Factors influencing the utilization of voluntary counselling and testing services amongst employees of the Lobatse Town Council in Botswana
- Authors: Komanyane, Lorato
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: HIV infections -- Diagnosis -- Botswana -- Lobatse Town Coucil , HIV-positive persons -- Counseling of -- Botswana -- Lobatse Town Council , AIDS (Disease) -- Employees -- Counseling of -- Botswana -- Lobatse Town Council , AIDS (Disease) -- Botswana
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9394 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/535 , HIV infections -- Diagnosis -- Botswana -- Lobatse Town Coucil , HIV-positive persons -- Counseling of -- Botswana -- Lobatse Town Council , AIDS (Disease) -- Employees -- Counseling of -- Botswana -- Lobatse Town Council , AIDS (Disease) -- Botswana
- Description: In this study both qualitative and quantitative methods were used to find out to what extent the Lobatse Town Council employees used Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) HIV and AIDS services, the reasons for using or not using the services, the preferred service providers reasons for choosing a service provider. Lastly recommendations were made on how the uptake HIV and AIDS VCT services could increased amongst the employees. A sample of 200 respondents was selected from the employees of the Lobatse Town Council, and it was established that 65.5 percent of the respondents had used VCT. Females had a higher testing participation rates than males, white collar respondents had a higher testing participation than the blue collar respondents. There was a higher rate amongst the married than the single respondents and the older ages of 30 and above than the young ages of 29 years and under. In the study it was also established that the majority of the respondents considered voluntary counselling and testing for HIV and AIDS as being important. However there were some groups that were more positive than others regarding the importance of testing. More females than males were positive regarding the importance of testing, and also amongst the employment categories the white collar respondents were more positive than the blue collar respondents regarding the importance of HIV and AIDS testing. Furthermore it was established that the most important reason for testing amongst the employees that did test for HIV and AIDS was that they felt that they needed to undergo testing before they tested. The respondents that did not test for HIV and AIDS indicated that the most important reason for not testing was that they were scared the results could not be kept confidential. The research also showed that the most preferred service provider was Tebelopele. Tebelopele was the most used and preferred service provider amongst both gender and age groups, all marital groups and the blue collar group in the employment categories. However, for the white collar group the most preferred service provider was the private practitioners. The most common reason for choosing a service provider was confidentiality and privacy. Lastly, the research makes recommendations on what needs to be done to increase the uptake of VCT HIV and AIDS testing amongst the Lobatse Town Council employees. One of the recommendations is that there was a need to educate the employees of the Lobatse Town Council and that the education should be specific for each group. For example from the group discussion the participants felt that the reason to why males did not want to utilise HIV and AIDS VCT was because they lacked knowledge on the importance of testing. Also the respondents indicated that there was a need to remove stigma and discrimination through removing confidentiality attached to HIV and AIDS. It was also, recommended that the Lobatse Town Council formulate and implements a workplace policy on HIV and AIDS
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Komanyane, Lorato
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: HIV infections -- Diagnosis -- Botswana -- Lobatse Town Coucil , HIV-positive persons -- Counseling of -- Botswana -- Lobatse Town Council , AIDS (Disease) -- Employees -- Counseling of -- Botswana -- Lobatse Town Council , AIDS (Disease) -- Botswana
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9394 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/535 , HIV infections -- Diagnosis -- Botswana -- Lobatse Town Coucil , HIV-positive persons -- Counseling of -- Botswana -- Lobatse Town Council , AIDS (Disease) -- Employees -- Counseling of -- Botswana -- Lobatse Town Council , AIDS (Disease) -- Botswana
- Description: In this study both qualitative and quantitative methods were used to find out to what extent the Lobatse Town Council employees used Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) HIV and AIDS services, the reasons for using or not using the services, the preferred service providers reasons for choosing a service provider. Lastly recommendations were made on how the uptake HIV and AIDS VCT services could increased amongst the employees. A sample of 200 respondents was selected from the employees of the Lobatse Town Council, and it was established that 65.5 percent of the respondents had used VCT. Females had a higher testing participation rates than males, white collar respondents had a higher testing participation than the blue collar respondents. There was a higher rate amongst the married than the single respondents and the older ages of 30 and above than the young ages of 29 years and under. In the study it was also established that the majority of the respondents considered voluntary counselling and testing for HIV and AIDS as being important. However there were some groups that were more positive than others regarding the importance of testing. More females than males were positive regarding the importance of testing, and also amongst the employment categories the white collar respondents were more positive than the blue collar respondents regarding the importance of HIV and AIDS testing. Furthermore it was established that the most important reason for testing amongst the employees that did test for HIV and AIDS was that they felt that they needed to undergo testing before they tested. The respondents that did not test for HIV and AIDS indicated that the most important reason for not testing was that they were scared the results could not be kept confidential. The research also showed that the most preferred service provider was Tebelopele. Tebelopele was the most used and preferred service provider amongst both gender and age groups, all marital groups and the blue collar group in the employment categories. However, for the white collar group the most preferred service provider was the private practitioners. The most common reason for choosing a service provider was confidentiality and privacy. Lastly, the research makes recommendations on what needs to be done to increase the uptake of VCT HIV and AIDS testing amongst the Lobatse Town Council employees. One of the recommendations is that there was a need to educate the employees of the Lobatse Town Council and that the education should be specific for each group. For example from the group discussion the participants felt that the reason to why males did not want to utilise HIV and AIDS VCT was because they lacked knowledge on the importance of testing. Also the respondents indicated that there was a need to remove stigma and discrimination through removing confidentiality attached to HIV and AIDS. It was also, recommended that the Lobatse Town Council formulate and implements a workplace policy on HIV and AIDS
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Field and laboratory analyses of manual tasks in the South African automotive industry
- Authors: James, Jonathan Peter
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Automobile industry and trade -- South Africa -- Safety measures , Human engineering -- South Africa , Automobile industry workers -- South Africa -- Health risk assessment , Industrial safety -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:5121 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005199 , Automobile industry and trade -- South Africa -- Safety measures , Human engineering -- South Africa , Automobile industry workers -- South Africa -- Health risk assessment , Industrial safety -- South Africa
- Description: The present study adopted a “field-laboratory-field” approach in the assessment of the efficacy of ergonomics interventions specific to two selected tasks evaluated in a South African automotive industry. Initial field testing was conducted in an Eastern Cape (South Africa) automotive plant where high risk areas were identified during walkthrough ergonomics surveys in conjunction with interaction with operators. Temporal factors and working postures of 12 industrial workers were recorded and observed, while physiological and perceptual responses were assessed. Two priority areas were focused upon for analysis, namely the Paintshop and Bodyshop with the former identified as being the more taxing of the two tasks. Responses of 30 students participating in rigourously controlled laboratory simulations were subsequently collected while completing the two tasks, namely the Paintshop Trolley Transfer (PTT) and Car Door Carriage (CDC) for participants. Working postures, kinematic, physiological and perceptual responses were assessed pre- and post-intervention. Following the laboratory experimentation a basic re-evaluation was conducted at the plant to assess whether the proposed changes had a positive effect on working postures, physiological and perceptual responses. The results of the preliminary field investigation revealed a prevalence of awkward working postures and excessive manual work in both areas. Laboratory experimentation revealed a notable reduction in task demands pre- versus post-intervention. The PTT mean lean angle for two-handed pre-intervention pulling observations of 23.7° (±3.51) was reduced to 13.9° (±2.21) post-intervention. Low back disorder (LBD) risk was reduced during the two-handed pull intervention (from 36.8% ±8.03 to 21.7% ±5.31). A significant decrement in heart rate responses from 103 bt.min-1 (±11.62) to 93 bt.min[superscript -1] (±11.77) was recorded during the two-handed symmetrical pushing intervention. The electromyography (EMG) responses for one-handed pushing and pulling pre-intervention showed the highest levels of muscular activity in the right medial deltoid due to an awkward and asymmetrical posture. CDC responses demonstrated that minor changes in the storage height of the door resulted in a significant reduction in sagittal flexion from 28.0° (±4.78) to 20.7° (±5.65). Predictions of average probability of LBD risk were significantly reduced from 50.3% (±5.91) to 39.8% (±5.10) for post-intervention car door lifting. In addition, the greatest reduction in EMG activity as a %MVC was achieved during sub-task ii (reduced from 35.1 to 13.7% and 30.5 to 13.9% for left and right erector spinae respectively) which was associated with the introduction of the transfer trolley for the door transfer phase of the CDC. Re-evaluation in the automotive plant revealed that the most notable change has been the implementation of automated ride on trolleys in the Paintshop. The Bodyshop area has also been modified to allow more effective job rotation and the step into the storage bin has been reduced via a “low-cost” stepping platform. Mean heart rate recordings were reduced from 94 (±9.77) bt.min[superscript -1] to 81 (±3.72) bt.min[superscript -1] in the Paintshop. Overall the results demonstrate the effect of “low-cost” interventions in reducing the physical stresses placed on workers in the automotive industry where much of the work is still done manually.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: James, Jonathan Peter
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Automobile industry and trade -- South Africa -- Safety measures , Human engineering -- South Africa , Automobile industry workers -- South Africa -- Health risk assessment , Industrial safety -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:5121 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005199 , Automobile industry and trade -- South Africa -- Safety measures , Human engineering -- South Africa , Automobile industry workers -- South Africa -- Health risk assessment , Industrial safety -- South Africa
- Description: The present study adopted a “field-laboratory-field” approach in the assessment of the efficacy of ergonomics interventions specific to two selected tasks evaluated in a South African automotive industry. Initial field testing was conducted in an Eastern Cape (South Africa) automotive plant where high risk areas were identified during walkthrough ergonomics surveys in conjunction with interaction with operators. Temporal factors and working postures of 12 industrial workers were recorded and observed, while physiological and perceptual responses were assessed. Two priority areas were focused upon for analysis, namely the Paintshop and Bodyshop with the former identified as being the more taxing of the two tasks. Responses of 30 students participating in rigourously controlled laboratory simulations were subsequently collected while completing the two tasks, namely the Paintshop Trolley Transfer (PTT) and Car Door Carriage (CDC) for participants. Working postures, kinematic, physiological and perceptual responses were assessed pre- and post-intervention. Following the laboratory experimentation a basic re-evaluation was conducted at the plant to assess whether the proposed changes had a positive effect on working postures, physiological and perceptual responses. The results of the preliminary field investigation revealed a prevalence of awkward working postures and excessive manual work in both areas. Laboratory experimentation revealed a notable reduction in task demands pre- versus post-intervention. The PTT mean lean angle for two-handed pre-intervention pulling observations of 23.7° (±3.51) was reduced to 13.9° (±2.21) post-intervention. Low back disorder (LBD) risk was reduced during the two-handed pull intervention (from 36.8% ±8.03 to 21.7% ±5.31). A significant decrement in heart rate responses from 103 bt.min-1 (±11.62) to 93 bt.min[superscript -1] (±11.77) was recorded during the two-handed symmetrical pushing intervention. The electromyography (EMG) responses for one-handed pushing and pulling pre-intervention showed the highest levels of muscular activity in the right medial deltoid due to an awkward and asymmetrical posture. CDC responses demonstrated that minor changes in the storage height of the door resulted in a significant reduction in sagittal flexion from 28.0° (±4.78) to 20.7° (±5.65). Predictions of average probability of LBD risk were significantly reduced from 50.3% (±5.91) to 39.8% (±5.10) for post-intervention car door lifting. In addition, the greatest reduction in EMG activity as a %MVC was achieved during sub-task ii (reduced from 35.1 to 13.7% and 30.5 to 13.9% for left and right erector spinae respectively) which was associated with the introduction of the transfer trolley for the door transfer phase of the CDC. Re-evaluation in the automotive plant revealed that the most notable change has been the implementation of automated ride on trolleys in the Paintshop. The Bodyshop area has also been modified to allow more effective job rotation and the step into the storage bin has been reduced via a “low-cost” stepping platform. Mean heart rate recordings were reduced from 94 (±9.77) bt.min[superscript -1] to 81 (±3.72) bt.min[superscript -1] in the Paintshop. Overall the results demonstrate the effect of “low-cost” interventions in reducing the physical stresses placed on workers in the automotive industry where much of the work is still done manually.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Field and laboratory measurements of PMD using interferometric techniques
- Authors: Mankga, Maphuti Comfort
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Fiber optics , Polarization (Light)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10531 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/557 , Fiber optics , Polarization (Light)
- Description: In this study, the generalized and traditional interferometric techniques (GINTY and TINTY) are used to investigate some of the important aspects of Polarization Mode Dispersion (PMD) phenomenon in optical fibres. Measurements of PMD and chromatic dispersion (CD) are performed on buried optical fibre cable in the Pretoria Telkom’s metropolitan network. The upgradeability of this network was investigated, and it was observed that just over a half of the fibres are upgradeable to 10 Gb.s-1 transmissions. Long-haul aerial network in the Northern Cape was also tested for upgradeability to 10 Gb.s-1. It was found that 41 percent of the fibres tested are upgradeable to 10 Gb.s-1. Long-term monitoring showed that PMD varies rapidly in aerial fibres and, on the other hand, it is relatively stable in buried cables. Investigations on the accuracy of the techniques showed that polarization scrambling is essential for the reduction of the measurements uncertainties. Furthermore, it was observed that TINTY underestimates the single scan PMD distributions. The study on the effect of the change in mode coupling on various fibre configurations was performed, and fibres showed a reduction in PMD after the introduction of mode coupling. Measurements of PMD conducted in the laboratory on cabled fibre with low PMD showed the floor sensitivity of TINTY. Comparison between GINTY and Jones Matrix Eigeanalysis (JME) PMD measurements methods were performed on an emulator, and the results showed a good agreement in the measured PMD.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Mankga, Maphuti Comfort
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Fiber optics , Polarization (Light)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10531 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/557 , Fiber optics , Polarization (Light)
- Description: In this study, the generalized and traditional interferometric techniques (GINTY and TINTY) are used to investigate some of the important aspects of Polarization Mode Dispersion (PMD) phenomenon in optical fibres. Measurements of PMD and chromatic dispersion (CD) are performed on buried optical fibre cable in the Pretoria Telkom’s metropolitan network. The upgradeability of this network was investigated, and it was observed that just over a half of the fibres are upgradeable to 10 Gb.s-1 transmissions. Long-haul aerial network in the Northern Cape was also tested for upgradeability to 10 Gb.s-1. It was found that 41 percent of the fibres tested are upgradeable to 10 Gb.s-1. Long-term monitoring showed that PMD varies rapidly in aerial fibres and, on the other hand, it is relatively stable in buried cables. Investigations on the accuracy of the techniques showed that polarization scrambling is essential for the reduction of the measurements uncertainties. Furthermore, it was observed that TINTY underestimates the single scan PMD distributions. The study on the effect of the change in mode coupling on various fibre configurations was performed, and fibres showed a reduction in PMD after the introduction of mode coupling. Measurements of PMD conducted in the laboratory on cabled fibre with low PMD showed the floor sensitivity of TINTY. Comparison between GINTY and Jones Matrix Eigeanalysis (JME) PMD measurements methods were performed on an emulator, and the results showed a good agreement in the measured PMD.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Field testing the Alvarion BreezeMAX as a last mile access technology
- Siebörger, Ingrid, Terzoli, Alfredo
- Authors: Siebörger, Ingrid , Terzoli, Alfredo
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/428520 , vital:72517 , https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ingrid-Sieboerger/publication/255048217_Field_testing_the_Alvarion_BreezeMAX_as_a_last_mile_access_technology/links/53ff2f290cf21edafd15bfad/Field-testing-the-Alvarion-BreezeMAX-as-a-last-mile-access-technology.pdf
- Description: With an alarmingly low teledensity of approximately 12% in South Afri-ca, and not much hope of further wired infrastructure at the local loop level–as the costs incurred are high compared to potential revenue–wireless connectivity could be a great asset and service in South Africa. This paper looks at how WiMAX technologies, and specifically the Al-varion BreezeMAX, could be used in providing much needed telecom-munications infrastructure to both rural and urban areas in South Africa, providing broadband data throughput rates together with excellent net-work reliability and low latency.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Siebörger, Ingrid , Terzoli, Alfredo
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/428520 , vital:72517 , https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ingrid-Sieboerger/publication/255048217_Field_testing_the_Alvarion_BreezeMAX_as_a_last_mile_access_technology/links/53ff2f290cf21edafd15bfad/Field-testing-the-Alvarion-BreezeMAX-as-a-last-mile-access-technology.pdf
- Description: With an alarmingly low teledensity of approximately 12% in South Afri-ca, and not much hope of further wired infrastructure at the local loop level–as the costs incurred are high compared to potential revenue–wireless connectivity could be a great asset and service in South Africa. This paper looks at how WiMAX technologies, and specifically the Al-varion BreezeMAX, could be used in providing much needed telecom-munications infrastructure to both rural and urban areas in South Africa, providing broadband data throughput rates together with excellent net-work reliability and low latency.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Financial instability in South Africa : trends and interactions within the financial markets
- Authors: Shikwambana, Jamela
- Date: 2007 , 2013-08-06
- Subjects: Finance -- South Africa , Financial institutions -- South Africa , Economic stabilization -- South Africa , Stock exchanges -- South Africa , Stocks -- Prices -- South Africa , Interest rates -- South Africa , Equilibrium (Economics)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:1043 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005911 , Finance -- South Africa , Financial institutions -- South Africa , Economic stabilization -- South Africa , Stock exchanges -- South Africa , Stocks -- Prices -- South Africa , Interest rates -- South Africa , Equilibrium (Economics)
- Description: This study seeks to investigate the trends and interactions of market volatility as a source of instability in the South African financial markets. Financial instability can be manifested in the form of banking and currency crisis, institutional failures and extreme asset price volatility. This study, however, focuses on a single aspect of financial instability - asset price volatility. Asset price volatility reflects changes in market expectations as investors react to such changes, and thus on its own is not necessarily a source of instability. However, volatility spillovers can propagate volatility shocks across the market, increasing the risk of widespread instability. Using a combination of graphical and trend analysis as well as more formal estimation techniques, the study examined volatility in the stock, money and foreign exchange markets. To obtain estimates of market volatility, the study experimented with various volatility models that include the GARCH, TARCH and EGARCH. An analysis of volatility interactions and the transmission of volatility shocks across the market is crucial to understanding financial instability. To examine volatility interaction and the transmission of volatility shocks, a VAR model was estimated. This framework allowed us to examine the propagation of shocks across the markets. Volatility in the financial markets was found to be highly persistent and in the case of exchange rates, volatility was also characterised by an increasing trend. Significant linkages between the financial markets were found. The links also extended to the volatility relationship as evidenced by significant volatility spillovers across the markets. While volatility spillovers from the money market were found in the stock market and the foreign exchange market, no volatility spillovers from these markets were found in the money market. Thus the money market was identified as the major source of volatility spillovers and shocks in the financial markets. These results highlighted the role of monetary policy in the financial system, specifically the need to make monetary policy stable and predictable to ensure that interest rate shocks are not an additional source of instability. , KMBT_363 , Adobe Acrobat 9.54 Paper Capture Plug-in
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Shikwambana, Jamela
- Date: 2007 , 2013-08-06
- Subjects: Finance -- South Africa , Financial institutions -- South Africa , Economic stabilization -- South Africa , Stock exchanges -- South Africa , Stocks -- Prices -- South Africa , Interest rates -- South Africa , Equilibrium (Economics)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:1043 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005911 , Finance -- South Africa , Financial institutions -- South Africa , Economic stabilization -- South Africa , Stock exchanges -- South Africa , Stocks -- Prices -- South Africa , Interest rates -- South Africa , Equilibrium (Economics)
- Description: This study seeks to investigate the trends and interactions of market volatility as a source of instability in the South African financial markets. Financial instability can be manifested in the form of banking and currency crisis, institutional failures and extreme asset price volatility. This study, however, focuses on a single aspect of financial instability - asset price volatility. Asset price volatility reflects changes in market expectations as investors react to such changes, and thus on its own is not necessarily a source of instability. However, volatility spillovers can propagate volatility shocks across the market, increasing the risk of widespread instability. Using a combination of graphical and trend analysis as well as more formal estimation techniques, the study examined volatility in the stock, money and foreign exchange markets. To obtain estimates of market volatility, the study experimented with various volatility models that include the GARCH, TARCH and EGARCH. An analysis of volatility interactions and the transmission of volatility shocks across the market is crucial to understanding financial instability. To examine volatility interaction and the transmission of volatility shocks, a VAR model was estimated. This framework allowed us to examine the propagation of shocks across the markets. Volatility in the financial markets was found to be highly persistent and in the case of exchange rates, volatility was also characterised by an increasing trend. Significant linkages between the financial markets were found. The links also extended to the volatility relationship as evidenced by significant volatility spillovers across the markets. While volatility spillovers from the money market were found in the stock market and the foreign exchange market, no volatility spillovers from these markets were found in the money market. Thus the money market was identified as the major source of volatility spillovers and shocks in the financial markets. These results highlighted the role of monetary policy in the financial system, specifically the need to make monetary policy stable and predictable to ensure that interest rate shocks are not an additional source of instability. , KMBT_363 , Adobe Acrobat 9.54 Paper Capture Plug-in
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
First evidence for the Cenomanian-Turonian oceanic anoxic event (OAE2, Bonarelli event) from the Ionian Zone, western continental Greece
- Karakitsios, V, Tsikos, Harilaos, Van Breugel, Y, Koletti, L, Sinninghe Damsté, J S, Jenkyns, H C
- Authors: Karakitsios, V , Tsikos, Harilaos , Van Breugel, Y , Koletti, L , Sinninghe Damsté, J S , Jenkyns, H C
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6735 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007547
- Description: Integrated biostratigraphic (planktonic foraminifera, calcareous nannofossils), chemostratigraphic (bulk C and O isotopes) and compound-specific organic geochemical studies of a mid-Cretaceous pelagic carbonate—black shale succession of the Ionian Zone (western Greece), provide the first evidence for the Cenomanian–Turonian oceanic anoxic event (OAE2, ‘Bonarelli’ event) in mainland Greece. The event is manifested by the occurrence of a relatively thin (35 cm), yet exceptionally organic carbon-rich (44.5 wt% TOC), carbonate-free black shale, near the Cenomanian–Turonian boundary within the Vigla limestone formation (Berriasian–Turonian). Compared to the ‘Bonarelli’ black-shale interval from the type locality of OAE2 in Marche–Umbria, Italy, this black shale exhibits greatly reduced stratigraphic thickness, coupled with a considerable relative enrichment in TOC. Isotopically, enriched δ[superscript 13]C values for both bulk organic matter (−22.2‰) and specific organic compounds are up to 5‰ higher than those of underlying organic-rich strata of the Aptian-lower Albian Vigla Shale member, and thus compare very well with similar values of Cenomanian–Turonian black shale occurrences elsewhere. The relative predominance of bacterial hopanoids in the saturated, apolar lipid fraction of the OAE2 black shale of the Ionian Zone supports recent findings suggesting the abundance of N[subscript 2]-fixing cyanobacteria in Cretaceous oceans during the Cenomanian–Turonian and early Aptian oceanic anoxic events.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Karakitsios, V , Tsikos, Harilaos , Van Breugel, Y , Koletti, L , Sinninghe Damsté, J S , Jenkyns, H C
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6735 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007547
- Description: Integrated biostratigraphic (planktonic foraminifera, calcareous nannofossils), chemostratigraphic (bulk C and O isotopes) and compound-specific organic geochemical studies of a mid-Cretaceous pelagic carbonate—black shale succession of the Ionian Zone (western Greece), provide the first evidence for the Cenomanian–Turonian oceanic anoxic event (OAE2, ‘Bonarelli’ event) in mainland Greece. The event is manifested by the occurrence of a relatively thin (35 cm), yet exceptionally organic carbon-rich (44.5 wt% TOC), carbonate-free black shale, near the Cenomanian–Turonian boundary within the Vigla limestone formation (Berriasian–Turonian). Compared to the ‘Bonarelli’ black-shale interval from the type locality of OAE2 in Marche–Umbria, Italy, this black shale exhibits greatly reduced stratigraphic thickness, coupled with a considerable relative enrichment in TOC. Isotopically, enriched δ[superscript 13]C values for both bulk organic matter (−22.2‰) and specific organic compounds are up to 5‰ higher than those of underlying organic-rich strata of the Aptian-lower Albian Vigla Shale member, and thus compare very well with similar values of Cenomanian–Turonian black shale occurrences elsewhere. The relative predominance of bacterial hopanoids in the saturated, apolar lipid fraction of the OAE2 black shale of the Ionian Zone supports recent findings suggesting the abundance of N[subscript 2]-fixing cyanobacteria in Cretaceous oceans during the Cenomanian–Turonian and early Aptian oceanic anoxic events.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Food gardens, environmental lesson planning and active learning in the life orientation learning area - foundation phase: a case study at Lungelolethu Lower and Higher Primary School
- Ncula, Ntombizandile Shirley
- Authors: Ncula, Ntombizandile Shirley
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: School gardens -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Gardening -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Environmental education -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- South Africa --Eastern Cape Environmental education -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Case studies
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1546 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003428
- Description: This study was conducted at Lungelolethu Lower/Higher Primary School in Keiskammahoek at a time when I was struggling to understand and implement the new South African curriculum policy, particularly in the Foundation Phase Life Skills Learning Programme. The research focused on my developing an understanding of key Learning Outcomes and linking them with the National Curriculum Statement principle of social justice, human rights, a healthy environment and inclusivity. During this time I was the key 4-H Programme educator in my school, responsible for school food garden activities. I used the school food garden for this study to explore the opportunities the garden might provide to develop the new curriculum using active learning approaches to teaching and learning; as well as to respond to environmental issues such as poverty. This research was an interpretive case study which supported my reflections within a practical action research framework. This framework suited my intention to change my classroom practice. I undertook three action research cycles with the first cycle aimed at gaining insights from the 4-H Programme teachers which informed 2 lesson plans for cycles 2 and 3 respectively. I generated data through focus group interviews, observations, document analysis, video and tape recording, and my research journal entries. The data indicated the value of school food gardens in meeting curriculum requirements, particularly in relation to learner centred ideologies and the first principle of the national curriculum. As both researcher and mediator of learning, I developed skills and knowledge that helped me to understand working in the Foundation Phase. The study also revealed a need for meaningful integration within and across Learning Areas when planning lessons in the Life Skills Learning Programme. The study indicated that there is a need to develop assessment practices beyond a technical exercise to a more interpretive approach. Lastly this study offers some recommendations for further research into the use of school food gardens through taking the context of learners into account and by encouraging school community relationships that will also contribute in poverty alleviation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Ncula, Ntombizandile Shirley
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: School gardens -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Gardening -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Environmental education -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- South Africa --Eastern Cape Environmental education -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Case studies
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1546 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003428
- Description: This study was conducted at Lungelolethu Lower/Higher Primary School in Keiskammahoek at a time when I was struggling to understand and implement the new South African curriculum policy, particularly in the Foundation Phase Life Skills Learning Programme. The research focused on my developing an understanding of key Learning Outcomes and linking them with the National Curriculum Statement principle of social justice, human rights, a healthy environment and inclusivity. During this time I was the key 4-H Programme educator in my school, responsible for school food garden activities. I used the school food garden for this study to explore the opportunities the garden might provide to develop the new curriculum using active learning approaches to teaching and learning; as well as to respond to environmental issues such as poverty. This research was an interpretive case study which supported my reflections within a practical action research framework. This framework suited my intention to change my classroom practice. I undertook three action research cycles with the first cycle aimed at gaining insights from the 4-H Programme teachers which informed 2 lesson plans for cycles 2 and 3 respectively. I generated data through focus group interviews, observations, document analysis, video and tape recording, and my research journal entries. The data indicated the value of school food gardens in meeting curriculum requirements, particularly in relation to learner centred ideologies and the first principle of the national curriculum. As both researcher and mediator of learning, I developed skills and knowledge that helped me to understand working in the Foundation Phase. The study also revealed a need for meaningful integration within and across Learning Areas when planning lessons in the Life Skills Learning Programme. The study indicated that there is a need to develop assessment practices beyond a technical exercise to a more interpretive approach. Lastly this study offers some recommendations for further research into the use of school food gardens through taking the context of learners into account and by encouraging school community relationships that will also contribute in poverty alleviation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Former BETD graduate's understanding and implementation of reflective practice in the Rundu region of Namibia
- Authors: Mwala, Maria Elizabeth
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Education -- Namibia , Teachers -- Training of -- Namibia , Educational change -- Namibia , Teacher educators -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1547 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003429 , Education -- Namibia , Teachers -- Training of -- Namibia , Educational change -- Namibia , Teacher educators -- Namibia
- Description: The research, investigating how a selected group of former BETD graduates understand and implement the theory of reflective practice, is a qualitative case study carried out in the Kavango region of Namibia. The study was shaped by one of the major policy emphases in Namibia’s post independence teacher education reform process - that of developing reflective teachers who actively participate in curriculum planning and take educational decisions based on their own judgment. A basic assumption underlying the study is that effective educational practice is dependent on practitioners thinking about what they are doing and acting on their reflections to improve practice. The study found that a fundamental problem preventing these teachers from implementing reflective practice in accordance with the Namibian educational reform process, is that the participating teachers neither understand the exact meaning of reflective practice nor do they have a common or shared view of the concept, in spite of their common qualifications. A key contributing factor to their problems with implementing reflective practice is the lack of a deep understanding of the reform epistemology and pedagogy revealed by the three former BETD graduates selected for the research. These are the teachers referred to in the first paragraph: The first teacher is Helena, a teacher at Duduva primary school, the second teacher is Kalishe, also teaching at the same school as Helena and the third teacher is Darius at Ntja Junior secondary school. The qualitative approach employed for the study served to illuminate and highlight specific issues related to the implementation of reflective practice that will be of considerable value for the researcher in her capacity as a teacher educator. These included among others: • The teacher’s need for an understanding of the key principles on which reflection is based and how to translate these into practice. • The need for teachers to have a clear understanding of the role that learners play in the reflective process. • The need to revisit the Basic Education Teacher Diploma (BETD) education programme, because for teachers to reflect they need a sound subject knowledge on which to base their judgments. These aspects, as well as the identification of the factors in the school system that contribute to the failure of reflective practice, provide a foundation for finding real solutions to the problems identified.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Mwala, Maria Elizabeth
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Education -- Namibia , Teachers -- Training of -- Namibia , Educational change -- Namibia , Teacher educators -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1547 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003429 , Education -- Namibia , Teachers -- Training of -- Namibia , Educational change -- Namibia , Teacher educators -- Namibia
- Description: The research, investigating how a selected group of former BETD graduates understand and implement the theory of reflective practice, is a qualitative case study carried out in the Kavango region of Namibia. The study was shaped by one of the major policy emphases in Namibia’s post independence teacher education reform process - that of developing reflective teachers who actively participate in curriculum planning and take educational decisions based on their own judgment. A basic assumption underlying the study is that effective educational practice is dependent on practitioners thinking about what they are doing and acting on their reflections to improve practice. The study found that a fundamental problem preventing these teachers from implementing reflective practice in accordance with the Namibian educational reform process, is that the participating teachers neither understand the exact meaning of reflective practice nor do they have a common or shared view of the concept, in spite of their common qualifications. A key contributing factor to their problems with implementing reflective practice is the lack of a deep understanding of the reform epistemology and pedagogy revealed by the three former BETD graduates selected for the research. These are the teachers referred to in the first paragraph: The first teacher is Helena, a teacher at Duduva primary school, the second teacher is Kalishe, also teaching at the same school as Helena and the third teacher is Darius at Ntja Junior secondary school. The qualitative approach employed for the study served to illuminate and highlight specific issues related to the implementation of reflective practice that will be of considerable value for the researcher in her capacity as a teacher educator. These included among others: • The teacher’s need for an understanding of the key principles on which reflection is based and how to translate these into practice. • The need for teachers to have a clear understanding of the role that learners play in the reflective process. • The need to revisit the Basic Education Teacher Diploma (BETD) education programme, because for teachers to reflect they need a sound subject knowledge on which to base their judgments. These aspects, as well as the identification of the factors in the school system that contribute to the failure of reflective practice, provide a foundation for finding real solutions to the problems identified.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Freshwater invertebrate fauna of the Tristan da Cunha islands (South Atlantic Ocean), with new records for Inaccessible and Nightingale Islands
- Authors: Barber-James, Helen M
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:7001 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1008360
- Description: As part of a multidisciplinary floristic-faunistic study, a three week survey of the invertebrate fauna of Inaccessible Island (South Atlantic Ocean) was carried out in October / November 1989. In addition, one day of collecting was done on Nightingale Island. This paper deals only with the fauna associated with freshwater ecosystems from these islands, some of which are usually associated with marine or brackish conditions. On Inaccessible Island, five distinct types of freshwater body were identified - pH neutral streams, acidic streams (pH 5), an open pool of standing water (pH 6), areas of acidic bog, and seepages down rock faces. The survey, the most comprehensive for Inaccessible Island to date, has resulted in the discovery of 19 aquatic invertebrate species previously unrecorded on Inaccessible Island, two new to Nightingale Island, and 14 of which are new to the Tristan da Cunha archipelago. Many of the species are known from other parts of the world, indicating a low degree of endemicity within the freshwater invertebrate community. Recolonisation from the source populations, preventing an isolated gene pool, may account for the low endemicity. Several of the species have a degree of salinity tolerance, enabling them to withstand transportation across tracts of ocean, and others have marine origins.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Barber-James, Helen M
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:7001 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1008360
- Description: As part of a multidisciplinary floristic-faunistic study, a three week survey of the invertebrate fauna of Inaccessible Island (South Atlantic Ocean) was carried out in October / November 1989. In addition, one day of collecting was done on Nightingale Island. This paper deals only with the fauna associated with freshwater ecosystems from these islands, some of which are usually associated with marine or brackish conditions. On Inaccessible Island, five distinct types of freshwater body were identified - pH neutral streams, acidic streams (pH 5), an open pool of standing water (pH 6), areas of acidic bog, and seepages down rock faces. The survey, the most comprehensive for Inaccessible Island to date, has resulted in the discovery of 19 aquatic invertebrate species previously unrecorded on Inaccessible Island, two new to Nightingale Island, and 14 of which are new to the Tristan da Cunha archipelago. Many of the species are known from other parts of the world, indicating a low degree of endemicity within the freshwater invertebrate community. Recolonisation from the source populations, preventing an isolated gene pool, may account for the low endemicity. Several of the species have a degree of salinity tolerance, enabling them to withstand transportation across tracts of ocean, and others have marine origins.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Freshwater invertebrate fauna of the Tristan da Cunha islands (South Atlantic Ocean), with new records for Inaccessible and Nightingale Islands
- Barber-James, Helen Margaret
- Authors: Barber-James, Helen Margaret
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6940 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011964
- Description: As part of a multidisciplinary floristic-faunistic study, a three week survey of the invertebrate fauna of Inaccessible Island (South Atlantic Ocean) was carried out in October / November 1989. In addition, one day of collecting was done on Nightingale Island. This paper deals only with the fauna associated with freshwater ecosystems from these islands, some of which are usually associated with marine or brackish conditions. On Inaccessible Island, five distinct types of freshwater body were identified - pH neutral streams, acidic streams (pH 5), an open pool of standing water (pH 6), areas of acidic bog, and seepages down rock faces. The survey, the most comprehensive for Inaccessible Island to date, has resulted in the discovery of 19 aquatic invertebrate species previously unrecorded on Inaccessible Island, two new to Nightingale Island, and 14 of which are new to the Tristan da Cunha archipelago. Many of the species are known from other parts of the world, indicating a low degree of endemicity within the freshwater invertebrate community. Recolonisation from the source populations, preventing an isolated gene pool, may account for the low endemicity. Several of the species have a degree of salinity tolerance, enabling them to withstand transportation across tracts of ocean, and others have marine origins.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Barber-James, Helen Margaret
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6940 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011964
- Description: As part of a multidisciplinary floristic-faunistic study, a three week survey of the invertebrate fauna of Inaccessible Island (South Atlantic Ocean) was carried out in October / November 1989. In addition, one day of collecting was done on Nightingale Island. This paper deals only with the fauna associated with freshwater ecosystems from these islands, some of which are usually associated with marine or brackish conditions. On Inaccessible Island, five distinct types of freshwater body were identified - pH neutral streams, acidic streams (pH 5), an open pool of standing water (pH 6), areas of acidic bog, and seepages down rock faces. The survey, the most comprehensive for Inaccessible Island to date, has resulted in the discovery of 19 aquatic invertebrate species previously unrecorded on Inaccessible Island, two new to Nightingale Island, and 14 of which are new to the Tristan da Cunha archipelago. Many of the species are known from other parts of the world, indicating a low degree of endemicity within the freshwater invertebrate community. Recolonisation from the source populations, preventing an isolated gene pool, may account for the low endemicity. Several of the species have a degree of salinity tolerance, enabling them to withstand transportation across tracts of ocean, and others have marine origins.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Genesis of environmental education policy in Botswana: construction and interpretation
- Ketlhoilwe, Mphemelang Joseph
- Authors: Ketlhoilwe, Mphemelang Joseph
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Environmental education -- Botswana Education and state -- Botswana
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:1549 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003431
- Description: This study is based on the 1994 Revised National Policy on Education (Botswana Government, 1994) that introduced environmental education into the Botswana’s education system. The main goals of this study were to understand the genealogy of and to critically analyze governmentality associated with environmental education policy in Botswana. Drawing on a post-structural genealogical approach to the subject matter (following Foucault) global historical events and their influence on policy in Botswana, views on environmental education and interpretation, and power relations in environmental education policy discourses were investigated. An investigation was conducted through document analysis, interviews, focus group discussions and observations. The analysis revealed that power relations have historically transcended environmental education policy discourses from global, regional to national levels. The exercise of power through international bodies, and bilateral and multilateral agreements has impacted on Botswana enabling her to enact policies to address socio-ecological crises or regulating them to sustainably utilize natural resources. However, evidence has shown that although Botswana accepted and introduced environmental education, structures were not ready for its implementation and hence some contextual problems are experienced by teachers in schools. The Revised National Policy on Education (RNPE) was constructed through a consultative process, but the final decision on what goes into the policy text was decided from the top (i.e. by the Ministry of Education senior officials). It emerged from this study that Botswana has inconsistently adopted sustainability and conservation-protection discourses in environmental education policy. The mix of the two discourses shows continuity of the protectionist-conservationist discourses and emergence of the current sustainable use discourse, creating a complex discourse environment. The study also revealed that in including these primarily western scientific discourses, other discourses were marginalized or excluded, which revealed continuity with colonial education discourses. The findings also revealed variance in the understanding of environmental education. The majority of the teachers understood and normalised new knowledge in environmental education as Environmental Science or Science, and equated environmental management activities with environmental education. Teachers deployed new governmentalities and normalizing strategies by following the traditional conservation and science epistemological and pedagogical discourses. They exercised various self-governing strategies to respond to the RNPE requirement regarding environmental education. The findings highlight the need for re-conceptualization of environmental education at macro(at Ministry of Education) and micro level. There is a need to harmonize the variation in policy interpretations and clarification of the conservation/environmental education and sustainability discourses running parallel in schools or to work more explicitly with multiple discourses. It has also emerged that teacher support mechanisms need review to enhance policy implementation. The study recommends that further and explicit analysis of environmental education discourses is critical for shaping the future of environmental education policy development and interpretation within Botswana’s education system.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Ketlhoilwe, Mphemelang Joseph
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Environmental education -- Botswana Education and state -- Botswana
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:1549 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003431
- Description: This study is based on the 1994 Revised National Policy on Education (Botswana Government, 1994) that introduced environmental education into the Botswana’s education system. The main goals of this study were to understand the genealogy of and to critically analyze governmentality associated with environmental education policy in Botswana. Drawing on a post-structural genealogical approach to the subject matter (following Foucault) global historical events and their influence on policy in Botswana, views on environmental education and interpretation, and power relations in environmental education policy discourses were investigated. An investigation was conducted through document analysis, interviews, focus group discussions and observations. The analysis revealed that power relations have historically transcended environmental education policy discourses from global, regional to national levels. The exercise of power through international bodies, and bilateral and multilateral agreements has impacted on Botswana enabling her to enact policies to address socio-ecological crises or regulating them to sustainably utilize natural resources. However, evidence has shown that although Botswana accepted and introduced environmental education, structures were not ready for its implementation and hence some contextual problems are experienced by teachers in schools. The Revised National Policy on Education (RNPE) was constructed through a consultative process, but the final decision on what goes into the policy text was decided from the top (i.e. by the Ministry of Education senior officials). It emerged from this study that Botswana has inconsistently adopted sustainability and conservation-protection discourses in environmental education policy. The mix of the two discourses shows continuity of the protectionist-conservationist discourses and emergence of the current sustainable use discourse, creating a complex discourse environment. The study also revealed that in including these primarily western scientific discourses, other discourses were marginalized or excluded, which revealed continuity with colonial education discourses. The findings also revealed variance in the understanding of environmental education. The majority of the teachers understood and normalised new knowledge in environmental education as Environmental Science or Science, and equated environmental management activities with environmental education. Teachers deployed new governmentalities and normalizing strategies by following the traditional conservation and science epistemological and pedagogical discourses. They exercised various self-governing strategies to respond to the RNPE requirement regarding environmental education. The findings highlight the need for re-conceptualization of environmental education at macro(at Ministry of Education) and micro level. There is a need to harmonize the variation in policy interpretations and clarification of the conservation/environmental education and sustainability discourses running parallel in schools or to work more explicitly with multiple discourses. It has also emerged that teacher support mechanisms need review to enhance policy implementation. The study recommends that further and explicit analysis of environmental education discourses is critical for shaping the future of environmental education policy development and interpretation within Botswana’s education system.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Giving children a voice:
- Authors: Prinsloo, Jeanne
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/159277 , vital:40283 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC144676
- Description: It was in Johannesburg, South Africa, that the fifth World Summit on Media and Children took place from 24 to 27 March - a great jamboree where a thousand or so delegates from around 86 countries congregated together with 300 young people between the ages of 13 and 16.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Prinsloo, Jeanne
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/159277 , vital:40283 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC144676
- Description: It was in Johannesburg, South Africa, that the fifth World Summit on Media and Children took place from 24 to 27 March - a great jamboree where a thousand or so delegates from around 86 countries congregated together with 300 young people between the ages of 13 and 16.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Global diversity of mayflies (Ephemeroptera, Insecta) in freshwater
- Barber-James, Helen M, Gattolliat, Jean-Luc, Sartori, Michel, Hubbard, Michael D
- Authors: Barber-James, Helen M , Gattolliat, Jean-Luc , Sartori, Michel , Hubbard, Michael D
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:7002 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1008361
- Description: The extant global Ephemeroptera fauna is represented by over 3,000 described species in 42 families and more than 400 genera. The highest generic diversity occurs in the Neotropics, with a correspondingly high species diversity, while the Palaearctic has the lowest generic diversity, but a high species diversity. Such distribution patterns may relate to how long evolutionary processes have been carrying on in isolation in a bioregion. Over an extended period, there may be extinction of species, but evolution of more genera. Dramatic extinction events such as the K-T mass extinction have affected current mayfly diversity and distribution. Climatic history plays an important role in the rate of speciation in an area, with regions which have been climatically stable over long periods having fewer species per genus, when compared to regions subjected to climatic stresses, such as glaciation. A total of 13 families are endemic to specific bioregions, with eight among them being monospecific. Most of these have restricted distributions which may be the result of them being the relict of a previously more diverse, but presently almost completely extinct family, or may be the consequence of vicariance events, resulting from evolution due to long-term isolation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Barber-James, Helen M , Gattolliat, Jean-Luc , Sartori, Michel , Hubbard, Michael D
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:7002 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1008361
- Description: The extant global Ephemeroptera fauna is represented by over 3,000 described species in 42 families and more than 400 genera. The highest generic diversity occurs in the Neotropics, with a correspondingly high species diversity, while the Palaearctic has the lowest generic diversity, but a high species diversity. Such distribution patterns may relate to how long evolutionary processes have been carrying on in isolation in a bioregion. Over an extended period, there may be extinction of species, but evolution of more genera. Dramatic extinction events such as the K-T mass extinction have affected current mayfly diversity and distribution. Climatic history plays an important role in the rate of speciation in an area, with regions which have been climatically stable over long periods having fewer species per genus, when compared to regions subjected to climatic stresses, such as glaciation. A total of 13 families are endemic to specific bioregions, with eight among them being monospecific. Most of these have restricted distributions which may be the result of them being the relict of a previously more diverse, but presently almost completely extinct family, or may be the consequence of vicariance events, resulting from evolution due to long-term isolation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Governing information security using organisational information security profiles
- Authors: Tyukala, Mkhululi
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Data protection , Computer security -- Management , Computer networks -- Security measures
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9788 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/626 , Data protection , Computer security -- Management , Computer networks -- Security measures
- Description: The corporate scandals of the last few years have changed the face of information security and its governance. Information security has been elevated to the board of director level due to legislation and corporate governance regulations resulting from the scandals. Now boards of directors have corporate responsibility to ensure that the information assets of an organisation are secure. They are forced to embrace information security and make it part of business strategies. The new support from the board of directors gives information security weight and the voice from the top as well as the financial muscle that other business activities experience. However, as an area that is made up of specialist activities, information security may not easily be comprehended at board level like other business related activities. Yet the board of directors needs to provide oversight of information security. That is, put an information security programme in place to ensure that information is adequately protected. This raises a number of challenges. One of the challenges is how can information security be understood and well informed decisions about it be made at the board level? This dissertation provides a mechanism to present information at board level on how information security is implemented according to the vision of the board of directors. This mechanism is built upon well accepted and documented concepts of information security. The mechanism (termed An Organisational Information Security Profile or OISP) will assist organisations with the initialisation, monitoring, measuring, reporting and reviewing of information security programmes. Ultimately, the OISP will make it possible to know if the information security endeavours of the organisation are effective or not. If the information security programme is found to be ineffective, The OISP will facilitate the pointing out of areas that are ineffective and what caused the ineffectiveness. This dissertation also presents how the effectiveness or ineffctiveness of information security can be presented at board level using well known visualisation methods. Finally the contribution, limits and areas that need more investigation are provided.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Tyukala, Mkhululi
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Data protection , Computer security -- Management , Computer networks -- Security measures
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9788 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/626 , Data protection , Computer security -- Management , Computer networks -- Security measures
- Description: The corporate scandals of the last few years have changed the face of information security and its governance. Information security has been elevated to the board of director level due to legislation and corporate governance regulations resulting from the scandals. Now boards of directors have corporate responsibility to ensure that the information assets of an organisation are secure. They are forced to embrace information security and make it part of business strategies. The new support from the board of directors gives information security weight and the voice from the top as well as the financial muscle that other business activities experience. However, as an area that is made up of specialist activities, information security may not easily be comprehended at board level like other business related activities. Yet the board of directors needs to provide oversight of information security. That is, put an information security programme in place to ensure that information is adequately protected. This raises a number of challenges. One of the challenges is how can information security be understood and well informed decisions about it be made at the board level? This dissertation provides a mechanism to present information at board level on how information security is implemented according to the vision of the board of directors. This mechanism is built upon well accepted and documented concepts of information security. The mechanism (termed An Organisational Information Security Profile or OISP) will assist organisations with the initialisation, monitoring, measuring, reporting and reviewing of information security programmes. Ultimately, the OISP will make it possible to know if the information security endeavours of the organisation are effective or not. If the information security programme is found to be ineffective, The OISP will facilitate the pointing out of areas that are ineffective and what caused the ineffectiveness. This dissertation also presents how the effectiveness or ineffctiveness of information security can be presented at board level using well known visualisation methods. Finally the contribution, limits and areas that need more investigation are provided.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Gowin's Knowledge Vee and the integration of philosophy and methodology : a case study
- Authors: Fox, Roddy C
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6682 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006677
- Description: Universities with a strong research tradition commonly have courses or modules examining the tradition’s philosophies and methodologies to prepare their students to undertake research programmes. Recently, however, authors have called for wider debate concerning how we teach these courses and this paper is intended, in part, to make a contribution to this debate. The Research Philosophy and Methodology module examined here makes an intriguing case study because of a number of distinctive characteristics. The teaching philosophy of the module is social constructivist and it uses Gowin’s Knowledge Vee as its main heuristic device. This facilitates the construction of knowledge about philosophy and methodology in an integrated manner. The module has also been designed for both physical and human geography students at the introductory post-graduate level. There is, therefore, a second element of integration in the curriculum. Lastly, the module is predominantly web-based, being taken by distance students through the exchange agreement between Rhodes University, South Africa, and the University of Trollhättan-Uddevalla, Sweden. Evidence from reflective exercises shows that the learners’ understanding of research and the research process has deepened considerably through using Gowin’s Vee. Furthermore, using the Knowledge Vee in the web-based context has facilitated the integrative aspects of the module.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Fox, Roddy C
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6682 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006677
- Description: Universities with a strong research tradition commonly have courses or modules examining the tradition’s philosophies and methodologies to prepare their students to undertake research programmes. Recently, however, authors have called for wider debate concerning how we teach these courses and this paper is intended, in part, to make a contribution to this debate. The Research Philosophy and Methodology module examined here makes an intriguing case study because of a number of distinctive characteristics. The teaching philosophy of the module is social constructivist and it uses Gowin’s Knowledge Vee as its main heuristic device. This facilitates the construction of knowledge about philosophy and methodology in an integrated manner. The module has also been designed for both physical and human geography students at the introductory post-graduate level. There is, therefore, a second element of integration in the curriculum. Lastly, the module is predominantly web-based, being taken by distance students through the exchange agreement between Rhodes University, South Africa, and the University of Trollhättan-Uddevalla, Sweden. Evidence from reflective exercises shows that the learners’ understanding of research and the research process has deepened considerably through using Gowin’s Vee. Furthermore, using the Knowledge Vee in the web-based context has facilitated the integrative aspects of the module.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
GPS TEC and ionosonde TEC over Grahamstown, South Africa: first comparisons
- McKinnell, Lee-Anne, Opperman, Ben D L, Cilliers, Pierre J
- Authors: McKinnell, Lee-Anne , Opperman, Ben D L , Cilliers, Pierre J
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6800 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004163
- Description: The Grahamstown, South Africa (33.3°S, 26.5°E) ionospheric field station operates a UMass Lowell digital pulse ionospheric sounder (Digisonde) and an Ashtech geodetic grade dual frequency GPS receiver. The GPS receiver is owned by Chief Directorate Surveys and Mapping (CDSM) in Cape Town, forms part of the national TrigNet network and was installed in February 2005. The sampling rates of the GPS receiver and Digisonde were set to 1 s and 15 min, respectively. Data from four continuous months, March–June 2005 inclusive, were considered in this initial investigation. Data available from the Grahamstown GPS receiver was limited, and, therefore, only these 4 months have been considered. Total Electron Content (TEC) values were determined from GPS measurements obtained from satellites passing near vertical (within an 80° elevation) to the station. TEC values were obtained from ionograms recorded at times within 5 min of the near vertical GPS measurement. The GPS derived TEC values are referred to as GTEC and the ionogram derived TEC values as ITEC. Comparisons of GTEC and ITEC values are presented in this paper. The differential clock biases of the GPS satellites and receivers are taken into account. The plasmaspheric contribution to the TEC can be inferred from the results, and confirm findings obtained by other groups. This paper describes the groundwork for a procedure that will allow the validation of GPS derived ionospheric information with ionosonde data. This work will be of interest to the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) community since GPS receivers are becoming recognised as another source for ionospheric information.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: McKinnell, Lee-Anne , Opperman, Ben D L , Cilliers, Pierre J
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6800 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004163
- Description: The Grahamstown, South Africa (33.3°S, 26.5°E) ionospheric field station operates a UMass Lowell digital pulse ionospheric sounder (Digisonde) and an Ashtech geodetic grade dual frequency GPS receiver. The GPS receiver is owned by Chief Directorate Surveys and Mapping (CDSM) in Cape Town, forms part of the national TrigNet network and was installed in February 2005. The sampling rates of the GPS receiver and Digisonde were set to 1 s and 15 min, respectively. Data from four continuous months, March–June 2005 inclusive, were considered in this initial investigation. Data available from the Grahamstown GPS receiver was limited, and, therefore, only these 4 months have been considered. Total Electron Content (TEC) values were determined from GPS measurements obtained from satellites passing near vertical (within an 80° elevation) to the station. TEC values were obtained from ionograms recorded at times within 5 min of the near vertical GPS measurement. The GPS derived TEC values are referred to as GTEC and the ionogram derived TEC values as ITEC. Comparisons of GTEC and ITEC values are presented in this paper. The differential clock biases of the GPS satellites and receivers are taken into account. The plasmaspheric contribution to the TEC can be inferred from the results, and confirm findings obtained by other groups. This paper describes the groundwork for a procedure that will allow the validation of GPS derived ionospheric information with ionosonde data. This work will be of interest to the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) community since GPS receivers are becoming recognised as another source for ionospheric information.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Grade 5 teachers' understanding and development of concepts in social studies in selected schools in Namibia
- Authors: Sichombe, Beatrice Sinyama
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Social sciences -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- Namibia Social science teachers -- Namibia Educational change -- Namibia Education -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1877 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005856
- Description: After the introduction of Learner Centred Education in Namibia, a number of studies were conducted on how teachers either perceived learner centred education or implemented it. However, very few studies investigated the teachers' understanding of both subject matter knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge; primarily, how they understand and develop key concepts. The purpose of this study was to investigate how Grade 5 teachers' understand and develop key concepts in Social Studies in selected schools in Namibia. The study focused on three teachers in three primary schools in the Caprivi educational region of Namibia. These teachers were purposefully selected as graduates of the teacher education programme instituted at the time of the Namibian education reform process. As a teacher educator, my main motive of conducting this study was to gain a better understanding of some of the issues that have been raised about these graduates' lack of content knowledge. The study adopts a qualitative approach and seeks to investigate (a) how the three teachers in this study understand key concepts and (b) the strategies they use to develop such concepts. Three data collection instruments were employed: interviews, document analysis and class observations. The findings indicate that despite the training that all three teachers in this study received, their understanding of the concepts they taught is problematic. Furthermore, some of the strategies that the teachers used did not bring about learning with understanding. The results of the study revealed how these teachers' problems with concepts and the development of conceptual understanding are related to specific issues and can be attributed to a number of factors. Because of this, the study has provided valuable insights into aspects of teacher education that need to be addressed both in terms of in-service and pre-service programmes to support teachers in teaching for understanding, a key idea underpinning the reform process.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Sichombe, Beatrice Sinyama
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Social sciences -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- Namibia Social science teachers -- Namibia Educational change -- Namibia Education -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1877 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005856
- Description: After the introduction of Learner Centred Education in Namibia, a number of studies were conducted on how teachers either perceived learner centred education or implemented it. However, very few studies investigated the teachers' understanding of both subject matter knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge; primarily, how they understand and develop key concepts. The purpose of this study was to investigate how Grade 5 teachers' understand and develop key concepts in Social Studies in selected schools in Namibia. The study focused on three teachers in three primary schools in the Caprivi educational region of Namibia. These teachers were purposefully selected as graduates of the teacher education programme instituted at the time of the Namibian education reform process. As a teacher educator, my main motive of conducting this study was to gain a better understanding of some of the issues that have been raised about these graduates' lack of content knowledge. The study adopts a qualitative approach and seeks to investigate (a) how the three teachers in this study understand key concepts and (b) the strategies they use to develop such concepts. Three data collection instruments were employed: interviews, document analysis and class observations. The findings indicate that despite the training that all three teachers in this study received, their understanding of the concepts they taught is problematic. Furthermore, some of the strategies that the teachers used did not bring about learning with understanding. The results of the study revealed how these teachers' problems with concepts and the development of conceptual understanding are related to specific issues and can be attributed to a number of factors. Because of this, the study has provided valuable insights into aspects of teacher education that need to be addressed both in terms of in-service and pre-service programmes to support teachers in teaching for understanding, a key idea underpinning the reform process.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Grandmothers, mothers and daughters : transformations and coping strategies in Xhosa households in Grahamstown
- Authors: Schwartz, Linda Mary
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Women, Xhosa -- South Africa -- Grahamstown Poor women -- South Africa -- Grahamstown Women -- South Africa -- Social conditions Women -- South Africa -- Economic conditions Women -- South Africa -- Grahamstown -- Case studies
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2585 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006190
- Description: The aim of this oral history study is to explore the ways in which constructions of gender have brought women to the point where they now bear most of the burden of responsibility in their relationships with men and for the wellbeing of children. This study speaks into the gap of the undocumented history of women's lived experience as told by women themselves. It is a generational study which charts the transformations and coping strategies of women in Xhosa households since the 1940s. The study found that the familial burdens related to women's sexuality and fertility, raising of children and financial responsibilities in a time of HIV / AIDS have increased. Teenage pregnancies, the discipline of children, HIV / AIDS and the ever present aspects of poverty are major issues these women face. The stress of day to day demands on their lives precluded them the opportunity to reflect on the underlying causes and historical roots of their circumstances. Little understanding of the gendered order of their lives was expressed by the respondents. The use of feminist methodology authenticated the women's stories as they produced knowledge of their lived experience. The interview questions raised awareness of the gender bias underlying much of their struggles at home. , KMBT_363 , Adobe Acrobat 9.54 Paper Capture Plug-in
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Schwartz, Linda Mary
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Women, Xhosa -- South Africa -- Grahamstown Poor women -- South Africa -- Grahamstown Women -- South Africa -- Social conditions Women -- South Africa -- Economic conditions Women -- South Africa -- Grahamstown -- Case studies
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2585 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006190
- Description: The aim of this oral history study is to explore the ways in which constructions of gender have brought women to the point where they now bear most of the burden of responsibility in their relationships with men and for the wellbeing of children. This study speaks into the gap of the undocumented history of women's lived experience as told by women themselves. It is a generational study which charts the transformations and coping strategies of women in Xhosa households since the 1940s. The study found that the familial burdens related to women's sexuality and fertility, raising of children and financial responsibilities in a time of HIV / AIDS have increased. Teenage pregnancies, the discipline of children, HIV / AIDS and the ever present aspects of poverty are major issues these women face. The stress of day to day demands on their lives precluded them the opportunity to reflect on the underlying causes and historical roots of their circumstances. Little understanding of the gendered order of their lives was expressed by the respondents. The use of feminist methodology authenticated the women's stories as they produced knowledge of their lived experience. The interview questions raised awareness of the gender bias underlying much of their struggles at home. , KMBT_363 , Adobe Acrobat 9.54 Paper Capture Plug-in
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Growth of Aloe ferox Mill. at selected sites in the Makana region of the Eastern Cape
- Shackleton, Charlie M, Gambiza, James
- Authors: Shackleton, Charlie M , Gambiza, James
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6654 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007068
- Description: There is widespread harvesting of the leaves of Aloe ferox to supply bitters and gel for cosmetic and health products. Government and private agencies are interested in expanding the industry as a means of providing income for poor rural communities. With the growing interest in the commercial use of A. ferox it is important that harvesting programmes are based on an adequate understanding of the ecology and productivity of the species, which will underpin estimates of possible sustainable yields. In this paper we report mean annual growth rates of 283 A. ferox plants (at six sites) during the 2005/2006 season. Growth was variable across sites and plant height. In terms of sites, the mean height growth ranged between 1.7 cm per plant per year at site 4 and 4.6 cm at site 2. The mean height increment across all sites and plants was 2.8 ± 0.2 cm. Plant height had a strong effect on annual increment with small plants (< 6 cm) more than doubling their height in the 12 month period, whereas plants taller than 2 m grew by approximately 1% over the year. Across the five unburnt sites, the mean standing stock of leaves grew by two per plant. The proportion of plants flowering increased progressively with plant height. Most (90%) of the plants that flowered in 2005 did so again in 2006.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Shackleton, Charlie M , Gambiza, James
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6654 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007068
- Description: There is widespread harvesting of the leaves of Aloe ferox to supply bitters and gel for cosmetic and health products. Government and private agencies are interested in expanding the industry as a means of providing income for poor rural communities. With the growing interest in the commercial use of A. ferox it is important that harvesting programmes are based on an adequate understanding of the ecology and productivity of the species, which will underpin estimates of possible sustainable yields. In this paper we report mean annual growth rates of 283 A. ferox plants (at six sites) during the 2005/2006 season. Growth was variable across sites and plant height. In terms of sites, the mean height growth ranged between 1.7 cm per plant per year at site 4 and 4.6 cm at site 2. The mean height increment across all sites and plants was 2.8 ± 0.2 cm. Plant height had a strong effect on annual increment with small plants (< 6 cm) more than doubling their height in the 12 month period, whereas plants taller than 2 m grew by approximately 1% over the year. Across the five unburnt sites, the mean standing stock of leaves grew by two per plant. The proportion of plants flowering increased progressively with plant height. Most (90%) of the plants that flowered in 2005 did so again in 2006.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality of Nguni, Bonsmara and Angus steers raised on natural pasture
- Authors: Muchenje, Voster
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Cattle -- Feeding and feeds , Cattle -- Growth , Nguni cattle , Aberdeen -- Angus cattle , Bonsmara cattle , Meat industry and trade -- Quality control
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Animal Science)
- Identifier: vital:11580 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/199 , Cattle -- Feeding and feeds , Cattle -- Growth , Nguni cattle , Aberdeen -- Angus cattle , Bonsmara cattle , Meat industry and trade -- Quality control
- Description: The objective of the current study was to compare tick loads, growth, carcass characteristics and meat quality of Nguni, Bonsmara and Angus steers raised on natural pasture. A total of 30, 7-month old steers each of Bonsmara and Angus, and 40 Nguni steers were kept at the University of Fort Hare Farm till slaughter at 18 months. Monthly weights of the steers were recorded. Carcasses were electrically stimulated. The m. longissimus thoracis et lumborum was sampled for the measurement of meat colour, pH, drip loss, sarcomere length (SL), water holding capacity (WHC), cooking losses, myofibrillar fragmentation length (MFL), Warner Bratzler shear force (WBSF), fatty acid profiles and sensory characteristics of the steers. Urine samples were collected at the slaughter line for the determination of stress hormone concentrations. The Nguni had the lowest tick load (P < 0.05) while the Angus had the highest tick load (P < 0.05). Tick load did not affect the growth rate and carcass characteristics of the steers. Bonsmara and Angus steers had higher (P < 0.05) carcass weight and dressing percentage than the Nguni steers. Meat quality characteristics were similar (P > 0.05) among all the breeds, except that Nguni meat was darker (L*) (P < 0.05) than meat from the other two breeds. The Bonsmara had the highest (P > 0.05) concentrations while the Nguni had the lowest (P > 0.05) concentrations of stress hormones. There were significant (P < 0.05) correlations between WB values of meat aged for two and 21 days in Nguni and Bonsmara, but not in Angus. The correlations among stress responsiveness hormones and meat quality were breed-dependent. Except monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and the n-6/n-3 ratio, fatty acid profiles among the breeds were similar (P > 0.05). Cholesterol levels among the breeds were similar (P > 0.05). The Nguni had the best (P < 0.05) sensory characteristics, such as flavour and tenderness. It can be concluded that while the Nguni is a small framed breed, its meat quality is similar to that of Bonsmara and Angus and has the best meat taste when raised on natural pasture.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Muchenje, Voster
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Cattle -- Feeding and feeds , Cattle -- Growth , Nguni cattle , Aberdeen -- Angus cattle , Bonsmara cattle , Meat industry and trade -- Quality control
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Animal Science)
- Identifier: vital:11580 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/199 , Cattle -- Feeding and feeds , Cattle -- Growth , Nguni cattle , Aberdeen -- Angus cattle , Bonsmara cattle , Meat industry and trade -- Quality control
- Description: The objective of the current study was to compare tick loads, growth, carcass characteristics and meat quality of Nguni, Bonsmara and Angus steers raised on natural pasture. A total of 30, 7-month old steers each of Bonsmara and Angus, and 40 Nguni steers were kept at the University of Fort Hare Farm till slaughter at 18 months. Monthly weights of the steers were recorded. Carcasses were electrically stimulated. The m. longissimus thoracis et lumborum was sampled for the measurement of meat colour, pH, drip loss, sarcomere length (SL), water holding capacity (WHC), cooking losses, myofibrillar fragmentation length (MFL), Warner Bratzler shear force (WBSF), fatty acid profiles and sensory characteristics of the steers. Urine samples were collected at the slaughter line for the determination of stress hormone concentrations. The Nguni had the lowest tick load (P < 0.05) while the Angus had the highest tick load (P < 0.05). Tick load did not affect the growth rate and carcass characteristics of the steers. Bonsmara and Angus steers had higher (P < 0.05) carcass weight and dressing percentage than the Nguni steers. Meat quality characteristics were similar (P > 0.05) among all the breeds, except that Nguni meat was darker (L*) (P < 0.05) than meat from the other two breeds. The Bonsmara had the highest (P > 0.05) concentrations while the Nguni had the lowest (P > 0.05) concentrations of stress hormones. There were significant (P < 0.05) correlations between WB values of meat aged for two and 21 days in Nguni and Bonsmara, but not in Angus. The correlations among stress responsiveness hormones and meat quality were breed-dependent. Except monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and the n-6/n-3 ratio, fatty acid profiles among the breeds were similar (P > 0.05). Cholesterol levels among the breeds were similar (P > 0.05). The Nguni had the best (P < 0.05) sensory characteristics, such as flavour and tenderness. It can be concluded that while the Nguni is a small framed breed, its meat quality is similar to that of Bonsmara and Angus and has the best meat taste when raised on natural pasture.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007