The role of the expanded public works programme in reducing unemployment in Grahamstown
- Authors: Adam, Zanele
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Poverty Alleviation -- South Africa -- Grahamstown
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/49583 , vital:41738
- Description: Unemployment is a global threat and has been identified as a crucial factor affecting South Africa s economy. Unemployment rate is one of the key indicators of South Africa s economy and reports by Statistics South Africa have indicated an increase in the unemployment rate. Studies done by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has ranked South Africa amongst the worst in the world for unemployment and that poverty manifests not as a financial indicator but as a result of lack of employment opportunities. In response to the challenge of unemployment, South Africa has introduced numerous policies and strategies to combat unemployment and alleviate poverty. The vision of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) is to assist South Africa with its challenge of poverty eradication and to ease the unemployment statistics while simultaneously promoting skills development for its participants and the main focus of this policy is to provide income relief for the unemployment. The aim of this research was to assess the impact of EPWP in alleviating unemployment in Grahamstown, by assessing whether or not the EPWP has had any significant influence on job creation and skills development. This study focused on programmes implemented during the period 2014-2017 which is under phase 3 of the EPWP. This study adopted a qualitative research method and followed a descriptive approach. The research method did not seek to prove a true cause-effect relationship between the variables but rather demonstrate the correlation by means of case studies, archival research and content analysis. The research results revealed the potential of the EPWP projects in job creation in the area, and that there are areas of development and challenges in order to achieve the overall purpose of the EPWP.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Adam, Zanele
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Poverty Alleviation -- South Africa -- Grahamstown
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/49583 , vital:41738
- Description: Unemployment is a global threat and has been identified as a crucial factor affecting South Africa s economy. Unemployment rate is one of the key indicators of South Africa s economy and reports by Statistics South Africa have indicated an increase in the unemployment rate. Studies done by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has ranked South Africa amongst the worst in the world for unemployment and that poverty manifests not as a financial indicator but as a result of lack of employment opportunities. In response to the challenge of unemployment, South Africa has introduced numerous policies and strategies to combat unemployment and alleviate poverty. The vision of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) is to assist South Africa with its challenge of poverty eradication and to ease the unemployment statistics while simultaneously promoting skills development for its participants and the main focus of this policy is to provide income relief for the unemployment. The aim of this research was to assess the impact of EPWP in alleviating unemployment in Grahamstown, by assessing whether or not the EPWP has had any significant influence on job creation and skills development. This study focused on programmes implemented during the period 2014-2017 which is under phase 3 of the EPWP. This study adopted a qualitative research method and followed a descriptive approach. The research method did not seek to prove a true cause-effect relationship between the variables but rather demonstrate the correlation by means of case studies, archival research and content analysis. The research results revealed the potential of the EPWP projects in job creation in the area, and that there are areas of development and challenges in order to achieve the overall purpose of the EPWP.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
An exploration of collaborative group work with science students
- Authors: Adams, Aadiel
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Science -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- South Africa , Group work in education , Educational change -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9840 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/392 , Science -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- South Africa , Group work in education , Educational change -- South Africa
- Description: Part of the transformation of education in South Africa emphasises the need to address historical barriers that have been impeding access into institutions of learning, and the need for empowering stakeholders democratically. Improving institutional responsiveness and focusing on Science, Technology, and Engineering and increasing the number of university graduates are amongst the more prominent strategies for changing the educational, socioeconomic, and political landscape within a global context. This research, as the first cycle of an action research project, explores collaborative group work with a group of science students at a Vista University campus (that is now part of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University) as a contribution to institutional, professional, and personal responsiveness. The treatise traces my development as a novice researcher within an evolving action research context that became a terrain for facilitating a collaborative approach to learning. I describe my personal experience and the experiences of my co-researchers as collaborative partners, the systemic influences considered during the study, and the process of action research that encouraged movement from feelings of apprehension and inadequacy to feelings of anticipation and excitement regarding collaborative interactive learning and development opportunities. For the co-researchers and me an action research process in an interpretivist paradigm was not just suited to an exploration of collaboration, but also evolved into a vehicle for interactive teaching and learning, in a collaborative and student-centred way. Giving voice and being listened to, having perspectives validated, engaging in learning that could accompany academic and personal growth, and an acute sense of being empowered are ingredients that participants, and institutions of learning, can continue building on and building with along evolving spirals of life-long learning and meaning making.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
- Authors: Adams, Aadiel
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Science -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- South Africa , Group work in education , Educational change -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9840 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/392 , Science -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- South Africa , Group work in education , Educational change -- South Africa
- Description: Part of the transformation of education in South Africa emphasises the need to address historical barriers that have been impeding access into institutions of learning, and the need for empowering stakeholders democratically. Improving institutional responsiveness and focusing on Science, Technology, and Engineering and increasing the number of university graduates are amongst the more prominent strategies for changing the educational, socioeconomic, and political landscape within a global context. This research, as the first cycle of an action research project, explores collaborative group work with a group of science students at a Vista University campus (that is now part of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University) as a contribution to institutional, professional, and personal responsiveness. The treatise traces my development as a novice researcher within an evolving action research context that became a terrain for facilitating a collaborative approach to learning. I describe my personal experience and the experiences of my co-researchers as collaborative partners, the systemic influences considered during the study, and the process of action research that encouraged movement from feelings of apprehension and inadequacy to feelings of anticipation and excitement regarding collaborative interactive learning and development opportunities. For the co-researchers and me an action research process in an interpretivist paradigm was not just suited to an exploration of collaboration, but also evolved into a vehicle for interactive teaching and learning, in a collaborative and student-centred way. Giving voice and being listened to, having perspectives validated, engaging in learning that could accompany academic and personal growth, and an acute sense of being empowered are ingredients that participants, and institutions of learning, can continue building on and building with along evolving spirals of life-long learning and meaning making.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
Towards measuring corporate sustainability in the Nelson Mandela Bay automotive manufacturing sector
- Authors: Adams, Abulele
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Sustainability -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/18465 , vital:28648
- Description: This study explored the methods available for measuring corporate sustainability and created an instrument to measure corporate sustainability in the Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB) automotive manufacturing sector. The instrument was created based on three components of sustainability which are environment, society and economy. The study went a step further and added a fourth dimension, current trends to design a measuring instrument. The instrument was then applied on participating companies and further refined to improve it. A total of 16 multi-dimensional indicators to measure corporate sustainability were created and applied to 12 companies in the automotive manufacturing sector. The indicators were used to create a composite corporate sustainability index which can be used to compare the corporate sustainability performance of companies. These indicators were created based on theoretical research and fist hand experience observing the automotive manufacturing sector in the NMB. The indicators were applied to companies as a pilot to test whether they are feasible. Following this, the indicators were refined, improved and applied to more companies to measure corporate sustainability performance. The results of the study were the measuring instrument created, the creation of a composite index as well as the application of the instrument on 12 companies to determine whether the instrument was refined enough to detect differences in the corporate sustainability performance of companies. The results are discussed and further recommendations are made for improvements in the creation and application of the instrument to measure corporate sustainability in the NMB automotive manufacturing sector.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Towards measuring corporate sustainability in the Nelson Mandela Bay automotive manufacturing sector
- Authors: Adams, Abulele
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Sustainability -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/18465 , vital:28648
- Description: This study explored the methods available for measuring corporate sustainability and created an instrument to measure corporate sustainability in the Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB) automotive manufacturing sector. The instrument was created based on three components of sustainability which are environment, society and economy. The study went a step further and added a fourth dimension, current trends to design a measuring instrument. The instrument was then applied on participating companies and further refined to improve it. A total of 16 multi-dimensional indicators to measure corporate sustainability were created and applied to 12 companies in the automotive manufacturing sector. The indicators were used to create a composite corporate sustainability index which can be used to compare the corporate sustainability performance of companies. These indicators were created based on theoretical research and fist hand experience observing the automotive manufacturing sector in the NMB. The indicators were applied to companies as a pilot to test whether they are feasible. Following this, the indicators were refined, improved and applied to more companies to measure corporate sustainability performance. The results of the study were the measuring instrument created, the creation of a composite index as well as the application of the instrument on 12 companies to determine whether the instrument was refined enough to detect differences in the corporate sustainability performance of companies. The results are discussed and further recommendations are made for improvements in the creation and application of the instrument to measure corporate sustainability in the NMB automotive manufacturing sector.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
The education sector as an essential service
- Authors: Adams, Anton John
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Educational law and legislation -- South Africa , Teachers -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- South Africa , Right to education -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Basic education -- South Africa , Human rights -- Study and teaching
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: vital:10188 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1573 , Educational law and legislation -- South Africa , Teachers -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- South Africa , Right to education -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Basic education -- South Africa , Human rights -- Study and teaching
- Description: Because of the impact of teacher strikes on education there has been a call to declare the teacher‟s profession an essential service and thus prohibit them from striking. This call was made by the Democratic Alliance (DA). The Democratic Alliance arguments in their application to the Essential Services Committee was based on the fact that education in South Africa is in a crisis and the life-altering inconvenience this caused for children. The combined teacher unions in the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC) expressed their concerns over the DA‟s call for education to be declared an Essential Service. The Bill of Rights grants every employee the fundamental right to strike. This is an absolute and should always be exercised under certain controlled conditions, as stipulated by the Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995. Convention 87 of the International Labour Organising (ILO) recognises the right of trade unions, as an organisation of workers set up to further and defend their interest (Article 10), to formulate their programs and organise their activities (Article 3); this means that unions have the right to negotiate with employers and to express their views on economic and social issues affecting the occupational interest of their members. This constitutes the position that the right to strike is one of the legitimate and indeed essential means available to workers for furthering and defending their occupational interest. Balanced against the right of every teacher to strike is the right of everyone to have a basic education as set out in section 29 of the Constitution. In terms of section 29(1)(a) everyone has a right, enforceable against the state, to basic education. This creates a strong positive right. Aspects of the right to education are found in human rights treaties and declarations. This right to education is contained in article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) which states that “everyone has the right to education”. The International Covenant of Economic, Social and Cultural v Rights of 1966 covers the right to education comprehensively, especially article 13 and 14. In 1989 the Convention on the Rights of the Child further confirmed this right. The right to a basic education is further enhanced by section 28(2) of the Constitution “(a) child‟s best interest is of paramount importance in every matter concerning the child”. It is significant to note that in 2007 the Constitutional Court elevated the “best interest” principle to a right. This implies that the best interest of the child would be the decisive factor in each matter that affects the child. In deciding to declare the teaching profession as an essential service constitutional rights must be balanced. These are the right to strike, the right to a basic education and the best interest of the child principle.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Adams, Anton John
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Educational law and legislation -- South Africa , Teachers -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- South Africa , Right to education -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Basic education -- South Africa , Human rights -- Study and teaching
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: vital:10188 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1573 , Educational law and legislation -- South Africa , Teachers -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- South Africa , Right to education -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Basic education -- South Africa , Human rights -- Study and teaching
- Description: Because of the impact of teacher strikes on education there has been a call to declare the teacher‟s profession an essential service and thus prohibit them from striking. This call was made by the Democratic Alliance (DA). The Democratic Alliance arguments in their application to the Essential Services Committee was based on the fact that education in South Africa is in a crisis and the life-altering inconvenience this caused for children. The combined teacher unions in the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC) expressed their concerns over the DA‟s call for education to be declared an Essential Service. The Bill of Rights grants every employee the fundamental right to strike. This is an absolute and should always be exercised under certain controlled conditions, as stipulated by the Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995. Convention 87 of the International Labour Organising (ILO) recognises the right of trade unions, as an organisation of workers set up to further and defend their interest (Article 10), to formulate their programs and organise their activities (Article 3); this means that unions have the right to negotiate with employers and to express their views on economic and social issues affecting the occupational interest of their members. This constitutes the position that the right to strike is one of the legitimate and indeed essential means available to workers for furthering and defending their occupational interest. Balanced against the right of every teacher to strike is the right of everyone to have a basic education as set out in section 29 of the Constitution. In terms of section 29(1)(a) everyone has a right, enforceable against the state, to basic education. This creates a strong positive right. Aspects of the right to education are found in human rights treaties and declarations. This right to education is contained in article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) which states that “everyone has the right to education”. The International Covenant of Economic, Social and Cultural v Rights of 1966 covers the right to education comprehensively, especially article 13 and 14. In 1989 the Convention on the Rights of the Child further confirmed this right. The right to a basic education is further enhanced by section 28(2) of the Constitution “(a) child‟s best interest is of paramount importance in every matter concerning the child”. It is significant to note that in 2007 the Constitutional Court elevated the “best interest” principle to a right. This implies that the best interest of the child would be the decisive factor in each matter that affects the child. In deciding to declare the teaching profession as an essential service constitutional rights must be balanced. These are the right to strike, the right to a basic education and the best interest of the child principle.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
The experiences of registered nurses' of their work environment in a critical care unit
- Authors: Adams, Bernardene Lucreshia
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Intensive care nursing -- South Africa , Intensive care units , Nurses -- Job stress -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: vital:10013 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1057 , Intensive care nursing -- South Africa , Intensive care units , Nurses -- Job stress -- South Africa
- Description: Critical care nursing is a vital and significant part of health care provision to critically ill patients. It is a specialty area of nursing that requires registered nurses who are highly motivated, knowledgeable and skilled to provide optimal care to critically ill patients. These patients are nursed in a complex environment consisting of specialised equipment (such as ventilators, defibrillators, intravenous pumps, and cardiac monitors) that is not found in any other field of nursing. Collegial support and an adequate registered nurse: patient ratio is vital in critical care units in order to provide optimal quality care to critically ill patients. However, an understaffed work environment, the demands of critical care nursing and other work-related problems, such as conflict with physicians, inadequate remuneration packages and an increased workload can cause serious distress and dissatisfaction amongst registered nurses in this specific environment (Carayon & Gürses, 2005:287). The objectives of this study therefore are to explore and describe the experiences of registered nurses of their work environment in a critical care unit and to make recommendations that will assist registered nurses working in a critical care unit. A qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual research design will be utilised. Data will be collected by means of semi-structured interviews and analysed according to the framework provided by Tesch (in Cresswell, 2003:192). Purposive sampling will be used to select a sample of registered nurses working in a critical care environment. Guba’s model (in Krefting, 1991) will be utilised to verify data and to ensure trustworthiness of the study. Ethical considerations will be adhered to throughout the study. Once data has been analysed, recommendations will be made that will assist registered nurses working in a critical care unit.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
- Authors: Adams, Bernardene Lucreshia
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Intensive care nursing -- South Africa , Intensive care units , Nurses -- Job stress -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: vital:10013 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1057 , Intensive care nursing -- South Africa , Intensive care units , Nurses -- Job stress -- South Africa
- Description: Critical care nursing is a vital and significant part of health care provision to critically ill patients. It is a specialty area of nursing that requires registered nurses who are highly motivated, knowledgeable and skilled to provide optimal care to critically ill patients. These patients are nursed in a complex environment consisting of specialised equipment (such as ventilators, defibrillators, intravenous pumps, and cardiac monitors) that is not found in any other field of nursing. Collegial support and an adequate registered nurse: patient ratio is vital in critical care units in order to provide optimal quality care to critically ill patients. However, an understaffed work environment, the demands of critical care nursing and other work-related problems, such as conflict with physicians, inadequate remuneration packages and an increased workload can cause serious distress and dissatisfaction amongst registered nurses in this specific environment (Carayon & Gürses, 2005:287). The objectives of this study therefore are to explore and describe the experiences of registered nurses of their work environment in a critical care unit and to make recommendations that will assist registered nurses working in a critical care unit. A qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual research design will be utilised. Data will be collected by means of semi-structured interviews and analysed according to the framework provided by Tesch (in Cresswell, 2003:192). Purposive sampling will be used to select a sample of registered nurses working in a critical care environment. Guba’s model (in Krefting, 1991) will be utilised to verify data and to ensure trustworthiness of the study. Ethical considerations will be adhered to throughout the study. Once data has been analysed, recommendations will be made that will assist registered nurses working in a critical care unit.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
Improving integrated waste management with community education programmes : the case of New Brighton in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
- Authors: Adams, Bulelwa Avril
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Integrated solid waste management -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality , Community development -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality , Salvage (Waste, etc.) -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: vital:8323 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020161
- Description: Municipal solid waste management is gradually becoming a major challenge that is confronting governments in all spheres. This can be attributed to urbanisation and startling population escalation. Each and every member in a community is a contributor to this dilemma and a generator of waste. The essence of this study is to investigate whether the utilisation of education programmes can assist to improve how communities handle and dispose their household waste and its contribution to the effectiveness of the integrated solid waste management system for the New Brighton Township in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. A theoretical framework is developed using the systems theory in trying to address the challenge. The study used the qualitative research method. Data were gathered using questionnaires and face-to face interviews. The empirical survey was employed for the purposes of the study and the interpretation of the research findings were analysed and described. As a metropolitan municipality, it is envisaged that this research will assist the NMBM, to identify how to manage solid waste efficiently and effectively and thus enhancing service delivery that will ensure communities of their well-being and dignity. Various recommendations are presented, based on the findings of the study. It is hoped that these recommendations If are adopted, the NMBM will be able to deal more effectively and efficiently with the challenges that the NMBM is faced with in dealing with waste management issues thereby enabling the NMBM to deliver the most basic need to the communities of the New Brighton Townships.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Adams, Bulelwa Avril
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Integrated solid waste management -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality , Community development -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality , Salvage (Waste, etc.) -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: vital:8323 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020161
- Description: Municipal solid waste management is gradually becoming a major challenge that is confronting governments in all spheres. This can be attributed to urbanisation and startling population escalation. Each and every member in a community is a contributor to this dilemma and a generator of waste. The essence of this study is to investigate whether the utilisation of education programmes can assist to improve how communities handle and dispose their household waste and its contribution to the effectiveness of the integrated solid waste management system for the New Brighton Township in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. A theoretical framework is developed using the systems theory in trying to address the challenge. The study used the qualitative research method. Data were gathered using questionnaires and face-to face interviews. The empirical survey was employed for the purposes of the study and the interpretation of the research findings were analysed and described. As a metropolitan municipality, it is envisaged that this research will assist the NMBM, to identify how to manage solid waste efficiently and effectively and thus enhancing service delivery that will ensure communities of their well-being and dignity. Various recommendations are presented, based on the findings of the study. It is hoped that these recommendations If are adopted, the NMBM will be able to deal more effectively and efficiently with the challenges that the NMBM is faced with in dealing with waste management issues thereby enabling the NMBM to deliver the most basic need to the communities of the New Brighton Townships.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Photosynthetic and growth responses of C3 and C4 grasses to short- duration sunflecks and resultant consequences for their performance in understory environments
- Authors: Adams, Claire Elizabeth
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Understory plants -- Effect of light on , Grasses -- Effect of light on -- South Africa , Erharta -- Effect of light on , Brachiara -- Effect of light on
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/5016 , vital:20753
- Description: Low C4 grass species abundance in understory environments is thought to be as a result of their high-light requirements, lack of photosynthetic advantage relative to C3 species in cooler environments, and an inability to adequately utilise sunflecks. This study sets out to investigate this theory, hypothesizing that C3 grass species outperform C4 grass species under the canopy, not as a result of quantum efficiency temperature effects, but as a result of C4 species inability to utilize short-duration sunflecks. Short sunflecks could result in a breakdown in assimilate movement between the mesophyll (MSC) and bundle sheath (BSC) cells. The role of BSC leakiness, stomata and PSII efficiency on the ability of C3 and C4 Alloteropsis semialata to utilize short-duration sunflecks was investigated using gaseous exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence techniques, while the growth of both subspecies under a simulated flecking-light environment tested whether these measured responses translated into effects on growth. As C3 grasses are known to possess higher levels of stomatal conductance in relation to C4 species, results showed that C3 A. semialata was able to utilize short-duration sunflecks as a result of increased stomatal conductance and an ability to induce photosynthesis under various light flecking conditions. In contrast, C4 A. semialata was unable to utilize sunflecks possibly as a result of energetic limitations of the carboxylation mechanism (PSII) and not because of increased bundle sheath leakiness. These photosynthetic responses translated into growth differences when both types were grown in an artificially flecking light environment. The photosynthetic differences noted for C3 and C4 A.semialata were also evident in shade adapted understory grasses; Erharta erecta (C3), Dactylotenium australe (C4) and Brachiaria chusqueoides (C4). As photosynthetic induction was marginally more rapid in all species relative to A. semialata it suggests some degree of adaptation in shade grasses, however the inability of the C4 species to utilise short sunflecks remained. As a result, it was hypothesized that C3 shade adapted E. erecta and C4 B. chusqueoides, co-inhabiting the same forest understory, are able to do so because of differences in light micro-environments associated with each species. However, canopy openness and light profiles determined for theses micro-climates showed no differences and that both species have persisted within a relatively stable understory environment. The coexistence was possible as the understory was supplied with a significant proportion of its daily light in flecks sufficiently long as to not compromise C4 productivity. A survey of 10 species of grasses under various canopy densities and in the open showed a strong negative linear relationship between canopy openness and the rate at which photosynthesis was induced by flecking light, which has not been shown before. This did not result from the phylogenetic relationship between species and could be shown for a single species (E. erecta) growing in a range of light environments. This demonstrates that C4 grasses, despite adaptation, would be limited from sunfleck environments if a significant proportion of the daily light available consists of flecks of short-duration. The generation of such environments may occur as a result of woody thickening and could help explain the observed decline in C4 grasses under these conditions.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Adams, Claire Elizabeth
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Understory plants -- Effect of light on , Grasses -- Effect of light on -- South Africa , Erharta -- Effect of light on , Brachiara -- Effect of light on
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/5016 , vital:20753
- Description: Low C4 grass species abundance in understory environments is thought to be as a result of their high-light requirements, lack of photosynthetic advantage relative to C3 species in cooler environments, and an inability to adequately utilise sunflecks. This study sets out to investigate this theory, hypothesizing that C3 grass species outperform C4 grass species under the canopy, not as a result of quantum efficiency temperature effects, but as a result of C4 species inability to utilize short-duration sunflecks. Short sunflecks could result in a breakdown in assimilate movement between the mesophyll (MSC) and bundle sheath (BSC) cells. The role of BSC leakiness, stomata and PSII efficiency on the ability of C3 and C4 Alloteropsis semialata to utilize short-duration sunflecks was investigated using gaseous exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence techniques, while the growth of both subspecies under a simulated flecking-light environment tested whether these measured responses translated into effects on growth. As C3 grasses are known to possess higher levels of stomatal conductance in relation to C4 species, results showed that C3 A. semialata was able to utilize short-duration sunflecks as a result of increased stomatal conductance and an ability to induce photosynthesis under various light flecking conditions. In contrast, C4 A. semialata was unable to utilize sunflecks possibly as a result of energetic limitations of the carboxylation mechanism (PSII) and not because of increased bundle sheath leakiness. These photosynthetic responses translated into growth differences when both types were grown in an artificially flecking light environment. The photosynthetic differences noted for C3 and C4 A.semialata were also evident in shade adapted understory grasses; Erharta erecta (C3), Dactylotenium australe (C4) and Brachiaria chusqueoides (C4). As photosynthetic induction was marginally more rapid in all species relative to A. semialata it suggests some degree of adaptation in shade grasses, however the inability of the C4 species to utilise short sunflecks remained. As a result, it was hypothesized that C3 shade adapted E. erecta and C4 B. chusqueoides, co-inhabiting the same forest understory, are able to do so because of differences in light micro-environments associated with each species. However, canopy openness and light profiles determined for theses micro-climates showed no differences and that both species have persisted within a relatively stable understory environment. The coexistence was possible as the understory was supplied with a significant proportion of its daily light in flecks sufficiently long as to not compromise C4 productivity. A survey of 10 species of grasses under various canopy densities and in the open showed a strong negative linear relationship between canopy openness and the rate at which photosynthesis was induced by flecking light, which has not been shown before. This did not result from the phylogenetic relationship between species and could be shown for a single species (E. erecta) growing in a range of light environments. This demonstrates that C4 grasses, despite adaptation, would be limited from sunfleck environments if a significant proportion of the daily light available consists of flecks of short-duration. The generation of such environments may occur as a result of woody thickening and could help explain the observed decline in C4 grasses under these conditions.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Fathers' involvement in the social development of children under six years: a social capital perspective and implications for early childhood development in the East London Education District
- Authors: Adams, Clyde Glenith Graham
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Child development-- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Father and child -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Fatherhood -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , Degree
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/5116 , vital:29077
- Description: The experiences of twenty fathers were explored to understand the involvement in the social development of children under six years. The main research question that guided the study was: what are fathers’ experiences with involvement in the social development of their children under the age of six years and what implications do these have for early childhood development? A social capital perspective was followed. The qualitative data was collected through the use of semi-structured interviews. The data was then analysed qualitatively. Results show that although most of the respondents could not give a definition of the concept of social development, they, however, understood the importance of parents playing a role in the development of a child. Fathers understood their role as supportive, nurturing and being there for their children. Fathers also understood their basic role as being the provider and protector. They also perceived their role as being authoritative and see themselves as the main disciplinarians. Results reveal that most schools do not offer programs specifically designed to encourage fathers to participate. Most importantly, results indicate that fathers’ interest in a variety of sporting activities, information sharing and talking about challenges both the schools as well as fathers face, are some of the ways fathers would like to be involved. Findings also indicate that although fathers acknowledged the role of the Department of Basic Education (DoBE) as mainly that of financial contributor in order to facilitate the skills development as well as that of information dissemination. However, fathers who took part in the study did not understand how the DoBE skills development agenda is envisaged for fathers. Notwithstanding, the respondents were quite clear that a father has an influential role to play in their children’s development. It also emerged that the greater the involvement, the more positive the influence on the child’s development. This study concludes that the presence of fathers in children’s lives is known to contribute significantly to their chances of experiencing positive developmental outcomes. Although the father-child relationship’s influences on children’s social competence have received increased attention in general, research on fathers’ understanding of their roles, involvement with their children as well as challenges confronting them with their involvement is scant. Based this the above, a number of recommendations have been made.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Adams, Clyde Glenith Graham
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Child development-- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Father and child -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Fatherhood -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , Degree
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/5116 , vital:29077
- Description: The experiences of twenty fathers were explored to understand the involvement in the social development of children under six years. The main research question that guided the study was: what are fathers’ experiences with involvement in the social development of their children under the age of six years and what implications do these have for early childhood development? A social capital perspective was followed. The qualitative data was collected through the use of semi-structured interviews. The data was then analysed qualitatively. Results show that although most of the respondents could not give a definition of the concept of social development, they, however, understood the importance of parents playing a role in the development of a child. Fathers understood their role as supportive, nurturing and being there for their children. Fathers also understood their basic role as being the provider and protector. They also perceived their role as being authoritative and see themselves as the main disciplinarians. Results reveal that most schools do not offer programs specifically designed to encourage fathers to participate. Most importantly, results indicate that fathers’ interest in a variety of sporting activities, information sharing and talking about challenges both the schools as well as fathers face, are some of the ways fathers would like to be involved. Findings also indicate that although fathers acknowledged the role of the Department of Basic Education (DoBE) as mainly that of financial contributor in order to facilitate the skills development as well as that of information dissemination. However, fathers who took part in the study did not understand how the DoBE skills development agenda is envisaged for fathers. Notwithstanding, the respondents were quite clear that a father has an influential role to play in their children’s development. It also emerged that the greater the involvement, the more positive the influence on the child’s development. This study concludes that the presence of fathers in children’s lives is known to contribute significantly to their chances of experiencing positive developmental outcomes. Although the father-child relationship’s influences on children’s social competence have received increased attention in general, research on fathers’ understanding of their roles, involvement with their children as well as challenges confronting them with their involvement is scant. Based this the above, a number of recommendations have been made.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Exploring recurring dreams as a catalyst for image-making in Visual Art
- Authors: Adams, Demi
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Dreams and the arts , Dreams in motion pictures
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/52424 , vital:43640
- Description: The purpose of this study was to create a body of work which focused on the recurring dreams I have been experiencing since early childhood. I had dreams about a world which I could access through the back of my bedroom cupboard or a crack in my ceiling. This world is one which never experiences daytime; it is covered in various crystals and has its own inhabitants. I started keeping dream diaries to create my artworks, essentially creating a Paracosm. Paracosm is: “… a detailed imaginary world, especially one created by a child” (Your dictionary, 2020: 1). The problem of this study was thus: was it possible to recreate my Crystal-Lunar World (personal dream narrative) using visual art so others could experience it and which methods should be employed to substantiate these recurring dreams. Thus, the overarching research question is how do recurring personal dreams translate into visual art to sustain a language which manifests in an individual visual narrative. I made use of mixed media paintings and three-dimensional objects to illustrate scenes from my Crystal-Lunar World. I kept Dream Diaries to collect data on my recurring dreams and extract frequencies and group them into themes to create my artworks. The dream diaries also substantiated what I was painting and making. I also kept drawing journals to study the various crystals and to illustrate them and the creatures I see. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Adams, Demi
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Dreams and the arts , Dreams in motion pictures
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/52424 , vital:43640
- Description: The purpose of this study was to create a body of work which focused on the recurring dreams I have been experiencing since early childhood. I had dreams about a world which I could access through the back of my bedroom cupboard or a crack in my ceiling. This world is one which never experiences daytime; it is covered in various crystals and has its own inhabitants. I started keeping dream diaries to create my artworks, essentially creating a Paracosm. Paracosm is: “… a detailed imaginary world, especially one created by a child” (Your dictionary, 2020: 1). The problem of this study was thus: was it possible to recreate my Crystal-Lunar World (personal dream narrative) using visual art so others could experience it and which methods should be employed to substantiate these recurring dreams. Thus, the overarching research question is how do recurring personal dreams translate into visual art to sustain a language which manifests in an individual visual narrative. I made use of mixed media paintings and three-dimensional objects to illustrate scenes from my Crystal-Lunar World. I kept Dream Diaries to collect data on my recurring dreams and extract frequencies and group them into themes to create my artworks. The dream diaries also substantiated what I was painting and making. I also kept drawing journals to study the various crystals and to illustrate them and the creatures I see. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
The design of a juvenile detention centre for Port Elizabeth
- Authors: Adams, Eduan
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Youth centers -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth -- Designs and plans , Juvenile detention homes -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth -- Designs and plans Juvenile delinquents -- Rehabilitation -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MArch
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/23969 , vital:30650
- Description: Out of a total of 236 active correctional centres across South Africa, only 5.5% of these cater to the needs of juvenile offenders, and none of these are located within the immediate Port Elizabeth area. This means that in their already fragile state, children from Port Elizabeth and the immediate surrounding areas are sent away from their families and support base to serve their sentence. Therefore, a need for a Juvenile Detention Centre within the Port Elizabeth area was realized. In this treatise an investigative study of existing Juvenile Detention Centres was carried out to which an understanding of the building typology, nature of the site and technical requirements was formulated. The site selected in Schauderville conforms to the site selection criteria established, and enhances the link to Nerina One Stop Child Justice Centre. The primary focus of the study was to design a building to provide secure residential care for juvenile offenders, offering a range of programmes to assist their rehabilitation back into society. The outcome, is presented as a set of architectural drawings and a model(s).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Adams, Eduan
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Youth centers -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth -- Designs and plans , Juvenile detention homes -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth -- Designs and plans Juvenile delinquents -- Rehabilitation -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MArch
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/23969 , vital:30650
- Description: Out of a total of 236 active correctional centres across South Africa, only 5.5% of these cater to the needs of juvenile offenders, and none of these are located within the immediate Port Elizabeth area. This means that in their already fragile state, children from Port Elizabeth and the immediate surrounding areas are sent away from their families and support base to serve their sentence. Therefore, a need for a Juvenile Detention Centre within the Port Elizabeth area was realized. In this treatise an investigative study of existing Juvenile Detention Centres was carried out to which an understanding of the building typology, nature of the site and technical requirements was formulated. The site selected in Schauderville conforms to the site selection criteria established, and enhances the link to Nerina One Stop Child Justice Centre. The primary focus of the study was to design a building to provide secure residential care for juvenile offenders, offering a range of programmes to assist their rehabilitation back into society. The outcome, is presented as a set of architectural drawings and a model(s).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Case study of the educational experiences of four teenage mothers in two high schools in the Buffalo City Metropole
- Authors: Adams, Hermie E
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Teenage girls -- Sexual behavior -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , High schools -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Social conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Ed
- Identifier: vital:16168 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/468 , Teenage girls -- Sexual behavior -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , High schools -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Social conditions
- Description: Teenage pregnancy is a worldwide phenomenon. World Health Organisation (2009) reports that teenage mothers between the ages of 15-19 years account for 11% of births recorded worldwide. In South Africa it has been estimated that teenagers aged 17-19 account for 93% of all teenage pregnancies. A large proportion of these adolescents return to school after giving birth. Research has shown that there is a great deal of controversy about not only pre-marital sex, but also concerning whether teenage mothers should be allowed back in school at all. The aim of this study was to gain some insights into the lived experiences of teenage mothers in schools with particular reference to how they cope with school work and the responsibilities of motherhood. A case study of four teenage mothers who returned to school after giving birth was carried out. In-depth phenomenological interviewing designed to elicit the voices of the selected adolescents was done. There were five main findings. First, all four teenagers were minors, under the age of 18 when they gave birth. Two of them were even under the statutory age of consent. Second, upon return to school, teenage mothers experienced stigmatisation from peers and teachers and this forced them to continually negotiate their dual identities as mothers and learners. Third, teenage mothers experienced psychological emotions of stress; low self-esteem; shame and depression. Fourth, they also had sociological experiences in the form of material, financial and social support from family and friends. In some cases they experienced rejection from peers and abandonment by boyfriends who had made them pregnant. Some educators discriminated against and ridiculed teenage mothers. Fifth, teenage mothers reorganised their lives after childbirth and established routines that enabled them to cope with the demands of school work and the responsibilities of motherhood. iii The study concludes that, although viewed with scepticism by sections of the community and some educators, and given that some pregnancies are a result of abuse and unequal power relations between men and women in society, the policy of allowing teenage mothers back to school after giving birth gives them another chance to re-focus their lives. It is recommended that the voices of teenage mothers who return to school after childbirth should be taken into account to inform any planning for future policies on teenage pregnancy by schools and the state. It is further recommended that all educators should also be trained to be able to assist the teenage mothers instead of alienating them. There should also be counselling services available for the teenage mothers to enable them to deal with psychological and sociological problems they might encounter. For further research, students from different backgrounds should be the target of similar research. Another area of research should focus on academic performance of teenage mothers who return to school after giving birth. Lastly, there should be research that seeks to link what is taught in the Life Orientation curriculum and voices of teenage mothers.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Adams, Hermie E
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Teenage girls -- Sexual behavior -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , High schools -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Social conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Ed
- Identifier: vital:16168 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/468 , Teenage girls -- Sexual behavior -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , High schools -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Social conditions
- Description: Teenage pregnancy is a worldwide phenomenon. World Health Organisation (2009) reports that teenage mothers between the ages of 15-19 years account for 11% of births recorded worldwide. In South Africa it has been estimated that teenagers aged 17-19 account for 93% of all teenage pregnancies. A large proportion of these adolescents return to school after giving birth. Research has shown that there is a great deal of controversy about not only pre-marital sex, but also concerning whether teenage mothers should be allowed back in school at all. The aim of this study was to gain some insights into the lived experiences of teenage mothers in schools with particular reference to how they cope with school work and the responsibilities of motherhood. A case study of four teenage mothers who returned to school after giving birth was carried out. In-depth phenomenological interviewing designed to elicit the voices of the selected adolescents was done. There were five main findings. First, all four teenagers were minors, under the age of 18 when they gave birth. Two of them were even under the statutory age of consent. Second, upon return to school, teenage mothers experienced stigmatisation from peers and teachers and this forced them to continually negotiate their dual identities as mothers and learners. Third, teenage mothers experienced psychological emotions of stress; low self-esteem; shame and depression. Fourth, they also had sociological experiences in the form of material, financial and social support from family and friends. In some cases they experienced rejection from peers and abandonment by boyfriends who had made them pregnant. Some educators discriminated against and ridiculed teenage mothers. Fifth, teenage mothers reorganised their lives after childbirth and established routines that enabled them to cope with the demands of school work and the responsibilities of motherhood. iii The study concludes that, although viewed with scepticism by sections of the community and some educators, and given that some pregnancies are a result of abuse and unequal power relations between men and women in society, the policy of allowing teenage mothers back to school after giving birth gives them another chance to re-focus their lives. It is recommended that the voices of teenage mothers who return to school after childbirth should be taken into account to inform any planning for future policies on teenage pregnancy by schools and the state. It is further recommended that all educators should also be trained to be able to assist the teenage mothers instead of alienating them. There should also be counselling services available for the teenage mothers to enable them to deal with psychological and sociological problems they might encounter. For further research, students from different backgrounds should be the target of similar research. Another area of research should focus on academic performance of teenage mothers who return to school after giving birth. Lastly, there should be research that seeks to link what is taught in the Life Orientation curriculum and voices of teenage mothers.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Investigating long-term host-parasite dynamics in odontocetes in Southern Africa
- Authors: Adams, Inge Alison
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Biological invasions -- Environmental aspects , Cetacea -- Indian Ocean , Ecological disturbances
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/23437 , vital:30543
- Description: Cetaceans are a very diverse family and globally, various aspects about their biology have been studied, including infection by parasites. Twenty-five dolphin species can be found in the South African subregion and very little information is available detailing which parasites are infecting them. Parasite samples have been collected opportunistically since the 1970’s from dolphins incidentally caught in shark nets off the KwaZulu-Natal coastline as well as from dolphins stranded along the Eastern Cape coastline. These samples have been stored in the Graham Ross Marine Mammal Collection at the Port Elizabeth Museum and samples belonging to eight odontocete species have been used in the present analysis. These eight species are: the Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphin (Sousa plumbea), the Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops aduncus), the Long-beaked Common Dolphin (Delphinus capensis), the Risso’s Dolphin (Grampus griseus), the Pantropical Spotted Dolphin (Stenella attenuata), the Striped Dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba), the Pygmy Sperm Whale (Kogia breviceps) and the Dwarf Sperm Whale (Kogia breviceps). This study aims to investigate which parasites are infecting odontocetes in Southern Africa. Secondly, this study aims to investigate whether any trends in infection exist between sexes, age groups, cause of death and over time. Eighteen parasite species were found to infect odontocetes in Southern Africa. Two could only be identified to family level, seven to genus level and eight to species level. Only one parasite, a trematode, could not be identified and several parasite species were new host records for the subregion. Results showed that the prevalence of parasitic infection has increased over the last four decades, prompting questions regarding the health of our oceans. This study is the first to comprehensively investigate which parasite species are found in these eight odontocete species in Southern Africa. This baseline data will contribute greatly to other types of research involving parasites and provides us with information regarding the health of our ocean.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Adams, Inge Alison
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Biological invasions -- Environmental aspects , Cetacea -- Indian Ocean , Ecological disturbances
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/23437 , vital:30543
- Description: Cetaceans are a very diverse family and globally, various aspects about their biology have been studied, including infection by parasites. Twenty-five dolphin species can be found in the South African subregion and very little information is available detailing which parasites are infecting them. Parasite samples have been collected opportunistically since the 1970’s from dolphins incidentally caught in shark nets off the KwaZulu-Natal coastline as well as from dolphins stranded along the Eastern Cape coastline. These samples have been stored in the Graham Ross Marine Mammal Collection at the Port Elizabeth Museum and samples belonging to eight odontocete species have been used in the present analysis. These eight species are: the Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphin (Sousa plumbea), the Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops aduncus), the Long-beaked Common Dolphin (Delphinus capensis), the Risso’s Dolphin (Grampus griseus), the Pantropical Spotted Dolphin (Stenella attenuata), the Striped Dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba), the Pygmy Sperm Whale (Kogia breviceps) and the Dwarf Sperm Whale (Kogia breviceps). This study aims to investigate which parasites are infecting odontocetes in Southern Africa. Secondly, this study aims to investigate whether any trends in infection exist between sexes, age groups, cause of death and over time. Eighteen parasite species were found to infect odontocetes in Southern Africa. Two could only be identified to family level, seven to genus level and eight to species level. Only one parasite, a trematode, could not be identified and several parasite species were new host records for the subregion. Results showed that the prevalence of parasitic infection has increased over the last four decades, prompting questions regarding the health of our oceans. This study is the first to comprehensively investigate which parasite species are found in these eight odontocete species in Southern Africa. This baseline data will contribute greatly to other types of research involving parasites and provides us with information regarding the health of our ocean.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Effect of school-based interventions on attention and academic performance of primary schoolchildren from lower socioeconomic communities in Port Elizabeth
- Authors: Adams, Larissa
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Academic achievement -- South Africa , Exercise -- Physiological aspects Physical education for children Physical education and training
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/42085 , vital:36624
- Description: Health benefits associated with regular physical activity (PA) have been widely established. Regular PA is not only associated with improved physical and psychological well-being, but also with improved brain function and cognition, thereby enhancing academic performance (AP). Despite these benefits, decreasing levels of PA and increasing levels of overweight and obesity exist world-wide, making childhood physical inactivity a global concern. Research suggests children who meet the recommended PA guidelines of 60-minutes of moderate-to-vigorous intensity attain substantially higher academic grades. Schools provide ideal settings for PA promotion due to the substantial amount of time children spend at school. However, in many countries, including South Africa (SA), Physical Education (PE) programmes have been reduced and replaced with other subjects to increase AP. Furthermore, a scarcity of water, limited accessibility to improved sanitation and lack of personal hygiene at home and in school substantially contributes to the burden of preventable childhood diseases. These hygiene-related illnesses augment the cycle of poverty and disease through its detrimental effect on children’s school attendance, academic performance and productivity. Studies also show that obesity, poor nutrition and food insufficiency affect children’s school achievement. Hence, the school environment plays an essential role in improving children’s health, since many teaching opportunities about important health and nutrition practices are provided. The primary aim of this study was to determine the effect of various combinations of school-based interventions on the attention and AP of primary schoolchildren from disadvantaged communities in Port Elizabeth. Overall, 857 schoolchildren (n = 434 boys and n = 423 girls, aged 8 – 13 years) participated in the study. A 10-week cluster randomised controlled trial using four experimental and four control schools was conducted. Setting-specific interventions incorporated PA, health and hygiene education and nutrition components. The d2 Test of Attention measured selective visual attention and concentration with outcome measures of the percentage of errors, total performance and concentration performance. End of year school results were used to assess AP. Post-intervention and pre- to post-intervention differences between the inter-school comparisons revealed mixed results for the attention and AP measurements, therefore, no conclusions could be drawn regarding the assessed variables. Intervention group comparisons at post-intervention indicated that the PA intervention group achieved a statistically significant improvement (p < .05 and d > 0.8) for AP, when compared with the non-PA intervention group. No significant differences were found for AP in relation to intervention group comparisons for the health and hygiene education and nutrition intervention groups. Similarly, the intervention group comparisons revealed no significant differences regarding attention for post-intervention and pre- to post-intervention differences. Findings suggest that a school-based PA intervention can positively affect children’s AP. The current study emphasises the necessity of PA and reinforces the importance of PE in the school curriculum. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that PE regains its rightful place and be actively taught within the school curriculum.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Adams, Larissa
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Academic achievement -- South Africa , Exercise -- Physiological aspects Physical education for children Physical education and training
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/42085 , vital:36624
- Description: Health benefits associated with regular physical activity (PA) have been widely established. Regular PA is not only associated with improved physical and psychological well-being, but also with improved brain function and cognition, thereby enhancing academic performance (AP). Despite these benefits, decreasing levels of PA and increasing levels of overweight and obesity exist world-wide, making childhood physical inactivity a global concern. Research suggests children who meet the recommended PA guidelines of 60-minutes of moderate-to-vigorous intensity attain substantially higher academic grades. Schools provide ideal settings for PA promotion due to the substantial amount of time children spend at school. However, in many countries, including South Africa (SA), Physical Education (PE) programmes have been reduced and replaced with other subjects to increase AP. Furthermore, a scarcity of water, limited accessibility to improved sanitation and lack of personal hygiene at home and in school substantially contributes to the burden of preventable childhood diseases. These hygiene-related illnesses augment the cycle of poverty and disease through its detrimental effect on children’s school attendance, academic performance and productivity. Studies also show that obesity, poor nutrition and food insufficiency affect children’s school achievement. Hence, the school environment plays an essential role in improving children’s health, since many teaching opportunities about important health and nutrition practices are provided. The primary aim of this study was to determine the effect of various combinations of school-based interventions on the attention and AP of primary schoolchildren from disadvantaged communities in Port Elizabeth. Overall, 857 schoolchildren (n = 434 boys and n = 423 girls, aged 8 – 13 years) participated in the study. A 10-week cluster randomised controlled trial using four experimental and four control schools was conducted. Setting-specific interventions incorporated PA, health and hygiene education and nutrition components. The d2 Test of Attention measured selective visual attention and concentration with outcome measures of the percentage of errors, total performance and concentration performance. End of year school results were used to assess AP. Post-intervention and pre- to post-intervention differences between the inter-school comparisons revealed mixed results for the attention and AP measurements, therefore, no conclusions could be drawn regarding the assessed variables. Intervention group comparisons at post-intervention indicated that the PA intervention group achieved a statistically significant improvement (p < .05 and d > 0.8) for AP, when compared with the non-PA intervention group. No significant differences were found for AP in relation to intervention group comparisons for the health and hygiene education and nutrition intervention groups. Similarly, the intervention group comparisons revealed no significant differences regarding attention for post-intervention and pre- to post-intervention differences. Findings suggest that a school-based PA intervention can positively affect children’s AP. The current study emphasises the necessity of PA and reinforces the importance of PE in the school curriculum. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that PE regains its rightful place and be actively taught within the school curriculum.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
The cultural determinants of success in Indian owned family businesses
- Authors: Adams, Leigh Christie
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Family-owned business enterprises -- Management , Indian business enterprises , Small business -- Management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8543 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1258 , Family-owned business enterprises -- Management , Indian business enterprises , Small business -- Management
- Description: Family owned businesses play a vital role in the economy of a country, therefore their sustainability and succession is a topic that requires adequate research and analysis. This is required to determine the impact and contribution at a socioeconomic level and future development of the family owned business. Within the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan area previous research has been conducted analysing the above with regard to Greek family businesses. There is a little evidence to suggest similar studies have been conducted on Indian owned family businesses, specifically businesses operating at a third generation level. This research will therefore analyse Indian owned family businesses that are at a minimum level of third generation within the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan area. The purpose is to investigate whether there is any specific cultural attributes of the Indian culture which have contributed to their success.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
- Authors: Adams, Leigh Christie
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Family-owned business enterprises -- Management , Indian business enterprises , Small business -- Management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8543 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1258 , Family-owned business enterprises -- Management , Indian business enterprises , Small business -- Management
- Description: Family owned businesses play a vital role in the economy of a country, therefore their sustainability and succession is a topic that requires adequate research and analysis. This is required to determine the impact and contribution at a socioeconomic level and future development of the family owned business. Within the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan area previous research has been conducted analysing the above with regard to Greek family businesses. There is a little evidence to suggest similar studies have been conducted on Indian owned family businesses, specifically businesses operating at a third generation level. This research will therefore analyse Indian owned family businesses that are at a minimum level of third generation within the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan area. The purpose is to investigate whether there is any specific cultural attributes of the Indian culture which have contributed to their success.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
An investigation of the attitudes of South African Police Service management with respect to the viability of computer-assisted training in the Eastern Cape Province
- Authors: Adams, Leinadu
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Education -- South Africa -- Data processing , Education -- Computer-assisted instruction , Information technology -- Study and teaching -- South Africa , Police training -- South Africa , Police -- South Africa -- Attitudes
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: vital:8190 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1410 , Education -- South Africa -- Data processing , Education -- Computer-assisted instruction , Information technology -- Study and teaching -- South Africa , Police training -- South Africa , Police -- South Africa -- Attitudes
- Description: The South African Police Service (SAPS) as a constituent part of the public service was established to deliver a specific category of services to the public. These services have to conform to requirements that are prescribed by various legislative provisions to promote effective and efficient delivery of public services. The implications of these provisions that are pursued by the study firstly, refer to the emphasis of government on the enhancement of public service delivery, with due consideration given to cost effectiveness and efficiency. Secondly, it refers to government's realisation of the important impact of education, development and training (EDT) on the competency of public service officials with an emphasis on the utilisation of information technology to enhance the effectiveness of EDT. Consequently, the study explores the viability of the utilisation of information technology as a measure to assist EDT interventions within the SAPS of the Eastern Cape Province to equip members of the institution to better fulfil their functions and duties. In this respect the study commenced to ascertain the levels of computer literacy of role-players, access to the appropriate facilities and what the general attitude in the organisation would be towards the utilisation of such an intervention. It was found that the computer literacy levels of role-players may be perceived as a problematic issue in this regard. However, access to suitable facilities was found to be more than sufficient for this intention. Furthermore, role-players agreed that information technology could be optimally applied in the EC SAPS for the mentioned use, thereby portraying an optimistic attitude towards the use thereof to harmonise EDT in the SAPS. The aim of the study has been to develop a model that will incorporate the use of information technology, given the strengths and weaknesses of the SAPS to enhance EDT and learning in the organization.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Adams, Leinadu
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Education -- South Africa -- Data processing , Education -- Computer-assisted instruction , Information technology -- Study and teaching -- South Africa , Police training -- South Africa , Police -- South Africa -- Attitudes
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: vital:8190 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1410 , Education -- South Africa -- Data processing , Education -- Computer-assisted instruction , Information technology -- Study and teaching -- South Africa , Police training -- South Africa , Police -- South Africa -- Attitudes
- Description: The South African Police Service (SAPS) as a constituent part of the public service was established to deliver a specific category of services to the public. These services have to conform to requirements that are prescribed by various legislative provisions to promote effective and efficient delivery of public services. The implications of these provisions that are pursued by the study firstly, refer to the emphasis of government on the enhancement of public service delivery, with due consideration given to cost effectiveness and efficiency. Secondly, it refers to government's realisation of the important impact of education, development and training (EDT) on the competency of public service officials with an emphasis on the utilisation of information technology to enhance the effectiveness of EDT. Consequently, the study explores the viability of the utilisation of information technology as a measure to assist EDT interventions within the SAPS of the Eastern Cape Province to equip members of the institution to better fulfil their functions and duties. In this respect the study commenced to ascertain the levels of computer literacy of role-players, access to the appropriate facilities and what the general attitude in the organisation would be towards the utilisation of such an intervention. It was found that the computer literacy levels of role-players may be perceived as a problematic issue in this regard. However, access to suitable facilities was found to be more than sufficient for this intention. Furthermore, role-players agreed that information technology could be optimally applied in the EC SAPS for the mentioned use, thereby portraying an optimistic attitude towards the use thereof to harmonise EDT in the SAPS. The aim of the study has been to develop a model that will incorporate the use of information technology, given the strengths and weaknesses of the SAPS to enhance EDT and learning in the organization.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
A discourse analysis of the construction of gendered relationships in grade 10-12 Life Orientation textbooks in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Adams, Luvo
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Sex instruction -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Life skills -- Study and teaching (Secondary)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/5532 , vital:29315
- Description: School-based sexuality education has been the subject of research in the social sciences and pedagogical spheres globally. In South Africa, growing interest among social scientists in the topic, were ignited by the introduction of sexuality education as a compulsory part of Life Orientation (LO) by the late 1990s. However, the implementation of LO has been problematic. Reviewed literature in the current study, reveals how the dominance of the heterosex discourse is foregrounded in LO content on gender and sexuality. The current study was aimed at examining the construction of gendered relationships in LO textbooks. The study sampled LO textbooks for Grades 10-12, learners in these grades are between the mean ages 16-18 years. This group is the target group, because they are legally afforded the right to consent to sexual activity with peers, within the same age bracket. Conducted from a social constructionist perspective, the current study employed qualitative methods of inquiry (textual analysis). Against the backdrop of heterosexuality as norm, it was the aim of the current study to understand the subject positions made available for female learners to construct themselves, within the discursive spaces in LO content. Findings suggest that two discourses namely: the heterosex discourse and the discourse of danger and disease, dominate in LO content on gender and sexuality. This leads to the construction of gendered relationships a s inherently heterosexual, leading to the marginalisation of relationships that fall outside of the norm. The female learner is positioned as a passive-victim, incapable of exercising sexual agency, while young men are positioned as inherently more powerful members of the intimate relationships or dangerous sexual predators. In the discourse of danger and disease, she is also positioned as a potential victim but the focus is on equipping her with skills, in a way which positioned her as an active-resistor in refusing sexual activity; and being in control of decision-making on issues of safety in relationships. The implications of these contradictions, is that they focus on the individual and disallow her taking up of sexual agency, and disregard the context in which she has to do so.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Adams, Luvo
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Sex instruction -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Life skills -- Study and teaching (Secondary)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/5532 , vital:29315
- Description: School-based sexuality education has been the subject of research in the social sciences and pedagogical spheres globally. In South Africa, growing interest among social scientists in the topic, were ignited by the introduction of sexuality education as a compulsory part of Life Orientation (LO) by the late 1990s. However, the implementation of LO has been problematic. Reviewed literature in the current study, reveals how the dominance of the heterosex discourse is foregrounded in LO content on gender and sexuality. The current study was aimed at examining the construction of gendered relationships in LO textbooks. The study sampled LO textbooks for Grades 10-12, learners in these grades are between the mean ages 16-18 years. This group is the target group, because they are legally afforded the right to consent to sexual activity with peers, within the same age bracket. Conducted from a social constructionist perspective, the current study employed qualitative methods of inquiry (textual analysis). Against the backdrop of heterosexuality as norm, it was the aim of the current study to understand the subject positions made available for female learners to construct themselves, within the discursive spaces in LO content. Findings suggest that two discourses namely: the heterosex discourse and the discourse of danger and disease, dominate in LO content on gender and sexuality. This leads to the construction of gendered relationships a s inherently heterosexual, leading to the marginalisation of relationships that fall outside of the norm. The female learner is positioned as a passive-victim, incapable of exercising sexual agency, while young men are positioned as inherently more powerful members of the intimate relationships or dangerous sexual predators. In the discourse of danger and disease, she is also positioned as a potential victim but the focus is on equipping her with skills, in a way which positioned her as an active-resistor in refusing sexual activity; and being in control of decision-making on issues of safety in relationships. The implications of these contradictions, is that they focus on the individual and disallow her taking up of sexual agency, and disregard the context in which she has to do so.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Possibilities for multilingualism: a critical case study with selected financial information systems (FIS) students
- Authors: Adams, Natalie
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Language and languages -- Study and teaching -- Bilingual method , Education, Bilingual
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8367 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1011052 , Language and languages -- Study and teaching -- Bilingual method , Education, Bilingual
- Description: This study aims at eliciting what shifts in term of multilingual possibilities can be detected in the language attitudes of first year National Diploma in Financial Information Systems students and their lectures. Qualitative methods are used: data is gathered using a questionnaire, 3 focus group discussions with students, interviews with 2 lecturers as well as an interview with language development practitioner. The questionnaire is modelled on attitudinal studies conducted at University of the Western Cape (Dyers 2001), University of Ford Hare (Dalwit 2001) and at Rhodes University (Aziakpono 2008). The questionnaire data, however, is only used a precursor to the study. The focuses of the study are the 3 focus group discussion and the semi structured interview with two lecturers and language development practitioner. The results of the snap shot questionnaire and first focus group discussion are similar to the three studies on language choices at Fort Hare, Rhodes and the University of the Western Cape respectively whereby students prefer English as the language of learning and teaching. The second focus group discussion is based on an article which students had to read. The article, Here, mother tongue clashes with her mother‟s tongue, focuses on the price that South African black children will pay for the constant erosion of African languages. The article‟s provocative focus challenges commonplace acceptance of English and so resonated with the students‟ exploration of multilingual possibilities. Focus group three revealed that students had experienced an attitudinal shift and realized the significance of mother tongue education as well as the importance of multilingual strategies.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Adams, Natalie
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Language and languages -- Study and teaching -- Bilingual method , Education, Bilingual
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8367 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1011052 , Language and languages -- Study and teaching -- Bilingual method , Education, Bilingual
- Description: This study aims at eliciting what shifts in term of multilingual possibilities can be detected in the language attitudes of first year National Diploma in Financial Information Systems students and their lectures. Qualitative methods are used: data is gathered using a questionnaire, 3 focus group discussions with students, interviews with 2 lecturers as well as an interview with language development practitioner. The questionnaire is modelled on attitudinal studies conducted at University of the Western Cape (Dyers 2001), University of Ford Hare (Dalwit 2001) and at Rhodes University (Aziakpono 2008). The questionnaire data, however, is only used a precursor to the study. The focuses of the study are the 3 focus group discussion and the semi structured interview with two lecturers and language development practitioner. The results of the snap shot questionnaire and first focus group discussion are similar to the three studies on language choices at Fort Hare, Rhodes and the University of the Western Cape respectively whereby students prefer English as the language of learning and teaching. The second focus group discussion is based on an article which students had to read. The article, Here, mother tongue clashes with her mother‟s tongue, focuses on the price that South African black children will pay for the constant erosion of African languages. The article‟s provocative focus challenges commonplace acceptance of English and so resonated with the students‟ exploration of multilingual possibilities. Focus group three revealed that students had experienced an attitudinal shift and realized the significance of mother tongue education as well as the importance of multilingual strategies.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
An international marketing framework for Ford South Africa in Nigeria
- Authors: Adams, Pedro Duan
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Export marketing -- Cross-cultural studies , Marketing -- Cross-cultural studies , Marketing -- Management -- Cross-cultural studies
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/3869 , vital:20471
- Description: Africa is seen as the last investment frontier and according to literature will have a GDP of $1.5 trillion by the year 2016 and a population that is double the size of Europe. The rapid expansion of infrastructure and construction in African countries, such as Mozambique and Zambia has increased the demand for commercial vehicles. This has sparked unparalleled marketing opportunities for automotive manufacturers and the continent is fast attracting major players in this sector. The international marketing literature still lacks detailed studies and research into the marketing deliberations and trades in Africa. Therefore, according literature a greater representation of African culture within the international marketing literature would provide relevance and richness in the global market place and offer greater insight to organisations who are seeking to invest and expand their businesses in Africa. The management issue here is to comprehend the diversity and vastness of this region and putting together all spheres to ensure growth and creating brand loyalty. The key challenge here is for management to be able to grasp and understand not only the various cultures but also the way of doing business in such a vastly different region. It is therefore imperative for Ford Motor Company to fully understand these factors so as to take full advantage associated with entering a market early which is commonly referred as first-mover-advantage. A case in point is when General Motors entered the Chinese automotive industry in 1997 when the Chinese market was relatively small. General Motors’ enthusiasm and commitment back in 1997 was driven by a belief that China would ultimately become an economic powerhouse and emerge as one of the world’s largest automotive markets. By the year 2010 China was one of the world’s biggest automotive markets and General Motors was a dominant force in this market. Africa has all the key elements for the growth and development of a robust automotive market. By studying past experiences and outcomes from empirical studies on international marketing with emphasis on the automotive industry, it will be possible to draw lessons and experience about the potential growth of the automotive sector on the African continent. This study will also be of great significance to other automotive manufacturers and suppliers looking to expand their business and market share across Africa due to the increase of the middle class. Therefore creative strategies and thinking of how to circumvent challenges in the African cultural environment, creativity in managing bureaucracy and due diligence about business and investment opportunities will uncover unprecedented volumes of profitable business that lies untapped on the African continent. Data from the quantitative study suggest that culture, political environment, country-of-origin, competition and country infrastructure in Nigeria, are essential factors to the development of a successful international marketing strategy for Ford South Africa. This study therefore concludes that Ford Motor Company of South Africa can utilize this framework in order to gain greater market share and ultimately success in Nigeria. Recommendations were also made for future research studies that can contribute to the international marketing literature with emphasis on the African market.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Adams, Pedro Duan
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Export marketing -- Cross-cultural studies , Marketing -- Cross-cultural studies , Marketing -- Management -- Cross-cultural studies
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/3869 , vital:20471
- Description: Africa is seen as the last investment frontier and according to literature will have a GDP of $1.5 trillion by the year 2016 and a population that is double the size of Europe. The rapid expansion of infrastructure and construction in African countries, such as Mozambique and Zambia has increased the demand for commercial vehicles. This has sparked unparalleled marketing opportunities for automotive manufacturers and the continent is fast attracting major players in this sector. The international marketing literature still lacks detailed studies and research into the marketing deliberations and trades in Africa. Therefore, according literature a greater representation of African culture within the international marketing literature would provide relevance and richness in the global market place and offer greater insight to organisations who are seeking to invest and expand their businesses in Africa. The management issue here is to comprehend the diversity and vastness of this region and putting together all spheres to ensure growth and creating brand loyalty. The key challenge here is for management to be able to grasp and understand not only the various cultures but also the way of doing business in such a vastly different region. It is therefore imperative for Ford Motor Company to fully understand these factors so as to take full advantage associated with entering a market early which is commonly referred as first-mover-advantage. A case in point is when General Motors entered the Chinese automotive industry in 1997 when the Chinese market was relatively small. General Motors’ enthusiasm and commitment back in 1997 was driven by a belief that China would ultimately become an economic powerhouse and emerge as one of the world’s largest automotive markets. By the year 2010 China was one of the world’s biggest automotive markets and General Motors was a dominant force in this market. Africa has all the key elements for the growth and development of a robust automotive market. By studying past experiences and outcomes from empirical studies on international marketing with emphasis on the automotive industry, it will be possible to draw lessons and experience about the potential growth of the automotive sector on the African continent. This study will also be of great significance to other automotive manufacturers and suppliers looking to expand their business and market share across Africa due to the increase of the middle class. Therefore creative strategies and thinking of how to circumvent challenges in the African cultural environment, creativity in managing bureaucracy and due diligence about business and investment opportunities will uncover unprecedented volumes of profitable business that lies untapped on the African continent. Data from the quantitative study suggest that culture, political environment, country-of-origin, competition and country infrastructure in Nigeria, are essential factors to the development of a successful international marketing strategy for Ford South Africa. This study therefore concludes that Ford Motor Company of South Africa can utilize this framework in order to gain greater market share and ultimately success in Nigeria. Recommendations were also made for future research studies that can contribute to the international marketing literature with emphasis on the African market.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
A study of a class of invariant optimal control problems on the Euclidean group SE(2)
- Authors: Adams, Ross Montague
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Matrix groups Lie groups Extremal problems (Mathematics) Maximum principles (Mathematics) Hamilton-Jacobi equations Lyapunov stability
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5420 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006060
- Description: The aim of this thesis is to study a class of left-invariant optimal control problems on the matrix Lie group SE(2). We classify, under detached feedback equivalence, all controllable (left-invariant) control affine systems on SE(2). This result produces six types of control affine systems on SE(2). Hence, we study six associated left-invariant optimal control problems on SE(2). A left-invariant optimal control problem consists of minimizing a cost functional over the trajectory-control pairs of a left-invariant control system subject to appropriate boundary conditions. Each control problem is lifted from SE(2) to T*SE(2) ≅ SE(2) x se (2)*and then reduced to a problem on se (2)*. The maximum principle is used to obtain the optimal control and Hamiltonian corresponding to the normal extremals. Then we derive the (reduced) extremal equations on se (2)*. These equations are explicitly integrated by trigonometric and Jacobi elliptic functions. Finally, we fully classify, under Lyapunov stability, the equilibrium states of the normal extremal equations for each of the six types under consideration.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Adams, Ross Montague
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Matrix groups Lie groups Extremal problems (Mathematics) Maximum principles (Mathematics) Hamilton-Jacobi equations Lyapunov stability
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5420 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006060
- Description: The aim of this thesis is to study a class of left-invariant optimal control problems on the matrix Lie group SE(2). We classify, under detached feedback equivalence, all controllable (left-invariant) control affine systems on SE(2). This result produces six types of control affine systems on SE(2). Hence, we study six associated left-invariant optimal control problems on SE(2). A left-invariant optimal control problem consists of minimizing a cost functional over the trajectory-control pairs of a left-invariant control system subject to appropriate boundary conditions. Each control problem is lifted from SE(2) to T*SE(2) ≅ SE(2) x se (2)*and then reduced to a problem on se (2)*. The maximum principle is used to obtain the optimal control and Hamiltonian corresponding to the normal extremals. Then we derive the (reduced) extremal equations on se (2)*. These equations are explicitly integrated by trigonometric and Jacobi elliptic functions. Finally, we fully classify, under Lyapunov stability, the equilibrium states of the normal extremal equations for each of the six types under consideration.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
Contributions to the study of a class of optimal control problems on the orthogonal groups SO(3) and SO(4)
- Authors: Adams, Ross Montague
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/64826 , vital:28608
- Description: In this thesis we investigate a class of invariant optimal control problems, and their associated quadratic Hamilton-Poisson systems, on the orthogonal groups SO(3) and SO(4). Specifically, we are concerned with the class of left-invariant control affine systems. We begin by classifying all cost-extended systems on SO(3) under cost equivalence. (Cost-extended systems are closely related to optimal control problems.) A classification of all quadratic Hamilton-Poisson systems on the (minus) Lie-Poisson space so(3)*, under affine equivalence, is also obtained. For the normal forms obtained in our classification (of Hamilton-Poisson systems) we investigate the (Lyapunov) stability nature of the equilibria using spectral and energy-Casimir methods. For a subclass of these systems, we obtain analytic expressions for the integral curves of the associated Hamiltonian vector fields in terms of (basic) Jacobi elliptic functions. The explicit relationship between the classification of cost-extended systems on SO(3) and the classification of quadratic Hamilton- Poisson systems on so(3)* is provided. On SO(4), a classification of all left-invariant control affine systems under L-equivalence is obtained. We then determine which of these representatives are controllable, thus obtaining a classification under detached feedback equivalence. We also obtain a partial classification of quadratic Hamilton-Poisson systems on the Lie-Poisson space so(4)*. An investigation of the stability nature of the equilibria for a subclass of these systems is also done. Several illustrative examples of optimal control problems on the orthogonal group SO(3) are provided. More specifically, we consider an optimal control problem corresponding to a representative of our classification (of cost-extended system) for each possible number of control inputs. For each of these problems, we obtain explicit expressions for the extremal trajectories on the homogeneous space S2 by projecting the extremal trajectories on the group SO(3). The examples provided show how our classifications of cost-extended systems and Hamilton-Poisson systems can be used to obtain the optimal controls and the extremal trajectories corresponding to a large class of optimal control problems on SO(3). An example of a four-input optimal control problem on SO(4) is also provided. This example is provided to show how the solutions of certain problems on SO(4) can be related to the solutions of certain optimal control problems on SO(3).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Adams, Ross Montague
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/64826 , vital:28608
- Description: In this thesis we investigate a class of invariant optimal control problems, and their associated quadratic Hamilton-Poisson systems, on the orthogonal groups SO(3) and SO(4). Specifically, we are concerned with the class of left-invariant control affine systems. We begin by classifying all cost-extended systems on SO(3) under cost equivalence. (Cost-extended systems are closely related to optimal control problems.) A classification of all quadratic Hamilton-Poisson systems on the (minus) Lie-Poisson space so(3)*, under affine equivalence, is also obtained. For the normal forms obtained in our classification (of Hamilton-Poisson systems) we investigate the (Lyapunov) stability nature of the equilibria using spectral and energy-Casimir methods. For a subclass of these systems, we obtain analytic expressions for the integral curves of the associated Hamiltonian vector fields in terms of (basic) Jacobi elliptic functions. The explicit relationship between the classification of cost-extended systems on SO(3) and the classification of quadratic Hamilton- Poisson systems on so(3)* is provided. On SO(4), a classification of all left-invariant control affine systems under L-equivalence is obtained. We then determine which of these representatives are controllable, thus obtaining a classification under detached feedback equivalence. We also obtain a partial classification of quadratic Hamilton-Poisson systems on the Lie-Poisson space so(4)*. An investigation of the stability nature of the equilibria for a subclass of these systems is also done. Several illustrative examples of optimal control problems on the orthogonal group SO(3) are provided. More specifically, we consider an optimal control problem corresponding to a representative of our classification (of cost-extended system) for each possible number of control inputs. For each of these problems, we obtain explicit expressions for the extremal trajectories on the homogeneous space S2 by projecting the extremal trajectories on the group SO(3). The examples provided show how our classifications of cost-extended systems and Hamilton-Poisson systems can be used to obtain the optimal controls and the extremal trajectories corresponding to a large class of optimal control problems on SO(3). An example of a four-input optimal control problem on SO(4) is also provided. This example is provided to show how the solutions of certain problems on SO(4) can be related to the solutions of certain optimal control problems on SO(3).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015