birds age in weeks increased, significant differences (P < 0.05) in live weight values were recorded. Egg quality traits measured (shell weight, yolk weight, albumen weight, albumen height and Haugh units) were significantly different (P < 0.05) between treatments, with eggs from hens receiving T1 recording higher mean values. As hens got older, the colour of egg yolk improved, producing eggs with higher b* (yellowness) values and lower L* (lightness) and a* (redness) mean values. The Haugh unit, significantly improved (P < 0.05) as the hens got older, signifying better quality of eggs. For the broiler birds, growth traits measured indicated that there were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in live weight (LW), average daily feed intake (ADFI), weekly feed intake (FI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), cumulative feed intake (CFI) and cumulative gain (CG) between treatments. No significant differences (P > 0.05) between dressing percentage of broilers from the two treatments were observed. As birds grew, significant differences (P < 0.05) in LW, FI, AFI, FCR, and CFI, over a four-week period were recorded. Results of the allergen analyses indicated that soy and gluten allergens were not carried over from feed into eggs and meat of chickens fed a maize/soya bean-based diet and a maize/soya bean-based with a 15 percent whole wheat inclusion, respectively. In conclusion, a maize/soya bean-based diet and maize/soya bean-based diet with a 15 percent whole wheat inclusion that contained soy and gluten allergens, are feed sources that promote and stimulate 36-week-old LW hen and Ross 308 chicken growth.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
The effect of leadership styles on cultural diversity management of employees in the workplace
- Authors: Khatywa, Ongeziwe
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Personnel management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Degree
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/3110 , vital:28262
- Description: This study investigates the effect of leadership styles on cultural diversity management of employees in the workplace. The main objectives of this study were to explore the relationship between leadership styles and cultural diversity management; and to develop a deeper understanding of the nature and extent of the relationship between leadership styles and cultural diversity management. Results indicated positive correlation on effect of leadership styles on cultural diversity management of employees in the workplace. The majority of the correlational results found in the study add to a generally high level of support for most of the relationships found in the literature.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Khatywa, Ongeziwe
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Personnel management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Degree
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/3110 , vital:28262
- Description: This study investigates the effect of leadership styles on cultural diversity management of employees in the workplace. The main objectives of this study were to explore the relationship between leadership styles and cultural diversity management; and to develop a deeper understanding of the nature and extent of the relationship between leadership styles and cultural diversity management. Results indicated positive correlation on effect of leadership styles on cultural diversity management of employees in the workplace. The majority of the correlational results found in the study add to a generally high level of support for most of the relationships found in the literature.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
The effect of occupational health and safety programmes in the growth of small businesses in Gauteng province, South Africa
- Authors: Myeni, Sibongiseni Selby
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Small business -- South Africa -- Gauteng -- Growth , Industrial safety -- South Africa -- Gauteng
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/8846 , vital:26435
- Description: Introduction: Managers in small businesses are faced with a dilemma of meeting the requirements of health and safety legislation and trying to grow their businesses. It is important that they understand the business value of occupational health and safety programs. For them to allocate resources to occupational health and safety programs they need to understand if there are any economic benefits attached to such programs. Thus this study was designed to investigate the benefits of occupational health services on economic performance and growth of small businesses in Gauteng, South Africa. Method: This was a descriptive quantitative study. A self administered structured questionnaire was developed and distributed to 200 small businesses in Gauteng Province, South Africa. Thirty completed questionnaires were received back, representing a response rate of 15%. Data was analysed by the NMMU Unit for Statistical Consultation, using STATISTICA. Results: Economic performance moderately correlated with the presence of occupational health and safety professionals. It moderately correlated with the categories of occupational health and safety professionals in a small business. The level of knowledge, awareness, attitude and perception on occupational health and safety was rated high. Eighty three percent (83%) of the respondents had a clear understanding of their responsibility in terms of the health and safety function at work. The level of employee engagement was rated high with seventy six percent (76%) of respondents reporting that they get recognition for their work, and eighty six percent (86%) indicated that they were happy with the relationship they had with their boss. There was a difference between managers and employees in terms of how they view economic performance and growth of their companies. Conclusion: The presence of occupational health and safety professionals as well as different categories of occupational health and safety professionals are factors of importance in the economic performance and growth of small businesses in Gauteng, Republic of South Africa. The weak correlation between economic performance and growth of small businesses requires a further study with a bigger sample size.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Myeni, Sibongiseni Selby
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Small business -- South Africa -- Gauteng -- Growth , Industrial safety -- South Africa -- Gauteng
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/8846 , vital:26435
- Description: Introduction: Managers in small businesses are faced with a dilemma of meeting the requirements of health and safety legislation and trying to grow their businesses. It is important that they understand the business value of occupational health and safety programs. For them to allocate resources to occupational health and safety programs they need to understand if there are any economic benefits attached to such programs. Thus this study was designed to investigate the benefits of occupational health services on economic performance and growth of small businesses in Gauteng, South Africa. Method: This was a descriptive quantitative study. A self administered structured questionnaire was developed and distributed to 200 small businesses in Gauteng Province, South Africa. Thirty completed questionnaires were received back, representing a response rate of 15%. Data was analysed by the NMMU Unit for Statistical Consultation, using STATISTICA. Results: Economic performance moderately correlated with the presence of occupational health and safety professionals. It moderately correlated with the categories of occupational health and safety professionals in a small business. The level of knowledge, awareness, attitude and perception on occupational health and safety was rated high. Eighty three percent (83%) of the respondents had a clear understanding of their responsibility in terms of the health and safety function at work. The level of employee engagement was rated high with seventy six percent (76%) of respondents reporting that they get recognition for their work, and eighty six percent (86%) indicated that they were happy with the relationship they had with their boss. There was a difference between managers and employees in terms of how they view economic performance and growth of their companies. Conclusion: The presence of occupational health and safety professionals as well as different categories of occupational health and safety professionals are factors of importance in the economic performance and growth of small businesses in Gauteng, Republic of South Africa. The weak correlation between economic performance and growth of small businesses requires a further study with a bigger sample size.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015