Heat accumulation and development rate of massed maggots of the sheep blowfly, Lucilia cuprina (Diptera: Calliphoridae)
- Kotzé, Zanthé, Villet, Martin H, Weldon, Christopher W
- Authors: Kotzé, Zanthé , Villet, Martin H , Weldon, Christopher W
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/442168 , vital:73964 , https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinsphys.2016.09.009
- Description: Blowfly larvae aggregate on exposed carcasses and corpses and pass through three instars before wandering from the carcass and pupating. The developmental landmarks in this process can be used by forensic entomologists to estimate the time since the insects colonised the carcass, which sets a minimum post mortem interval. Large aggregations of feeding larvae generate a microclimate with temperatures up to 15 °C above ambient conditions, which may accelerate larval development and affect forensic estimates of post-mortem intervals. This study investigated the effects of heat accumulated by maggot masses of Lucilia cuprina at aggregations of 20, 50 and 100 larvae, each at incubation temperatures of 18 °C, 24 °C and 30 °C, using body length and life stage as developmental indicators. Aggregation temperatures reached up to 18.7 °C above ambient temperature, with significant effects of both size and temperature of the aggregation on the development time of its larvae. Survivorship was highest for all life stages at 24 °C, which is near the developmental optimum of L. cuprina. The results of this study provide a broadly applicable method of quantifying heat accumulation by aggregations of a wide range of species of forensic importance, and the results obtained from such studies will demonstrate that ambient temperature cannot be considered the only source of heat that blowfly larvae experience when they develop on a carcass. Neglect of temperatures within larval aggregations will result in an overestimation of post-mortem intervals and thus have far-reaching medicolegal consequences.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Kotzé, Zanthé , Villet, Martin H , Weldon, Christopher W
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/442168 , vital:73964 , https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinsphys.2016.09.009
- Description: Blowfly larvae aggregate on exposed carcasses and corpses and pass through three instars before wandering from the carcass and pupating. The developmental landmarks in this process can be used by forensic entomologists to estimate the time since the insects colonised the carcass, which sets a minimum post mortem interval. Large aggregations of feeding larvae generate a microclimate with temperatures up to 15 °C above ambient conditions, which may accelerate larval development and affect forensic estimates of post-mortem intervals. This study investigated the effects of heat accumulated by maggot masses of Lucilia cuprina at aggregations of 20, 50 and 100 larvae, each at incubation temperatures of 18 °C, 24 °C and 30 °C, using body length and life stage as developmental indicators. Aggregation temperatures reached up to 18.7 °C above ambient temperature, with significant effects of both size and temperature of the aggregation on the development time of its larvae. Survivorship was highest for all life stages at 24 °C, which is near the developmental optimum of L. cuprina. The results of this study provide a broadly applicable method of quantifying heat accumulation by aggregations of a wide range of species of forensic importance, and the results obtained from such studies will demonstrate that ambient temperature cannot be considered the only source of heat that blowfly larvae experience when they develop on a carcass. Neglect of temperatures within larval aggregations will result in an overestimation of post-mortem intervals and thus have far-reaching medicolegal consequences.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Heavy mineral characterization and provenance interpretation of the Ecca Group of geological formations in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
- Authors: Sinuka, Sikhulule
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Minerals -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Classification Geology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Formations (Geology) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/2911 , vital:28125
- Description: The aim of the research focuses on characterizing heavy mineral assemblages and interpretation of the provenance of the Ecca Group of in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. In South Africa, the Ecca Group outcrops extensively in the Main Karoo Basin. Mudstone, siltstone, sandstone, minor conglomerate and coal are the major constituent lithologies within the group. For descriptive purposes, the Ecca is categorized into three different geographical areas: the southern area, the western and northwestern area and the northeastern area. Six of the sixteen geological formations, namely the Prince Albert, Whitehill, Collingham, Ripon, Fort Brown, Waterford and Koonap Formations are present in the study area and are best exposed in road cuttings. For purposes of comparison, the underlying Witteberg Group, the Dwyka (which has Formation status here), and the overlying Koonap Formation of the Beaufort Group, are included in the study. This study is motivated by the relatively little information that is available on the heavy minerals of the Ecca Group, and that research of this nature had not been undertaken in the study area before. Another contributing motivation was to determine whether heavy mineral assemblages could be used to identify formations of the Ecca Group and for correlating between different localities in accordance with studies done elsewhere. Additionally, diagnostic heavy mineral assemblages could aid with stratigraphic selection of future boreholes in the Ecca Group. Heavy minerals are natural provenance tracers because of their stable nature and hydrodynamic behaviour. They are both non-opaque and opaque, with apatite, epidote, garnet, rutile, staurolite, tourmaline and zircon being good examples of non-opaque grains while ilmenite and magnetite are the most common opaques. Heavies are either derived from stable minor accessory minerals or from abundant but unstable mafic components of the host rock. They are very useful in interpreting the provenance due to the fact that some minerals are diagnostic of certain source rocks. However, sediments are exposed to several factors (conditions) such as weathering, erosion, breakage due to abrasion, mixing and recycling during transportation from the source to the depositional area. This implies that there are parameters other than the parent lithology that determine their final composition.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Sinuka, Sikhulule
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Minerals -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Classification Geology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Formations (Geology) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/2911 , vital:28125
- Description: The aim of the research focuses on characterizing heavy mineral assemblages and interpretation of the provenance of the Ecca Group of in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. In South Africa, the Ecca Group outcrops extensively in the Main Karoo Basin. Mudstone, siltstone, sandstone, minor conglomerate and coal are the major constituent lithologies within the group. For descriptive purposes, the Ecca is categorized into three different geographical areas: the southern area, the western and northwestern area and the northeastern area. Six of the sixteen geological formations, namely the Prince Albert, Whitehill, Collingham, Ripon, Fort Brown, Waterford and Koonap Formations are present in the study area and are best exposed in road cuttings. For purposes of comparison, the underlying Witteberg Group, the Dwyka (which has Formation status here), and the overlying Koonap Formation of the Beaufort Group, are included in the study. This study is motivated by the relatively little information that is available on the heavy minerals of the Ecca Group, and that research of this nature had not been undertaken in the study area before. Another contributing motivation was to determine whether heavy mineral assemblages could be used to identify formations of the Ecca Group and for correlating between different localities in accordance with studies done elsewhere. Additionally, diagnostic heavy mineral assemblages could aid with stratigraphic selection of future boreholes in the Ecca Group. Heavy minerals are natural provenance tracers because of their stable nature and hydrodynamic behaviour. They are both non-opaque and opaque, with apatite, epidote, garnet, rutile, staurolite, tourmaline and zircon being good examples of non-opaque grains while ilmenite and magnetite are the most common opaques. Heavies are either derived from stable minor accessory minerals or from abundant but unstable mafic components of the host rock. They are very useful in interpreting the provenance due to the fact that some minerals are diagnostic of certain source rocks. However, sediments are exposed to several factors (conditions) such as weathering, erosion, breakage due to abrasion, mixing and recycling during transportation from the source to the depositional area. This implies that there are parameters other than the parent lithology that determine their final composition.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Heterogeneity in virulence relationships between Cryptophlebia leucotreta granulovirus isolates and geographically distinct host populations: Lessons from codling moth resistance to CpGV-M
- Opoku-Debrah, John K, Hill, Martin P, Knox, Caroline M, Moore, Sean D
- Authors: Opoku-Debrah, John K , Hill, Martin P , Knox, Caroline M , Moore, Sean D
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/417998 , vital:71500 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-016-9728-1"
- Description: In South Africa, the baculovirus Cryptophlebia leucotreta granulovirus (CrleGV) is used to control the citrus pest Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). However, the risk associated with continuous application of a single active ingredient is resistance. In order to manage resistance should it occur in field populations of T. leucotreta in South Africa, five new CrleGV genotypes from geographically distinct insect populations which were shown to exhibit some degree of phenotypic variation were recovered and genetically characterized. In droplet bioassays using seven CrleGV isolates against five T. leucotreta populations, some isolates were found to show higher virulence to some host populations than others. There were marked differences in the LD50 values of isolates and the number of occlusion bodies required per larva ranged between 0.79 and 3.12. The significance of these findings with respect to the application of CrleGV biopesticides and the management of resistance is discussed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Opoku-Debrah, John K , Hill, Martin P , Knox, Caroline M , Moore, Sean D
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/417998 , vital:71500 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-016-9728-1"
- Description: In South Africa, the baculovirus Cryptophlebia leucotreta granulovirus (CrleGV) is used to control the citrus pest Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). However, the risk associated with continuous application of a single active ingredient is resistance. In order to manage resistance should it occur in field populations of T. leucotreta in South Africa, five new CrleGV genotypes from geographically distinct insect populations which were shown to exhibit some degree of phenotypic variation were recovered and genetically characterized. In droplet bioassays using seven CrleGV isolates against five T. leucotreta populations, some isolates were found to show higher virulence to some host populations than others. There were marked differences in the LD50 values of isolates and the number of occlusion bodies required per larva ranged between 0.79 and 3.12. The significance of these findings with respect to the application of CrleGV biopesticides and the management of resistance is discussed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Higher order modulation formats for high speed optical communication systems with digital signal processing aided receiver
- Chabata, Tichakunda Valentine
- Authors: Chabata, Tichakunda Valentine
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Optical communications , Modulation (Electronics) , Signal processing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/4775 , vital:20677
- Description: The drastic increase in the number of internet users and the general convergence of all other communication systems into an optical system have brought a sharp rise in demand for bandwidth and calls for high capacity transmission networks. Large unamplified transmission reach is another contributor in reducing deployment costs of an optical communication system. Spectrally efficient modulation formats are suggested as a solution to overcome the problems associated with limited channels and bandwidth of dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) optical communication systems. Higher order modulation formats which are considered to be spectrally efficient and can increase the transmission capacity by transmitting more information in the amplitude, phase, polarization or a combination of all was studied. Different detection technologies are to be implemented to suit a particular higher order modulation format. In this research multilevel modulation formats, different detection technologies and a digital signal processing aided receiver were studied in a practical optical transmission system. The work in this thesis started with the implementation of the traditional amplitude shift keying (ASK) modulation and a differential phase shift keying (DPSK) modulation systems as they form the basic building block in the design of higher order modulation formats. Results obtained from using virtual photonics instruments (VPI)simulation software, receiver sensitivity for 10Gbpsnon-return-to-zero (NRZ), amplitude phase shift keying (ASK) and DPSK signals were measured to be -22.7 dBm and -22.0 dBm respectively. Performance comparison for the two modulation formats were done over different transmission distances. ASK also known as On-Off keying (OOK) performed better for shorter lengths whereas DPSK performed better for longer lengths of up to90km.Experimental results on a 10 Gbps NRZ- ASK signal gave a receiver sensitivity of -21.1 dBm from digital signal processing (DSP) aided receiver against -19.8 dBm from the commercial bit error ratio tester (BERT) yielding a small difference of 1.3 dB hence validating the reliability and accuracy of the digital signal processing (DSP) assisted receiver. Traditional direct detection scheme and coherent detection scheme performances were evaluated again on a 10 Gbps NRZ ASK signal. Coherent detection that can achieve a large unamplified transmission reach and has a higher passive optical splitting ratio was first evaluated using the VPI simulation software. Simulation results gave a receiver sensitivity of -30.4 dBm forcoherent detection and -18.3 dBm for direct detection, yielding a gain in receiver sensitivity of 12.1 dB. The complex coherently detected signal, from the experimental setup gave a receiver sensitivity of -20.6 dBm with a gain in receiver sensitivity of 3.5 dBm with respect to direct detection. A multilevel pulse amplitude modulation (4-PAM) that doubles the data rate per channel from10 Gbps to 20 Gbps by transmitting more information in the amplitude of the carrier signal was implemented. This was achieved by modulating the optical amplitude with an electrical four level amplitude shift keyed (ASK) signal. A receiver consisting of a single photodiode, three decision circuits and a decoding logic circuit was used to receive and extract the original transmitted data. A DSP aided receiver was used to evaluate the link performance. A receiver sensitivity of -12.8 dBm is attained with a dispersion penalty of about 7.2 dB after transmission through 25 km of G.652 fibre.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Chabata, Tichakunda Valentine
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Optical communications , Modulation (Electronics) , Signal processing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/4775 , vital:20677
- Description: The drastic increase in the number of internet users and the general convergence of all other communication systems into an optical system have brought a sharp rise in demand for bandwidth and calls for high capacity transmission networks. Large unamplified transmission reach is another contributor in reducing deployment costs of an optical communication system. Spectrally efficient modulation formats are suggested as a solution to overcome the problems associated with limited channels and bandwidth of dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) optical communication systems. Higher order modulation formats which are considered to be spectrally efficient and can increase the transmission capacity by transmitting more information in the amplitude, phase, polarization or a combination of all was studied. Different detection technologies are to be implemented to suit a particular higher order modulation format. In this research multilevel modulation formats, different detection technologies and a digital signal processing aided receiver were studied in a practical optical transmission system. The work in this thesis started with the implementation of the traditional amplitude shift keying (ASK) modulation and a differential phase shift keying (DPSK) modulation systems as they form the basic building block in the design of higher order modulation formats. Results obtained from using virtual photonics instruments (VPI)simulation software, receiver sensitivity for 10Gbpsnon-return-to-zero (NRZ), amplitude phase shift keying (ASK) and DPSK signals were measured to be -22.7 dBm and -22.0 dBm respectively. Performance comparison for the two modulation formats were done over different transmission distances. ASK also known as On-Off keying (OOK) performed better for shorter lengths whereas DPSK performed better for longer lengths of up to90km.Experimental results on a 10 Gbps NRZ- ASK signal gave a receiver sensitivity of -21.1 dBm from digital signal processing (DSP) aided receiver against -19.8 dBm from the commercial bit error ratio tester (BERT) yielding a small difference of 1.3 dB hence validating the reliability and accuracy of the digital signal processing (DSP) assisted receiver. Traditional direct detection scheme and coherent detection scheme performances were evaluated again on a 10 Gbps NRZ ASK signal. Coherent detection that can achieve a large unamplified transmission reach and has a higher passive optical splitting ratio was first evaluated using the VPI simulation software. Simulation results gave a receiver sensitivity of -30.4 dBm forcoherent detection and -18.3 dBm for direct detection, yielding a gain in receiver sensitivity of 12.1 dB. The complex coherently detected signal, from the experimental setup gave a receiver sensitivity of -20.6 dBm with a gain in receiver sensitivity of 3.5 dBm with respect to direct detection. A multilevel pulse amplitude modulation (4-PAM) that doubles the data rate per channel from10 Gbps to 20 Gbps by transmitting more information in the amplitude of the carrier signal was implemented. This was achieved by modulating the optical amplitude with an electrical four level amplitude shift keyed (ASK) signal. A receiver consisting of a single photodiode, three decision circuits and a decoding logic circuit was used to receive and extract the original transmitted data. A DSP aided receiver was used to evaluate the link performance. A receiver sensitivity of -12.8 dBm is attained with a dispersion penalty of about 7.2 dB after transmission through 25 km of G.652 fibre.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Historical perspectives and future directions for access to land, water and related ecosystem services in the Lower Sundays River Valley, South Africa: implications for human well being
- Authors: Chadzingwa, Karabo
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/442 , vital:19959
- Description: The legacy of South Africa’s history has facilitated unequal access to land and water resources. In the Lower Sundays River Valley (LSRV), a predominantly commercial farming area, differential access to land and water has impacted aspects of ecosystem service access and human well‐being for disenfranchised families over time. Despite the social, political and economic reform efforts in the past two decades, severe inertia towards efforts attempting to increase equitable access to land and water has been experienced. As a result, communities have mobilized and claimed their land from the government through the land restitution process. Based on a mixed‐methods approach, this research explores the ways in which access to land and water over time has influenced current levels of human well‐being among disenfranchised families. Provisioning and cultural ecosystem services were identified as key areas of loss as a result of forced evictions from land. Freedom of choice was a central and cross‐cutting theme regarding the ability to change levels of human well‐being. Although the loss of ecosystem services associated with land and water had an impact on households, the ecosystem services which are regarded as fundamental to human well‐being do not seem to have been lost. The study recommends the wide use of freedom of choice as an indicator for well‐being in the LSRV, as well as a consideration of subjective, objective and psychological measures of well‐being with regards to natural resources and ecosystem services access. Key agents in fostering desirable pathways toward equity and sustainability in the LSRV are identified with stakeholders as private businesses; inclusive governance; empowered and skilled individuals, as well as NGOs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Chadzingwa, Karabo
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/442 , vital:19959
- Description: The legacy of South Africa’s history has facilitated unequal access to land and water resources. In the Lower Sundays River Valley (LSRV), a predominantly commercial farming area, differential access to land and water has impacted aspects of ecosystem service access and human well‐being for disenfranchised families over time. Despite the social, political and economic reform efforts in the past two decades, severe inertia towards efforts attempting to increase equitable access to land and water has been experienced. As a result, communities have mobilized and claimed their land from the government through the land restitution process. Based on a mixed‐methods approach, this research explores the ways in which access to land and water over time has influenced current levels of human well‐being among disenfranchised families. Provisioning and cultural ecosystem services were identified as key areas of loss as a result of forced evictions from land. Freedom of choice was a central and cross‐cutting theme regarding the ability to change levels of human well‐being. Although the loss of ecosystem services associated with land and water had an impact on households, the ecosystem services which are regarded as fundamental to human well‐being do not seem to have been lost. The study recommends the wide use of freedom of choice as an indicator for well‐being in the LSRV, as well as a consideration of subjective, objective and psychological measures of well‐being with regards to natural resources and ecosystem services access. Key agents in fostering desirable pathways toward equity and sustainability in the LSRV are identified with stakeholders as private businesses; inclusive governance; empowered and skilled individuals, as well as NGOs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
How do editors' attitudes and their perceptions of readers' interests combine with other factors to influence the publication of articles on the natural sciences in the Daily Dispatch?
- Authors: Lang, Steven
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/3893 , vital:20553
- Description: This half-thesis examines how editorial values and perceptions determine the quantity and nature of science articles published in the Daily Dispatch, a newspaper distributed through large parts of the Eastern Cape in South Africa. It was predicated on the notion that South African media in general does not cover the natural sciences adequately. In order to test this assumption I decided to investigate the production and publication of science content at the Daily Dispatch as a test case. This study‘s theoretical framework draws on the normative roles of the media in a democracy developed by Christians et al. (2009) and the models of science journalism described by Secko et al. (2012) to demonstrate how two parallel conceptions of democracy set diverse journalistic objectives and engender different types of science content. Having applied an essentially political framework, this thesis uses the Hierarchy of Influences Model devised by Reese and Shoemaker‘s (2014) to explore how an array of forces acting inside and outside the news organisation can shape the publication of science articles. A quantitative content analysis is used to ascertain the number of science articles published in the first six months of 2014. It investigates which science fields received the most coverage, and how prominently the articles are positioned. As the Daily Dispatch does not have any staff dedicated to the science beat, the analysis finds out who produces the science articles that are published. The second phase of this research is a series of interviews with senior editorial staff members aimed at probing the editorial thought processes that determine when and whether specific science stories should be covered. The personal views and biases of the editorial leadership are pivotal to this research because although the newspaper commissioned surveys to determine readership preferences, there were no questions about the sciences. Senior reporters were adamant that they worked for a political newspaper and that as a significant proportion of their readership lived in socio-economically deprived circumstances, they were bound to give priority to articles aimed at improving the lot of their readers. The third phase is a qualitative content analysis of selected articles designed to reveal how science articles are constructed. The final element of this thesis, which ultimately provides an answer to the research question, draws together conclusions from the previous phases to demonstrate the linkage between editorial values and the production of science content.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Lang, Steven
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/3893 , vital:20553
- Description: This half-thesis examines how editorial values and perceptions determine the quantity and nature of science articles published in the Daily Dispatch, a newspaper distributed through large parts of the Eastern Cape in South Africa. It was predicated on the notion that South African media in general does not cover the natural sciences adequately. In order to test this assumption I decided to investigate the production and publication of science content at the Daily Dispatch as a test case. This study‘s theoretical framework draws on the normative roles of the media in a democracy developed by Christians et al. (2009) and the models of science journalism described by Secko et al. (2012) to demonstrate how two parallel conceptions of democracy set diverse journalistic objectives and engender different types of science content. Having applied an essentially political framework, this thesis uses the Hierarchy of Influences Model devised by Reese and Shoemaker‘s (2014) to explore how an array of forces acting inside and outside the news organisation can shape the publication of science articles. A quantitative content analysis is used to ascertain the number of science articles published in the first six months of 2014. It investigates which science fields received the most coverage, and how prominently the articles are positioned. As the Daily Dispatch does not have any staff dedicated to the science beat, the analysis finds out who produces the science articles that are published. The second phase of this research is a series of interviews with senior editorial staff members aimed at probing the editorial thought processes that determine when and whether specific science stories should be covered. The personal views and biases of the editorial leadership are pivotal to this research because although the newspaper commissioned surveys to determine readership preferences, there were no questions about the sciences. Senior reporters were adamant that they worked for a political newspaper and that as a significant proportion of their readership lived in socio-economically deprived circumstances, they were bound to give priority to articles aimed at improving the lot of their readers. The third phase is a qualitative content analysis of selected articles designed to reveal how science articles are constructed. The final element of this thesis, which ultimately provides an answer to the research question, draws together conclusions from the previous phases to demonstrate the linkage between editorial values and the production of science content.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
How do social and personal identity, sense of place, connectedness to nature and environmental understanding influence the implementation of collective, large-scale biodiversity stewardship initiatives in South Africa?
- Authors: Potts, Tracey Ann
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/3663 , vital:20534
- Description: Biodiversity stewardship is a mechanism that is used to conserve high value biodiversity assets. Biodiversity stewardship programmes focus on areas that are under immediate threat from development or under medium to long term threat from degradation or transformation that will result in habitat loss. Biodiversity stewardship provides a solution to the resource crisis being faced by many state and provincial conservation agencies, NGO’s (Non-Governmental Organisations) and PBO’s (Public Benefit Organisations) in that it facilitates the declaration, and the subsequent improved conservation management, of private or communally owned land whilst still retaining the existing tenure. The rate of habitat loss can often be slowed, or even reversed, by proactively securing these areas and facilitating management decision-making with a focus on biodiversity outcomes without the capital investment required by the State to purchase the land. In return for conservation management actions, certain land-use restrictions and the associated opportunity costs, the State offers a suite of incentives and benefits that are, where possible, tailored to meet the needs of the landowner. Particular regions of South Africa lend themselves well to the development of biodiversity stewardship initiatives which are designed to secure ecological processes and ecosystems across a landscape or an ecological feature at scales of tens of thousands of hectares. When developing landscape level biodiversity stewardship initiatives, negotiations tend to be focussed on groups of landowners. This requires collaboration and the collective alignment of natural resource management decision-making and conservation actions amongst neighbours. Gaining a better understanding of how the social constructs of ecological understanding, place attachment, connectedness to nature, occupational identity and social and personal identity influence decision-making, behaviour and group structure is a critically important factor when developing a tool to predict the likelihood of landowners to collectively commit to long-term, legally binding biodiversity stewardship programmes. The overarching hypothesis was that the social constructs listed above influence group dynamics within the context of collective pro-conservation behaviour. Social dynamics associated with large-scale biodiversity stewardship initiatives become complex when multiple landowners are involved. Could social cohesion and group culture be influenced by aspects of identity and do these in turn develop into barriers or motivators to coordinated and sustained conservation efforts? Further influences on the successful implementation of landscape scale biodiversity stewardship initiatives could include ecological understanding, connectedness to nature and place attachment. Structured interviews were held with the landowners engaged in two separate large-scale biodiversity stewardship sites, the Compassberg Protected Environment and the Baviaanskloof Hartland, in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The interviews were followed up with surveys containing psychometric scales related to the influence of ecological understanding, place attachment, connectedness to nature and aspects of identity on commitment to collective long-term, large-scale biodiversity stewardship initiatives. The results from a set of non-parametric (exact) Wilcoxon rank-sum tests showed that scores on the new ecological paradigm scale and the place attachment scale latent variables were significantly different at the two study sites, at the 10% level of significance. Demographic differences between the two study sites influenced group dynamics, collective decision-making and commitment. The relationship between the latent variables (the five psychometric scales measured) and the ancillary variables (the demographic data describing the respondents) cannot be considered conclusive; however they do provide relatively useful insights into the development of a scale or tool to measure conservation opportunity. The thesis concludes with a proposed conservation opportunity assessment tool that can be utilised alongside the existing, well refined, conservation priority assessment tools to assist in decision-making when planning large, landscape scale biodiversity stewardship initiatives in South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Potts, Tracey Ann
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/3663 , vital:20534
- Description: Biodiversity stewardship is a mechanism that is used to conserve high value biodiversity assets. Biodiversity stewardship programmes focus on areas that are under immediate threat from development or under medium to long term threat from degradation or transformation that will result in habitat loss. Biodiversity stewardship provides a solution to the resource crisis being faced by many state and provincial conservation agencies, NGO’s (Non-Governmental Organisations) and PBO’s (Public Benefit Organisations) in that it facilitates the declaration, and the subsequent improved conservation management, of private or communally owned land whilst still retaining the existing tenure. The rate of habitat loss can often be slowed, or even reversed, by proactively securing these areas and facilitating management decision-making with a focus on biodiversity outcomes without the capital investment required by the State to purchase the land. In return for conservation management actions, certain land-use restrictions and the associated opportunity costs, the State offers a suite of incentives and benefits that are, where possible, tailored to meet the needs of the landowner. Particular regions of South Africa lend themselves well to the development of biodiversity stewardship initiatives which are designed to secure ecological processes and ecosystems across a landscape or an ecological feature at scales of tens of thousands of hectares. When developing landscape level biodiversity stewardship initiatives, negotiations tend to be focussed on groups of landowners. This requires collaboration and the collective alignment of natural resource management decision-making and conservation actions amongst neighbours. Gaining a better understanding of how the social constructs of ecological understanding, place attachment, connectedness to nature, occupational identity and social and personal identity influence decision-making, behaviour and group structure is a critically important factor when developing a tool to predict the likelihood of landowners to collectively commit to long-term, legally binding biodiversity stewardship programmes. The overarching hypothesis was that the social constructs listed above influence group dynamics within the context of collective pro-conservation behaviour. Social dynamics associated with large-scale biodiversity stewardship initiatives become complex when multiple landowners are involved. Could social cohesion and group culture be influenced by aspects of identity and do these in turn develop into barriers or motivators to coordinated and sustained conservation efforts? Further influences on the successful implementation of landscape scale biodiversity stewardship initiatives could include ecological understanding, connectedness to nature and place attachment. Structured interviews were held with the landowners engaged in two separate large-scale biodiversity stewardship sites, the Compassberg Protected Environment and the Baviaanskloof Hartland, in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The interviews were followed up with surveys containing psychometric scales related to the influence of ecological understanding, place attachment, connectedness to nature and aspects of identity on commitment to collective long-term, large-scale biodiversity stewardship initiatives. The results from a set of non-parametric (exact) Wilcoxon rank-sum tests showed that scores on the new ecological paradigm scale and the place attachment scale latent variables were significantly different at the two study sites, at the 10% level of significance. Demographic differences between the two study sites influenced group dynamics, collective decision-making and commitment. The relationship between the latent variables (the five psychometric scales measured) and the ancillary variables (the demographic data describing the respondents) cannot be considered conclusive; however they do provide relatively useful insights into the development of a scale or tool to measure conservation opportunity. The thesis concludes with a proposed conservation opportunity assessment tool that can be utilised alongside the existing, well refined, conservation priority assessment tools to assist in decision-making when planning large, landscape scale biodiversity stewardship initiatives in South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Hungry on arrival
- Authors: Mofokeng, Kabelo
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:6020 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1021244
- Description: My collection embraces different kinds of poetry, I also write my own journey through my home in Pimville Soweto, the urban sounds and multilingual speech patterns as I move through it. Other poems draw on the Sesotho culture and tradition which still runs strongly in my family, and here I integrate the different kinds of sounds and associations of Sesotho and English in the same poem. I am inspired by the works and lives of artists and poets such as, Mafika Gwala, Jackson Hlungwani, and Herbie Tsoaeli amongst others. Other poems emerging are dense and self-reflective manifesting a transitional period whereby the poet experiments with form and style in the manner of Arthur Nortje and Angifi Dladla.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Mofokeng, Kabelo
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:6020 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1021244
- Description: My collection embraces different kinds of poetry, I also write my own journey through my home in Pimville Soweto, the urban sounds and multilingual speech patterns as I move through it. Other poems draw on the Sesotho culture and tradition which still runs strongly in my family, and here I integrate the different kinds of sounds and associations of Sesotho and English in the same poem. I am inspired by the works and lives of artists and poets such as, Mafika Gwala, Jackson Hlungwani, and Herbie Tsoaeli amongst others. Other poems emerging are dense and self-reflective manifesting a transitional period whereby the poet experiments with form and style in the manner of Arthur Nortje and Angifi Dladla.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
I have gone away many times
- Metileni, Moses Nzama Khaizen
- Authors: Metileni, Moses Nzama Khaizen
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:6010 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1021225
- Description: I search for beauty and for myself amidst the debris and ruin and violence, so my poems are mainly grounded narratives that combine the lyrical and the political, celebration and lament. They reconnect with nature, the now ravaged landscapes that gave me my first impulse to make songs, poetry, and art. My poems also draw on my Xitsonga culture – its folklore, proverbs, idioms, parables, and clan praise songs. Stylistically I am influenced by Mahmoud Darwish’s and Garcia Lorca’s musical structures, while Aimé Césaire has shown me how to write a long poem in both abstract and concrete registers, and Yehuda Amichai how to write with a questioning style, dislodging accepted dogma. Local influences are Mzi Mahola and James Magaisa, with their critique and celebration of culture. I pick up fragments elsewhere, as I go.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Metileni, Moses Nzama Khaizen
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:6010 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1021225
- Description: I search for beauty and for myself amidst the debris and ruin and violence, so my poems are mainly grounded narratives that combine the lyrical and the political, celebration and lament. They reconnect with nature, the now ravaged landscapes that gave me my first impulse to make songs, poetry, and art. My poems also draw on my Xitsonga culture – its folklore, proverbs, idioms, parables, and clan praise songs. Stylistically I am influenced by Mahmoud Darwish’s and Garcia Lorca’s musical structures, while Aimé Césaire has shown me how to write a long poem in both abstract and concrete registers, and Yehuda Amichai how to write with a questioning style, dislodging accepted dogma. Local influences are Mzi Mahola and James Magaisa, with their critique and celebration of culture. I pick up fragments elsewhere, as I go.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Ideas of poetic form: aspects of the Romantic-Symbolist tradition
- Authors: Oldert, David
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/54554 , vital:26587
- Description: The subject of the work is some of the formal and technical developments of modern poetry in the Romantic-Symbolist tradition. These developments were stimulated partly by the ideas of the non-intellectual Symbol inherited from the Romantics and the idea that poetry could be a musical medium inherited from some of the French Symbolists. Their combined influence led to a number of technical problems in the structuring of imagery and the handling of syntax. The work begins, therefore, by tracing the philosophical assumptions behind the ideas of the Symbol and of the musical analogy. I then go on to examine two of the difficulties that these ideas produced. One is the tension between the analogical structure of a poem’s imagery and its metaphorical texture: quite simply, the more compressed and complex a poet’s metaphors become, the more they tend to disrupt the poem’s structure of imagery. The other problem is obscurity, which is caused by insufficient objectification of private images in a symbolic structure, and by fused metaphor, which is essentially a metaphor with an obscured ground of resemblance. Finally, I show how these difficulties were solved by poets outside the tradition who used a more articulate kind of syntax, yet who also managed to combine that syntax with the ideal of symbolic form. The implicit argument, then, is that the Romantic-Symbolist ideas of form, and the New Critics’ theories of form which were largely based on them, are able to elucidate an essentially different kind of poetry, and thus have some degree of truth and use beyond the tradition that generated them.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Oldert, David
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/54554 , vital:26587
- Description: The subject of the work is some of the formal and technical developments of modern poetry in the Romantic-Symbolist tradition. These developments were stimulated partly by the ideas of the non-intellectual Symbol inherited from the Romantics and the idea that poetry could be a musical medium inherited from some of the French Symbolists. Their combined influence led to a number of technical problems in the structuring of imagery and the handling of syntax. The work begins, therefore, by tracing the philosophical assumptions behind the ideas of the Symbol and of the musical analogy. I then go on to examine two of the difficulties that these ideas produced. One is the tension between the analogical structure of a poem’s imagery and its metaphorical texture: quite simply, the more compressed and complex a poet’s metaphors become, the more they tend to disrupt the poem’s structure of imagery. The other problem is obscurity, which is caused by insufficient objectification of private images in a symbolic structure, and by fused metaphor, which is essentially a metaphor with an obscured ground of resemblance. Finally, I show how these difficulties were solved by poets outside the tradition who used a more articulate kind of syntax, yet who also managed to combine that syntax with the ideal of symbolic form. The implicit argument, then, is that the Romantic-Symbolist ideas of form, and the New Critics’ theories of form which were largely based on them, are able to elucidate an essentially different kind of poetry, and thus have some degree of truth and use beyond the tradition that generated them.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Identification of potential novel roles for Hsp70/Hsp90 organising protein (Hop) using proteomic analysis in human cells
- Authors: Wingate, Ianthe
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/64758 , vital:28598
- Description: Expected release date-May 2018
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Wingate, Ianthe
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/64758 , vital:28598
- Description: Expected release date-May 2018
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
If I still want to breathe
- Authors: Billie, Ayanda
- Date: 2016
- Language: English , Xhosa
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:6012 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/1021231
- Description: One theme of this collection is the joy and the deep seated grief of my community of Kwa-Nobuhle; the brightness of hope on the faces on children running around our streets, the strides made by their mothers, the confusion of factory workers who are lost in darkness since the dawn of new dispensation. Then there are more personal poems: my own joys as well as the difficulties that have kept me from sleep and strangled my dreams as a writer, even though like Mafika Gwala, I believe that “words are born the way mothers beget children/words are born to survive time”. My style is influenced by imagistic, mystic and soulful poetry, such as the haunting Spanish voice of Garcia Lorca who wrote “I lose myself in the heart of certain children” and the absorbing isiXhosa voice of S E K Mqhayi. In response to their poetry my offering will be words that enliven us; my style will be what I see in the mirror, through the window, the sound of rain on my zinc roof and what frightens me. , Ndixomoloze ndiboph’ amaxonya, ndisenza eli linge lokuzama ukuxhathalaza kulo msinga uzakutshayela ulwimi lwethu. Nantso ke incwadana ndiyithe qhiwu ngendebe endiyithiye ngegama elithi Umhlaba Umanzi. Umhlaba umanzi ziinyembezi zabalilayo, umanzi kukubila kwabasebenzi besombha eludakeni, ufumile ziinkathazo zeminyaka zesizukulwana sesizukulwana. Injongo endifuna ukuyifezekisa ngeli nqaku yeyokuba umntu achole ntwana ithile ngokujonga imeko esiphila kuzo gabalala, ekuhlaleni, emakhayeni ethu nakwii ndawo esixelenga kuzo. Mhlawumbi kuyakuvuseleleka iingcinga neenkumbulo zamhla-mnene, okanye ibophe nezilonda ezimanzi. Ukwanda kwaliwa ngumthakathi. . . Nangomso. , This thesis is presented in two parts: English and isiXhosa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Billie, Ayanda
- Date: 2016
- Language: English , Xhosa
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:6012 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/1021231
- Description: One theme of this collection is the joy and the deep seated grief of my community of Kwa-Nobuhle; the brightness of hope on the faces on children running around our streets, the strides made by their mothers, the confusion of factory workers who are lost in darkness since the dawn of new dispensation. Then there are more personal poems: my own joys as well as the difficulties that have kept me from sleep and strangled my dreams as a writer, even though like Mafika Gwala, I believe that “words are born the way mothers beget children/words are born to survive time”. My style is influenced by imagistic, mystic and soulful poetry, such as the haunting Spanish voice of Garcia Lorca who wrote “I lose myself in the heart of certain children” and the absorbing isiXhosa voice of S E K Mqhayi. In response to their poetry my offering will be words that enliven us; my style will be what I see in the mirror, through the window, the sound of rain on my zinc roof and what frightens me. , Ndixomoloze ndiboph’ amaxonya, ndisenza eli linge lokuzama ukuxhathalaza kulo msinga uzakutshayela ulwimi lwethu. Nantso ke incwadana ndiyithe qhiwu ngendebe endiyithiye ngegama elithi Umhlaba Umanzi. Umhlaba umanzi ziinyembezi zabalilayo, umanzi kukubila kwabasebenzi besombha eludakeni, ufumile ziinkathazo zeminyaka zesizukulwana sesizukulwana. Injongo endifuna ukuyifezekisa ngeli nqaku yeyokuba umntu achole ntwana ithile ngokujonga imeko esiphila kuzo gabalala, ekuhlaleni, emakhayeni ethu nakwii ndawo esixelenga kuzo. Mhlawumbi kuyakuvuseleleka iingcinga neenkumbulo zamhla-mnene, okanye ibophe nezilonda ezimanzi. Ukwanda kwaliwa ngumthakathi. . . Nangomso. , This thesis is presented in two parts: English and isiXhosa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Image of Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB): an external stakeholder's perspective
- Authors: Bush, Charmel Lolita
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Tourism -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , South Africa -- Description and travel
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/9097 , vital:26464
- Description: A distinctive destination image is required in order to compete with other destinations for tourists and investors alike. This main objective of this study is to develop a model for destination image formation for Nelson Mandela Bay as a secondary economy to boost its global competitiveness. Several researchers have studied destination image and based on the fact that tourists and investors usually have a limited knowledge of destinations they have not previously visited, destination image fulfils an important function insofar as destinations with strong, positive, discriminatory and recognisable images. A literature study was conducted to identify the key influencers on destination image as well as to identify which forces are likely to influence the destination image of Nelson Mandela Bay. The different factors of destination image were identified from the literature sources and these factors provided a basis for an empirical study that was conducted amongst external stakeholders. The primary research objective was to create a model of destination image for Nelson Mandela Bay and to explain the cause and effect relationship between the dependent and independent variables. Added to the primary research objective, eight secondary research objectives were identified. The primary research question for this study was to identify what influences the destination image of Nelson Mandela Bay. Added to the primary research question, the researcher also identified eight research questions as part of the study. The empirical analysis was used to test the hypotheses and ultimately develop a model for destination image formation for Nelson Mandela Bay. This study was exploratory in nature and thus used a limited sample to gain insights for further research. Data were obtained through questionnaires that were distributed electronically to 120 respondents. This study concluded with the development of a destination image model for Nelson Mandela Bay that can be expanded upon with further research. The results indicate that general infrastructure and social environment; leisure and recreation; and culture influence the Affective component of Nelson Mandela Bay. Information sources and Political stability and risk influence the Cognitive component of Nelson Mandela Bay. Together the Affective and Cognitive component makes up the overall image of Nelson Mandela Bay.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Bush, Charmel Lolita
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Tourism -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , South Africa -- Description and travel
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/9097 , vital:26464
- Description: A distinctive destination image is required in order to compete with other destinations for tourists and investors alike. This main objective of this study is to develop a model for destination image formation for Nelson Mandela Bay as a secondary economy to boost its global competitiveness. Several researchers have studied destination image and based on the fact that tourists and investors usually have a limited knowledge of destinations they have not previously visited, destination image fulfils an important function insofar as destinations with strong, positive, discriminatory and recognisable images. A literature study was conducted to identify the key influencers on destination image as well as to identify which forces are likely to influence the destination image of Nelson Mandela Bay. The different factors of destination image were identified from the literature sources and these factors provided a basis for an empirical study that was conducted amongst external stakeholders. The primary research objective was to create a model of destination image for Nelson Mandela Bay and to explain the cause and effect relationship between the dependent and independent variables. Added to the primary research objective, eight secondary research objectives were identified. The primary research question for this study was to identify what influences the destination image of Nelson Mandela Bay. Added to the primary research question, the researcher also identified eight research questions as part of the study. The empirical analysis was used to test the hypotheses and ultimately develop a model for destination image formation for Nelson Mandela Bay. This study was exploratory in nature and thus used a limited sample to gain insights for further research. Data were obtained through questionnaires that were distributed electronically to 120 respondents. This study concluded with the development of a destination image model for Nelson Mandela Bay that can be expanded upon with further research. The results indicate that general infrastructure and social environment; leisure and recreation; and culture influence the Affective component of Nelson Mandela Bay. Information sources and Political stability and risk influence the Cognitive component of Nelson Mandela Bay. Together the Affective and Cognitive component makes up the overall image of Nelson Mandela Bay.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Impact of a holistic lifestyle management education programme on health and education outcomes of socioeconomically disadvantaged university students
- Authors: Morris-Paxton, Angela Ann
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: College students -- Mental health College students -- Health and hygiene Health promotion
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/11909 , vital:27003
- Description: Disorders of lifestyle are increasing globally; countries in transition are suffering the double burden of both contagious and chronic disorders. The utilization of health education to address these issues has had variable results, but the most successful have incorporated human contact. The aim of this study was to measure the quantitative and qualitative impact of a wellness promotion programme on university students. The objective was to provide a structured facilitated holistic wellness education programme to a sample of socioeconomically disadvantaged students in Higher Education in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Using a pragmatic mixed methodological approach to this critical evaluation, the impact on both wellness and academic progress was measured. Initial demographic data was gathered via a biographical questionnaire, pre- and post-intervention measurement of wellness, using the Wellness Questionnaire for Higher Education, as well as a semi-structured qualitative questionnaire and transcripts of academic results. Quantitative data was analysed using SPSS analysis software and qualitative data using the NVivo analysis package. The findings were that all students improved throughout the year in their overall wellness scores, in particular in areas such as avoiding excessive sun exposure and increasing the amount of physical exercise. This corresponded with an increase in the value that the participants attached to information on these aspects of wellness, which was attributed to the programme. Results revealed that there was a weak correlation between student wellness measured at the year-end and academic success overall, but a strong correlation between student wellness and academic success for the students that gained the highest marks. Analysis of the dimensions of wellness that correlated best with student success revealed that there was a particularly strong correlation between year-end career wellness and year-end academic success. In conclusion it was found that a positive and holistic salutogenic wellness education programme increased levels of student wellness overall, which translated into student academic success. The link between wellness and success was particularly strong in students that gained higher marks. Recommendations include that first-year higher education students receive a positive wellness education programme built into the curriculum of their first year of study and that the overall impact be monitored across a broader spectrum of students over the duration of their diploma or degree programme.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Morris-Paxton, Angela Ann
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: College students -- Mental health College students -- Health and hygiene Health promotion
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/11909 , vital:27003
- Description: Disorders of lifestyle are increasing globally; countries in transition are suffering the double burden of both contagious and chronic disorders. The utilization of health education to address these issues has had variable results, but the most successful have incorporated human contact. The aim of this study was to measure the quantitative and qualitative impact of a wellness promotion programme on university students. The objective was to provide a structured facilitated holistic wellness education programme to a sample of socioeconomically disadvantaged students in Higher Education in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Using a pragmatic mixed methodological approach to this critical evaluation, the impact on both wellness and academic progress was measured. Initial demographic data was gathered via a biographical questionnaire, pre- and post-intervention measurement of wellness, using the Wellness Questionnaire for Higher Education, as well as a semi-structured qualitative questionnaire and transcripts of academic results. Quantitative data was analysed using SPSS analysis software and qualitative data using the NVivo analysis package. The findings were that all students improved throughout the year in their overall wellness scores, in particular in areas such as avoiding excessive sun exposure and increasing the amount of physical exercise. This corresponded with an increase in the value that the participants attached to information on these aspects of wellness, which was attributed to the programme. Results revealed that there was a weak correlation between student wellness measured at the year-end and academic success overall, but a strong correlation between student wellness and academic success for the students that gained the highest marks. Analysis of the dimensions of wellness that correlated best with student success revealed that there was a particularly strong correlation between year-end career wellness and year-end academic success. In conclusion it was found that a positive and holistic salutogenic wellness education programme increased levels of student wellness overall, which translated into student academic success. The link between wellness and success was particularly strong in students that gained higher marks. Recommendations include that first-year higher education students receive a positive wellness education programme built into the curriculum of their first year of study and that the overall impact be monitored across a broader spectrum of students over the duration of their diploma or degree programme.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Impact of a visual skills training program on visual performance of cricket fielders
- Authors: Bonnesse, Matthew Gregory
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Cricket -- Training , Cricket players Cricket. Vision
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/7733 , vital:23440
- Description: The primary aim of this study was to determine whether a cricket specific visual skills training program has an impact on the visual performance of cricket fielders. The specific visual skills included accommodation, visual memory, speed of recognition, peripheral awareness, hand-eye coordination and saccadic eye movement. The study was exploratory and true-experimental in nature and utilized a quantitative approach. The pretest-posttest randomized group design was used. A total number of 20 participants that met the inclusion criteria were included in the study by means of purposive sampling. The 20 participants were randomly assigned to control (n=10) and experimental (n=10) groups. The experimental group underwent six-weeks of visual skills training. The tests used consisted of the Accumulator, Evasion, Corner Stretch and Flash tests on the Batak Pro, Hand-eye-coordination test, Hart Near Far Rock Chart and a Saccadic eye movement chart. Differences between the pre- and post-test scores were all positive and statistically (p<0.05) and practically (d>0.2) significant for the experimental group for the following visual skills tests: Hart Chart (M=7.90±3.73), Saccadic Chart (M=17.50±9.58), Accumulator (M=19.60±5.13), Corner Stretch (M=10.50±9.56) and Flash (M=5.40±3.75). The Evasion test (M=17.50±25.67) also showed a positive but insignificant improvement from pre- to post-test for the experimental group. The control group did not show any statistically significant improvements from pre- to post-test except in the case of Hart Chart (M=3.00±2.16) and Accumulator (M=2.40±2.55). Overall the experimental group produced significantly larger (p<0.05, d>0.20) pre- to post-test mean differences than the control group for six of the seven tests implemented. The Ball Toss test which was one of three hand-eye coordination tests did not show any significant differences between experimental and control groups even though the experimental group produced larger improvements. The other two tests that assessed hand-eye coordination (Accumulator and Corner Stretch) did, however reflect significant improvements for the experimental group. The findings of this study therefore revealed that improvements in visual skill performance of cricket players can be achieved through specific training.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Bonnesse, Matthew Gregory
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Cricket -- Training , Cricket players Cricket. Vision
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/7733 , vital:23440
- Description: The primary aim of this study was to determine whether a cricket specific visual skills training program has an impact on the visual performance of cricket fielders. The specific visual skills included accommodation, visual memory, speed of recognition, peripheral awareness, hand-eye coordination and saccadic eye movement. The study was exploratory and true-experimental in nature and utilized a quantitative approach. The pretest-posttest randomized group design was used. A total number of 20 participants that met the inclusion criteria were included in the study by means of purposive sampling. The 20 participants were randomly assigned to control (n=10) and experimental (n=10) groups. The experimental group underwent six-weeks of visual skills training. The tests used consisted of the Accumulator, Evasion, Corner Stretch and Flash tests on the Batak Pro, Hand-eye-coordination test, Hart Near Far Rock Chart and a Saccadic eye movement chart. Differences between the pre- and post-test scores were all positive and statistically (p<0.05) and practically (d>0.2) significant for the experimental group for the following visual skills tests: Hart Chart (M=7.90±3.73), Saccadic Chart (M=17.50±9.58), Accumulator (M=19.60±5.13), Corner Stretch (M=10.50±9.56) and Flash (M=5.40±3.75). The Evasion test (M=17.50±25.67) also showed a positive but insignificant improvement from pre- to post-test for the experimental group. The control group did not show any statistically significant improvements from pre- to post-test except in the case of Hart Chart (M=3.00±2.16) and Accumulator (M=2.40±2.55). Overall the experimental group produced significantly larger (p<0.05, d>0.20) pre- to post-test mean differences than the control group for six of the seven tests implemented. The Ball Toss test which was one of three hand-eye coordination tests did not show any significant differences between experimental and control groups even though the experimental group produced larger improvements. The other two tests that assessed hand-eye coordination (Accumulator and Corner Stretch) did, however reflect significant improvements for the experimental group. The findings of this study therefore revealed that improvements in visual skill performance of cricket players can be achieved through specific training.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Impact of sectoral determinations in previously unregulated sectors: a case study of domestic work in Grahamstown
- Authors: Nxokweni, Saphokazi
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/3761 , vital:20542
- Description: Domestic labour is widely recognized as one of the most vulnerable labour sectors, both nationally and internationally. In South Africa, sectoral determination 7 was specifically developed to protect domestic workers’ rights and provide them with the means to negotiate with and hold employers to account. However, research over the past years has demonstrated that, while some areas of domestic labour have improved, many workers are still locked in exploitative labour relationships. This research shows that it may seem as if there are significant changes in this sector since the introduction of the sectoral determination, but paternalistic orientations, one-of-the-family myths, and food distribution suggest otherwise. The research concluded that continuities of exploitative and discriminatory practices are still prominent in the employment relationship when viewed through the lens of paternalistic care, food distribution, and the ‘one-of-the-family’ myth.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Nxokweni, Saphokazi
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/3761 , vital:20542
- Description: Domestic labour is widely recognized as one of the most vulnerable labour sectors, both nationally and internationally. In South Africa, sectoral determination 7 was specifically developed to protect domestic workers’ rights and provide them with the means to negotiate with and hold employers to account. However, research over the past years has demonstrated that, while some areas of domestic labour have improved, many workers are still locked in exploitative labour relationships. This research shows that it may seem as if there are significant changes in this sector since the introduction of the sectoral determination, but paternalistic orientations, one-of-the-family myths, and food distribution suggest otherwise. The research concluded that continuities of exploitative and discriminatory practices are still prominent in the employment relationship when viewed through the lens of paternalistic care, food distribution, and the ‘one-of-the-family’ myth.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Impact of smallholder irrigation schemes on rural livelihoods of farmers in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa: the case of Melani Irrigation Scheme
- Authors: Magqibelo, Sinovuyo
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Irrigation farming -- Economic aspects Irrigation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Farms, Small -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Agriculture -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/1774 , vital:27557
- Description: Irrigation farming is one of the most important rural development investments that can have both direct and indirect impacts on poverty and food security. The irregular and unreliable rainfall in the Eastern Cape Province has caused the smallholder farmers to deepen the irrigation farming systems as a strategy to cope with food shortage, income and poverty. South Africa has invested substantially in smallholder irrigation to benefit smallholder farmers in the less developed areas. Although the investment on small scale irrigation was to improve the welfare of the people, the performance and welfare impact of smallholder irrigation schemes has been poor and fall far short of the expectations of many stakeholders. The broad objective of the study was to examine the contribution of smallholder irrigation scheme on rural livelihoods of smallholder farmers at the project area. The null hypothesis was that smallholder irrigation schemes have no impact on farmer’s livelihoods. The alternative hypothesis for this study was that Melani irrigation scheme is contributing in improving rural livelihoods of smallholder farmers in the area. Cross study research design was used in the methodology. The purposive sampling was applied in order to choose a sample of 107 respondents that were interviewed using questionnaires, including both irrigating and non-irrigating farmers. A multiple linear regression analysis was used to find out whether the performance of the two groups of farmers is different and to what extent. To determine the specific role of irrigation an Independent T-Test was ran. Out of the selected sample 68 percent of households were farmers, 7.5 percent informal employed and 27 percent unemployed. It was found that the majority of participants were males and were uneducated. They depended on social grants for a living. The findings from the study showed that 84 percent of the respondents agreed that there is no market available in the village and farmers had limited access to credits. The crop income was the most contributing factor to household income. The results showed that whether the farmer is a non-irrigator or an irrigator the performance is not significant. Irrigation scheme improvement attained by smallholder farmers need to be maintained.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Magqibelo, Sinovuyo
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Irrigation farming -- Economic aspects Irrigation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Farms, Small -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Agriculture -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/1774 , vital:27557
- Description: Irrigation farming is one of the most important rural development investments that can have both direct and indirect impacts on poverty and food security. The irregular and unreliable rainfall in the Eastern Cape Province has caused the smallholder farmers to deepen the irrigation farming systems as a strategy to cope with food shortage, income and poverty. South Africa has invested substantially in smallholder irrigation to benefit smallholder farmers in the less developed areas. Although the investment on small scale irrigation was to improve the welfare of the people, the performance and welfare impact of smallholder irrigation schemes has been poor and fall far short of the expectations of many stakeholders. The broad objective of the study was to examine the contribution of smallholder irrigation scheme on rural livelihoods of smallholder farmers at the project area. The null hypothesis was that smallholder irrigation schemes have no impact on farmer’s livelihoods. The alternative hypothesis for this study was that Melani irrigation scheme is contributing in improving rural livelihoods of smallholder farmers in the area. Cross study research design was used in the methodology. The purposive sampling was applied in order to choose a sample of 107 respondents that were interviewed using questionnaires, including both irrigating and non-irrigating farmers. A multiple linear regression analysis was used to find out whether the performance of the two groups of farmers is different and to what extent. To determine the specific role of irrigation an Independent T-Test was ran. Out of the selected sample 68 percent of households were farmers, 7.5 percent informal employed and 27 percent unemployed. It was found that the majority of participants were males and were uneducated. They depended on social grants for a living. The findings from the study showed that 84 percent of the respondents agreed that there is no market available in the village and farmers had limited access to credits. The crop income was the most contributing factor to household income. The results showed that whether the farmer is a non-irrigator or an irrigator the performance is not significant. Irrigation scheme improvement attained by smallholder farmers need to be maintained.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Impact of visual skills training on the visual ability of elite rugby players
- Millard, Lourens, Raffan, Ryan
- Authors: Millard, Lourens , Raffan, Ryan
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Sports sciences -- South Africa Visual learning -- Ability testing -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/12692 , vital:27107
- Description: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of visual skills training on the visual ability of elite rugby players. This study utilized a quantitative approach; and it employed a true experimental study design, in particular a pre-test-post-test randomized-group design. A total number of 26 participants (that met the specified criteria) were selected from the Eastern Province Rugby Academy squad. Those that met the criteria were then divided randomly into two groups (13 per group), which comprised the experimental and control groups, respectively. The control and experimental groups were tested on six visual skills, namely: accommodation, saccadic eye movements, speed of recognition, hand-eye co-ordination, visual memory and peripheral awareness. An optometric assessment was also conducted as a pre-test to ensure that the participant had “normal vision”, followed by a six week intervention (visual skills-training). The sessions were performed for thirty minutes three times per week for six weeks, followed by a post-test. Descriptive statistics were employed, both numerically, such as the mean standard deviation, and graphically by means of histograms. Inferential statistics were also used in the form of t-tests and Cohen’s d calculations to determine the statistical and practical significance of the mean score differences between the experimental and control groups. The pre- to post-test results indicated both statistical and practical significant differences in each of the visual skills tested among the experimental group; accommodation (hart near far rock test, p<.0005, d=2.34), saccadic eye movements (saccadic eye movement test, p<.0005, d=2.08), hand-eye coordination and peripheral awareness (accumulator test, p<.0005, d=2.20), speed of recognition (evasion test, p<.0005, d=1.14) and visual memory (flash program test, p<.0005, d=1.20). However, there were no statistically significant differences (p>.05) found when comparing the pre- and post-tests for the control group. It was concluded that the visual skills training program used had a significant positive impact on the visual performance of the Eastern Province rugby academy players.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Millard, Lourens , Raffan, Ryan
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Sports sciences -- South Africa Visual learning -- Ability testing -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/12692 , vital:27107
- Description: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of visual skills training on the visual ability of elite rugby players. This study utilized a quantitative approach; and it employed a true experimental study design, in particular a pre-test-post-test randomized-group design. A total number of 26 participants (that met the specified criteria) were selected from the Eastern Province Rugby Academy squad. Those that met the criteria were then divided randomly into two groups (13 per group), which comprised the experimental and control groups, respectively. The control and experimental groups were tested on six visual skills, namely: accommodation, saccadic eye movements, speed of recognition, hand-eye co-ordination, visual memory and peripheral awareness. An optometric assessment was also conducted as a pre-test to ensure that the participant had “normal vision”, followed by a six week intervention (visual skills-training). The sessions were performed for thirty minutes three times per week for six weeks, followed by a post-test. Descriptive statistics were employed, both numerically, such as the mean standard deviation, and graphically by means of histograms. Inferential statistics were also used in the form of t-tests and Cohen’s d calculations to determine the statistical and practical significance of the mean score differences between the experimental and control groups. The pre- to post-test results indicated both statistical and practical significant differences in each of the visual skills tested among the experimental group; accommodation (hart near far rock test, p<.0005, d=2.34), saccadic eye movements (saccadic eye movement test, p<.0005, d=2.08), hand-eye coordination and peripheral awareness (accumulator test, p<.0005, d=2.20), speed of recognition (evasion test, p<.0005, d=1.14) and visual memory (flash program test, p<.0005, d=1.20). However, there were no statistically significant differences (p>.05) found when comparing the pre- and post-tests for the control group. It was concluded that the visual skills training program used had a significant positive impact on the visual performance of the Eastern Province rugby academy players.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Impacts of HIV/AIDS on food consumption and wild food use in rural South Africa
- Ncube, Keitometsi, Shackleton, Charlie M, Swallow, Brent M, Dassanayake, Wijaya
- Authors: Ncube, Keitometsi , Shackleton, Charlie M , Swallow, Brent M , Dassanayake, Wijaya
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/180412 , vital:43385 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s12571-016-0624-4"
- Description: HIV/AIDS can affect household food consumption in many ways, including through reductions in availability and quality of labour, reductions in earned income, and increased expenditure on medications. In rural South Africa, these negative effects can be buffered by social safety net programs provided by government and collection of wild foods. Despite some acknowledgement of the potential safety net role of wild foods, however, their contribution relative to other food sources in the context of HIV/AIDS remains underexplored. Here we report empirical findings from two rural communities in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Qualitative and quantitative methods were used to characterise food sources, intake and calories from 68 HIV/AIDS afflicted households and 87 non-afflicted households every quarter over 12 months. Results show that diets were moderately well-balanced though limited in variety, with cereal items contributing 52 % to total calorie intake. The bulk of food consumed by households was purchased, with supplementation from own production, collected wild vegetables and collected wild fruits. Up to 20 % of respondents from both HIV/ AIDS afflicted and non-afflicted households had insufficient daily caloric intake. Multivariate analyses show that, all else equal, individuals living in households afflicted by HIV/AIDS consumed fewer calories, had less diverse diets, and were more dependent on wild foods than those living in non-afflicted households. Given the detrimental effects of HIV/AIDS on income and home production, wild foods represent a free and readily available food source for vulnerable households.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Ncube, Keitometsi , Shackleton, Charlie M , Swallow, Brent M , Dassanayake, Wijaya
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/180412 , vital:43385 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s12571-016-0624-4"
- Description: HIV/AIDS can affect household food consumption in many ways, including through reductions in availability and quality of labour, reductions in earned income, and increased expenditure on medications. In rural South Africa, these negative effects can be buffered by social safety net programs provided by government and collection of wild foods. Despite some acknowledgement of the potential safety net role of wild foods, however, their contribution relative to other food sources in the context of HIV/AIDS remains underexplored. Here we report empirical findings from two rural communities in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Qualitative and quantitative methods were used to characterise food sources, intake and calories from 68 HIV/AIDS afflicted households and 87 non-afflicted households every quarter over 12 months. Results show that diets were moderately well-balanced though limited in variety, with cereal items contributing 52 % to total calorie intake. The bulk of food consumed by households was purchased, with supplementation from own production, collected wild vegetables and collected wild fruits. Up to 20 % of respondents from both HIV/ AIDS afflicted and non-afflicted households had insufficient daily caloric intake. Multivariate analyses show that, all else equal, individuals living in households afflicted by HIV/AIDS consumed fewer calories, had less diverse diets, and were more dependent on wild foods than those living in non-afflicted households. Given the detrimental effects of HIV/AIDS on income and home production, wild foods represent a free and readily available food source for vulnerable households.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Implementation of classroom action research in Zimbabwean teacher education colleges: implications for teacher education curriculum
- Authors: Banda, Wilson
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Action research in education , Education -- Research , Curriculum planning
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Education)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/10604 , vital:35632
- Description: It was the purpose of this study to interrogate the implementation of classroom action research (CAR) in identified Zimbabwean teachers’ colleges to provide the basis for future policy directions and related day-to-day CAR practice. The study leaned on the progressive educationists’ stance that teaching is an intricate profession that has more to it than mere technical skills. Teaching is viewed as a lifelong profession that requires pre-service teachers to be capacitated with CAR skills and competencies to ensure that they systematically, intentionally and critically consider a myriad of learner related psychosocial factors in their tour of duty. In that way teachers are made to appreciate why they should teach the way they teach, without necessarily turning them into some kind of public intellectuals, philosophers or theorists. The study utilised the mixed methods research approach in tune with the adopted pragmatism paradigm. The research paradigm draws on the strengths of both empirical data and the theoretical sentiments drawn from the respondents. The study used the concurrent triangulation design, rooted in the post-positivist research paradigm that integrates concurrent procedures in the collection, analysis and interpretation of research data. It was guided by three theoretical frameworks, namely, the experiential learning theory, the curriculum implementation framework and the living educational theory. The theories have a strong bearing on reflective practice and they acknowledge the subjectivity of truth. The study’s purposive sample comprised of sixty-four teacher educators and seventy-six preservice teachers. Several research instruments were utilised to solicit the requisite CAR implementation quantitative and qualitative data. These were questionnaires, interview schedules, focus group discussions and documents. The Statistical Packages for Social Sciences were used to summarise the solicited data through graphical representations and related frequency tables depicting descriptive statistics such as range, mean and mode. Qualitative data were analysed using content analysis through emerging themes, iv related to the sub-research questions. The study established that although the bulk of the teacher educators had the requisite professional qualifications, maturity and experiential background, more curricular and organisational reconstruction was required to improve on the status quo. For instance, solicited data demonstrated that the lecturers’ appetite for educational research was low. Furthermore, the teacher educators’ CAR skills and competencies were compromised by the research component’s inadequate contact time. In addition, it was instituted that the teachers’ colleges produced student teachers who lacked sound grasp of the CAR process. The mediocrity was attributed to a series of teacher educator and student teacher factors which were exacerbated by several other organisational and administrative impediments. Overall, the study concluded that teacher educators were incapacitated to effectively deliver CAR, owing partly to the nature of teacher educator preparation they got and the watered down professional induction. It further revealed that it was wrong to assume that all lecturers had operational capacity to effectively teach and supervise CAR projects. Furthermore, the study recommended that the teacher educators’ capacity in CAR needs enhancement. Identified CAR implementation strategies need further reconstruction and enforcement.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Banda, Wilson
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Action research in education , Education -- Research , Curriculum planning
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Education)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/10604 , vital:35632
- Description: It was the purpose of this study to interrogate the implementation of classroom action research (CAR) in identified Zimbabwean teachers’ colleges to provide the basis for future policy directions and related day-to-day CAR practice. The study leaned on the progressive educationists’ stance that teaching is an intricate profession that has more to it than mere technical skills. Teaching is viewed as a lifelong profession that requires pre-service teachers to be capacitated with CAR skills and competencies to ensure that they systematically, intentionally and critically consider a myriad of learner related psychosocial factors in their tour of duty. In that way teachers are made to appreciate why they should teach the way they teach, without necessarily turning them into some kind of public intellectuals, philosophers or theorists. The study utilised the mixed methods research approach in tune with the adopted pragmatism paradigm. The research paradigm draws on the strengths of both empirical data and the theoretical sentiments drawn from the respondents. The study used the concurrent triangulation design, rooted in the post-positivist research paradigm that integrates concurrent procedures in the collection, analysis and interpretation of research data. It was guided by three theoretical frameworks, namely, the experiential learning theory, the curriculum implementation framework and the living educational theory. The theories have a strong bearing on reflective practice and they acknowledge the subjectivity of truth. The study’s purposive sample comprised of sixty-four teacher educators and seventy-six preservice teachers. Several research instruments were utilised to solicit the requisite CAR implementation quantitative and qualitative data. These were questionnaires, interview schedules, focus group discussions and documents. The Statistical Packages for Social Sciences were used to summarise the solicited data through graphical representations and related frequency tables depicting descriptive statistics such as range, mean and mode. Qualitative data were analysed using content analysis through emerging themes, iv related to the sub-research questions. The study established that although the bulk of the teacher educators had the requisite professional qualifications, maturity and experiential background, more curricular and organisational reconstruction was required to improve on the status quo. For instance, solicited data demonstrated that the lecturers’ appetite for educational research was low. Furthermore, the teacher educators’ CAR skills and competencies were compromised by the research component’s inadequate contact time. In addition, it was instituted that the teachers’ colleges produced student teachers who lacked sound grasp of the CAR process. The mediocrity was attributed to a series of teacher educator and student teacher factors which were exacerbated by several other organisational and administrative impediments. Overall, the study concluded that teacher educators were incapacitated to effectively deliver CAR, owing partly to the nature of teacher educator preparation they got and the watered down professional induction. It further revealed that it was wrong to assume that all lecturers had operational capacity to effectively teach and supervise CAR projects. Furthermore, the study recommended that the teacher educators’ capacity in CAR needs enhancement. Identified CAR implementation strategies need further reconstruction and enforcement.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016