On the development of ZnO nanorods on silicon substrate for light-emitting diode applications
- Djiokap, Stive Roussel Tankio
- Authors: Djiokap, Stive Roussel Tankio
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Zinc oxide , Chemical reactions , Compound semiconductors
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/29973 , vital:30802
- Description: The interest in zinc oxide (ZnO), a promising material for blue/ultraviolet light emitting devices, arises from its large exciton binding energy (60 meV). The main challenge associated with this promising compound semiconductor, however, arises from the difficulty to achieve stable and/or reproducible p-type doping. Since silicon (Si) technology still dominates the semiconductor industry, the objective of this thesis is to probe into the possibility of using ZnO nanorods (NRs) on p-type silicon for opto-electronic devices. ZnO NRs have been grown on seeded Si, as well as on nickel oxide (NiO) and aluminum nitride (AlN) coated Si, using a two-step chemical bath deposition (CBD) process. Various techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), have been used to characterize the samples. The electrical characteristics of the heterojunction between the substrate and the ZnO nanostructures were evaluated by current-voltage (I-V) and capacitance-voltage (C-V) measurements. SEM and XRD studies have confirmed that, irrespective of the orientation of the Si substrate (Si (100) and Si (111)), the two-step CBD process yielded NRs that crystallised in the wurtzite structure and exhibited a hexagonal shape. Most of the rods developed perpendicularly to the surface of the substrate, with the orientation and distribution of the rods dictated by the seed layer density. Similarly, irrespective of the substrate, the luminescence of the ZnO nanostructures is dominated by near band edge (NBE) emission in the UV region (~ 3.29 eV) and deep level emission (DLE) in the visible region (2 eV to 2.6 eV). Annealing at moderate temperatures (~ 300 °C) increased the NBE emission and decreased the DLE. The removal of surface adsorbed impurities and enhanced defect passivation by hydrogen are responsible for these changes. The diode characteristics of the ZnO/Si heterojunction was studied by I-V and C-V measurements. Rectification was observed when the Si substrate had a relatively low acceptor density of ~1016 cm-3, while diodes produced on substrate with p ~1018 cm-3 were ohmic. From the C-V analysis the donor density in the ZnO was deduced to be ~1018 cm-3. In the case of rectifying junctions, thermionic emission did not dominate the charge transport. The carrier transport mechanism was therefore probed by the temperature dependent I-V xiii measurements (100 K to 295 K). Defect-assisted multistep tunneling was deduced to dominate in the n-ZnO/p-Si diodes at low forward bias. The band alignment between n-ZnO and p-Si predicts a much smaller barrier for electrons than for holes at the interface, which results in recombination on the Si side of the junction for a forward-biased diode. NiO intermediate layers (formed on Si by the thermal oxidation of Ni) were used to reduce electron injection from ZnO into Si. Scanning probe microscopy (SPM) and XRD analysis showed that while the grain size of the poly-crystalline NiO increased with NiO film thickness, the orientation and distribution of the subsequently grown ZnO nanorods were unaffected by the underlying NiO layer. Also, the photoluminescence response of the ZnO rods remained unchanged. I-V measurements did illustrate rectifying behaviour, with both the forward and reverse currents strongly decreased due to the resistive nature of the NiO. In another attempt at confining electrons to the ZnO side of the junction, AlN-coated Si (111) was used as a substrate for ZnO nanorods. CBD parameters that normally yield nanorods resulted in a plate-like architecture of the ZnO. By modifying the ZnO seed density on the AlN/Si substrate, the rod-like morphology could be recovered. Both the forward and reverse current decreased in these diodes. From studies aimed at identifying the transport mechanism it was concluded that trap-assisted tunnelling, resulting from a high density of defects in the seed layer, dominates in these devices. In conclusion, while no ZnO electroluminescence could be achieved from any of the devices, this study provides insight into the transport mechanisms in n-ZnO/barrier/p-Si heterostructures and highlights the importance of the heterointerface quality for light emitting devices.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Djiokap, Stive Roussel Tankio
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Zinc oxide , Chemical reactions , Compound semiconductors
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/29973 , vital:30802
- Description: The interest in zinc oxide (ZnO), a promising material for blue/ultraviolet light emitting devices, arises from its large exciton binding energy (60 meV). The main challenge associated with this promising compound semiconductor, however, arises from the difficulty to achieve stable and/or reproducible p-type doping. Since silicon (Si) technology still dominates the semiconductor industry, the objective of this thesis is to probe into the possibility of using ZnO nanorods (NRs) on p-type silicon for opto-electronic devices. ZnO NRs have been grown on seeded Si, as well as on nickel oxide (NiO) and aluminum nitride (AlN) coated Si, using a two-step chemical bath deposition (CBD) process. Various techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), have been used to characterize the samples. The electrical characteristics of the heterojunction between the substrate and the ZnO nanostructures were evaluated by current-voltage (I-V) and capacitance-voltage (C-V) measurements. SEM and XRD studies have confirmed that, irrespective of the orientation of the Si substrate (Si (100) and Si (111)), the two-step CBD process yielded NRs that crystallised in the wurtzite structure and exhibited a hexagonal shape. Most of the rods developed perpendicularly to the surface of the substrate, with the orientation and distribution of the rods dictated by the seed layer density. Similarly, irrespective of the substrate, the luminescence of the ZnO nanostructures is dominated by near band edge (NBE) emission in the UV region (~ 3.29 eV) and deep level emission (DLE) in the visible region (2 eV to 2.6 eV). Annealing at moderate temperatures (~ 300 °C) increased the NBE emission and decreased the DLE. The removal of surface adsorbed impurities and enhanced defect passivation by hydrogen are responsible for these changes. The diode characteristics of the ZnO/Si heterojunction was studied by I-V and C-V measurements. Rectification was observed when the Si substrate had a relatively low acceptor density of ~1016 cm-3, while diodes produced on substrate with p ~1018 cm-3 were ohmic. From the C-V analysis the donor density in the ZnO was deduced to be ~1018 cm-3. In the case of rectifying junctions, thermionic emission did not dominate the charge transport. The carrier transport mechanism was therefore probed by the temperature dependent I-V xiii measurements (100 K to 295 K). Defect-assisted multistep tunneling was deduced to dominate in the n-ZnO/p-Si diodes at low forward bias. The band alignment between n-ZnO and p-Si predicts a much smaller barrier for electrons than for holes at the interface, which results in recombination on the Si side of the junction for a forward-biased diode. NiO intermediate layers (formed on Si by the thermal oxidation of Ni) were used to reduce electron injection from ZnO into Si. Scanning probe microscopy (SPM) and XRD analysis showed that while the grain size of the poly-crystalline NiO increased with NiO film thickness, the orientation and distribution of the subsequently grown ZnO nanorods were unaffected by the underlying NiO layer. Also, the photoluminescence response of the ZnO rods remained unchanged. I-V measurements did illustrate rectifying behaviour, with both the forward and reverse currents strongly decreased due to the resistive nature of the NiO. In another attempt at confining electrons to the ZnO side of the junction, AlN-coated Si (111) was used as a substrate for ZnO nanorods. CBD parameters that normally yield nanorods resulted in a plate-like architecture of the ZnO. By modifying the ZnO seed density on the AlN/Si substrate, the rod-like morphology could be recovered. Both the forward and reverse current decreased in these diodes. From studies aimed at identifying the transport mechanism it was concluded that trap-assisted tunnelling, resulting from a high density of defects in the seed layer, dominates in these devices. In conclusion, while no ZnO electroluminescence could be achieved from any of the devices, this study provides insight into the transport mechanisms in n-ZnO/barrier/p-Si heterostructures and highlights the importance of the heterointerface quality for light emitting devices.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Assessment of the host potential of TETROL [(+)-(2R,3R)-1,1,4,4- tetraphenylbutane-1,2,3,4-TETROL] for the separation of isomers and related compounds
- Authors: Dorfling, Sasha-Lee
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Chemistry, Organic , Thermal analysis Hydrogen bonding
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/22060 , vital:29817
- Description: In this study, we investigated the potential of a host compound, (+)-(2R,3R)-1,1,4,4- tetraphenylbutane-1,2,3,4-tetrol (TETROL), for use in the separation of isomers and related compounds using host-guest chemistry. The synthesis of this host was carried out using a standard Grignard procedure, reacting naturally-occurring optically active tartaric acid with phenylmagnesium bromide. The feasibility of this host for separating isomers and structurally-related compounds was investigated by recrystallizing it from various potential cyclic, aromatic and aliphatic guest compounds. The extent of host inclusion and guest separation were determined using 1H-NMR spectroscopy and GCMS analyses. Competition studies were conducted to establish the selectivity of TETROL for the various guest species and whether this host would be able to discriminate between them. In this instance, the host was recrystallized from equimolar amounts of binary, ternary, quaternary or quinary mixtures of the guests present in each target study. Subsequent binary or ternary competitions were conducted where the molar ratios of the guest species were varied beyond equimolar, and the guest selectivity of TETROL thus evaluated by means of selectivity profiles. Further analyses included single crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD), thermal analysis and Hirshfeld surface analysis. Any crystalline inclusion complex formed between host and guest, with suitable crystal quality, was analysed using SCXRD in order to determine the nature of any significant host–guest interactions present. Thermogravimetric and differential scanning calorimetry experiments provided further insight into complex stability by analysing the thermal events experienced by the complexes as they were heated at 10 °C/min. The data obtained from Hirshfeld surface analyses were used to determine whether host selectivity and/or thermal stability of the complexes were related to the number and types of interactions, observed from SCXRD, between host and guest. The ability of TETROL to discriminate between related compounds was favourable. This host proved to have selective preference for aniline over its methylated derivatives, N-methylaniline and N,N-dimethylaniline. It was also selective for cyclohexylamine over cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone, and discriminated against the pyridine, piperidine and dioxane heterocyclics in favour of morpholine. Furthermore, this host was successful in the selective separation of isomers; for example, it selectively showed discrimination between the three toluidine isomers (p-toluidine > m-toluidine > o-toluidine) and the cresols (p-cresol > m-cresol > o-cresol). Each guest mixture was selected based on data from experiments using either the industrial significance of its separation or because the mixture would add to the knowledge base of the host compound’s preferences and selectivities. In a separate study, TETROL and its derivative, (–)-(2R,3R)-2,3-dimethoxy-1,1,4,4- tetraphenylbutane-1,4-diol (DMT), were also allowed to compete for the inclusion of the guest cyclohexanone, where TETROL demonstrated superior ability. This host, in addition, showed potential for the separation of cis- and trans- 2-methylcyclohexanol.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Dorfling, Sasha-Lee
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Chemistry, Organic , Thermal analysis Hydrogen bonding
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/22060 , vital:29817
- Description: In this study, we investigated the potential of a host compound, (+)-(2R,3R)-1,1,4,4- tetraphenylbutane-1,2,3,4-tetrol (TETROL), for use in the separation of isomers and related compounds using host-guest chemistry. The synthesis of this host was carried out using a standard Grignard procedure, reacting naturally-occurring optically active tartaric acid with phenylmagnesium bromide. The feasibility of this host for separating isomers and structurally-related compounds was investigated by recrystallizing it from various potential cyclic, aromatic and aliphatic guest compounds. The extent of host inclusion and guest separation were determined using 1H-NMR spectroscopy and GCMS analyses. Competition studies were conducted to establish the selectivity of TETROL for the various guest species and whether this host would be able to discriminate between them. In this instance, the host was recrystallized from equimolar amounts of binary, ternary, quaternary or quinary mixtures of the guests present in each target study. Subsequent binary or ternary competitions were conducted where the molar ratios of the guest species were varied beyond equimolar, and the guest selectivity of TETROL thus evaluated by means of selectivity profiles. Further analyses included single crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD), thermal analysis and Hirshfeld surface analysis. Any crystalline inclusion complex formed between host and guest, with suitable crystal quality, was analysed using SCXRD in order to determine the nature of any significant host–guest interactions present. Thermogravimetric and differential scanning calorimetry experiments provided further insight into complex stability by analysing the thermal events experienced by the complexes as they were heated at 10 °C/min. The data obtained from Hirshfeld surface analyses were used to determine whether host selectivity and/or thermal stability of the complexes were related to the number and types of interactions, observed from SCXRD, between host and guest. The ability of TETROL to discriminate between related compounds was favourable. This host proved to have selective preference for aniline over its methylated derivatives, N-methylaniline and N,N-dimethylaniline. It was also selective for cyclohexylamine over cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone, and discriminated against the pyridine, piperidine and dioxane heterocyclics in favour of morpholine. Furthermore, this host was successful in the selective separation of isomers; for example, it selectively showed discrimination between the three toluidine isomers (p-toluidine > m-toluidine > o-toluidine) and the cresols (p-cresol > m-cresol > o-cresol). Each guest mixture was selected based on data from experiments using either the industrial significance of its separation or because the mixture would add to the knowledge base of the host compound’s preferences and selectivities. In a separate study, TETROL and its derivative, (–)-(2R,3R)-2,3-dimethoxy-1,1,4,4- tetraphenylbutane-1,4-diol (DMT), were also allowed to compete for the inclusion of the guest cyclohexanone, where TETROL demonstrated superior ability. This host, in addition, showed potential for the separation of cis- and trans- 2-methylcyclohexanol.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Modelling Ionospheric vertical drifts over the African low latitude region
- Dubazane, Makhosonke Berthwell
- Authors: Dubazane, Makhosonke Berthwell
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Ionospheric drift , Magnetometers , Functions, Orthogonal , Neural networks (Computer science) , Ionospheric electron density -- Africa , Communication and Navigation Outage Forecasting Systems (C/NOFS)
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/63356 , vital:28396
- Description: Low/equatorial latitudes vertical plasma drifts and electric fields govern the formation and changes of ionospheric density structures which affect space-based systems such as communications, navigation and positioning. Dynamical and electrodynamical processes play important roles in plasma distribution at different altitudes. Because of the high variability of E × B drift in low latitude regions, coupled with various processes that sometimes originate from high latitudes especially during geomagnetic storm conditions, it is challenging to develop accurate vertical drift models. This is despite the fact that there are very few instruments dedicated to provide electric field and hence E × B drift data in low/equatorial latitude regions. To this effect, there exists no ground-based instrument for direct measurements of E×B drift data in the African sector. This study presents the first time investigation aimed at modelling the long-term variability of low latitude vertical E × B drift over the African sector using a combination of Communication and Navigation Outage Forecasting Systems (C/NOFS) and ground-based magnetometer observations/measurements during 2008-2013. Because the approach is based on the estimation of equatorial electrojet from ground-based magnetometer observations, the developed models are only valid for local daytime. Three modelling techniques have been considered. The application of Empirical Orthogonal Functions and partial least squares has been performed on vertical E × B drift modelling for the first time. The artificial neural networks that have the advantage of learning underlying changes between a set of inputs and known output were also used in vertical E × B drift modelling. Due to lack of E×B drift data over the African sector, the developed models were validated using satellite data and the climatological Scherliess-Fejer model incorporated within the International Reference Ionosphere model. Maximum correlation coefficient of ∼ 0.8 was achieved when validating the developed models with C/NOFS E × B drift observations that were not used in any model development. For most of the time, the climatological model overestimates the local daytime vertical E × B drift velocities. The methods and approach presented in this study provide a background for constructing vertical E ×B drift databases in longitude sectors that do not have radar instrumentation. This will in turn make it possible to study day-to-day variability of vertical E×B drift and hopefully lead to the development of regional and global models that will incorporate local time information in different longitude sectors.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Dubazane, Makhosonke Berthwell
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Ionospheric drift , Magnetometers , Functions, Orthogonal , Neural networks (Computer science) , Ionospheric electron density -- Africa , Communication and Navigation Outage Forecasting Systems (C/NOFS)
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/63356 , vital:28396
- Description: Low/equatorial latitudes vertical plasma drifts and electric fields govern the formation and changes of ionospheric density structures which affect space-based systems such as communications, navigation and positioning. Dynamical and electrodynamical processes play important roles in plasma distribution at different altitudes. Because of the high variability of E × B drift in low latitude regions, coupled with various processes that sometimes originate from high latitudes especially during geomagnetic storm conditions, it is challenging to develop accurate vertical drift models. This is despite the fact that there are very few instruments dedicated to provide electric field and hence E × B drift data in low/equatorial latitude regions. To this effect, there exists no ground-based instrument for direct measurements of E×B drift data in the African sector. This study presents the first time investigation aimed at modelling the long-term variability of low latitude vertical E × B drift over the African sector using a combination of Communication and Navigation Outage Forecasting Systems (C/NOFS) and ground-based magnetometer observations/measurements during 2008-2013. Because the approach is based on the estimation of equatorial electrojet from ground-based magnetometer observations, the developed models are only valid for local daytime. Three modelling techniques have been considered. The application of Empirical Orthogonal Functions and partial least squares has been performed on vertical E × B drift modelling for the first time. The artificial neural networks that have the advantage of learning underlying changes between a set of inputs and known output were also used in vertical E × B drift modelling. Due to lack of E×B drift data over the African sector, the developed models were validated using satellite data and the climatological Scherliess-Fejer model incorporated within the International Reference Ionosphere model. Maximum correlation coefficient of ∼ 0.8 was achieved when validating the developed models with C/NOFS E × B drift observations that were not used in any model development. For most of the time, the climatological model overestimates the local daytime vertical E × B drift velocities. The methods and approach presented in this study provide a background for constructing vertical E ×B drift databases in longitude sectors that do not have radar instrumentation. This will in turn make it possible to study day-to-day variability of vertical E×B drift and hopefully lead to the development of regional and global models that will incorporate local time information in different longitude sectors.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Critical assessment of the human resource capacity needs of senior management at Thaba Chweu Municipality in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa
- Authors: Dube, Boy David
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Municipal government Rural poor Senior leadership teams
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/12172 , vital:39193
- Description: The terrain of local government is not only very complex, dynamic, and challenging, but also very unique. The quality of human resources is vital in a public institution, particularly in institutions that are meant to service communities by providing sustainable basic services. Amongst the concerns raised at a municipal level are the lack of professionalism and the required competency and capacity amongst the workforce that must perform the actual duties of servicing the local communities. This study was aimed at identifying and analysing human resource development and human resource management policies, strategies and needs in line with the current circumstances and conditions at a particular municipality. A series of challenges (that a number of community members, newspaper articles, community leaders and both the Mpumalanga Provincial Government and other spheres of government raised and complained about) prompted this study. Constant complaints are leveled against municipalities about appropriate and well qualified candidates being overlooked for employment opportunities at the expense of nepotism, cronyism and blatant corrupt activities. This study is a combination of both quantitative and qualitative methods. In line with the quantitative method of generating and assembling information, the researcher used the judgement sampling method. Questionnaires were administered to collect quantitative data while primary data was collected via interviews. Data was obtained from 45 participants in Thaba Chweu Municipality. The findings show that the majority of respondents (in the form of percentages) spoke against the capacity of the officials. A smaller percentage spoke in favour of the availability of capacity. These respondents stated that municipal officials have the required skills and capacity to perform their duties. Furthermore, the study found that there was inconsistency in the implementation of council resolutions and interference in administrative matters. These factors compromised achieving the objectives of the municipal strategies and policies. The study recommends that the municipality ensures that the human resource management and development departments are consonant with current and modernised needs and that delegations to line functionaries are properly assigned and documented.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Dube, Boy David
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Municipal government Rural poor Senior leadership teams
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/12172 , vital:39193
- Description: The terrain of local government is not only very complex, dynamic, and challenging, but also very unique. The quality of human resources is vital in a public institution, particularly in institutions that are meant to service communities by providing sustainable basic services. Amongst the concerns raised at a municipal level are the lack of professionalism and the required competency and capacity amongst the workforce that must perform the actual duties of servicing the local communities. This study was aimed at identifying and analysing human resource development and human resource management policies, strategies and needs in line with the current circumstances and conditions at a particular municipality. A series of challenges (that a number of community members, newspaper articles, community leaders and both the Mpumalanga Provincial Government and other spheres of government raised and complained about) prompted this study. Constant complaints are leveled against municipalities about appropriate and well qualified candidates being overlooked for employment opportunities at the expense of nepotism, cronyism and blatant corrupt activities. This study is a combination of both quantitative and qualitative methods. In line with the quantitative method of generating and assembling information, the researcher used the judgement sampling method. Questionnaires were administered to collect quantitative data while primary data was collected via interviews. Data was obtained from 45 participants in Thaba Chweu Municipality. The findings show that the majority of respondents (in the form of percentages) spoke against the capacity of the officials. A smaller percentage spoke in favour of the availability of capacity. These respondents stated that municipal officials have the required skills and capacity to perform their duties. Furthermore, the study found that there was inconsistency in the implementation of council resolutions and interference in administrative matters. These factors compromised achieving the objectives of the municipal strategies and policies. The study recommends that the municipality ensures that the human resource management and development departments are consonant with current and modernised needs and that delegations to line functionaries are properly assigned and documented.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
The effects of frost on Albany subtropical thicket and nama-karoo shrubland in South Africa
- Authors: Duker, Robert
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Shrubland ecology , Desert ecology -- South Africa Ecological surveys -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/29951 , vital:30799
- Description: Numerous treeless shrublands exist in areas where climates should support tree growth. In South Africa, the predominantly lowland Albany Subtropical Thicket (thicket), and the predominantly upland Nama-Karoo semi-desert shrubland share a boundary that is often abrupt and analogous to a forest-shrubland alpine ‘treeline’. This boundary exists across similar climatic and edaphic conditions, and field observations and leaf-level experiments suggest that certain thicket component species have lower levels of frost tolerance than the Nama-Karoo shrubs. The hypothesis is that the occurrence of sub-zero temperatures and frost dictates the position of this boundary at both the local landscape and broader regional levels. I test this hypothesis by quantifying leaf-level and whole-plant freezing tolerance of thicket and Nama-Karoo shrubland species, in relation to their local- and regional-scale distribution, and by modelling the occurrence of frost in the mountainous areas of the coastal lowlands relation to 1) naturally occurring boundaries between these two vegetation types, and 2) levels of aboveground net primary productivity (NPP) of Portulacaria afra Jacq. (spekboom) cuttings (planted with the aim of restoring livestock-degraded thicket). I found that the observed and modelled occurrence of frost in the local landscape has significant negative influences on the photosynthetic health, survival and growth rates of thicket component species, and that leaf-level freezing tolerance of evergreen thicket and Nama-Karoo shrubland species is strongly related to their broader regional-scale distributional thresholds. These results support the hypothesis that the occurrence of sub-zero temperatures and frost play a major role in determining the local- and regional-scale distribution of thicket and Nama-Karoo shrubland species, via their reliance on frost-defined refugia at a variety of different scales, and that the once-widespread and regionally dominant thicket vegetation contracted into small climatic refugia during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). These results also have major implications for landscape- and regional-level planning of livestock-degraded thicket restoration efforts that use planting of spekboom as an ecosystem engineer, and for predicting boundary shifts under the predicted future warming of global climates.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Duker, Robert
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Shrubland ecology , Desert ecology -- South Africa Ecological surveys -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/29951 , vital:30799
- Description: Numerous treeless shrublands exist in areas where climates should support tree growth. In South Africa, the predominantly lowland Albany Subtropical Thicket (thicket), and the predominantly upland Nama-Karoo semi-desert shrubland share a boundary that is often abrupt and analogous to a forest-shrubland alpine ‘treeline’. This boundary exists across similar climatic and edaphic conditions, and field observations and leaf-level experiments suggest that certain thicket component species have lower levels of frost tolerance than the Nama-Karoo shrubs. The hypothesis is that the occurrence of sub-zero temperatures and frost dictates the position of this boundary at both the local landscape and broader regional levels. I test this hypothesis by quantifying leaf-level and whole-plant freezing tolerance of thicket and Nama-Karoo shrubland species, in relation to their local- and regional-scale distribution, and by modelling the occurrence of frost in the mountainous areas of the coastal lowlands relation to 1) naturally occurring boundaries between these two vegetation types, and 2) levels of aboveground net primary productivity (NPP) of Portulacaria afra Jacq. (spekboom) cuttings (planted with the aim of restoring livestock-degraded thicket). I found that the observed and modelled occurrence of frost in the local landscape has significant negative influences on the photosynthetic health, survival and growth rates of thicket component species, and that leaf-level freezing tolerance of evergreen thicket and Nama-Karoo shrubland species is strongly related to their broader regional-scale distributional thresholds. These results support the hypothesis that the occurrence of sub-zero temperatures and frost play a major role in determining the local- and regional-scale distribution of thicket and Nama-Karoo shrubland species, via their reliance on frost-defined refugia at a variety of different scales, and that the once-widespread and regionally dominant thicket vegetation contracted into small climatic refugia during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). These results also have major implications for landscape- and regional-level planning of livestock-degraded thicket restoration efforts that use planting of spekboom as an ecosystem engineer, and for predicting boundary shifts under the predicted future warming of global climates.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Parental involvement and grade 8 learners' academic achievement in mathematics : a study of selected schools in East London, South Africa
- Authors: Eesuola, Omobola Foluke
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Education -- Parent participation -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , Education
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/10497 , vital:35497
- Description: This investigation springs from the realization that academic achievement is influenced by different environmental factors. The influence of parental involvement on learners’ academic achievement has been recognized globally by experts in the education industry. As integral as parental involvement is, education industry is yet to come to terms on the best type of parental involvement needed for the teaching and learning of Mathematics in high schools especially at the transition phase. The aim of this study was to establish the relationship between parental involvement and grade 8 learners’ academic achievement in Mathematics. Quantitative research method was used for data collection. The data was collected with the use of parental involvement questionnaire for learners (PIQL) and learners Mathematics academic achievement scores. The research was conducted in six schools (public and private) within the East London Education District. The total sample size was 460 Grade 8 learners who were randomly selected across the board. The outcomes of the investigation revealed that parental involvement enhances the academic achievement of grade 8 learners irrespective of a definition of it or the measure of achievement. Furthermore, the results of this findings indicate that good parenting styles, parental support and parental educational background (r = 0.54; P < 0.05), (r =0.20; P< 0.05), (r = 0.68; P < 0.05) respectively are prerequisite for learners’ academic achievement in mathematics, showing that the variables are significantly related to learners academic achievement in mathematics; while parental involvement in the area of communication and family structure were very weak (r = 0.05; P > 0.05), (R=0.09; R2=.005; P < 0.05). This study therefore, recommended that parental involvement should be beefed up especially in areas of communication and family structure, by both the parents and teachers in order to enhance learners’ academic achievement in Mathematics.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Eesuola, Omobola Foluke
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Education -- Parent participation -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , Education
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/10497 , vital:35497
- Description: This investigation springs from the realization that academic achievement is influenced by different environmental factors. The influence of parental involvement on learners’ academic achievement has been recognized globally by experts in the education industry. As integral as parental involvement is, education industry is yet to come to terms on the best type of parental involvement needed for the teaching and learning of Mathematics in high schools especially at the transition phase. The aim of this study was to establish the relationship between parental involvement and grade 8 learners’ academic achievement in Mathematics. Quantitative research method was used for data collection. The data was collected with the use of parental involvement questionnaire for learners (PIQL) and learners Mathematics academic achievement scores. The research was conducted in six schools (public and private) within the East London Education District. The total sample size was 460 Grade 8 learners who were randomly selected across the board. The outcomes of the investigation revealed that parental involvement enhances the academic achievement of grade 8 learners irrespective of a definition of it or the measure of achievement. Furthermore, the results of this findings indicate that good parenting styles, parental support and parental educational background (r = 0.54; P < 0.05), (r =0.20; P< 0.05), (r = 0.68; P < 0.05) respectively are prerequisite for learners’ academic achievement in mathematics, showing that the variables are significantly related to learners academic achievement in mathematics; while parental involvement in the area of communication and family structure were very weak (r = 0.05; P > 0.05), (R=0.09; R2=.005; P < 0.05). This study therefore, recommended that parental involvement should be beefed up especially in areas of communication and family structure, by both the parents and teachers in order to enhance learners’ academic achievement in Mathematics.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
An investigation of the combustion kinetics of coal-microalgae composite
- Ejesieme, Obialo Vitus, Dugmore, Gary
- Authors: Ejesieme, Obialo Vitus , Dugmore, Gary
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Microalgae -- Biotechnology , Biomass energy -- South Africa Coal -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/34777 , vital:33447
- Description: Coal mining and handling generate sizeable quantities of ultra-fine coal particles which are heaped as discard material. Use of the ultra-fine coal for co-firing with microalgae biomass appears to be a promising option that would improve combustion of the discard. There is no available traditional biomass binder that can be used to agglomerate, reclaim, and co-fire the discard ultra-fine coal to generate heat. In a recent research, microalgae biomass was identified as an effective natural binder for discard ultra-fine coal. Biomass is a renewable resource, and many have been co-fired on a large scale except microalgae biomass. Researchers have studied co-firing of dry mixed coal-microalgae, however, the kinetics of a wet mix of microalgae biomass and ultra-fine coal, “Coalgae®” patented recently by the Nelson Mandela University needs to be explored. The study aimed at investigating in some detail the oxidation mechanism of coal-microalgae composites. The objective is to understand the impact of microalgae on the kinetic properties of coal which will inform on the application of “Coalgae®”. It involves correlating the small and large-scale combustion properties that will establish the co-firing option on an industrial scenario. The goal is to utilize all grades of discard ultra-fine resource using microalgae biomass as binder and a renewable component which enhances the combustion of coal to supply heat and electricity. The use of microalgae for fuel preparation and upgrading is on the increase due to its high growth potential, reactivity, and ability to store energy more than other biomasses. This research hypothesized that blending of discard ultra-fine coal with live microalgae biomass would improve the kinetic properties of the coal more than expected from linear combination of the dry materials. Thermogravimetric combustion of “Coalgae®” was studied under non-isothermal conditions from 40 °C to 900°C at a heating rate of 15 °C/min and air flow rate of 20 ml/min. The thermogravimetric combustion properties i.e. small-scale was related to the large-scale, John Thompson’s fixed-bed reactor under the above condition. Thermal profiles were transformed into a differential function to reveal overlapped combustion events. The Coat-Redferns kinetic model was applied on the non-de-Ejesieme, O.V. PhD Chemistry (Research), Nelson Mandela Univ. Email: ejevit@yahoo.com , s211266744@live.nmmu.ac.za convoluted reactions set to obtain some of kinetic parameters. The Fraser-Suzuki equation was used to de-convolute the overlapped combustion. Then, rate law combined with Arrhenius equation was used to derive the activation energy E a and pre-exponential factor A, while the integral form of solid states reaction model, g (∝) was applied to deduce the oxidation mechanism. The composite formed a strong and partly renewable blend under controlled temperature conditions, unlike assorted dried biomass mixed with coal. Microalgae biomass upgraded the fuel and kinetics properties of ultra-fine coal more than what was expected from a linear combination. It released heat that promoted the oxidation mechanism of the discard coal. The main effect is that the “Coalgae®” is significantly (p = 0.0570) more reactive than the coal. The co-firing approach is partly renewable and contributes to the utilization of high and low-quality available discard ultra-fine coal. It advances the combustion of coal resources and reduces carbon dioxide, CO2 emission attributed to global warming as well as preserves the natural biomass sources. The combustion of “Coalgae® “will improve economy, environment, and health, heat, and electricity supply to the society.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Ejesieme, Obialo Vitus , Dugmore, Gary
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Microalgae -- Biotechnology , Biomass energy -- South Africa Coal -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/34777 , vital:33447
- Description: Coal mining and handling generate sizeable quantities of ultra-fine coal particles which are heaped as discard material. Use of the ultra-fine coal for co-firing with microalgae biomass appears to be a promising option that would improve combustion of the discard. There is no available traditional biomass binder that can be used to agglomerate, reclaim, and co-fire the discard ultra-fine coal to generate heat. In a recent research, microalgae biomass was identified as an effective natural binder for discard ultra-fine coal. Biomass is a renewable resource, and many have been co-fired on a large scale except microalgae biomass. Researchers have studied co-firing of dry mixed coal-microalgae, however, the kinetics of a wet mix of microalgae biomass and ultra-fine coal, “Coalgae®” patented recently by the Nelson Mandela University needs to be explored. The study aimed at investigating in some detail the oxidation mechanism of coal-microalgae composites. The objective is to understand the impact of microalgae on the kinetic properties of coal which will inform on the application of “Coalgae®”. It involves correlating the small and large-scale combustion properties that will establish the co-firing option on an industrial scenario. The goal is to utilize all grades of discard ultra-fine resource using microalgae biomass as binder and a renewable component which enhances the combustion of coal to supply heat and electricity. The use of microalgae for fuel preparation and upgrading is on the increase due to its high growth potential, reactivity, and ability to store energy more than other biomasses. This research hypothesized that blending of discard ultra-fine coal with live microalgae biomass would improve the kinetic properties of the coal more than expected from linear combination of the dry materials. Thermogravimetric combustion of “Coalgae®” was studied under non-isothermal conditions from 40 °C to 900°C at a heating rate of 15 °C/min and air flow rate of 20 ml/min. The thermogravimetric combustion properties i.e. small-scale was related to the large-scale, John Thompson’s fixed-bed reactor under the above condition. Thermal profiles were transformed into a differential function to reveal overlapped combustion events. The Coat-Redferns kinetic model was applied on the non-de-Ejesieme, O.V. PhD Chemistry (Research), Nelson Mandela Univ. Email: ejevit@yahoo.com , s211266744@live.nmmu.ac.za convoluted reactions set to obtain some of kinetic parameters. The Fraser-Suzuki equation was used to de-convolute the overlapped combustion. Then, rate law combined with Arrhenius equation was used to derive the activation energy E a and pre-exponential factor A, while the integral form of solid states reaction model, g (∝) was applied to deduce the oxidation mechanism. The composite formed a strong and partly renewable blend under controlled temperature conditions, unlike assorted dried biomass mixed with coal. Microalgae biomass upgraded the fuel and kinetics properties of ultra-fine coal more than what was expected from a linear combination. It released heat that promoted the oxidation mechanism of the discard coal. The main effect is that the “Coalgae®” is significantly (p = 0.0570) more reactive than the coal. The co-firing approach is partly renewable and contributes to the utilization of high and low-quality available discard ultra-fine coal. It advances the combustion of coal resources and reduces carbon dioxide, CO2 emission attributed to global warming as well as preserves the natural biomass sources. The combustion of “Coalgae® “will improve economy, environment, and health, heat, and electricity supply to the society.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Production and molecular characterization of peroxidases from novel ligninolytic proteobacteria and bacillus strains
- Authors: Falade, Ayodeji Osmund
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Peroxidase Catalase
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9702 , vital:34823
- Description: Inadequate quantity is a major impediment to the industrial application of peroxidase and other industrial enzymes. Consequently, efforts are geared towards increasing peroxidase production by searching for new microbes with enhanced production capacity. In this study, three novel ligninolytic bacteria: Raoultella ornithinolytica OKOH-1 (KX640917), Ensifer adhaerens NWODO-2 (KX640918) and Bacillus sp. FALADE-1 (KX640922) were optimized for peroxidase production and their peroxidases characterized using molecular and biochemical approaches. Molecular analysis confirmed the presence of peroxidase genes in the three bacteria. BLAST result and phylogenetic analysis of the deduced amino acid sequences suggested that Raoultella ornithinolytica OKOH-1 peroxidase (RaoPrx) belongs to a DyP-type peroxidase family while peroxidases from Ensifer adhaerens NWODO-2 and Bacillus sp. FALADE-1 are catalase-peroxidases. The peroxidase genes are available in the GenBank with MF370527, MF374336 and MF407314 as respective accession numbers. Upon optimization, Raoultella ornithinolytica OKOH-1 exhibited the highest peroxidase production at pH 5, 35 oC and 150 rpm. Biochemical characterization showed that RaoPrx had a wide substrate specificity as it was able to oxidize all the tested substrates in this study (ABTS, veratryl alcohol, guaiacol and pyrogallol), except 2, 6-Dimethoxyphenol. However, highest activity by the enzyme was recorded with pyrogallol as substrate. The enzyme had an optimum activity at pH 6 and 50 oC and was very stable at high temperatures (50 oC – 70 oC). Its pH stability was over a pH range of 5.0 – 7.0. Moreover, RaoPrx activity was significantly enhanced by Ag+, Cu2+, Zn2+and Fe2+ while Ca2+, Mg2+, Ba2+, Al3+, Co2+, NaN3 and EDTA inhibited the activity of the enzyme. Nevertheless, RaoPrx exhibited a remarkable dye-decolourizing activity on congo red and melanin, indicating the biotechnological potential of the enzyme in dye decolourization and development of cosmetic agent. Generally, the results from this study suggest that ligninolytic bacteria hold a great potential for enhanced peroxidase production that could meet the increasing industrial demand.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Falade, Ayodeji Osmund
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Peroxidase Catalase
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9702 , vital:34823
- Description: Inadequate quantity is a major impediment to the industrial application of peroxidase and other industrial enzymes. Consequently, efforts are geared towards increasing peroxidase production by searching for new microbes with enhanced production capacity. In this study, three novel ligninolytic bacteria: Raoultella ornithinolytica OKOH-1 (KX640917), Ensifer adhaerens NWODO-2 (KX640918) and Bacillus sp. FALADE-1 (KX640922) were optimized for peroxidase production and their peroxidases characterized using molecular and biochemical approaches. Molecular analysis confirmed the presence of peroxidase genes in the three bacteria. BLAST result and phylogenetic analysis of the deduced amino acid sequences suggested that Raoultella ornithinolytica OKOH-1 peroxidase (RaoPrx) belongs to a DyP-type peroxidase family while peroxidases from Ensifer adhaerens NWODO-2 and Bacillus sp. FALADE-1 are catalase-peroxidases. The peroxidase genes are available in the GenBank with MF370527, MF374336 and MF407314 as respective accession numbers. Upon optimization, Raoultella ornithinolytica OKOH-1 exhibited the highest peroxidase production at pH 5, 35 oC and 150 rpm. Biochemical characterization showed that RaoPrx had a wide substrate specificity as it was able to oxidize all the tested substrates in this study (ABTS, veratryl alcohol, guaiacol and pyrogallol), except 2, 6-Dimethoxyphenol. However, highest activity by the enzyme was recorded with pyrogallol as substrate. The enzyme had an optimum activity at pH 6 and 50 oC and was very stable at high temperatures (50 oC – 70 oC). Its pH stability was over a pH range of 5.0 – 7.0. Moreover, RaoPrx activity was significantly enhanced by Ag+, Cu2+, Zn2+and Fe2+ while Ca2+, Mg2+, Ba2+, Al3+, Co2+, NaN3 and EDTA inhibited the activity of the enzyme. Nevertheless, RaoPrx exhibited a remarkable dye-decolourizing activity on congo red and melanin, indicating the biotechnological potential of the enzyme in dye decolourization and development of cosmetic agent. Generally, the results from this study suggest that ligninolytic bacteria hold a great potential for enhanced peroxidase production that could meet the increasing industrial demand.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Evaluation and identification of microbial contaminants in polyherbal medicines used for the treatment of tuberculosis in Amathole District Municipality, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
- Authors: Famewo, Elizabeth Bosede
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Tuberculosis -- Treatment -- South Africa Mycobacterial diseases -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Medicinal plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9680 , vital:34818
- Description: Tuberculosis is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The emergence of drug-resistant strains of this organism has become a global public health problem. In the continuing search for effective treatment, polyherbal medicines offer a great hope in the development of alternative drugs for the treatment of tuberculosis. The use of herbal formulations for therapeutic purposes has significantly increased in the developed and developing countries because of their curative property, less toxicity and minimal side effects. However, there is little information on their safety and effectiveness in the literature. To address this, polyherbal medicines used for the treatment of tuberculosis in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa were evaluated. Ethno-medicinal survey was conducted through semi-structured questionnaires coupled with informal conversations with the herbal sellers in five communities in the study area. Bacterial and fungal DNA was extracted from the polyherbal medicines purchased. A fragment of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene and internal transcribed spacer region of the fungal rRNA operon were amplified with universal primers 27F and 518R, and ITS1 and ITS4 respectively. Following standard procedures, the amplicons were finally run on Illumina’s MiSeq platform. Furthermore, the remedies were screened against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv using Middlebrook 7H9 media and MGIT BACTEC 960 system. Agar dilution method was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the remedies against eight bacteria and three fungi isolates. The herbal preparations were assayed for their toxicity using hatchability success and larval mortality of Artemia salina Leach. Finally, their nutritive properties were analysed using an inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer for mineral analysis while the vitamins were determined using standardized methods A total of nine polyherbal preparations were collected. The herbs used for the preparation of these remedies belong to 20 families. Apiaceae [5(25 percent)] was the most prominent plant family used, followed by Liliaceae [4(20 percent)], Strychnaceae [4(20 percent)], Rutaceae [4(20 percent)] and Hypoxidaceae [3(15 percent)]. The two most frequently used plants were Allium sativum L. (Liliaceae) and Strychnos decussata (Pappe) Gilg. (Strychnaceae). Rhizomes was the most common parts used, followed by the roots and barks. The herbal medicines were prepared mainly by infusion and decoction. The presences of pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria were identified in the polyherbal medicines. Generally, the most common bacteria identified from the samples were Bacillus sp., Enterobacter sp., Klebsiella sp., Rahnella sp., Paenibacillus sp., Clostridium sp. and Pantoea sp. The predominant mycoflora obtained belongs to different genera or species of fungi; these include Alternaria, Candida, Ramularia, Cladosporium, Penicillium, Aspergillus and Malassezia. The susceptibility testing revealed that all the remedies contain anti-tubercular activity against M. tuberculosis H37Rv at concentrations below 50 ug/ml. Seven of the polyherbal preparations showed activity at concentrations below 25 ug/ml. The MIC values exhibited inhibitory activity at 1.562 μg/ml. However, isoniazid showed more inhibitory activity against M. tuberculosis at 0.05 μg/ml when compared to the polyherbal remedies. The inhibitory activity of the polyherbal medicines based on the overall MIC revealed that Hogsback first site (HBfs) and Fort Beaufort (FB) remedies were the most active remedies against the bacterial isolates at the concentration of 2.5 mg/mL. Among the nine herbal formulations, only King Williams Town site A (KWTa) remedy showed activity against Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus fumigatus with the MIC valve of 2.5 mg/mL. While King Williams Town site C (KWTc) and Hogsback third site (HBts) had the highest activity at 1.25 mg/mL against Candida albicans, the remaining remedies were active at 2.5 mg/mL. The percentage hatchability of 44.42 percent, 42.96 percent and 39.70 percent were observed in A. salina cysts incubated with herbal preparations from KWTa, HBfs and HBts respectively. The hatching success of the cysts in these remedies was significantly higher than the positive control (nystatin) and the negative control (sea water) at p < 0.05. The mortality of A. salina nauplii incubated in Alice (AL), King Williams Town site B (KWTb) and KWTc remedies were significantly higher than when larvae were incubated in both controls. Based on Meyer’s index, the LD50 of each polyherbal medicine was between 2.9 and 4.0 mg/ml, the LD50 values greater than 1 mg/ml, an indication that they are not toxic. The polyherbal preparations were found to be rich in vitamins and mineral nutrients. Calcium was the highest macronutrient detected while the lowest nutrient was phosphorus. Iron was the highest micronutrient in the majority of the polyherbal preparations while the lowest value was recorded for copper. Vitamin C was absent in the herbal preparations while vitamin A and E were detected. This study provides significant ethno-medicinal information on polyherbal medicines used for the treatment of TB in the study area. The presence of the identified bacteria and fungi in the herbal formulations is a cause for concern. However, the ability of the remedies to possess activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and other pathogenic microorganisms associated with tuberculosis infection makes them potential sources of new antimycobacterial agents. Also, they are rich sources of mineral nutrients, and are as well non-toxic, thus, they are safe for consumption. In view of their anti-tubercular properties, this study has provided a better understanding of the reasons why TB-patients make use of these polyherbal formulations. Also, the study supports the folkloric use of polyherbal medicines in the treatment of tuberculosis in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Famewo, Elizabeth Bosede
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Tuberculosis -- Treatment -- South Africa Mycobacterial diseases -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Medicinal plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9680 , vital:34818
- Description: Tuberculosis is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The emergence of drug-resistant strains of this organism has become a global public health problem. In the continuing search for effective treatment, polyherbal medicines offer a great hope in the development of alternative drugs for the treatment of tuberculosis. The use of herbal formulations for therapeutic purposes has significantly increased in the developed and developing countries because of their curative property, less toxicity and minimal side effects. However, there is little information on their safety and effectiveness in the literature. To address this, polyherbal medicines used for the treatment of tuberculosis in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa were evaluated. Ethno-medicinal survey was conducted through semi-structured questionnaires coupled with informal conversations with the herbal sellers in five communities in the study area. Bacterial and fungal DNA was extracted from the polyherbal medicines purchased. A fragment of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene and internal transcribed spacer region of the fungal rRNA operon were amplified with universal primers 27F and 518R, and ITS1 and ITS4 respectively. Following standard procedures, the amplicons were finally run on Illumina’s MiSeq platform. Furthermore, the remedies were screened against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv using Middlebrook 7H9 media and MGIT BACTEC 960 system. Agar dilution method was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the remedies against eight bacteria and three fungi isolates. The herbal preparations were assayed for their toxicity using hatchability success and larval mortality of Artemia salina Leach. Finally, their nutritive properties were analysed using an inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer for mineral analysis while the vitamins were determined using standardized methods A total of nine polyherbal preparations were collected. The herbs used for the preparation of these remedies belong to 20 families. Apiaceae [5(25 percent)] was the most prominent plant family used, followed by Liliaceae [4(20 percent)], Strychnaceae [4(20 percent)], Rutaceae [4(20 percent)] and Hypoxidaceae [3(15 percent)]. The two most frequently used plants were Allium sativum L. (Liliaceae) and Strychnos decussata (Pappe) Gilg. (Strychnaceae). Rhizomes was the most common parts used, followed by the roots and barks. The herbal medicines were prepared mainly by infusion and decoction. The presences of pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria were identified in the polyherbal medicines. Generally, the most common bacteria identified from the samples were Bacillus sp., Enterobacter sp., Klebsiella sp., Rahnella sp., Paenibacillus sp., Clostridium sp. and Pantoea sp. The predominant mycoflora obtained belongs to different genera or species of fungi; these include Alternaria, Candida, Ramularia, Cladosporium, Penicillium, Aspergillus and Malassezia. The susceptibility testing revealed that all the remedies contain anti-tubercular activity against M. tuberculosis H37Rv at concentrations below 50 ug/ml. Seven of the polyherbal preparations showed activity at concentrations below 25 ug/ml. The MIC values exhibited inhibitory activity at 1.562 μg/ml. However, isoniazid showed more inhibitory activity against M. tuberculosis at 0.05 μg/ml when compared to the polyherbal remedies. The inhibitory activity of the polyherbal medicines based on the overall MIC revealed that Hogsback first site (HBfs) and Fort Beaufort (FB) remedies were the most active remedies against the bacterial isolates at the concentration of 2.5 mg/mL. Among the nine herbal formulations, only King Williams Town site A (KWTa) remedy showed activity against Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus fumigatus with the MIC valve of 2.5 mg/mL. While King Williams Town site C (KWTc) and Hogsback third site (HBts) had the highest activity at 1.25 mg/mL against Candida albicans, the remaining remedies were active at 2.5 mg/mL. The percentage hatchability of 44.42 percent, 42.96 percent and 39.70 percent were observed in A. salina cysts incubated with herbal preparations from KWTa, HBfs and HBts respectively. The hatching success of the cysts in these remedies was significantly higher than the positive control (nystatin) and the negative control (sea water) at p < 0.05. The mortality of A. salina nauplii incubated in Alice (AL), King Williams Town site B (KWTb) and KWTc remedies were significantly higher than when larvae were incubated in both controls. Based on Meyer’s index, the LD50 of each polyherbal medicine was between 2.9 and 4.0 mg/ml, the LD50 values greater than 1 mg/ml, an indication that they are not toxic. The polyherbal preparations were found to be rich in vitamins and mineral nutrients. Calcium was the highest macronutrient detected while the lowest nutrient was phosphorus. Iron was the highest micronutrient in the majority of the polyherbal preparations while the lowest value was recorded for copper. Vitamin C was absent in the herbal preparations while vitamin A and E were detected. This study provides significant ethno-medicinal information on polyherbal medicines used for the treatment of TB in the study area. The presence of the identified bacteria and fungi in the herbal formulations is a cause for concern. However, the ability of the remedies to possess activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and other pathogenic microorganisms associated with tuberculosis infection makes them potential sources of new antimycobacterial agents. Also, they are rich sources of mineral nutrients, and are as well non-toxic, thus, they are safe for consumption. In view of their anti-tubercular properties, this study has provided a better understanding of the reasons why TB-patients make use of these polyherbal formulations. Also, the study supports the folkloric use of polyherbal medicines in the treatment of tuberculosis in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Livelihood and unemployment transitions : drivers and effects on welfare in Nigeria
- Authors: Fashogbon, Ayodele Emmanuel
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Social service -- Nigeria Social problems -- Nigeria Nigeria -- Social conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9176 , vital:34302
- Description: Hunger, unemployment and social crisis are increasing in Nigeria. Statistics supports it that most of the able-bodied youth, both male and female, are not in employment, school or training in Nigeria while poverty rate is as high as a decade ago. A number of research efforts have looked at the micro and macroeconomic paths of the problem with less attention on dynamism of unemployment vis-a-vis the labour market transition, hence this study. This study investigates dynamism of labour market by assessing pattern and transition in labour market and out of labour, as well as determining the effect size of households head’s unemployment on household welfare. To achieve this objective, the General Household Survey (GHS) panel data for 2010/211 and 2012/2013 for Nigeria was used coupled with panel regression analyses to identify determinants of transitions from unemployment to productive sectors, and determinants of transition from productive sectors to unemployment, as well as effect of unemployment on household welfare while controlling for potential endogeneity in unemployment. Across the productive sectors and between 2010 and 2013, the descriptive results of transition show that workforce in the services sector (68 percent) are the most persistent, followed by agriculture (59 percent) and least is mining and manufacturing (44 percent). Transition from nonemployment occurred the most to services sector (22 percent), followed by out-of-labour force (18 percent), agriculture (15 percent) and least to mining and manufacturing (5 percent). Further, the results show that there are both locations and gender differences in the extent of transitions in the labour market. The econometric analyses reveal that job search characteristics, age, educational levels, gender, family ties, locations and time significantly determine transition from unemployment to productive sectors (agriculture or non-agriculture). Likewise, job characteristics, demographic variables, social network, location and time significantly determine switch from one productive sector to another or to unemployment. Moreover, it explicitly reveals as well from the analysis that household head month of unemployment reduces household total consumption and food consumption by 6.4 percent with gender and sectorial differences. The study recommends a combined and swift intervention on three sides: one, there is a need to stimulate education either through scholarship, or adult education from both public and private sectors; two, need to create jobs for youth to reduce potential social and economic crisis; and lastly there is a need to provide social support either in terms of public workfare, skills for jobs and unemployment benefits.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Fashogbon, Ayodele Emmanuel
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Social service -- Nigeria Social problems -- Nigeria Nigeria -- Social conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9176 , vital:34302
- Description: Hunger, unemployment and social crisis are increasing in Nigeria. Statistics supports it that most of the able-bodied youth, both male and female, are not in employment, school or training in Nigeria while poverty rate is as high as a decade ago. A number of research efforts have looked at the micro and macroeconomic paths of the problem with less attention on dynamism of unemployment vis-a-vis the labour market transition, hence this study. This study investigates dynamism of labour market by assessing pattern and transition in labour market and out of labour, as well as determining the effect size of households head’s unemployment on household welfare. To achieve this objective, the General Household Survey (GHS) panel data for 2010/211 and 2012/2013 for Nigeria was used coupled with panel regression analyses to identify determinants of transitions from unemployment to productive sectors, and determinants of transition from productive sectors to unemployment, as well as effect of unemployment on household welfare while controlling for potential endogeneity in unemployment. Across the productive sectors and between 2010 and 2013, the descriptive results of transition show that workforce in the services sector (68 percent) are the most persistent, followed by agriculture (59 percent) and least is mining and manufacturing (44 percent). Transition from nonemployment occurred the most to services sector (22 percent), followed by out-of-labour force (18 percent), agriculture (15 percent) and least to mining and manufacturing (5 percent). Further, the results show that there are both locations and gender differences in the extent of transitions in the labour market. The econometric analyses reveal that job search characteristics, age, educational levels, gender, family ties, locations and time significantly determine transition from unemployment to productive sectors (agriculture or non-agriculture). Likewise, job characteristics, demographic variables, social network, location and time significantly determine switch from one productive sector to another or to unemployment. Moreover, it explicitly reveals as well from the analysis that household head month of unemployment reduces household total consumption and food consumption by 6.4 percent with gender and sectorial differences. The study recommends a combined and swift intervention on three sides: one, there is a need to stimulate education either through scholarship, or adult education from both public and private sectors; two, need to create jobs for youth to reduce potential social and economic crisis; and lastly there is a need to provide social support either in terms of public workfare, skills for jobs and unemployment benefits.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
A social media model for public participation in a South African municipality
- Authors: Fashoro, Ifeoluwapo
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Information technology -- Social aspects -- South Africa , Social media -- South Africa Political participation -- Technological innovations -- South Africa Municipal government -- South Africa -- Citizen participation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/29851 , vital:30786
- Description: Social media have become the preferred method of communication for individuals, organisations and even governments. These technologies have become ingrained in our everyday lives and have changed the way we communicate, collaborate are informed of recent happenings around the world. Social media websites are reported to be the most popular around the world. In the government sphere, social media is purported as a technology that will revolutionise citizen participation, service delivery and government-citizen interactions. Accordingly, governments around the world are steadily implementing social media in a bid to meet citizens’ demand for immediate and constant access to information, as well as increased opportunities to participate in government. Public participation has become an important focus area for government which could be used to effectively engage citizens and foster citizen trust. The United Nation’s E-government survey reports the presence of 125 countries on social media platforms. Despite the increased use of social media by governments, consensus among researchers is that governments need guidance on how to use social media effectively to achieve the potential benefits proposed by these technologies. Many social media adoptions by governments have been deemed as experimental; no formal action plan was designed, and many government employees are expected to learn social media use on-the-job. The aim of this research was to investigate and propose a social media model for public participation to leverage the opportunities provided by social media and present an effective and structured approach towards public participation. The research was designed as a mixed methods research using a case study based in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The research involved a survey of citizens in the selected municipality based on the Uses and Gratifications Theory, interviews with employees responsible for social media in said municipality and a contents analysis of the existing social media pages of the municipality. The model was developed from the findings of the survey, interviews and existing literature. The implementation of the model was done in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. The municipality appointed a social media champion responsible for obtaining support from top management and politicians within the municipality. Additional staff were added to the social media team and formal social media training was provided to the team. An official social media strategy was drafted and at the time of writing, needed to be approved by top management. The proposed model was operationalised within the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. This research makes several contributions to the E-government and social media fields in South Africa. The major contribution is the provision of guidance for South African municipalities to implement and use social media in an effective manner to achieve public participation. The research provided a phased approach to social media implementation that eliminates ad hoc experimentation and ensures the municipality’s social media activities are effective. The development of the model was based on the characteristics of the municipality and its citizens derived from the interviews and survey carried out. There are five phases in the model; Initialisation, Setup, Organisation, Institutionalisation and Maintenance. The model can be thought of as a guideline, and as such municipalities should adapt the implementation of the model to fit their organisational characteristics. The social media model will assist municipalities to determine the resources, tools and tactics to enable them to implement social media effectively, which will result in an improved engagement and participation process with citizens, and thereby foster trust.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Fashoro, Ifeoluwapo
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Information technology -- Social aspects -- South Africa , Social media -- South Africa Political participation -- Technological innovations -- South Africa Municipal government -- South Africa -- Citizen participation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/29851 , vital:30786
- Description: Social media have become the preferred method of communication for individuals, organisations and even governments. These technologies have become ingrained in our everyday lives and have changed the way we communicate, collaborate are informed of recent happenings around the world. Social media websites are reported to be the most popular around the world. In the government sphere, social media is purported as a technology that will revolutionise citizen participation, service delivery and government-citizen interactions. Accordingly, governments around the world are steadily implementing social media in a bid to meet citizens’ demand for immediate and constant access to information, as well as increased opportunities to participate in government. Public participation has become an important focus area for government which could be used to effectively engage citizens and foster citizen trust. The United Nation’s E-government survey reports the presence of 125 countries on social media platforms. Despite the increased use of social media by governments, consensus among researchers is that governments need guidance on how to use social media effectively to achieve the potential benefits proposed by these technologies. Many social media adoptions by governments have been deemed as experimental; no formal action plan was designed, and many government employees are expected to learn social media use on-the-job. The aim of this research was to investigate and propose a social media model for public participation to leverage the opportunities provided by social media and present an effective and structured approach towards public participation. The research was designed as a mixed methods research using a case study based in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The research involved a survey of citizens in the selected municipality based on the Uses and Gratifications Theory, interviews with employees responsible for social media in said municipality and a contents analysis of the existing social media pages of the municipality. The model was developed from the findings of the survey, interviews and existing literature. The implementation of the model was done in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. The municipality appointed a social media champion responsible for obtaining support from top management and politicians within the municipality. Additional staff were added to the social media team and formal social media training was provided to the team. An official social media strategy was drafted and at the time of writing, needed to be approved by top management. The proposed model was operationalised within the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. This research makes several contributions to the E-government and social media fields in South Africa. The major contribution is the provision of guidance for South African municipalities to implement and use social media in an effective manner to achieve public participation. The research provided a phased approach to social media implementation that eliminates ad hoc experimentation and ensures the municipality’s social media activities are effective. The development of the model was based on the characteristics of the municipality and its citizens derived from the interviews and survey carried out. There are five phases in the model; Initialisation, Setup, Organisation, Institutionalisation and Maintenance. The model can be thought of as a guideline, and as such municipalities should adapt the implementation of the model to fit their organisational characteristics. The social media model will assist municipalities to determine the resources, tools and tactics to enable them to implement social media effectively, which will result in an improved engagement and participation process with citizens, and thereby foster trust.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Sustainable competitive tourism in South Africa
- Authors: Ferreira, Daniel Petrus
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Tourism -- South Africa , Sustainable development Competition -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/22464 , vital:29972
- Description: Tourism is one of the major economic industries in the world and is one of the main income sources for many developing countries such as South Africa (SA). The South African tourism industry contributes approximately R309 billion to the country‘s Gross Domestic Product, and is considered the country‘s fastest growing industry. Although, in comparison to 2016 SA experienced a 2% growth rate of international tourist arrivals in 2014, the increase is considerably lower than the global average of 7%. In 2018, SA also dropped five rankings to number 61, as compared to the previous year according to the Global Competitiveness 2017 to 2018 report. Consequently, SA is not considered a competitive global tourism economy. To increase the country‘s position in the global ranking, it must develop policies and marketing strategies that include both competitive and sustainable aspects. The primary objective of this study is to develop a sustainable- and competitive tourism model for SA. The study investigated and analysed how the independent variables (tourism driving forces) influence sustainable- and competitive tourism (dependent variables). From a comprehensive literature review, a hypothetical model was developed to determine tourism driving forces that might influence sustainable- and competitive tourism. Twenty-two hypotheses were formulated to test the relationships between the eleven tourism driving forces and two dependent variables, namely sustainable- and competitive tourism. This quantitative research approach study sought the perceptions of various tourism stakeholders in SA. A survey was conducted with the aid of a structured web-based questionnaire, distributed via e-mail, and posted on various tourism-specific Facebook pages. A combination of convenience- and snowball sampling was utilised. A final sample of 512 respondents was obtained. The items in the questionnaire were validated by conducting exploratory factor analysis, thereafter the Cronbach‘s alpha values were calculated for each of the valid constructs to confirm inter-item reliability. The results of the Pearson product-moment correlation tests between the various independent and dependent variables revealed mostly moderate to strong correlations. For this reason, multi-collinearity diagnostics testing was conducted prior to multiple regression analysis to confirm that there is no evidence of collinearity between the tourism driving forces, as well as between the dependent variables. The multiple regression analysis reveals three statistically significant relationships between the enabling country conditions (market conditions, technological conditions and tourism policy development) and sustainable tourism. In addition, four statistically significant relationships were found between the destination appeal forces (enablers, enhancers, infrastructure and political conditions) and competitive tourism. The empirical findings further confirmed natural attraction promotional tactics as a destination appeal driving force had a statistically significant relationship with both competitive tourism and sustainability tourism. The inter-relationship between sustainable- and competitive tourism was also confirmed, however, competitive tourism was shown to influence sustainable tourism to a larger extent. Multivariate analysis of variance calculations was used to identify whether the demographic profiles of respondents (classification data) occupy a role in how they view the tourism forces (destination appeal and enabling country conditions) important to create tourism demand in South Africa. A total of 69 statistically significant relationships were found between the classification data and the tourism forces. Post-hoc Tukey tests identified numerous significant means differences within the different classification data categories. The Cohen‘s D analysis revealed 135 practically significant relationships, of which twenty had large practical significance. The five key aspects relevant to increase tourism demand were to have a discrimination-free country regarding race, religion and sexual preference, as well as a safe and stable tourism environment without xenophobic violence. For this reason, the SA government must work actively towards providing a peaceful, safe and discrimination-free tourism environment to attract tourists. Based on the multiple regression results, the marketing of SA‘s natural attractions as a destination appeal factor is essential for competitive tourism to enhance the tourism experience, while it is also imperative for sustainable tourism to increase tourism demand. It is thus suggested that SA Tourism update relevant information regarding the country‘s wildlife and national parks monthly to remain competitive in its quest to towards sustainability. As the destination appeal factors (enablers, enhancers, infrastructure and political conditions) had statistically significant relationships with competitive tourism, these destination appeal factors require consideration. It is therefore recommended that SA should ensure its visa regulations are easily understood, and consider introducing a Tourist Visa On Arrival system to increase the country‘s global tourism competitiveness. In addition, SA should consider creating business- and paleo-tourism niche markets for tourism sustainability. Furthermore, the marketing material must outline the favourable infrastructure available and contain visuals to capture the tourists‘ experiences when selecting SA as a travel destination. The SA government should act responsibly in addressing politically-related unrest through public condemnation of xenophobic violence and showing the severe consequences to those involved in it. Based on the empirical results, enabling country condition factors such as market- and technological conditions, as well as paying attention to the development of the tourism policy, are essential in striving towards sustainable tourism in SA. It is thus suggested that tourism companies promote SA‘s current (2018) favourable exchange rate to potential foreign tourists originating from developed countries. Furthermore, the SA government should adopt globally acceptable online travel application technology to provide travellers with access to reliable and accurate information and enable easy and swift online bookings. This study can be considered one of the first in SA to compile a comprehensive model to confirm empirically which tourism driving forces bring about sustainable- and competitive tourism in the country. This model can now be used by other researchers as a framework for further testing within their respective countries. The study is also the first to identify the major role the demographic profiles of tourists can play in how they view the tourism forces by clearly indicating the differences in thinking of the different demographic groups. The recommendations are tailored for different stakeholder groups such as the government, SA Tourism and travel companies to market SA aptly in their quest towards increasing the country‘s tourism competitiveness and striving towards sustainable tourism.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Ferreira, Daniel Petrus
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Tourism -- South Africa , Sustainable development Competition -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/22464 , vital:29972
- Description: Tourism is one of the major economic industries in the world and is one of the main income sources for many developing countries such as South Africa (SA). The South African tourism industry contributes approximately R309 billion to the country‘s Gross Domestic Product, and is considered the country‘s fastest growing industry. Although, in comparison to 2016 SA experienced a 2% growth rate of international tourist arrivals in 2014, the increase is considerably lower than the global average of 7%. In 2018, SA also dropped five rankings to number 61, as compared to the previous year according to the Global Competitiveness 2017 to 2018 report. Consequently, SA is not considered a competitive global tourism economy. To increase the country‘s position in the global ranking, it must develop policies and marketing strategies that include both competitive and sustainable aspects. The primary objective of this study is to develop a sustainable- and competitive tourism model for SA. The study investigated and analysed how the independent variables (tourism driving forces) influence sustainable- and competitive tourism (dependent variables). From a comprehensive literature review, a hypothetical model was developed to determine tourism driving forces that might influence sustainable- and competitive tourism. Twenty-two hypotheses were formulated to test the relationships between the eleven tourism driving forces and two dependent variables, namely sustainable- and competitive tourism. This quantitative research approach study sought the perceptions of various tourism stakeholders in SA. A survey was conducted with the aid of a structured web-based questionnaire, distributed via e-mail, and posted on various tourism-specific Facebook pages. A combination of convenience- and snowball sampling was utilised. A final sample of 512 respondents was obtained. The items in the questionnaire were validated by conducting exploratory factor analysis, thereafter the Cronbach‘s alpha values were calculated for each of the valid constructs to confirm inter-item reliability. The results of the Pearson product-moment correlation tests between the various independent and dependent variables revealed mostly moderate to strong correlations. For this reason, multi-collinearity diagnostics testing was conducted prior to multiple regression analysis to confirm that there is no evidence of collinearity between the tourism driving forces, as well as between the dependent variables. The multiple regression analysis reveals three statistically significant relationships between the enabling country conditions (market conditions, technological conditions and tourism policy development) and sustainable tourism. In addition, four statistically significant relationships were found between the destination appeal forces (enablers, enhancers, infrastructure and political conditions) and competitive tourism. The empirical findings further confirmed natural attraction promotional tactics as a destination appeal driving force had a statistically significant relationship with both competitive tourism and sustainability tourism. The inter-relationship between sustainable- and competitive tourism was also confirmed, however, competitive tourism was shown to influence sustainable tourism to a larger extent. Multivariate analysis of variance calculations was used to identify whether the demographic profiles of respondents (classification data) occupy a role in how they view the tourism forces (destination appeal and enabling country conditions) important to create tourism demand in South Africa. A total of 69 statistically significant relationships were found between the classification data and the tourism forces. Post-hoc Tukey tests identified numerous significant means differences within the different classification data categories. The Cohen‘s D analysis revealed 135 practically significant relationships, of which twenty had large practical significance. The five key aspects relevant to increase tourism demand were to have a discrimination-free country regarding race, religion and sexual preference, as well as a safe and stable tourism environment without xenophobic violence. For this reason, the SA government must work actively towards providing a peaceful, safe and discrimination-free tourism environment to attract tourists. Based on the multiple regression results, the marketing of SA‘s natural attractions as a destination appeal factor is essential for competitive tourism to enhance the tourism experience, while it is also imperative for sustainable tourism to increase tourism demand. It is thus suggested that SA Tourism update relevant information regarding the country‘s wildlife and national parks monthly to remain competitive in its quest to towards sustainability. As the destination appeal factors (enablers, enhancers, infrastructure and political conditions) had statistically significant relationships with competitive tourism, these destination appeal factors require consideration. It is therefore recommended that SA should ensure its visa regulations are easily understood, and consider introducing a Tourist Visa On Arrival system to increase the country‘s global tourism competitiveness. In addition, SA should consider creating business- and paleo-tourism niche markets for tourism sustainability. Furthermore, the marketing material must outline the favourable infrastructure available and contain visuals to capture the tourists‘ experiences when selecting SA as a travel destination. The SA government should act responsibly in addressing politically-related unrest through public condemnation of xenophobic violence and showing the severe consequences to those involved in it. Based on the empirical results, enabling country condition factors such as market- and technological conditions, as well as paying attention to the development of the tourism policy, are essential in striving towards sustainable tourism in SA. It is thus suggested that tourism companies promote SA‘s current (2018) favourable exchange rate to potential foreign tourists originating from developed countries. Furthermore, the SA government should adopt globally acceptable online travel application technology to provide travellers with access to reliable and accurate information and enable easy and swift online bookings. This study can be considered one of the first in SA to compile a comprehensive model to confirm empirically which tourism driving forces bring about sustainable- and competitive tourism in the country. This model can now be used by other researchers as a framework for further testing within their respective countries. The study is also the first to identify the major role the demographic profiles of tourists can play in how they view the tourism forces by clearly indicating the differences in thinking of the different demographic groups. The recommendations are tailored for different stakeholder groups such as the government, SA Tourism and travel companies to market SA aptly in their quest towards increasing the country‘s tourism competitiveness and striving towards sustainable tourism.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Strategies used by teachers to promote reading in grade 4 : a case of english first additional language learners
- Authors: Fesi, Liziwe
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: English language -- Study and teaching English language -- Rhetoric Reading -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9264 , vital:34316
- Description: The study examines strategies used by teachers to promote reading: A Case of English First Additional Language Learners. The study was located within the constructivism paradigm of reading and used a qualitative research approach that incorporated a case study research design in the collection, analysis and interpretation of the data. The data instruments used were interviews and observations. Data were analyzed using non-statistical procedures. The findings of the study revealed that reading problems are still eminent in Grade Four. It was found that the resources in schools inhibits the progress to promote reading. The educational system is underdeveloped and under resourced with respect to reading materials, and schools are in a bad state due to obsolete facilities. Inadequate infrastructure is also another challenge since most of the participants reported that classes are overcrowded; thus, limiting the space to interact with learners. It was found that primary schools have no libraries; as a result, it was difficult for the teachers to instill the culture of reading. Some participants revealed that technology can be useful to encourage reading, however, their schools have no computer centers and most teachers do not know how to use computers. It emerged from the findings that parents fail to involve themselves in their children’s education. In addition, it was found that poor socio-economic backgrounds affect many homes, and this has a negative impact on schools. Most South African parents are found to be unable to support their children at all. There are also challenges interconnected with the English First Additional Language learners, the eccentricities of the English language, the teacher training and continuing professional development of teachers, as it emerged from the findings of this study that most teachers do not understand the reading strategies, skills of teaching reading and learners lack vocabulary, hence their resistance to reading. A comprehensive model of strategies to improve reading in primary schools was developed by the researcher based on the findings of the study and an extensive literature review.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Fesi, Liziwe
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: English language -- Study and teaching English language -- Rhetoric Reading -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9264 , vital:34316
- Description: The study examines strategies used by teachers to promote reading: A Case of English First Additional Language Learners. The study was located within the constructivism paradigm of reading and used a qualitative research approach that incorporated a case study research design in the collection, analysis and interpretation of the data. The data instruments used were interviews and observations. Data were analyzed using non-statistical procedures. The findings of the study revealed that reading problems are still eminent in Grade Four. It was found that the resources in schools inhibits the progress to promote reading. The educational system is underdeveloped and under resourced with respect to reading materials, and schools are in a bad state due to obsolete facilities. Inadequate infrastructure is also another challenge since most of the participants reported that classes are overcrowded; thus, limiting the space to interact with learners. It was found that primary schools have no libraries; as a result, it was difficult for the teachers to instill the culture of reading. Some participants revealed that technology can be useful to encourage reading, however, their schools have no computer centers and most teachers do not know how to use computers. It emerged from the findings that parents fail to involve themselves in their children’s education. In addition, it was found that poor socio-economic backgrounds affect many homes, and this has a negative impact on schools. Most South African parents are found to be unable to support their children at all. There are also challenges interconnected with the English First Additional Language learners, the eccentricities of the English language, the teacher training and continuing professional development of teachers, as it emerged from the findings of this study that most teachers do not understand the reading strategies, skills of teaching reading and learners lack vocabulary, hence their resistance to reading. A comprehensive model of strategies to improve reading in primary schools was developed by the researcher based on the findings of the study and an extensive literature review.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Enhancing parental involvement in children’s academic work: Implications for teaching and learning
- Authors: Fihla, Gcobisa Victoria
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Education -- Parent participation Parent-teacher relationships Academic achievement
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Education)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/8042 , vital:31485
- Description: Partnership between schools and parents seems to substandard, leading to both parties questioning each other on why children underperform. Most parents view the school as an instrument for the achievement of children and parents with limited or no education may have little or no interest in supporting children’s academic work. The aim of this study was to investigate how parental involvement in children’s academic work can be enhanced. It focused on three rural secondary schools in the Amathole West Education District in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The study particularly investigated how school schools involved parents in children’s academic work and how they, together with principals, teachers and learners view their involvement in children’s academic work. Guided by Epstein’s theory of parental involvement, this qualitative study was premised on the interpretative paradigm. Face to face interviews and focus group discussions were used to collect data from three high schools in the Amathole West Education District. Purposive sampling was used to select participants who comprised a target population of 24 participants. It emerged from the data that although schools were trying to involve parents in children’s academic work, their activities were uncoordinated, occurred at school level rather than classroom level and focused less on learners’ academic work. Parent’ involvement in their children’s academic work was not touching the real curriculum issues; rather it touched on the outside. The data also showed that parents’ academic statuses influenced their participation as those who had little education seemed to be reluctant to participate on academic issues. The study concludes that there was lack of coordinated strategies by schools to involve parents in children’s academic work. The study, therefore, recommends that Coordinated Grade-based Parent-Teacher Forums be established. This will assist in opening a planform for teachers and parents to engage on teaching and learning discussions and curriculum debates.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Fihla, Gcobisa Victoria
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Education -- Parent participation Parent-teacher relationships Academic achievement
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Education)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/8042 , vital:31485
- Description: Partnership between schools and parents seems to substandard, leading to both parties questioning each other on why children underperform. Most parents view the school as an instrument for the achievement of children and parents with limited or no education may have little or no interest in supporting children’s academic work. The aim of this study was to investigate how parental involvement in children’s academic work can be enhanced. It focused on three rural secondary schools in the Amathole West Education District in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The study particularly investigated how school schools involved parents in children’s academic work and how they, together with principals, teachers and learners view their involvement in children’s academic work. Guided by Epstein’s theory of parental involvement, this qualitative study was premised on the interpretative paradigm. Face to face interviews and focus group discussions were used to collect data from three high schools in the Amathole West Education District. Purposive sampling was used to select participants who comprised a target population of 24 participants. It emerged from the data that although schools were trying to involve parents in children’s academic work, their activities were uncoordinated, occurred at school level rather than classroom level and focused less on learners’ academic work. Parent’ involvement in their children’s academic work was not touching the real curriculum issues; rather it touched on the outside. The data also showed that parents’ academic statuses influenced their participation as those who had little education seemed to be reluctant to participate on academic issues. The study concludes that there was lack of coordinated strategies by schools to involve parents in children’s academic work. The study, therefore, recommends that Coordinated Grade-based Parent-Teacher Forums be established. This will assist in opening a planform for teachers and parents to engage on teaching and learning discussions and curriculum debates.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
The current utility of oligonucleotide aptamers in targeting the MUC1 mucin tumour marker
- Authors: Flanagan, Shane Patrick
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/62969 , vital:28348
- Description: Expected release date-April 2020
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Flanagan, Shane Patrick
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/62969 , vital:28348
- Description: Expected release date-April 2020
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Elevated CO2 determines cell damage and nitrogen allocation in barley subjected to aphid herbivory
- Authors: Gallagher, Sean
- Date: 2018
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/64337 , vital:28535
- Description: Expected release date-May 2019
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Gallagher, Sean
- Date: 2018
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/64337 , vital:28535
- Description: Expected release date-May 2019
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Labour dispute resolution in Kenya: compliance with international standards and a comparison with South Africa
- Authors: Gathongo, Johana Kambo
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Dispute resolution (Law) -- South Africa Mediation and conciliation, Industrial -- South Africa , Dispute resolution (Law) – Kenya , Mediation and conciliation, Industrial -- Kenya , Arbitration, Industrial -- South Africa , Arbitration, Industrial -- Kenya
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , LLD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/23980 , vital:30657
- Description: The thesis examines the effectiveness of the Kenyan labour dispute resolution system by undertaking a comparative analysis of South African and international labour standards. A comparative approach is adopted, which relies on primary and secondary sources of data, thereby undertaking an in-depth content analysis. The study provides a comprehensive discussion of the current legislative provisions and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) framework as recognised in both countries' national labour legislation as well as in a number of international labour standards instruments. In particular, the study illuminates and discusses the bottlenecks in the current Kenyan system and argues that it does not adequately respond to the needs of parties in terms of the international labour conventions. The study argues further that labour disputes should be resolved as quickly and informally as possible and at the lowest level possible. Similarly, disputes should ideally be resolved with little or no procedural technicalities, and without allowing them to drag on indefinitely. However, this study observes that there have been notable concerns in the current dual system of labour dispute resolution in Kenya. The problems include protracted referral timeframe for dismissal disputes, non-regulation of maximum timeframe for the agreed extension after 30 days conciliation period has lapsed, the absence of a statutory timeframe for appointing a conciliator/commissioner and arbitration process under both the Labour Relations Act, 2007 and the Employment Act, 2007. The study argues for Kenya to incorporate provisions in its labour laws of a proactive and expeditious dispute resolution thereby helping to resolve labour disputes in the most effective and efficient manner without necessarily having to resort to the courts. Likewise, the responsibility of resolving statutory labour disputes in Kenya is still heavily under the control of the government of Kenya through the Ministry of Labour. There is still no independent statutory dispute resolution institution (Conciliation, Mediation Commission) as envisaged by the Labour Relations Act, 2007. As a result, the Kenyan dispute resolution system has been criticised for lack of impartiality leading to the increases in strikes and lockouts. Similarly, it has made the attainment of effective and efficient labour dispute resolution difficult. In view of that, a comparative approach with South Africa is adopted with a view to informing Kenya how the establishment of independent institutions similar to the Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration, Bargaining Councils and specialised labour courts can lead to effective dispute resolution in Kenya. Given above, the study provides a wide range of remedial intervention intended to address the gaps and flaws highlighted in the study. Systematically, the study provides important suggestions and possible solutions for a better institutional framework and processes to address them. However, the study acknowledges that making effective and efficient labour dispute resolution a reality calls for renewed commitment from government and social partners and investment in appropriate human and financial resources. This requires a strong political will as well as concerted efforts from all role players in the labour relations community in the two respective countries.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Gathongo, Johana Kambo
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Dispute resolution (Law) -- South Africa Mediation and conciliation, Industrial -- South Africa , Dispute resolution (Law) – Kenya , Mediation and conciliation, Industrial -- Kenya , Arbitration, Industrial -- South Africa , Arbitration, Industrial -- Kenya
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , LLD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/23980 , vital:30657
- Description: The thesis examines the effectiveness of the Kenyan labour dispute resolution system by undertaking a comparative analysis of South African and international labour standards. A comparative approach is adopted, which relies on primary and secondary sources of data, thereby undertaking an in-depth content analysis. The study provides a comprehensive discussion of the current legislative provisions and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) framework as recognised in both countries' national labour legislation as well as in a number of international labour standards instruments. In particular, the study illuminates and discusses the bottlenecks in the current Kenyan system and argues that it does not adequately respond to the needs of parties in terms of the international labour conventions. The study argues further that labour disputes should be resolved as quickly and informally as possible and at the lowest level possible. Similarly, disputes should ideally be resolved with little or no procedural technicalities, and without allowing them to drag on indefinitely. However, this study observes that there have been notable concerns in the current dual system of labour dispute resolution in Kenya. The problems include protracted referral timeframe for dismissal disputes, non-regulation of maximum timeframe for the agreed extension after 30 days conciliation period has lapsed, the absence of a statutory timeframe for appointing a conciliator/commissioner and arbitration process under both the Labour Relations Act, 2007 and the Employment Act, 2007. The study argues for Kenya to incorporate provisions in its labour laws of a proactive and expeditious dispute resolution thereby helping to resolve labour disputes in the most effective and efficient manner without necessarily having to resort to the courts. Likewise, the responsibility of resolving statutory labour disputes in Kenya is still heavily under the control of the government of Kenya through the Ministry of Labour. There is still no independent statutory dispute resolution institution (Conciliation, Mediation Commission) as envisaged by the Labour Relations Act, 2007. As a result, the Kenyan dispute resolution system has been criticised for lack of impartiality leading to the increases in strikes and lockouts. Similarly, it has made the attainment of effective and efficient labour dispute resolution difficult. In view of that, a comparative approach with South Africa is adopted with a view to informing Kenya how the establishment of independent institutions similar to the Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration, Bargaining Councils and specialised labour courts can lead to effective dispute resolution in Kenya. Given above, the study provides a wide range of remedial intervention intended to address the gaps and flaws highlighted in the study. Systematically, the study provides important suggestions and possible solutions for a better institutional framework and processes to address them. However, the study acknowledges that making effective and efficient labour dispute resolution a reality calls for renewed commitment from government and social partners and investment in appropriate human and financial resources. This requires a strong political will as well as concerted efforts from all role players in the labour relations community in the two respective countries.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
A best practice guideline for clinical teaching at a public college of nursing
- Authors: Gcawu, Sybil Nyameka
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Nursing -- Study and teaching , Clinical medicine Medicine -- Study and teaching
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DCur
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/30194 , vital:30860
- Description: Clinical teaching is a critical component of the education and training of undergraduate nursing students. It determines the level of clinical competence that nursing students achieve during their studies. It should be informed by current best practice evidence available in the nursing care literature (Emanuel, Day, Diegnan & Prys-Muller, 2011:21-22). Clinical teaching is centred around provision of patient care in clinical practice. It takes place through an interaction between the nurse educator and the nursing students. During this process nursing students are moulded so they can demonstrate minimum competency in order to be registered by the regulatory body. Nursing students learn to become competent nurses in the clinical learning environment (Baxter 2006; Nash, 2007 in Franklin, 2013:35). In South Africa nurse educators are required to be fully responsible for clinical teaching through the use of appropriate teaching approaches and learning facilitation techniques (RSA DoH, 2013:91). The overall purpose of the current research study was to explore and describe the current clinical teaching practices of nurse educators; to search, appraise, extract and synthesise literature related to clinical teaching in nursing; and to develop A Best Practice Guideline for Clinical Teaching at a Public College of Nursing in the Eastern Cape Province. This had to be realized in three phases. In Phase One a quantitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual study was conducted. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from the nurse educators involved in clinical teaching within the Diploma in Nursing (General, Community, Psychiatric) and Midwifery programme. The data analysed was used as the basis of Phase Two—namely, an integrative literature review of evidence pertaining to the clinical teaching practices of nurse educators doing clinical teaching within the undergraduate programmes. The evidence from Phases One and Two was used to develop a draft Best Practice Guideline. The draft guideline was reviewed by a group of expert reviewers and their suggestions were incorporated in the final guideline. Ethical considerations were maintained throughout the research study. The rigour of the research process was ensured by cognitive testing of the questionnaire, and by critical appraisal of the literature accessed from an integrative literature review. The v authenticity of critical appraisal was ensured by having the critical appraisal done by the researcher and an independent reviewer.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Gcawu, Sybil Nyameka
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Nursing -- Study and teaching , Clinical medicine Medicine -- Study and teaching
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DCur
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/30194 , vital:30860
- Description: Clinical teaching is a critical component of the education and training of undergraduate nursing students. It determines the level of clinical competence that nursing students achieve during their studies. It should be informed by current best practice evidence available in the nursing care literature (Emanuel, Day, Diegnan & Prys-Muller, 2011:21-22). Clinical teaching is centred around provision of patient care in clinical practice. It takes place through an interaction between the nurse educator and the nursing students. During this process nursing students are moulded so they can demonstrate minimum competency in order to be registered by the regulatory body. Nursing students learn to become competent nurses in the clinical learning environment (Baxter 2006; Nash, 2007 in Franklin, 2013:35). In South Africa nurse educators are required to be fully responsible for clinical teaching through the use of appropriate teaching approaches and learning facilitation techniques (RSA DoH, 2013:91). The overall purpose of the current research study was to explore and describe the current clinical teaching practices of nurse educators; to search, appraise, extract and synthesise literature related to clinical teaching in nursing; and to develop A Best Practice Guideline for Clinical Teaching at a Public College of Nursing in the Eastern Cape Province. This had to be realized in three phases. In Phase One a quantitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual study was conducted. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from the nurse educators involved in clinical teaching within the Diploma in Nursing (General, Community, Psychiatric) and Midwifery programme. The data analysed was used as the basis of Phase Two—namely, an integrative literature review of evidence pertaining to the clinical teaching practices of nurse educators doing clinical teaching within the undergraduate programmes. The evidence from Phases One and Two was used to develop a draft Best Practice Guideline. The draft guideline was reviewed by a group of expert reviewers and their suggestions were incorporated in the final guideline. Ethical considerations were maintained throughout the research study. The rigour of the research process was ensured by cognitive testing of the questionnaire, and by critical appraisal of the literature accessed from an integrative literature review. The v authenticity of critical appraisal was ensured by having the critical appraisal done by the researcher and an independent reviewer.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Tomographic imaging of East African equatorial ionosphere and study of equatorial plasma bubbles
- Authors: Giday, Nigussie Mezgebe
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Ionosphere -- Africa, Central , Tomography -- Africa, Central , Global Positioning System , Neural networks (Computer science) , Space environment , Multi-Instrument Data Analysis System (MIDAS) , Equatorial plasma bubbles
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/63980 , vital:28516
- Description: In spite of the fact that the African ionospheric equatorial region has the largest ground footprint along the geomagnetic equator, it has not been well studied due to the absence of adequate ground-based instruments. This thesis presents research on both tomographic imaging of the African equatorial ionosphere and the study of the ionospheric irregularities/equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs) under varying geomagnetic conditions. The Multi-Instrument Data Analysis System (MIDAS), an inversion algorithm, was investigated for its validity and ability as a tool to reconstruct multi-scaled ionospheric structures for different geomagnetic conditions. This was done for the narrow East African longitude sector with data from the available ground Global Positioning Sys-tem (GPS) receivers. The MIDAS results were compared to the results of two models, namely the IRI and GIM. MIDAS results compared more favourably with the observation vertical total electron content (VTEC), with a computed maximum correlation coefficient (r) of 0.99 and minimum root-mean-square error (RMSE) of 2.91 TECU, than did the results of the IRI-2012 and GIM models with maximum r of 0.93 and 0.99, and minimum RMSE of 13.03 TECU and 6.52 TECU, respectively, over all the test stations and validation days. The ability of MIDAS to reconstruct storm-time TEC was also compared with the results produced by the use of a Artificial Neural Net-work (ANN) for the African low- and mid-latitude regions. In terms of latitude, on average,MIDAS performed 13.44 % better than ANN in the African mid-latitudes, while MIDAS under performed in low-latitudes. This thesis also reports on the effects of moderate geomagnetic conditions on the evolution of EPBs and/or ionospheric irregularities during their season of occurrence using data from (or measurements by) space- and ground-based instruments for the east African equatorial sector. The study showed that the strength of daytime equatorial electrojet (EEJ), the steepness of the TEC peak-to-trough gradient and/or the meridional/transequatorial thermospheric winds sometimes have collective/interwoven effects, while at other times one mechanism dominates. In summary, this research offered tomographic results that outperform the results of the commonly used (“standard”) global models (i.e. IRI and GIM) for a longitude sector of importance to space weather, which has not been adequately studied due to a lack of sufficient instrumentation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Giday, Nigussie Mezgebe
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Ionosphere -- Africa, Central , Tomography -- Africa, Central , Global Positioning System , Neural networks (Computer science) , Space environment , Multi-Instrument Data Analysis System (MIDAS) , Equatorial plasma bubbles
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/63980 , vital:28516
- Description: In spite of the fact that the African ionospheric equatorial region has the largest ground footprint along the geomagnetic equator, it has not been well studied due to the absence of adequate ground-based instruments. This thesis presents research on both tomographic imaging of the African equatorial ionosphere and the study of the ionospheric irregularities/equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs) under varying geomagnetic conditions. The Multi-Instrument Data Analysis System (MIDAS), an inversion algorithm, was investigated for its validity and ability as a tool to reconstruct multi-scaled ionospheric structures for different geomagnetic conditions. This was done for the narrow East African longitude sector with data from the available ground Global Positioning Sys-tem (GPS) receivers. The MIDAS results were compared to the results of two models, namely the IRI and GIM. MIDAS results compared more favourably with the observation vertical total electron content (VTEC), with a computed maximum correlation coefficient (r) of 0.99 and minimum root-mean-square error (RMSE) of 2.91 TECU, than did the results of the IRI-2012 and GIM models with maximum r of 0.93 and 0.99, and minimum RMSE of 13.03 TECU and 6.52 TECU, respectively, over all the test stations and validation days. The ability of MIDAS to reconstruct storm-time TEC was also compared with the results produced by the use of a Artificial Neural Net-work (ANN) for the African low- and mid-latitude regions. In terms of latitude, on average,MIDAS performed 13.44 % better than ANN in the African mid-latitudes, while MIDAS under performed in low-latitudes. This thesis also reports on the effects of moderate geomagnetic conditions on the evolution of EPBs and/or ionospheric irregularities during their season of occurrence using data from (or measurements by) space- and ground-based instruments for the east African equatorial sector. The study showed that the strength of daytime equatorial electrojet (EEJ), the steepness of the TEC peak-to-trough gradient and/or the meridional/transequatorial thermospheric winds sometimes have collective/interwoven effects, while at other times one mechanism dominates. In summary, this research offered tomographic results that outperform the results of the commonly used (“standard”) global models (i.e. IRI and GIM) for a longitude sector of importance to space weather, which has not been adequately studied due to a lack of sufficient instrumentation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Waste management knowledge, its production, recontextualisation and circulation in Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) training programmes
- Authors: Giqwa, Nomfundiso Louisa
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Refuse and refuse disposal -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , South Africa. Expanded Public Works Programme , Refuse and refuse disposal -- Employees -- Training of -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , South Africa. Department of Environmental Affairs , Knowledge, Theory of , Knowledge, Sociology of
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/63729 , vital:28478
- Description: This study set out to investigate the structuring, recontextualisation and circulation of waste management knowledge in the South African environmental Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) Waste Management Projects. In this thesis these projects also referred to as the Working on Waste (WoW) programme or focus area within the Environmental Protection and Infrastructure Programme (EPIP) hosted by the National Department of Environmental Affairs. Expanded Public Work Programmes are a strategy used by governments to address unemployment and in South Africa; the programmes also seek to address a need for skills development. In this study, the focus is on EPWP waste management knowledge, training programmes and activities only. With waste management knowledge as the core interest, the focus of the investigation was on knowledge circulation of waste management via informal (participation in the project) and formal training of workers at Level 2 National Qualifications Framework (NQF). The study started by firstly investigating what waste management knowledge is produced in the Field of Production via scientific research and policy. It then studied how this waste management knowledge is recontextualised into qualifications and skills programmes designed in the official recontextualising field and learning materials and training programmes designed and offered in the professional recontextualising field. The study also focused on the knowledge of workers and their experience of training in the EPWP workplaces, with an emphasis on rural workplaces. This is where the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) is placing emphasis on training for job creation, empowerment and skills development, and it is also where a number of EPWP Working on Waste programmes are being implemented. The aim was also to develop an understanding of how knowledge circulates amongst learners in training sessions and in workplaces. To do this, I drew on Bernstein’s theory of the pedagogical device which provides theoretical lenses and a language of description to explain how knowledge is recontextualised from the field of production to the field of reproduction. To investigate the structuring of this knowledge by official and pedagogical recontextualisers, I drew on the work of Maton, who offers a Legitimation Code Theory to explain the principles structuring knowledge, of which I used specialisation and semantics (two of his suite of knowledge structuring principles) for analysis. The questions that guided the study throughout were: 1. What is the structure of legitimate knowledge and knowers in waste management? 2. What are the underlying principles underpinning knowledge and knowers in waste management? 3. How is the knowledge recontextualised in waste management training qualifications, documents and manuals for worker training at NQF Level 2? 4. How is the knowledge reproduced and evaluated in the waste management EPWP training activities (formal) and workplaces (informal)? 5. How does waste management knowledge circulate amongst the workers in the EPWP training activities and workplaces? For this study I used the case study method, focusing only on one field or DEA EPWP focus area (waste management) and one programme (EPWP Working on Waste), looking in more depth at two cases (two similar types of projects) within the EPWP Working on Waste programme, though they are situated in different areas and though I could only carry through observations of actual workplace training in one of the two sites due to contextual circumstances. The first project was situated in the Amathole District Municipality while the second one was situated in the Chris Hani District Municipality, both of which are in the rural towns of the former Transkei region in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. This area has been at the forefront in accessing funding for these projects due to the level of poverty surrounding these towns and the inability of the local government sphere to deliver on its mandate in the region. Data was collected through document analysis, questionnaires, interviews and observations. Documents analysed were research documents produced by researchers at the level of production as well as legal frameworks guiding waste management processes in this country. Qualifications and Unit Standards at Level 2, as well as training materials designed by providers were analysed. Training in one of the projects was observed and workers in both sites were interviewed twice. The main finding of the study is that waste management knowledge is characterised by interdisciplinarity and a strong epistemic relation which emphasises procedural and technical forms of knowledge. The study found that the knowledge constructed in the field, as well as the policies, qualifications and training programmes are all consequently characterised by a strong epistemic code (ER+) and a weak social relations code (SR-). The study also identified a ‘code clash’ with the knowledge of workers in rural towns whose knowledge and experience of waste management was found to reflect a strong social relation (SR+) and weak epistemic code (ER-), a pattern which was traced back to a similar code in waste management knowledge at home and school (i.e. workers’ prior knowledge and learning experiences). This created difficulties for the trainers who sought to use strategies of descending from the abstract to the concrete in various ‘descending’ semantic waves that tended to move from high levels of semantic density (SD+) to lower levels of semantic density (SD-) as the training provider sought to contextualise a range of concepts. This was the main strategy identified for mediating waste management knowledge reflecting a dominant pattern of SD+/SG- to SD-/SG+ (with SG meaning semantic gravity). This shows that the trainer seldom started mediating concepts from the basis of workers’ prior knowledge and experience and observations showed little responsiveness from workers resulting from this strategy. Despite this, the study found that workers did develop an improved understanding of specialised waste management knowledge over time, especially through observing and doing more complex tasks in the workplace. The study offers a model for addressing the pedagogical difficulty identified around the code clash, and suggests that further attention needs to be given to ‘ascending’ from the concrete to the abstract in pedagogical practices. The study also pointed to the need for a more inclusive knowledge framework for waste management training, especially in the field of recontextualisation (both the official and pedagogical recontextualisation fields) to extend possibilities for workers to learn more about economic potential and access routes into more sustainable jobs. It identifies the need for a more systemic approach to waste management in rural towns and municipalities, improved compliance and also proposes that better waste management practices are modelled to avoid performative contradictions between the knowledge promoted in the field of production and the official and pedagogical recontextualising fields and the field of reproduction, where workers are learning this knowledge via a mix of accredited training and exposure to participation in waste management practices. This study contributes to new knowledge in that it offers an epistemically grounded and theorised pedagogical process model for Level 2 Waste Management Training (in the EPWP programmes, but potentially also more broadly) that accords with the need for a strong epistemic relation code (ER+) embodied in the need for learning scientific and technical waste management knowledge and procedures. It also addresses workers’ needs for greater epistemic access and participation in knowledge building and application of waste management knowledge in praxis as per the purpose of the EPW training programmes, thereby potentially opening up more sustainable learning pathways for them out of poverty through the EPWP training opportunities. The study has pointed to key areas for further research, including further research on the proposed model, further research into Level 2 pedagogical practices and further research into the foundations of waste management learning in schools. Most of the workers who were participating in the training in the EPWP programmes were educated at above Level 2 before participating in the projects, yet their knowledge and experience of waste management was mostly based on everyday knowledge, pointing to an absence of adequate waste management education in schools in rural contexts in South Africa. The study has also made various recommendations for improving waste management education and training at Level 2 in EPWP programmes in rural areas in particular (but potentially also more widely), notably the need to develop a more inclusive knowledge framework that includes historical and economic knowledge more explicitly at all levels of the recontextualisation process; improved pedagogical and assessment practices that take better account of learners knowledge and experiences in knowledge building processes; and giving attention to structural and systemic approaches to waste management in rural areas to avoid performative contradictions that arise between the knowledge being promoted in the field of production and the field of reproduction and the actual context of waste management.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Giqwa, Nomfundiso Louisa
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Refuse and refuse disposal -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , South Africa. Expanded Public Works Programme , Refuse and refuse disposal -- Employees -- Training of -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , South Africa. Department of Environmental Affairs , Knowledge, Theory of , Knowledge, Sociology of
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/63729 , vital:28478
- Description: This study set out to investigate the structuring, recontextualisation and circulation of waste management knowledge in the South African environmental Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) Waste Management Projects. In this thesis these projects also referred to as the Working on Waste (WoW) programme or focus area within the Environmental Protection and Infrastructure Programme (EPIP) hosted by the National Department of Environmental Affairs. Expanded Public Work Programmes are a strategy used by governments to address unemployment and in South Africa; the programmes also seek to address a need for skills development. In this study, the focus is on EPWP waste management knowledge, training programmes and activities only. With waste management knowledge as the core interest, the focus of the investigation was on knowledge circulation of waste management via informal (participation in the project) and formal training of workers at Level 2 National Qualifications Framework (NQF). The study started by firstly investigating what waste management knowledge is produced in the Field of Production via scientific research and policy. It then studied how this waste management knowledge is recontextualised into qualifications and skills programmes designed in the official recontextualising field and learning materials and training programmes designed and offered in the professional recontextualising field. The study also focused on the knowledge of workers and their experience of training in the EPWP workplaces, with an emphasis on rural workplaces. This is where the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) is placing emphasis on training for job creation, empowerment and skills development, and it is also where a number of EPWP Working on Waste programmes are being implemented. The aim was also to develop an understanding of how knowledge circulates amongst learners in training sessions and in workplaces. To do this, I drew on Bernstein’s theory of the pedagogical device which provides theoretical lenses and a language of description to explain how knowledge is recontextualised from the field of production to the field of reproduction. To investigate the structuring of this knowledge by official and pedagogical recontextualisers, I drew on the work of Maton, who offers a Legitimation Code Theory to explain the principles structuring knowledge, of which I used specialisation and semantics (two of his suite of knowledge structuring principles) for analysis. The questions that guided the study throughout were: 1. What is the structure of legitimate knowledge and knowers in waste management? 2. What are the underlying principles underpinning knowledge and knowers in waste management? 3. How is the knowledge recontextualised in waste management training qualifications, documents and manuals for worker training at NQF Level 2? 4. How is the knowledge reproduced and evaluated in the waste management EPWP training activities (formal) and workplaces (informal)? 5. How does waste management knowledge circulate amongst the workers in the EPWP training activities and workplaces? For this study I used the case study method, focusing only on one field or DEA EPWP focus area (waste management) and one programme (EPWP Working on Waste), looking in more depth at two cases (two similar types of projects) within the EPWP Working on Waste programme, though they are situated in different areas and though I could only carry through observations of actual workplace training in one of the two sites due to contextual circumstances. The first project was situated in the Amathole District Municipality while the second one was situated in the Chris Hani District Municipality, both of which are in the rural towns of the former Transkei region in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. This area has been at the forefront in accessing funding for these projects due to the level of poverty surrounding these towns and the inability of the local government sphere to deliver on its mandate in the region. Data was collected through document analysis, questionnaires, interviews and observations. Documents analysed were research documents produced by researchers at the level of production as well as legal frameworks guiding waste management processes in this country. Qualifications and Unit Standards at Level 2, as well as training materials designed by providers were analysed. Training in one of the projects was observed and workers in both sites were interviewed twice. The main finding of the study is that waste management knowledge is characterised by interdisciplinarity and a strong epistemic relation which emphasises procedural and technical forms of knowledge. The study found that the knowledge constructed in the field, as well as the policies, qualifications and training programmes are all consequently characterised by a strong epistemic code (ER+) and a weak social relations code (SR-). The study also identified a ‘code clash’ with the knowledge of workers in rural towns whose knowledge and experience of waste management was found to reflect a strong social relation (SR+) and weak epistemic code (ER-), a pattern which was traced back to a similar code in waste management knowledge at home and school (i.e. workers’ prior knowledge and learning experiences). This created difficulties for the trainers who sought to use strategies of descending from the abstract to the concrete in various ‘descending’ semantic waves that tended to move from high levels of semantic density (SD+) to lower levels of semantic density (SD-) as the training provider sought to contextualise a range of concepts. This was the main strategy identified for mediating waste management knowledge reflecting a dominant pattern of SD+/SG- to SD-/SG+ (with SG meaning semantic gravity). This shows that the trainer seldom started mediating concepts from the basis of workers’ prior knowledge and experience and observations showed little responsiveness from workers resulting from this strategy. Despite this, the study found that workers did develop an improved understanding of specialised waste management knowledge over time, especially through observing and doing more complex tasks in the workplace. The study offers a model for addressing the pedagogical difficulty identified around the code clash, and suggests that further attention needs to be given to ‘ascending’ from the concrete to the abstract in pedagogical practices. The study also pointed to the need for a more inclusive knowledge framework for waste management training, especially in the field of recontextualisation (both the official and pedagogical recontextualisation fields) to extend possibilities for workers to learn more about economic potential and access routes into more sustainable jobs. It identifies the need for a more systemic approach to waste management in rural towns and municipalities, improved compliance and also proposes that better waste management practices are modelled to avoid performative contradictions between the knowledge promoted in the field of production and the official and pedagogical recontextualising fields and the field of reproduction, where workers are learning this knowledge via a mix of accredited training and exposure to participation in waste management practices. This study contributes to new knowledge in that it offers an epistemically grounded and theorised pedagogical process model for Level 2 Waste Management Training (in the EPWP programmes, but potentially also more broadly) that accords with the need for a strong epistemic relation code (ER+) embodied in the need for learning scientific and technical waste management knowledge and procedures. It also addresses workers’ needs for greater epistemic access and participation in knowledge building and application of waste management knowledge in praxis as per the purpose of the EPW training programmes, thereby potentially opening up more sustainable learning pathways for them out of poverty through the EPWP training opportunities. The study has pointed to key areas for further research, including further research on the proposed model, further research into Level 2 pedagogical practices and further research into the foundations of waste management learning in schools. Most of the workers who were participating in the training in the EPWP programmes were educated at above Level 2 before participating in the projects, yet their knowledge and experience of waste management was mostly based on everyday knowledge, pointing to an absence of adequate waste management education in schools in rural contexts in South Africa. The study has also made various recommendations for improving waste management education and training at Level 2 in EPWP programmes in rural areas in particular (but potentially also more widely), notably the need to develop a more inclusive knowledge framework that includes historical and economic knowledge more explicitly at all levels of the recontextualisation process; improved pedagogical and assessment practices that take better account of learners knowledge and experiences in knowledge building processes; and giving attention to structural and systemic approaches to waste management in rural areas to avoid performative contradictions that arise between the knowledge being promoted in the field of production and the field of reproduction and the actual context of waste management.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018