Localisation of Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus protein 2C to the golgi apparatus using antibodies generated against a peptide region:
- Jauka, Tembisa, Mutsvunguma, Lorraine Z, Boshoff, Aileen, Edkins, Adrienne L, Knox, Caroline M
- Authors: Jauka, Tembisa , Mutsvunguma, Lorraine Z , Boshoff, Aileen , Edkins, Adrienne L , Knox, Caroline M
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/165074 , vital:41206 , DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2010.05.009
- Description: The picornavirus 2C protein is highly conserved and indispensible for virus replication. Polyclonal antibodies against Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) 2C protein were generated by immunisation of rabbits with a peptide comprising amino acids 31–210 of the protein. Antibodies were used to investigate the localisation of 2C in infected cells by indirect immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy. Analysis of infected cells revealed that the distribution of 2C changed during infection.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Jauka, Tembisa , Mutsvunguma, Lorraine Z , Boshoff, Aileen , Edkins, Adrienne L , Knox, Caroline M
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/165074 , vital:41206 , DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2010.05.009
- Description: The picornavirus 2C protein is highly conserved and indispensible for virus replication. Polyclonal antibodies against Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) 2C protein were generated by immunisation of rabbits with a peptide comprising amino acids 31–210 of the protein. Antibodies were used to investigate the localisation of 2C in infected cells by indirect immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy. Analysis of infected cells revealed that the distribution of 2C changed during infection.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
A comparison of ecosystem health and services provided by subtropical thicket in and around the Bathurst commonage
- Authors: Stickler, Meredith Mercedes
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Ecosystem services -- South Africa -- Bathurst , Ecosystem management , Commons -- South Africa -- Bathurst , Natural resources, Communal -- South Africa -- Bathurst , Land use, Rural -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Ecosystem health -- South Africa -- Bathurst
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4766 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007169 , Ecosystem services -- South Africa -- Bathurst , Ecosystem management , Commons -- South Africa -- Bathurst , Natural resources, Communal -- South Africa -- Bathurst , Land use, Rural -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Ecosystem health -- South Africa -- Bathurst
- Description: Municipal commonage in South Africa offers previously disadvantaged, landless residents access to both direct ecosystem goods and services (EGS) that provide additional income options and indirect social and cultural services. Given that EGS production is a function of ecosystem health, it is imperative that commonage land be managed to maximize current local benefit streams while ensuring future options through the maintenance of natural ecosystem functions. The payments for ecosystem services (PES) model potentially offers an opportunity for contributing to local economic development while providing fiscal incentives for environmentally sustainable natural resource management. PES depends on the demonstration of quantifiable changes in EGS delivery due to improvement in or maintenance of high ecosystem health that are a verifiable result of modifications in management behavior. This thesis therefore compared spatial variations in (i) ecosystem health and (ii) nine direct and indirect EGS values derived from natural resources on the Bathurst municipal commonage and neighboring Waters Meeting Nature Reserve (NR) to explore how different land use intensities affect ecosystem health and the resulting provision of EGS. The results indicate that the total economic value of annually produced EGS on the study site is nearly R 9.8 million (US$ 1.2 million), with a standing stock of natural capital worth some R 28 million (US$ 3.4 million). Nearly 45% of the total annual production is attributed to Waters Meeting NR, with roughly 34% from the low use zone of the commonage and the remaining 22% from the high use zone. Of the total annual production value on the study site, roughly 59% is derived from indirect (non-consumptive) uses of wildlife for the study site as a whole, though this proportion varies from 25% in the high use zone of the commonage to 94% on Waters Meeting NR. The two largest annual production values on the study site derive from ecotourism (R 3.5 million, US$ 0.4 million) and livestock production (R 2.6 million, US$ 0.3 million), suggesting that while increased production of indirect EGS could generate significant additional revenues, especially on Waters Meeting NR and in the low use zone of the commonage, direct (consumptive) EGS will likely remain an important component of land use on the commonage. A PES project to support the adoption of silvo-pastoral practices could provide positive incentives for improved land use practices on the commonage and potentially be financed by conservation-friendly residents of the Kowie River catchment and/or increased ecotourism revenues from Waters Meeting NR. Allowing carefully designed and monitored local access to natural resources within Waters Meeting NR could also reduce pressure on commonage resources. Together, these approaches could lead to a more sustainable subtropical thicket landscape and ensure that critical natural resources remain available to support local livelihoods in the long-term.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Stickler, Meredith Mercedes
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Ecosystem services -- South Africa -- Bathurst , Ecosystem management , Commons -- South Africa -- Bathurst , Natural resources, Communal -- South Africa -- Bathurst , Land use, Rural -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Ecosystem health -- South Africa -- Bathurst
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4766 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007169 , Ecosystem services -- South Africa -- Bathurst , Ecosystem management , Commons -- South Africa -- Bathurst , Natural resources, Communal -- South Africa -- Bathurst , Land use, Rural -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Ecosystem health -- South Africa -- Bathurst
- Description: Municipal commonage in South Africa offers previously disadvantaged, landless residents access to both direct ecosystem goods and services (EGS) that provide additional income options and indirect social and cultural services. Given that EGS production is a function of ecosystem health, it is imperative that commonage land be managed to maximize current local benefit streams while ensuring future options through the maintenance of natural ecosystem functions. The payments for ecosystem services (PES) model potentially offers an opportunity for contributing to local economic development while providing fiscal incentives for environmentally sustainable natural resource management. PES depends on the demonstration of quantifiable changes in EGS delivery due to improvement in or maintenance of high ecosystem health that are a verifiable result of modifications in management behavior. This thesis therefore compared spatial variations in (i) ecosystem health and (ii) nine direct and indirect EGS values derived from natural resources on the Bathurst municipal commonage and neighboring Waters Meeting Nature Reserve (NR) to explore how different land use intensities affect ecosystem health and the resulting provision of EGS. The results indicate that the total economic value of annually produced EGS on the study site is nearly R 9.8 million (US$ 1.2 million), with a standing stock of natural capital worth some R 28 million (US$ 3.4 million). Nearly 45% of the total annual production is attributed to Waters Meeting NR, with roughly 34% from the low use zone of the commonage and the remaining 22% from the high use zone. Of the total annual production value on the study site, roughly 59% is derived from indirect (non-consumptive) uses of wildlife for the study site as a whole, though this proportion varies from 25% in the high use zone of the commonage to 94% on Waters Meeting NR. The two largest annual production values on the study site derive from ecotourism (R 3.5 million, US$ 0.4 million) and livestock production (R 2.6 million, US$ 0.3 million), suggesting that while increased production of indirect EGS could generate significant additional revenues, especially on Waters Meeting NR and in the low use zone of the commonage, direct (consumptive) EGS will likely remain an important component of land use on the commonage. A PES project to support the adoption of silvo-pastoral practices could provide positive incentives for improved land use practices on the commonage and potentially be financed by conservation-friendly residents of the Kowie River catchment and/or increased ecotourism revenues from Waters Meeting NR. Allowing carefully designed and monitored local access to natural resources within Waters Meeting NR could also reduce pressure on commonage resources. Together, these approaches could lead to a more sustainable subtropical thicket landscape and ensure that critical natural resources remain available to support local livelihoods in the long-term.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Cumulative effects of living conditions and working conditions on the health, well-being, and work ability of nurses in Grahamstown East and West
- Authors: Hodgskiss, Jodi Lyndall
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Nurses -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Nurses -- Employment -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Nurses -- Job stress -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Nurses -- Job satisfaction -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Nurses -- Economic conditions -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Nurses -- Social conditions -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Quality of life -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Social indicators -- South Africa -- Grahamstown
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5108 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005186 , Nurses -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Nurses -- Employment -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Nurses -- Job stress -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Nurses -- Job satisfaction -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Nurses -- Economic conditions -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Nurses -- Social conditions -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Quality of life -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Social indicators -- South Africa -- Grahamstown
- Description: Despite the many changes that have occurred in South Africa since the end of apartheid, there are still residual effects of it, as is evidenced in the disparity of living conditions between different racial groups. It is also evident that there are differences in the work tasks and working conditions of nurses working in different work environments. This project looks at how living conditions as well as working conditions interactively affect the health, subjective well-being, and work ability of nurses. Questionnaires were completed by, and interviews were conducted with nurses from Settlers Hospital and seven municipal clinics within Grahamstown (n=152). The participation rate was approximately 71%. The questionnaires included self-report, forced-choice questions regarding basic demographics of the nurses, work conditions, living conditions, subjective satisfaction levels, as well as a simplified version of the Nordic Questionnaire of Musculoskeletal Strain (Kuorinka et al., 1987), and the Work Ability Index (WAI) (Tuomi et al., 2006). The questionnaires were translated into Afrikaans and IsiXhosa. One-on-one interviews were conducted with the participants, in order to obtain a 24-hour dietary recall, an indication of physical activity levels, as well as measurements of stature, mass, waist girth and hip girth. Factor analysis was performed to identify common variance from amongst the variables, while canonical correlations examined the interaction between the sets of factors. It was found that variables relating to demographic factors, living conditions, and working conditions were closely linked to each other. Factors from each of these groups were associated with life, health, and job satisfaction, anthropometric measures, musculoskeletal strain, and WAI scores. Satisfaction levels appeared to be largely determined by socioeconomic status, while anthropometrics, WAI scores, and levels of musculoskeletal strain were associated with levels of smoking and drinking, race, age, stature, position and tenure.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Hodgskiss, Jodi Lyndall
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Nurses -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Nurses -- Employment -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Nurses -- Job stress -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Nurses -- Job satisfaction -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Nurses -- Economic conditions -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Nurses -- Social conditions -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Quality of life -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Social indicators -- South Africa -- Grahamstown
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5108 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005186 , Nurses -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Nurses -- Employment -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Nurses -- Job stress -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Nurses -- Job satisfaction -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Nurses -- Economic conditions -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Nurses -- Social conditions -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Quality of life -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Social indicators -- South Africa -- Grahamstown
- Description: Despite the many changes that have occurred in South Africa since the end of apartheid, there are still residual effects of it, as is evidenced in the disparity of living conditions between different racial groups. It is also evident that there are differences in the work tasks and working conditions of nurses working in different work environments. This project looks at how living conditions as well as working conditions interactively affect the health, subjective well-being, and work ability of nurses. Questionnaires were completed by, and interviews were conducted with nurses from Settlers Hospital and seven municipal clinics within Grahamstown (n=152). The participation rate was approximately 71%. The questionnaires included self-report, forced-choice questions regarding basic demographics of the nurses, work conditions, living conditions, subjective satisfaction levels, as well as a simplified version of the Nordic Questionnaire of Musculoskeletal Strain (Kuorinka et al., 1987), and the Work Ability Index (WAI) (Tuomi et al., 2006). The questionnaires were translated into Afrikaans and IsiXhosa. One-on-one interviews were conducted with the participants, in order to obtain a 24-hour dietary recall, an indication of physical activity levels, as well as measurements of stature, mass, waist girth and hip girth. Factor analysis was performed to identify common variance from amongst the variables, while canonical correlations examined the interaction between the sets of factors. It was found that variables relating to demographic factors, living conditions, and working conditions were closely linked to each other. Factors from each of these groups were associated with life, health, and job satisfaction, anthropometric measures, musculoskeletal strain, and WAI scores. Satisfaction levels appeared to be largely determined by socioeconomic status, while anthropometrics, WAI scores, and levels of musculoskeletal strain were associated with levels of smoking and drinking, race, age, stature, position and tenure.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Informing an ICT intervention for HIV and AIDS education at Rhodes University
- Authors: Gunzo, Fortunate Takawira
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: AIDS (Disease) -- Prevention -- South Africa AIDS (Disease) -- Study and teaching -- South Africa HIV infections -- Prevention -- South Africa HIV infections -- Study and teaching -- South Africa Health education -- South Africa Educational technology -- South Africa Rhodes University -- Students -- Attitudes Counseling in higher education -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1577 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003459
- Description: This study captures the process and methods used in selecting and organising content for an ontology. In the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) field ontology refers to a way of organising and storing information and facilitating interaction between the system and its users. Ontologies are being used more frequently to provide services that deal with complex information. In this study, I record my experience of developing content for an HIV and AIDS ontology for Rhodes University students. Using several different methods, I started the process of selecting and organising HIV and AIDS information, free of scientific jargon and prescriptive language, and consisting only of relevant information. I used data derived from interviews with six HIV and AIDS experts to develop questions for a survey that was open to all Rhodes University students. The 689 people who responded to the survey indicated that they needed more information on testing, treatment and living with HIV. Responses also showed that students had a lot of information on HIV prevention and transmission. Four focus group discussions revealed that students were tired of repetitions of the „same‟ information on HIV and AIDS and wanted to know more about life after contracting HIV. Using this data, I propose some guidelines to populate HIV and AIDS ontology. Ontologies can be customized for particular groups of users, for example according to gender, race, year of study etc. Another advantage of the ontology is that it can be expanded or contracted depending on the scope of one‟s intervention.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Gunzo, Fortunate Takawira
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: AIDS (Disease) -- Prevention -- South Africa AIDS (Disease) -- Study and teaching -- South Africa HIV infections -- Prevention -- South Africa HIV infections -- Study and teaching -- South Africa Health education -- South Africa Educational technology -- South Africa Rhodes University -- Students -- Attitudes Counseling in higher education -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1577 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003459
- Description: This study captures the process and methods used in selecting and organising content for an ontology. In the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) field ontology refers to a way of organising and storing information and facilitating interaction between the system and its users. Ontologies are being used more frequently to provide services that deal with complex information. In this study, I record my experience of developing content for an HIV and AIDS ontology for Rhodes University students. Using several different methods, I started the process of selecting and organising HIV and AIDS information, free of scientific jargon and prescriptive language, and consisting only of relevant information. I used data derived from interviews with six HIV and AIDS experts to develop questions for a survey that was open to all Rhodes University students. The 689 people who responded to the survey indicated that they needed more information on testing, treatment and living with HIV. Responses also showed that students had a lot of information on HIV prevention and transmission. Four focus group discussions revealed that students were tired of repetitions of the „same‟ information on HIV and AIDS and wanted to know more about life after contracting HIV. Using this data, I propose some guidelines to populate HIV and AIDS ontology. Ontologies can be customized for particular groups of users, for example according to gender, race, year of study etc. Another advantage of the ontology is that it can be expanded or contracted depending on the scope of one‟s intervention.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Unfinished business: current and past trade union leaders' perceptions of the political transition after the first decade of democracy (1994-2004) in South Africa
- Authors: Mpunzima, Kayalethu Wycliff
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Labor unions -- South Africa , Democratization -- South Africa , South Africa -- Politics and government -- 1994-
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:11001 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1284 , Labor unions -- South Africa , Democratization -- South Africa , South Africa -- Politics and government -- 1994-
- Description: The study reviews the political transition after the first decade of democracy from the trade union leaders’ perspectives. It seeks to understand whether trade union leaders see workers as having reaped benefits from their struggles. Interviews were conducted with ten current and past trade union leaders on their perceptions about the political transition. The trade union leaders that were interviewed have rich experience of combining their organisational and mobilising strength with strategies of engagement. Their involvement with trade unions can be traced back during the dark years of Apartheid. Some of them are still active members of trade unions who are deeply involved in policy formulation at national level. Others occupy influential positions in the private and public sectors. The study investigates and analyses the labour movement’s objectives, strategies and struggles from the apartheid, transition, and democratic eras and into the future. It looks at how these objectives were achieved and how the strategies were implemented. The study revealed that progress was made in the political sphere, e.g. a parliamentary office was established to ensure that workers have a voice in parliament. The study found clear evidence of influence by the labour movement in economic and labour legislation through structures like NEDLAC. In the economic arena, the study found that workers’ economic expectations were partially fulfilled. Trade union leaders attributed this to the failure of the government’s GEAR policy to create jobs. They insisted that RDP should be implemented. The study revealed evidence of serious tensions within the ANC/COSATU/SACP Alliance. The study found that the influence of the labour ally, COSATU, in the Tripartite Alliance had been curtailed. The study also found that the strength of the labour movement eroded during the first decade of democracy. The research found that the labour movement took new initiatives such as union investment companies. The research also found support for the theory that COSATU’s obsession with alliance politics was a barrier to labour unity. COSATU was not involved in the merger talks between FEDUSA and NACTU. The respondents generally felt positively about the future prospects. Respondents were mostly optimistic about the political transformation. If there was slow delivery or no delivery by the government or business, the unions vowed to take to the streets.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Mpunzima, Kayalethu Wycliff
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Labor unions -- South Africa , Democratization -- South Africa , South Africa -- Politics and government -- 1994-
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:11001 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1284 , Labor unions -- South Africa , Democratization -- South Africa , South Africa -- Politics and government -- 1994-
- Description: The study reviews the political transition after the first decade of democracy from the trade union leaders’ perspectives. It seeks to understand whether trade union leaders see workers as having reaped benefits from their struggles. Interviews were conducted with ten current and past trade union leaders on their perceptions about the political transition. The trade union leaders that were interviewed have rich experience of combining their organisational and mobilising strength with strategies of engagement. Their involvement with trade unions can be traced back during the dark years of Apartheid. Some of them are still active members of trade unions who are deeply involved in policy formulation at national level. Others occupy influential positions in the private and public sectors. The study investigates and analyses the labour movement’s objectives, strategies and struggles from the apartheid, transition, and democratic eras and into the future. It looks at how these objectives were achieved and how the strategies were implemented. The study revealed that progress was made in the political sphere, e.g. a parliamentary office was established to ensure that workers have a voice in parliament. The study found clear evidence of influence by the labour movement in economic and labour legislation through structures like NEDLAC. In the economic arena, the study found that workers’ economic expectations were partially fulfilled. Trade union leaders attributed this to the failure of the government’s GEAR policy to create jobs. They insisted that RDP should be implemented. The study revealed evidence of serious tensions within the ANC/COSATU/SACP Alliance. The study found that the influence of the labour ally, COSATU, in the Tripartite Alliance had been curtailed. The study also found that the strength of the labour movement eroded during the first decade of democracy. The research found that the labour movement took new initiatives such as union investment companies. The research also found support for the theory that COSATU’s obsession with alliance politics was a barrier to labour unity. COSATU was not involved in the merger talks between FEDUSA and NACTU. The respondents generally felt positively about the future prospects. Respondents were mostly optimistic about the political transformation. If there was slow delivery or no delivery by the government or business, the unions vowed to take to the streets.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Racial exploitation and double oppression in selected Bessie Head and Doris Lessing texts
- Authors: Kirton, Teneille
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Authors, South African -- 20th century Biography , Apartheid in literature , Exploitation , Women authors, South African -- 20th century Biography , Racism in literature
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA (English)
- Identifier: vital:11502 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/232 , Authors, South African -- 20th century Biography , Apartheid in literature , Exploitation , Women authors, South African -- 20th century Biography , Racism in literature
- Description: During the era of discrimination and disparity in Southern Africa, racial inequality silenced many black writers. It was the white authors that dominated the literary environment presenting their biased views on social and political concerns; the black authors standpoints were seen as unimportant and they were deemed inferior to the white authors. Consequently, it was particularly difficult for black writers to voice their experiences of living in a society riddled with oppression, prejudice and unequal opportunities. The purpose of this study is to critically compare selected texts by African authors Doris Lessing and Bessie Head, which depict the political and social struggles within Southern African society during the era of unequal opportunities. Lessing and Head’s works present incidents of life experiences in Southern Africa from two contrasting viewpoints. The selected texts explored are: The Grass is Singing and “The Old Chief Mshlanga” by Doris Lessing, a white author, in contrast and comparison to the texts: A Question of Power and “The Collector of Treasures” by Bessie Head, a coloured author. The research for this thesis is conducted from an ethnic literary perspective with careful consideration to critical race theory and cultural studies. From this perspective, the focus of the study is on the struggles that affected both the victim and perpetrator during the apartheid era as well as on the idea that those in power determined what was deemed acceptable and unacceptable, behaviourally and ideologically. Specifically, the plight experienced by the female characters living in a patriarchal society, and the segregation and racial inequality faced by the characters of colour is explored by analysing these characters’ influences, pressures and societal manipulations and constraints in the texts. Thus, this study will provide a more in-depth understanding of Southern African society during the apartheid era and the strategic use of literature to spotlight the subjugation and disparity.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Kirton, Teneille
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Authors, South African -- 20th century Biography , Apartheid in literature , Exploitation , Women authors, South African -- 20th century Biography , Racism in literature
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA (English)
- Identifier: vital:11502 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/232 , Authors, South African -- 20th century Biography , Apartheid in literature , Exploitation , Women authors, South African -- 20th century Biography , Racism in literature
- Description: During the era of discrimination and disparity in Southern Africa, racial inequality silenced many black writers. It was the white authors that dominated the literary environment presenting their biased views on social and political concerns; the black authors standpoints were seen as unimportant and they were deemed inferior to the white authors. Consequently, it was particularly difficult for black writers to voice their experiences of living in a society riddled with oppression, prejudice and unequal opportunities. The purpose of this study is to critically compare selected texts by African authors Doris Lessing and Bessie Head, which depict the political and social struggles within Southern African society during the era of unequal opportunities. Lessing and Head’s works present incidents of life experiences in Southern Africa from two contrasting viewpoints. The selected texts explored are: The Grass is Singing and “The Old Chief Mshlanga” by Doris Lessing, a white author, in contrast and comparison to the texts: A Question of Power and “The Collector of Treasures” by Bessie Head, a coloured author. The research for this thesis is conducted from an ethnic literary perspective with careful consideration to critical race theory and cultural studies. From this perspective, the focus of the study is on the struggles that affected both the victim and perpetrator during the apartheid era as well as on the idea that those in power determined what was deemed acceptable and unacceptable, behaviourally and ideologically. Specifically, the plight experienced by the female characters living in a patriarchal society, and the segregation and racial inequality faced by the characters of colour is explored by analysing these characters’ influences, pressures and societal manipulations and constraints in the texts. Thus, this study will provide a more in-depth understanding of Southern African society during the apartheid era and the strategic use of literature to spotlight the subjugation and disparity.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Improving Productivity of Maize-based Smallholder Irrigated Cropping Systems: A Case Study of Zanyokwe Irrigation Scheme, Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Fanadzo, Morris
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Farms, Small -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Crop yields -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Agricultural productivity -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/11009 , vital:36450
- Description: Smallholder irrigation schemes (SIS) in South Africa have performed poorly and failed to achieve the development objectives of sustaining rural livelihoods by increasing crop production and income. Limited knowledge of crop production among farmers is one constraint to improved crop productivity and, yet little research has been carried out to relate agronomic practices to productivity. This study was aimed at identifying strategies to improve the productivity of maize-based smallholder irrigated cropping systems in South Africa, using Zanyokwe irrigation scheme (ZIS) in the Eastern Cape Province as a case study. The research design was emergent, developed progressively as influenced by the progressive analyses that were made. The research work involved two main phases: exploratory studies and refinement on-farm experiments for testing technologies as informed by the exploratory studies. Exploratory studies were aimed at describing farmer crop production practices in major crop enterprises and identifying and prioritizing major agronomic yield constraints. Findings indicated that the overall performance of the cropping systems was poor as evidenced by low overall yields of < 25% of the potential in maize and butternut. Poor management of weeds, soil fertility, plant populations and water, late planting and poor cultivar choice were the most important yield constraints. The average cropping intensity achieved by farmers was only 48%. New hybrids yielded 50 - 65% higher grain than the cultivars commonly grown by farmers. However, farmers favoured their traditional cultivars, as they preferred green maize production as opposed to dry grains. As a result of these findings, focused research was designed on options for iii improving green maize production, soil fertility, crop stand and weed management in crop production. On-farm trials were, therefore, designed to (1) compare the response to nitrogen (N) rate of direct seeded and transplanted maize; (2) evaluate comparative performance of direct seeded and transplanted green maize under farmer management, and to work out the economics of transplanting; (3) investigate the effects of row spacing and atrazine dosage on weed dynamics maize yield; (4) determine the effects of inter-row spacing and plant population on weed dynamics and maize yield; and (5) investigate the effects of pre-plant weed control, N rate and plant population on weed dynamics and butternut yield. Maize transplanting improved crop stand, had earlier maturity and yielded higher at lower N rates compared to direct seeding for both green and grain maize. Total costs that varied were higher by R3 565 ha-1 for transplanted maize compared to direct-seeded maize, but the net benefits from transplanting were also much higher by R8 773 ha-1. Farmers favoured transplanting, citing bigger cobs, early maturity and the absence of seedling damage by birds, when maize was transplanted. However, a follow-up survey conducted during the subsequent year indicated that five of the six farmers abandoned transplanting, citing shortage of labour and high cost of commercially produced seedlings. It was concluded that transplanting is unlikely to be adopted unless the labour intensiveness of manual transplanting can be solved. Increasing atrazine dosage from a third of the label recommended dosage (LRD) and reducing row spacing from 90 to 45 cm resulted in an increase in weed mortality. A 100% kill of annual broadleaf weeds was possible while iv perennial grasses and the annual broadleaf weed, Oxalis latifolia, could not be controlled even at the LRD. However, improved weed mortality with increase in atrazine dosage and/or narrow rows did not translate into improved maize productivity. In butternut, pre-plant weed control resulted in a six-fold decrease in weed biomass and a 100% increase in fruit yield. These findings demonstrated the possibility of incorporation of reduced herbicide dosages and narrow rows to achieve adequate weed control and optimise on maize yields in smallholder farming systems. The results also suggested that pre-plant weed control is one of the pre-requisite to successful butternut production in SIS in South Africa. Increasing maize population from 40 000 to 60 000 plants ha-1 resulted in a 30% grain yield increase, but decreased length of cobs. Row spacing had no effect on maize yield at 40 000 plants ha-1, but at 60 000 plants ha-1 45 cm rows resulted in 11% higher grain yield (12 547 kg ha-1) than 90 cm rows (11 288 kg ha-1). Butternut yield increased significantly (p < 0.01) with increase in plant population and N rate. The optimum butternut population and N rate were estimated at 25 000 plants ha-1 and 120 kg N ha-1, respectively. Pre-plant weed control in butternut resulted in a six-fold decrease in weed biomass. Increasing butternut planting density from 10 000 to 30 000 plants ha-1 decreased weed biomass by 47%. No marketable fruits were obtained when planting was done without prior weed control. This result suggest that application of non-selective herbicide before planting is one technique that can be used by farmers as part of integrated weed management to give the crop a competitive advantage in the early growth stages before the plants start to produce vines. Yield increased significantly (p < 0.01) with increase in plant density and N rate. The optimum plant density and N rate were estimated at 25 000 plants ha-1 and 120 kg N ha-1, respectively. These findings emphasise the need to take into consideration production practices by farmers as a basis to build up skills in the management of crop enterprises and the farm as a viable business in any efforts to improve on the performance of SIS in South Africa. Future research should concentrate on labour-saving sustainable production technologies for SIS in South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Fanadzo, Morris
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Farms, Small -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Crop yields -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Agricultural productivity -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/11009 , vital:36450
- Description: Smallholder irrigation schemes (SIS) in South Africa have performed poorly and failed to achieve the development objectives of sustaining rural livelihoods by increasing crop production and income. Limited knowledge of crop production among farmers is one constraint to improved crop productivity and, yet little research has been carried out to relate agronomic practices to productivity. This study was aimed at identifying strategies to improve the productivity of maize-based smallholder irrigated cropping systems in South Africa, using Zanyokwe irrigation scheme (ZIS) in the Eastern Cape Province as a case study. The research design was emergent, developed progressively as influenced by the progressive analyses that were made. The research work involved two main phases: exploratory studies and refinement on-farm experiments for testing technologies as informed by the exploratory studies. Exploratory studies were aimed at describing farmer crop production practices in major crop enterprises and identifying and prioritizing major agronomic yield constraints. Findings indicated that the overall performance of the cropping systems was poor as evidenced by low overall yields of < 25% of the potential in maize and butternut. Poor management of weeds, soil fertility, plant populations and water, late planting and poor cultivar choice were the most important yield constraints. The average cropping intensity achieved by farmers was only 48%. New hybrids yielded 50 - 65% higher grain than the cultivars commonly grown by farmers. However, farmers favoured their traditional cultivars, as they preferred green maize production as opposed to dry grains. As a result of these findings, focused research was designed on options for iii improving green maize production, soil fertility, crop stand and weed management in crop production. On-farm trials were, therefore, designed to (1) compare the response to nitrogen (N) rate of direct seeded and transplanted maize; (2) evaluate comparative performance of direct seeded and transplanted green maize under farmer management, and to work out the economics of transplanting; (3) investigate the effects of row spacing and atrazine dosage on weed dynamics maize yield; (4) determine the effects of inter-row spacing and plant population on weed dynamics and maize yield; and (5) investigate the effects of pre-plant weed control, N rate and plant population on weed dynamics and butternut yield. Maize transplanting improved crop stand, had earlier maturity and yielded higher at lower N rates compared to direct seeding for both green and grain maize. Total costs that varied were higher by R3 565 ha-1 for transplanted maize compared to direct-seeded maize, but the net benefits from transplanting were also much higher by R8 773 ha-1. Farmers favoured transplanting, citing bigger cobs, early maturity and the absence of seedling damage by birds, when maize was transplanted. However, a follow-up survey conducted during the subsequent year indicated that five of the six farmers abandoned transplanting, citing shortage of labour and high cost of commercially produced seedlings. It was concluded that transplanting is unlikely to be adopted unless the labour intensiveness of manual transplanting can be solved. Increasing atrazine dosage from a third of the label recommended dosage (LRD) and reducing row spacing from 90 to 45 cm resulted in an increase in weed mortality. A 100% kill of annual broadleaf weeds was possible while iv perennial grasses and the annual broadleaf weed, Oxalis latifolia, could not be controlled even at the LRD. However, improved weed mortality with increase in atrazine dosage and/or narrow rows did not translate into improved maize productivity. In butternut, pre-plant weed control resulted in a six-fold decrease in weed biomass and a 100% increase in fruit yield. These findings demonstrated the possibility of incorporation of reduced herbicide dosages and narrow rows to achieve adequate weed control and optimise on maize yields in smallholder farming systems. The results also suggested that pre-plant weed control is one of the pre-requisite to successful butternut production in SIS in South Africa. Increasing maize population from 40 000 to 60 000 plants ha-1 resulted in a 30% grain yield increase, but decreased length of cobs. Row spacing had no effect on maize yield at 40 000 plants ha-1, but at 60 000 plants ha-1 45 cm rows resulted in 11% higher grain yield (12 547 kg ha-1) than 90 cm rows (11 288 kg ha-1). Butternut yield increased significantly (p < 0.01) with increase in plant population and N rate. The optimum butternut population and N rate were estimated at 25 000 plants ha-1 and 120 kg N ha-1, respectively. Pre-plant weed control in butternut resulted in a six-fold decrease in weed biomass. Increasing butternut planting density from 10 000 to 30 000 plants ha-1 decreased weed biomass by 47%. No marketable fruits were obtained when planting was done without prior weed control. This result suggest that application of non-selective herbicide before planting is one technique that can be used by farmers as part of integrated weed management to give the crop a competitive advantage in the early growth stages before the plants start to produce vines. Yield increased significantly (p < 0.01) with increase in plant density and N rate. The optimum plant density and N rate were estimated at 25 000 plants ha-1 and 120 kg N ha-1, respectively. These findings emphasise the need to take into consideration production practices by farmers as a basis to build up skills in the management of crop enterprises and the farm as a viable business in any efforts to improve on the performance of SIS in South Africa. Future research should concentrate on labour-saving sustainable production technologies for SIS in South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
The adoption of quality assurance in e-Health acquisition for rural hospitals in the Eastern Cape Province
- Authors: Ruxwana, Nkqubela
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Quality assurance -- Management , Hospital care -- Quality control , Health facilities -- Quality control , Health -- Computer network resources , Public health -- Information services
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:9731 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1514 , Quality assurance -- Management , Hospital care -- Quality control , Health facilities -- Quality control , Health -- Computer network resources , Public health -- Information services
- Description: The evolution of e-health has the potential to assist in the management of scarce resources and the shortage of skills, enhance efficiencies, improve quality and increase work productivity within the healthcare sector. As a result, an increase is seen in e-health solutions developments with the aim to improve healthcare services, hospital information systems, health decision support, telemedicine and other technical systems that have the potential to reduce cost, improve quality, and enhance the accessibility and delivery of healthcare. However, unfortunately their implementation contiues to fail. Although there are several reasons for this, in this study a lack of project quality management is viewed as a key contributor to the failure of e-health solutions implementation projects in rural hospitals. This results in neglected aspects of quality assurance (QA), which forms an integral part of project quality management. The purpose of this study is to develop a Genertic Quality Assurance Model (GQAM) for the successful acquisition (i.e. development and implementation) of e-health solutions in rural hospitals in the Eastern Cape Province to enable improved quality of care and service delivery. In order to develop and test this model it was necessary to identify the QA methodologies that are currently used in rural hospitals and to evaluate their strengths and weaknesses, as well as their impact on project success. The study is divided into four phases; in each phase different study designs were followed. The study used triangulation of qualitative and some elements of quantitative research approaches, in terms of which a case study approach was adpoted to answer the research questions. This study did indeed develop a GQAM that can be used to ensure e-health solution success in rural hospitals. Furthermore, to aid in the implementation of this model, a set of QA value chain implementation guidelines were developed, as a framework, to inject the nodel into typical (SDLC) phases.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Ruxwana, Nkqubela
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Quality assurance -- Management , Hospital care -- Quality control , Health facilities -- Quality control , Health -- Computer network resources , Public health -- Information services
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:9731 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1514 , Quality assurance -- Management , Hospital care -- Quality control , Health facilities -- Quality control , Health -- Computer network resources , Public health -- Information services
- Description: The evolution of e-health has the potential to assist in the management of scarce resources and the shortage of skills, enhance efficiencies, improve quality and increase work productivity within the healthcare sector. As a result, an increase is seen in e-health solutions developments with the aim to improve healthcare services, hospital information systems, health decision support, telemedicine and other technical systems that have the potential to reduce cost, improve quality, and enhance the accessibility and delivery of healthcare. However, unfortunately their implementation contiues to fail. Although there are several reasons for this, in this study a lack of project quality management is viewed as a key contributor to the failure of e-health solutions implementation projects in rural hospitals. This results in neglected aspects of quality assurance (QA), which forms an integral part of project quality management. The purpose of this study is to develop a Genertic Quality Assurance Model (GQAM) for the successful acquisition (i.e. development and implementation) of e-health solutions in rural hospitals in the Eastern Cape Province to enable improved quality of care and service delivery. In order to develop and test this model it was necessary to identify the QA methodologies that are currently used in rural hospitals and to evaluate their strengths and weaknesses, as well as their impact on project success. The study is divided into four phases; in each phase different study designs were followed. The study used triangulation of qualitative and some elements of quantitative research approaches, in terms of which a case study approach was adpoted to answer the research questions. This study did indeed develop a GQAM that can be used to ensure e-health solution success in rural hospitals. Furthermore, to aid in the implementation of this model, a set of QA value chain implementation guidelines were developed, as a framework, to inject the nodel into typical (SDLC) phases.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Analytical methods for the quantitative determination of oxytocin
- Chaibva, Faith A, Walker, Roderick B
- Authors: Chaibva, Faith A , Walker, Roderick B
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6353 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006037
- Description: Oxytocin is a clinically important nonapeptide that is used for the induction and/or augmentation of labor and is normally administered as a slow intravenous infusion diluted with normal saline or Ringer’s lactate solution. Oxytocin is also indicated for use in the prevention and treatment of post partum hemorrhage and may be administered via either the intramuscular or intravenous routes in order to increase uterine tone and/or reduce bleeding. The analysis of oxytocin in different media has evolved over the past 30 years with the result that more sophisticated, selective and sensitive techniques are used for the determination of the compound. A variety of techniques have been applied to the determination of oxytocin in different matrices ranging from simple paper chromatography to hyphenated liquid chromatographic such as liquid chromatography coupled with mass-spectrometry. Additionally enzyme linked immuno-sorbent assays (ELISA) and radio immuno-assays (RIA) are used for the determination of low concentrations of oxytocin in biological matrices. This manuscript provides a systematic survey of the analytical methods that have been reported for isolation and quantitation of oxytocin in different matrices.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Chaibva, Faith A , Walker, Roderick B
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6353 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006037
- Description: Oxytocin is a clinically important nonapeptide that is used for the induction and/or augmentation of labor and is normally administered as a slow intravenous infusion diluted with normal saline or Ringer’s lactate solution. Oxytocin is also indicated for use in the prevention and treatment of post partum hemorrhage and may be administered via either the intramuscular or intravenous routes in order to increase uterine tone and/or reduce bleeding. The analysis of oxytocin in different media has evolved over the past 30 years with the result that more sophisticated, selective and sensitive techniques are used for the determination of the compound. A variety of techniques have been applied to the determination of oxytocin in different matrices ranging from simple paper chromatography to hyphenated liquid chromatographic such as liquid chromatography coupled with mass-spectrometry. Additionally enzyme linked immuno-sorbent assays (ELISA) and radio immuno-assays (RIA) are used for the determination of low concentrations of oxytocin in biological matrices. This manuscript provides a systematic survey of the analytical methods that have been reported for isolation and quantitation of oxytocin in different matrices.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Leonotis leonurus: the anticoagulant and antidiabetic activity of Leonotis leonurus
- Authors: Mnonopi, Nandipha
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Medicinal plants -- South Africa , Materia medica, Vegetable -- South Africa , Diabetes -- Alternative treatment -- South Africa , Plant bioactive compounds , Leonotis leonurus -- Physiological aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:10323 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1194 , Medicinal plants -- South Africa , Materia medica, Vegetable -- South Africa , Diabetes -- Alternative treatment -- South Africa , Plant bioactive compounds , Leonotis leonurus -- Physiological aspects
- Description: Commercial marrubiin, aqueous and organic extracts of Leonotis leonurus were tested in vitro for their anticoagulant and antiplatelet activities. The aqueous extract inhibited platelet aggregation by 69.5 percent (100 μg/mL), while the organic extract (100 μg/mL) and marrubiin (5 μg/mL) showed 92.5 percent and 91.6 percent inhibition, respectively, by inhibiting the binding of fibrinogen to glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor in a concentration dependent manner. The extracts significantly prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time compared to untreated plasma controls. Fibrin and D-Dimer formation were drastically decreased. The extracts and marrubiin concentration-dependently inhibited calcium mobilization induced by collagen and thrombin. The formation of thromboxane A2 was also significantly reduced by both the extracts and marrubiin. Protein secretion and platelet adhesion were significantly reduced by both the extracts and marrubiin. The organic extract and marrubiin showed a more pronounced effect than the aqueous extracts in all the in vitro assays. The ex-vivo animal model confirmed the results obtained in vitro. Similar to the in vitro studies, activated partial thromboplastin time clotting time was prolonged by marrubiin and the number of aggregated platelets were significantly reduced relative to aspirin. The findings reflect that marrubiin largely contributes to the organic extract's anticoagulant and antiplatelet effect in vitro. INS-1 cells were cultured under normo- and hyperglycaemic conditions. Marrubiin and the two Leonotis leonurus extracts were screened for anti-diabetic activity in vitro. The stimulatory index of INS-1 cells cultured under hyperglycaemic conditions was significantly increased by 60 percent and 61 percent (p<0.01; n=5) in cells exposed to the organic extract (10 μg/mL) and marrubiin (500 ng/mL), respectively, relative to the normoglycaemic conditions. The gene expression of insulin was significantly increased by 76.5 and 71 percent, and of glucose transporter-2 by 93 and 92.5 percent for marrubiin and the organic extract, respectively, under the same conditions stipulated above (p<0.01; n=4). The extract and marrubiin similarly showed an increase in respiratory rate under hyperglycaemic conditions. Marrubiin increased insulin secretion, HDL-cholesterol, while it decreased total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and the atherogenic index in the in vivo rat model.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Mnonopi, Nandipha
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Medicinal plants -- South Africa , Materia medica, Vegetable -- South Africa , Diabetes -- Alternative treatment -- South Africa , Plant bioactive compounds , Leonotis leonurus -- Physiological aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:10323 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1194 , Medicinal plants -- South Africa , Materia medica, Vegetable -- South Africa , Diabetes -- Alternative treatment -- South Africa , Plant bioactive compounds , Leonotis leonurus -- Physiological aspects
- Description: Commercial marrubiin, aqueous and organic extracts of Leonotis leonurus were tested in vitro for their anticoagulant and antiplatelet activities. The aqueous extract inhibited platelet aggregation by 69.5 percent (100 μg/mL), while the organic extract (100 μg/mL) and marrubiin (5 μg/mL) showed 92.5 percent and 91.6 percent inhibition, respectively, by inhibiting the binding of fibrinogen to glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor in a concentration dependent manner. The extracts significantly prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time compared to untreated plasma controls. Fibrin and D-Dimer formation were drastically decreased. The extracts and marrubiin concentration-dependently inhibited calcium mobilization induced by collagen and thrombin. The formation of thromboxane A2 was also significantly reduced by both the extracts and marrubiin. Protein secretion and platelet adhesion were significantly reduced by both the extracts and marrubiin. The organic extract and marrubiin showed a more pronounced effect than the aqueous extracts in all the in vitro assays. The ex-vivo animal model confirmed the results obtained in vitro. Similar to the in vitro studies, activated partial thromboplastin time clotting time was prolonged by marrubiin and the number of aggregated platelets were significantly reduced relative to aspirin. The findings reflect that marrubiin largely contributes to the organic extract's anticoagulant and antiplatelet effect in vitro. INS-1 cells were cultured under normo- and hyperglycaemic conditions. Marrubiin and the two Leonotis leonurus extracts were screened for anti-diabetic activity in vitro. The stimulatory index of INS-1 cells cultured under hyperglycaemic conditions was significantly increased by 60 percent and 61 percent (p<0.01; n=5) in cells exposed to the organic extract (10 μg/mL) and marrubiin (500 ng/mL), respectively, relative to the normoglycaemic conditions. The gene expression of insulin was significantly increased by 76.5 and 71 percent, and of glucose transporter-2 by 93 and 92.5 percent for marrubiin and the organic extract, respectively, under the same conditions stipulated above (p<0.01; n=4). The extract and marrubiin similarly showed an increase in respiratory rate under hyperglycaemic conditions. Marrubiin increased insulin secretion, HDL-cholesterol, while it decreased total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and the atherogenic index in the in vivo rat model.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Howard Gardner's multiple intelligences theory, outcomes-based education and curriculum implementation in South Africa : a critique of music education in the general education and training phase
- Authors: Clench, Renate
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Music -- Instruction and study -- South Africa , School music -- Instruction and study -- South africa , Music in education , Intellect
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MMus
- Identifier: vital:8507 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1218 , Music -- Instruction and study -- South Africa , School music -- Instruction and study -- South africa , Music in education , Intellect
- Description: This study examines the current curriculum for primary schools in South Africa – Curriculum 2005 (C2005) and the subsequent Revised National Curriculum Statement (RNCS), with Outcomes-Based Education (OBE) as its fundamental educational approach - with specific reference to the place of music education in it. While the underlying principles and scope of this curriculum has many positive attributes, numerous studies have shown that there are still major stumbling blocks in the way of its successful implementation. Since the emphasis of the Arts and Culture Learning Area is on the nurturing of generic values and attitudes towards culture, it does not provide for sufficient development of subject-specific musical skills and knowledge. Instead this vital form of musical learning continues to be provided in the form of extra-curricular music programmes by those few schools who have the staff expertise and the funding to do so. Music therefore remains accessible only to the privileged few. .Although C2005 encourages and requires significant levels of integration in Learning Outcomes and Assessment Standards within and across Learning Areas, this is currently one of the least successful aspects of its implementation. This lack of success, it is argued, is in part the result of severe limitations in the training of teachers and the availability of necessary resources in schools, and in part the result of the curriculum’s own limited interpretation of integration. Psychologist Dr Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences is a holistic approach to education that stresses, amongst other things, that Musical Intelligence is one of eight vital forms of intelligence that should be accessible to all children. It is argued that educational approaches based on Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences Theory provide some insights into the integration of Musical Intelligence with other forms of learning that may usefully be applied in C2005.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Clench, Renate
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Music -- Instruction and study -- South Africa , School music -- Instruction and study -- South africa , Music in education , Intellect
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MMus
- Identifier: vital:8507 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1218 , Music -- Instruction and study -- South Africa , School music -- Instruction and study -- South africa , Music in education , Intellect
- Description: This study examines the current curriculum for primary schools in South Africa – Curriculum 2005 (C2005) and the subsequent Revised National Curriculum Statement (RNCS), with Outcomes-Based Education (OBE) as its fundamental educational approach - with specific reference to the place of music education in it. While the underlying principles and scope of this curriculum has many positive attributes, numerous studies have shown that there are still major stumbling blocks in the way of its successful implementation. Since the emphasis of the Arts and Culture Learning Area is on the nurturing of generic values and attitudes towards culture, it does not provide for sufficient development of subject-specific musical skills and knowledge. Instead this vital form of musical learning continues to be provided in the form of extra-curricular music programmes by those few schools who have the staff expertise and the funding to do so. Music therefore remains accessible only to the privileged few. .Although C2005 encourages and requires significant levels of integration in Learning Outcomes and Assessment Standards within and across Learning Areas, this is currently one of the least successful aspects of its implementation. This lack of success, it is argued, is in part the result of severe limitations in the training of teachers and the availability of necessary resources in schools, and in part the result of the curriculum’s own limited interpretation of integration. Psychologist Dr Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences is a holistic approach to education that stresses, amongst other things, that Musical Intelligence is one of eight vital forms of intelligence that should be accessible to all children. It is argued that educational approaches based on Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences Theory provide some insights into the integration of Musical Intelligence with other forms of learning that may usefully be applied in C2005.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Limitations of the land reform in South Africa : an assessment of two farms in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Tesana, Zola Eric
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Land reform -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9082 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1122 , Land reform -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The government that was voted in, in 1994 initiated and implemented the Land Reform Programme that had three key elements, namely; Land restitution, redistribution and tenure reform. This study was undertaken to examine the limitations that resulted in some of the projects not to succeed. The study took a form of a case study of two farms that were redistributed in 1997 under the Land Redistribution Programme in the Blue Crane Route Municipal area in the Eastern Cape. The findings confirmed a variety of weaknesses that led to the collapse of these farms. Whilst acknowledging that there are some measures that are put in place to address those limitations the, study shows that there is still scope to do more. It is therefore one’s sincere wish that what transpired out of this study will make a positive contribution by providing some elements that can be used as a remedy in advancing the Land Reform Programme.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Tesana, Zola Eric
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Land reform -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9082 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1122 , Land reform -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The government that was voted in, in 1994 initiated and implemented the Land Reform Programme that had three key elements, namely; Land restitution, redistribution and tenure reform. This study was undertaken to examine the limitations that resulted in some of the projects not to succeed. The study took a form of a case study of two farms that were redistributed in 1997 under the Land Redistribution Programme in the Blue Crane Route Municipal area in the Eastern Cape. The findings confirmed a variety of weaknesses that led to the collapse of these farms. Whilst acknowledging that there are some measures that are put in place to address those limitations the, study shows that there is still scope to do more. It is therefore one’s sincere wish that what transpired out of this study will make a positive contribution by providing some elements that can be used as a remedy in advancing the Land Reform Programme.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Synergistic potententials and isolation of bioactive compounds from the extracts of two helichrysum species indigenous to the Eastern Cape province
- Authors: Aiyegoro, Olayinka Ayobami
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Helichrysum -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Antibiotics , Antioxidants , Medicinal plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Traditional medicine -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Microbiology)
- Identifier: vital:11268 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/250 , Helichrysum -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Antibiotics , Antioxidants , Medicinal plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Traditional medicine -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Helichrysum longifolium and H. pedunculatum belong to the Astereceae family and are used extensively in folkloric medicine in South Africa to manage stress-related ailments and as dressings for wounds normally encountered in circumcision rites, bruises, cuts and sores. The in vitro antibacterial time-kill studies, the synergistic potentials, the phytochemical screenings and antioxidant potentials as well as the isolation of the bioactive compounds from the extracts of these two plants were carried out in this study. The in vitro antibacterial activities and time kill regimes of crude extracts of H. pedunculatum was assessed. The extracts was active against both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria tested at a concentration of 10 mg/ml. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) values for all the susceptible bacteria ranged between 0.1 – 35 mg/ml. The average log reduction in viable cell count in time kill assay ranged between 0.17 Log10 to 6.37 Log10 cfu/ml after 6 h of interaction, and between 0.14 Log10 and 6.99 Log10 cfu/ml after 12 h interaction in 1 × MIC and 2 × MIC of the extract. The effect of the aqueous extract was only bacteriostatic on both reference and environmental strains and the clinical isolates were outrightly resistant to aqueous extract. This is worrisome and this could be one reason why, there is an incidence of high death rate resulting from circumcision wounds infection even after treating such wounds with H. pedunculatum leaf. In vitro antibacterial time kill studies of extracts of H. longifolium was assessed. All test bacteria were susceptible to the methanol extract, while none was susceptible to the aqueous extract. Two of the test bacteria were susceptible to the ethyl acetate extract, while ten and seven were susceptible to the acetone and chloroform extracts respectively at the test concentration of 5 mg/ml. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranged between 0.1 and 5.0 mg/ml, while minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) ranged between 1.0 and >5 mg/ml for all the extracts. Average log reductions in viable cell counts for all the extracts ranged between 0.1 Log10 and 7.5 Log10 cfu/ml after 12 h interaction at 1 × MIC and 2 × MIC. Most of the extracts were rapidly bactericidal at 2 × MIC achieving a complete elimination of most of the test organisms within 12 h exposure time. The effect of combinations of the crude extracts of H. pedunculatum leaves and eight antibiotics was investigated by means of checkerboard and time-kill methods. In the checkerboard method, synergies of between 45.83-56.81 percent were observed and this is independent of Gram reaction, with combinations in the aqueous extract yielding largely antagonistic interactions (18.75 percent). The time kill assay also detected synergy that is independent of Gram reaction with a ≥ 3Log10 potentiation of the bactericidal activity of the test antibiotics. We conclude that the crude leaf extracts of H. pedunculatum could be potential source of broad spectrum antibiotics resistance modulating compounds. The interactions between crude extracts of H. longifolium in combination with six first-line antibiotics using both the time-kill and the checkerboard methods were carried out. The time-kill method revealed the highest bactericidal activity exemplified by a 6.7 Log10 reduction in cell density against Salmonella sp. when the extract and Penicillin G are combined at ½ × MIC. Synergistic response constituted about 65 percent, while indifference and antagonism constituted about 28.33 percent and 6.67 percent in the time kill assay, respectively. The checkerboard method also revealed that the extracts improved bactericidal effects of the antibiotics. About 61.67 percent of all the interactions were synergistic, while indifference interactions constituted about 26.67 percent and antagonistic interactions was observed in approximately 11.66 percent. The in vitro antioxidant property and phytochemical constituents of the aqueous crude leaf extracts of H. longifolium and H. pedunculatum was investigated. The scavenging activity on superoxide anions, DPPH, H2O2, NO and ABTS; and the reducing power were determined, as well as the flavonoid, proanthocyanidin and phenolic contents of the extracts. The extracts exhibited scavenging activity in all radicals tested due to the presence of relatively high total phenol and flavonoids contents in the extracts. Our findings suggest that H. longifolium and H. pedunculatum are endowed with antioxidant phytochemicals and could serve as a base for future drugs. Bioactivity-guided fractionation of the leaves of H. longifolium and H. pedunculatum yielded two known compounds. From the n-hexane fraction of H. longifolium a compound was isolated (Stigmasterol) and from the ethyl acetate fraction of H. pedunculatum another compound (β-sitosterol) was isolated. The compounds were isolated and identified using various techniques. The antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, analgesic and anti-pyretic activities of these compounds have been reported in literatures. In general, the experiments and tests conducted in this study appear to have justified the folkloric medicinal uses of H. longifolium and H. pedunculatum for the treatment of stress related ailments and wound infections and make a substantial contribution to the knowledge base of the use of herbal medicine for the treatment of the microbial infections.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Aiyegoro, Olayinka Ayobami
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Helichrysum -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Antibiotics , Antioxidants , Medicinal plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Traditional medicine -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Microbiology)
- Identifier: vital:11268 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/250 , Helichrysum -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Antibiotics , Antioxidants , Medicinal plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Traditional medicine -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Helichrysum longifolium and H. pedunculatum belong to the Astereceae family and are used extensively in folkloric medicine in South Africa to manage stress-related ailments and as dressings for wounds normally encountered in circumcision rites, bruises, cuts and sores. The in vitro antibacterial time-kill studies, the synergistic potentials, the phytochemical screenings and antioxidant potentials as well as the isolation of the bioactive compounds from the extracts of these two plants were carried out in this study. The in vitro antibacterial activities and time kill regimes of crude extracts of H. pedunculatum was assessed. The extracts was active against both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria tested at a concentration of 10 mg/ml. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) values for all the susceptible bacteria ranged between 0.1 – 35 mg/ml. The average log reduction in viable cell count in time kill assay ranged between 0.17 Log10 to 6.37 Log10 cfu/ml after 6 h of interaction, and between 0.14 Log10 and 6.99 Log10 cfu/ml after 12 h interaction in 1 × MIC and 2 × MIC of the extract. The effect of the aqueous extract was only bacteriostatic on both reference and environmental strains and the clinical isolates were outrightly resistant to aqueous extract. This is worrisome and this could be one reason why, there is an incidence of high death rate resulting from circumcision wounds infection even after treating such wounds with H. pedunculatum leaf. In vitro antibacterial time kill studies of extracts of H. longifolium was assessed. All test bacteria were susceptible to the methanol extract, while none was susceptible to the aqueous extract. Two of the test bacteria were susceptible to the ethyl acetate extract, while ten and seven were susceptible to the acetone and chloroform extracts respectively at the test concentration of 5 mg/ml. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranged between 0.1 and 5.0 mg/ml, while minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) ranged between 1.0 and >5 mg/ml for all the extracts. Average log reductions in viable cell counts for all the extracts ranged between 0.1 Log10 and 7.5 Log10 cfu/ml after 12 h interaction at 1 × MIC and 2 × MIC. Most of the extracts were rapidly bactericidal at 2 × MIC achieving a complete elimination of most of the test organisms within 12 h exposure time. The effect of combinations of the crude extracts of H. pedunculatum leaves and eight antibiotics was investigated by means of checkerboard and time-kill methods. In the checkerboard method, synergies of between 45.83-56.81 percent were observed and this is independent of Gram reaction, with combinations in the aqueous extract yielding largely antagonistic interactions (18.75 percent). The time kill assay also detected synergy that is independent of Gram reaction with a ≥ 3Log10 potentiation of the bactericidal activity of the test antibiotics. We conclude that the crude leaf extracts of H. pedunculatum could be potential source of broad spectrum antibiotics resistance modulating compounds. The interactions between crude extracts of H. longifolium in combination with six first-line antibiotics using both the time-kill and the checkerboard methods were carried out. The time-kill method revealed the highest bactericidal activity exemplified by a 6.7 Log10 reduction in cell density against Salmonella sp. when the extract and Penicillin G are combined at ½ × MIC. Synergistic response constituted about 65 percent, while indifference and antagonism constituted about 28.33 percent and 6.67 percent in the time kill assay, respectively. The checkerboard method also revealed that the extracts improved bactericidal effects of the antibiotics. About 61.67 percent of all the interactions were synergistic, while indifference interactions constituted about 26.67 percent and antagonistic interactions was observed in approximately 11.66 percent. The in vitro antioxidant property and phytochemical constituents of the aqueous crude leaf extracts of H. longifolium and H. pedunculatum was investigated. The scavenging activity on superoxide anions, DPPH, H2O2, NO and ABTS; and the reducing power were determined, as well as the flavonoid, proanthocyanidin and phenolic contents of the extracts. The extracts exhibited scavenging activity in all radicals tested due to the presence of relatively high total phenol and flavonoids contents in the extracts. Our findings suggest that H. longifolium and H. pedunculatum are endowed with antioxidant phytochemicals and could serve as a base for future drugs. Bioactivity-guided fractionation of the leaves of H. longifolium and H. pedunculatum yielded two known compounds. From the n-hexane fraction of H. longifolium a compound was isolated (Stigmasterol) and from the ethyl acetate fraction of H. pedunculatum another compound (β-sitosterol) was isolated. The compounds were isolated and identified using various techniques. The antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, analgesic and anti-pyretic activities of these compounds have been reported in literatures. In general, the experiments and tests conducted in this study appear to have justified the folkloric medicinal uses of H. longifolium and H. pedunculatum for the treatment of stress related ailments and wound infections and make a substantial contribution to the knowledge base of the use of herbal medicine for the treatment of the microbial infections.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Neotectonics and its applications for the exploration of groundwater in the fractured Karoo aquifers in the Eastern Cape,South Africa
- Authors: Madi, Kakaba
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Water well drilling -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Aquifers -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Water -- supply engineering -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Prospecting -- Geophysical methods , Groundwater -- Research -- Methodology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Geology)
- Identifier: vital:11523 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/362 , Water well drilling -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Aquifers -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Water -- supply engineering -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Prospecting -- Geophysical methods , Groundwater -- Research -- Methodology
- Description: This study is part of an NRF sponsored research project entitled “Neotectonics and its applications for the exploration of groundwater in the fractured Karoo aquifers in the Eastern Cape” under the NRF Niche area of Water Resources Management and Sustainable Development in the Eastern Cape Province. The identification of relatively highly productive wells in the Karoo fractured aquifers is extremely difficult. This study aims to identify neotectonic zones and lower stress fields, and apply the results to groundwater exploration in the Eastern Cape Province. The methodologies adopted in this study include: a comprehensive literature review, extensive field mapping and investigation such as road cuts, sampling for laboratory studies, examination of seismic data, study of hot and ordinary springs, and interpretation of aerial photography and satellite images. Three main neotectonic belts were identified in the Eastern Cape (southern neotectonic belt, northern neotectonic belt and eastern neotectonic belt) based on literature review and field interpretations. The southern neotectonic belt (from the Cape Fold Belt to the lower Beaufort Group boundary) is characterized by the reactivation of the Coega-Bavianskloof and Sauer faults, the presence of a hot spring near Fort Beaufort, the slickenlines and discrete slickenlines and specifically the seismic events that were recorded in the Eastern Cape from 1850 to 2007. In this southern neotectonic belt the remote sensing has also revealed the presence of the Fort Beaufort fracture, the quartz veins seen in some dolerites and the different vegetation types along it may indicate that this fracture is possibly a fault; moreover the Quaternary sediments and weathered dolerites indicate that the Fort iii Beaufort fracture is characterized by groundwater circulation and accordingly is a good target for groundwater exploration, this fracture is a post-Karoo structure and possibly a neotectonic feature. In addition, the kaolin deposit, chiefly developed in the Dwyka tillite near Grahamstown is clearly controlled by neotectonic fracture zones. The northern neotectonic belt near the country of Lesotho is marked by the presence of the Senqu seismotectonic regime and hot springs. The Quaternary Amatole-Swaziland (formerly Ciskei-Swaziland) axis of uplift makes the eastern part of the province the third neotectonic zone, the asymmetric meanders of the Mbashe river in the vicinity of Qunu near Mthatha derived possibly from this Quaternary uplift; this asymmetric feature of meanders implies that the river has tried to maintain stability of its valley where tilting occurred. Within these neotectonic belts the central part of the Eastern Cape may be considered a static and inactive belt. A northwesterly trend for the maximum principal compresssional stress predominates in the Eastern Cape and is correlated with the present major structural control of the province. The current stress regime determination was derived from faults, joints and quartz veins only on kaolin deposits. Systematic joints reflect regional tectonic stress trajectories at the time of fracturing. Discharge rates of groundwater from boreholes as provided by the Department of Water and Forestry were used to confirm and predict water exploration targets. The region of Tabankulu (near Kwazulu Natal) in the northern neotectonic belt has remarkable discharge rates of groundwater (11.1 l/s, 4.65 l/s, 6.49 l/s, 42 l/s). The region of Mthatha, nearly surrounding the Amatole-Swaziland axis (former Ciskei-Swaziland iv axis) of uplift which might have generated some new faults, has a number of springs. These two regions should serve as case studies for future research. Apart from these two regions, two others regions can be considered as case studies for future groundwater exploration targets: the Bath Farm hot spring near the Fort Beaufort neotectonic fault and the vicinity of what is known as the Fort Beaufort fracture near Teba and Cimezile villages 20km north west of Fort Beaufort. It is concluded that the study of neotectonics and stress fields may be a useful tool for groundwater exploration in the Karoo fractured aquifers in the Eastern Cape, and in similar regions elsewhere in South Africa and in Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Madi, Kakaba
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Water well drilling -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Aquifers -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Water -- supply engineering -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Prospecting -- Geophysical methods , Groundwater -- Research -- Methodology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Geology)
- Identifier: vital:11523 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/362 , Water well drilling -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Aquifers -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Water -- supply engineering -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Prospecting -- Geophysical methods , Groundwater -- Research -- Methodology
- Description: This study is part of an NRF sponsored research project entitled “Neotectonics and its applications for the exploration of groundwater in the fractured Karoo aquifers in the Eastern Cape” under the NRF Niche area of Water Resources Management and Sustainable Development in the Eastern Cape Province. The identification of relatively highly productive wells in the Karoo fractured aquifers is extremely difficult. This study aims to identify neotectonic zones and lower stress fields, and apply the results to groundwater exploration in the Eastern Cape Province. The methodologies adopted in this study include: a comprehensive literature review, extensive field mapping and investigation such as road cuts, sampling for laboratory studies, examination of seismic data, study of hot and ordinary springs, and interpretation of aerial photography and satellite images. Three main neotectonic belts were identified in the Eastern Cape (southern neotectonic belt, northern neotectonic belt and eastern neotectonic belt) based on literature review and field interpretations. The southern neotectonic belt (from the Cape Fold Belt to the lower Beaufort Group boundary) is characterized by the reactivation of the Coega-Bavianskloof and Sauer faults, the presence of a hot spring near Fort Beaufort, the slickenlines and discrete slickenlines and specifically the seismic events that were recorded in the Eastern Cape from 1850 to 2007. In this southern neotectonic belt the remote sensing has also revealed the presence of the Fort Beaufort fracture, the quartz veins seen in some dolerites and the different vegetation types along it may indicate that this fracture is possibly a fault; moreover the Quaternary sediments and weathered dolerites indicate that the Fort iii Beaufort fracture is characterized by groundwater circulation and accordingly is a good target for groundwater exploration, this fracture is a post-Karoo structure and possibly a neotectonic feature. In addition, the kaolin deposit, chiefly developed in the Dwyka tillite near Grahamstown is clearly controlled by neotectonic fracture zones. The northern neotectonic belt near the country of Lesotho is marked by the presence of the Senqu seismotectonic regime and hot springs. The Quaternary Amatole-Swaziland (formerly Ciskei-Swaziland) axis of uplift makes the eastern part of the province the third neotectonic zone, the asymmetric meanders of the Mbashe river in the vicinity of Qunu near Mthatha derived possibly from this Quaternary uplift; this asymmetric feature of meanders implies that the river has tried to maintain stability of its valley where tilting occurred. Within these neotectonic belts the central part of the Eastern Cape may be considered a static and inactive belt. A northwesterly trend for the maximum principal compresssional stress predominates in the Eastern Cape and is correlated with the present major structural control of the province. The current stress regime determination was derived from faults, joints and quartz veins only on kaolin deposits. Systematic joints reflect regional tectonic stress trajectories at the time of fracturing. Discharge rates of groundwater from boreholes as provided by the Department of Water and Forestry were used to confirm and predict water exploration targets. The region of Tabankulu (near Kwazulu Natal) in the northern neotectonic belt has remarkable discharge rates of groundwater (11.1 l/s, 4.65 l/s, 6.49 l/s, 42 l/s). The region of Mthatha, nearly surrounding the Amatole-Swaziland axis (former Ciskei-Swaziland iv axis) of uplift which might have generated some new faults, has a number of springs. These two regions should serve as case studies for future research. Apart from these two regions, two others regions can be considered as case studies for future groundwater exploration targets: the Bath Farm hot spring near the Fort Beaufort neotectonic fault and the vicinity of what is known as the Fort Beaufort fracture near Teba and Cimezile villages 20km north west of Fort Beaufort. It is concluded that the study of neotectonics and stress fields may be a useful tool for groundwater exploration in the Karoo fractured aquifers in the Eastern Cape, and in similar regions elsewhere in South Africa and in Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Teaching journalism to produce “interpretive communities" rather than just “professionals”:
- Authors: Garman, Anthea
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/159846 , vital:40349 , DOI: 10.1080/02560054.2005.9653330
- Description: Debates about whether journalism is a “trade” and can only be learnt “on the job”, or whether journalism should even be taught at universities, are no longer fruitful or even interesting for teachers in tertiary environments. The far more important discussion around the teaching of journalism should be on the approach which focuses too exclusively on its nature as a “profession” and so ignores the critical function of journalists in the world as “interpretive communities”.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Garman, Anthea
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/159846 , vital:40349 , DOI: 10.1080/02560054.2005.9653330
- Description: Debates about whether journalism is a “trade” and can only be learnt “on the job”, or whether journalism should even be taught at universities, are no longer fruitful or even interesting for teachers in tertiary environments. The far more important discussion around the teaching of journalism should be on the approach which focuses too exclusively on its nature as a “profession” and so ignores the critical function of journalists in the world as “interpretive communities”.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
The role of APPRAISAL in the National Research Foundation (NRF) rating system evaluation and instruction in peer reviewer reports
- Authors: Marshall, Christine Louise
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Veterinary medicine -- Research -- Evaluation Discourse analysis Politeness (Linguistics) Accreditation (Education) -- South Africa Quality assurance -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2356 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002638
- Description: This thesis reports on two aspects of interpersonal meaning in peer reviewer reports for eleven researchers in the Animal and Veterinary Sciences awarded NRF ratings in A1, B1, C1 and Y1 rating categories. These aspects are the evaluation of the researcher applying for a rating, and the instruction to the NRF as to the rating the researcher ought to receive. A full APPRAISAL Analysis (Martin & White 2005) complemented by an investigation of politeness strategies (Myers 1989) is used to analyse the reports and show how the various systems of interpersonal meaning co-function and to what effect. The analysis reveals that there are clear differences between the evaluative and instructive language used in the reports. Those for the A1 rated researchers are characterised by only positive evaluations of the applicant, frequently strengthened in terms of Graduation and contracted in terms of Engagement. Overall there is less Engagement and politeness in these reports rendering them more ‘factual’ than the reports for the other rating categories. The A1 rated researcher is therefore construed as being, incontestably, a leader in his/her field of research, worthy of a top rating. The reports for the B1 and C1 rated researchers are characterised by the increasing presence of negative evaluations. In addition, there are more instances of softened/downscaled Graduation, dialogic expansion and deference politeness, showing that there is more perceived contention about the evaluations made. The reports for the Y1 rated researchers (a category for young researchers) focus on the applicant’s demonstrated potential to become a leader in the field. In addition to a high incidence of negative evaluations, downscaled Graduation, dialogic expansion and deference politeness, the Y1 reports are also characterised by a high incidence of advice and suggestions from the reviewers concerning the applicant’s work and standing. At a broader level, the analysis reveals that the language used in the reports has a profound influence on the outcome of the rating process. The reports are crucial, not only for evaluating the applicant but, also, more subtly, in directing the NRF towards a specific rating category. It offers insights into what is valued in the scientific community, what is considered quality research, and what leads to international recognition. The research also adds uniquely to current thinking about the language of science and, more particularly, highlights the nuanced understanding of evaluative and instructive language in the reports that is possible if one draws on the full APPRAISAL framework, and insights into politeness behaviour.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Marshall, Christine Louise
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Veterinary medicine -- Research -- Evaluation Discourse analysis Politeness (Linguistics) Accreditation (Education) -- South Africa Quality assurance -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2356 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002638
- Description: This thesis reports on two aspects of interpersonal meaning in peer reviewer reports for eleven researchers in the Animal and Veterinary Sciences awarded NRF ratings in A1, B1, C1 and Y1 rating categories. These aspects are the evaluation of the researcher applying for a rating, and the instruction to the NRF as to the rating the researcher ought to receive. A full APPRAISAL Analysis (Martin & White 2005) complemented by an investigation of politeness strategies (Myers 1989) is used to analyse the reports and show how the various systems of interpersonal meaning co-function and to what effect. The analysis reveals that there are clear differences between the evaluative and instructive language used in the reports. Those for the A1 rated researchers are characterised by only positive evaluations of the applicant, frequently strengthened in terms of Graduation and contracted in terms of Engagement. Overall there is less Engagement and politeness in these reports rendering them more ‘factual’ than the reports for the other rating categories. The A1 rated researcher is therefore construed as being, incontestably, a leader in his/her field of research, worthy of a top rating. The reports for the B1 and C1 rated researchers are characterised by the increasing presence of negative evaluations. In addition, there are more instances of softened/downscaled Graduation, dialogic expansion and deference politeness, showing that there is more perceived contention about the evaluations made. The reports for the Y1 rated researchers (a category for young researchers) focus on the applicant’s demonstrated potential to become a leader in the field. In addition to a high incidence of negative evaluations, downscaled Graduation, dialogic expansion and deference politeness, the Y1 reports are also characterised by a high incidence of advice and suggestions from the reviewers concerning the applicant’s work and standing. At a broader level, the analysis reveals that the language used in the reports has a profound influence on the outcome of the rating process. The reports are crucial, not only for evaluating the applicant but, also, more subtly, in directing the NRF towards a specific rating category. It offers insights into what is valued in the scientific community, what is considered quality research, and what leads to international recognition. The research also adds uniquely to current thinking about the language of science and, more particularly, highlights the nuanced understanding of evaluative and instructive language in the reports that is possible if one draws on the full APPRAISAL framework, and insights into politeness behaviour.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Growth, reproduction and population structure of Diplotaxodon limnothrissa in the southeast arm of Lake Malawi
- Kanyerere, Geoffrey Z, Weyl, Olaf L F, Booth, Anthony J
- Authors: Kanyerere, Geoffrey Z , Weyl, Olaf L F , Booth, Anthony J
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/124583 , vital:35633 , https://doi.org/10.2989/16085910509503832
- Description: With a surface area of ca 28 800km2, Lake Malawi (9°30’S–14°30’S) is the second largest of the African Rift Valley lakes, supporting at least 500, and possibly 2 000, fish species (Turner 1995). The ichthyofauna is dominated by haplochomine cichlids, most of which are confined to the demersal and littoral zones. As a result of over-fishing, the abundance of many of these species has declined (Turner 1994a, 1995, Bulirani et al. 1999, Allison et al. 2002). In contrast, the lake’s offshore fish stocks are considered to be unexploited or only lightly exploited (Thompson and Allison 1997, Turner et al. 2000) and the redirection of fishing effort to these stocks is a high priority (Thompson and Allison 1997, Turner et al. 2000, Allison et al. 2002). Consequently, the Malawi government is currently collaborating with the African Development Bank to develop the deepwater/ offshore fishery in order to increase yields by an estimated 11 000 tons (MC Banda, National Research co-ordinator, pers. comm.). The most abundant cichlid species in the pelagic zone is the small (<210mm TL) zooplanktivorous Diplotaxodon limnothrissa (Turner 1994, Thompson and Allison 1997). It has been recorded throughout the lake at depths ranging from 20 metres down to the anoxic zone at ca 220 metres (Turner 1994b, Thompson et al. 1996, Duponchelle et al. 2000a) and it makes up ca 52% to the total fish biomass (Thompson and Allison 1997). Diplotaxodon limnothrissa will therefore be a major target species in the pelagic fishery, and already comprises in excess of 50% of the mid-water trawl fishery in the southeast arm (SEA) of the lake (Turner 1996).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Kanyerere, Geoffrey Z , Weyl, Olaf L F , Booth, Anthony J
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/124583 , vital:35633 , https://doi.org/10.2989/16085910509503832
- Description: With a surface area of ca 28 800km2, Lake Malawi (9°30’S–14°30’S) is the second largest of the African Rift Valley lakes, supporting at least 500, and possibly 2 000, fish species (Turner 1995). The ichthyofauna is dominated by haplochomine cichlids, most of which are confined to the demersal and littoral zones. As a result of over-fishing, the abundance of many of these species has declined (Turner 1994a, 1995, Bulirani et al. 1999, Allison et al. 2002). In contrast, the lake’s offshore fish stocks are considered to be unexploited or only lightly exploited (Thompson and Allison 1997, Turner et al. 2000) and the redirection of fishing effort to these stocks is a high priority (Thompson and Allison 1997, Turner et al. 2000, Allison et al. 2002). Consequently, the Malawi government is currently collaborating with the African Development Bank to develop the deepwater/ offshore fishery in order to increase yields by an estimated 11 000 tons (MC Banda, National Research co-ordinator, pers. comm.). The most abundant cichlid species in the pelagic zone is the small (<210mm TL) zooplanktivorous Diplotaxodon limnothrissa (Turner 1994, Thompson and Allison 1997). It has been recorded throughout the lake at depths ranging from 20 metres down to the anoxic zone at ca 220 metres (Turner 1994b, Thompson et al. 1996, Duponchelle et al. 2000a) and it makes up ca 52% to the total fish biomass (Thompson and Allison 1997). Diplotaxodon limnothrissa will therefore be a major target species in the pelagic fishery, and already comprises in excess of 50% of the mid-water trawl fishery in the southeast arm (SEA) of the lake (Turner 1996).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Accountability of child soldiers in conflict situations in Sub Saharan Africa
- Authors: Fritzen, Johannes
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Child soldiers -- Africa , Children and war -- Africa, Sub-Saharan , Children -- Africa, Sub-Saharan , Conflict management -- Africa, Sub-Saharan , Children's rights -- Africa, Sub-Saharan
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: vital:10277 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1561 , Child soldiers -- Africa , Children and war -- Africa, Sub-Saharan , Children -- Africa, Sub-Saharan , Conflict management -- Africa, Sub-Saharan , Children's rights -- Africa, Sub-Saharan
- Description: Throughout the world, but especially in the African continent, international, cross-border and national conflicts are ongoing. In the majority of these conflicts child soldiers are involved in various ways. Judicial problems concerning the prosecution of commanders and leaders of armed groups, irrespective of governmental or not are being solved. Thus, underlying concern is left to the issue of accountability of child soldiers. International, Regional and National protection measures provide for certain judicial standards dealing with children under the age of eighteen. In order to fully understand the difficulties arising from the existence of universal binding measurement dealing with the accountability of child soldiers, one has to be aware of the international, regional and national legislative frameworks. In Sub Saharan Africa, especially in Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, governments face various difficulties, such as the implantation process of international protection measures and ongoing conflicts, making it very difficult to examine the status of accountability measures for child soldiers. States have different minimum ages for accountability for child soldiers. Only a process of international co-operation between governments and non state actors can attempt to deal with the accountability of child soldiers. Not only deterrent, but rather restitution approaches and reintegration programmes should be followed in order to bring justice and achieve results in peace processes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Fritzen, Johannes
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Child soldiers -- Africa , Children and war -- Africa, Sub-Saharan , Children -- Africa, Sub-Saharan , Conflict management -- Africa, Sub-Saharan , Children's rights -- Africa, Sub-Saharan
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: vital:10277 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1561 , Child soldiers -- Africa , Children and war -- Africa, Sub-Saharan , Children -- Africa, Sub-Saharan , Conflict management -- Africa, Sub-Saharan , Children's rights -- Africa, Sub-Saharan
- Description: Throughout the world, but especially in the African continent, international, cross-border and national conflicts are ongoing. In the majority of these conflicts child soldiers are involved in various ways. Judicial problems concerning the prosecution of commanders and leaders of armed groups, irrespective of governmental or not are being solved. Thus, underlying concern is left to the issue of accountability of child soldiers. International, Regional and National protection measures provide for certain judicial standards dealing with children under the age of eighteen. In order to fully understand the difficulties arising from the existence of universal binding measurement dealing with the accountability of child soldiers, one has to be aware of the international, regional and national legislative frameworks. In Sub Saharan Africa, especially in Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, governments face various difficulties, such as the implantation process of international protection measures and ongoing conflicts, making it very difficult to examine the status of accountability measures for child soldiers. States have different minimum ages for accountability for child soldiers. Only a process of international co-operation between governments and non state actors can attempt to deal with the accountability of child soldiers. Not only deterrent, but rather restitution approaches and reintegration programmes should be followed in order to bring justice and achieve results in peace processes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Service quality perceptions in the Uganda mobile telephone branch of industry
- Authors: Byarugaba, Jotham Mbiito
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Cell phone services industry -- Uganda , Service industries -- Uganda -- Quality control , Cell phones -- Uganda -- Design , Consumer satisfaction -- Uganda
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DCom
- Identifier: vital:9373 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1226
- Description: Standard practice dictates that mobile telephone service providers remain accurately aligned with the dynamic expectations structure of the target mobile telephone service users they serve. To comply with this requirement, literature sources assert that service providers need to adopt a candid marketing research orientation to understand what the users expect and in-build it in their service designs. Theory further contends that if such a business stance is diligently applied, any service provider is bound to gain a competitive edge in the market place. Notwithstanding the aforementioned, service providers continue design services without sufficient understanding of what users expect. This mindset has led to disparities in both the designed and the recieved service. Despite the pioneering works of earlier reserachers on the Gaps model, evidence shows that no research had been carried out to measure users' and providers' service quality perceptions in the mobile telephone branch of industry in Uganda. Much remains unknown as regards users' perceptions of expected and actual service quality and any potential disparity thereof. In the same spirit, much remains unknown as regards providers' perceptions of users' expectations and users' real expectations and potential disparity thereof. In order to measure the aforementioned disparities, the Gaps model was used in which Gaps 1 and 5 were measured for providers and users of mobile telephone services in the branch industry in Uganda.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Byarugaba, Jotham Mbiito
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Cell phone services industry -- Uganda , Service industries -- Uganda -- Quality control , Cell phones -- Uganda -- Design , Consumer satisfaction -- Uganda
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DCom
- Identifier: vital:9373 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1226
- Description: Standard practice dictates that mobile telephone service providers remain accurately aligned with the dynamic expectations structure of the target mobile telephone service users they serve. To comply with this requirement, literature sources assert that service providers need to adopt a candid marketing research orientation to understand what the users expect and in-build it in their service designs. Theory further contends that if such a business stance is diligently applied, any service provider is bound to gain a competitive edge in the market place. Notwithstanding the aforementioned, service providers continue design services without sufficient understanding of what users expect. This mindset has led to disparities in both the designed and the recieved service. Despite the pioneering works of earlier reserachers on the Gaps model, evidence shows that no research had been carried out to measure users' and providers' service quality perceptions in the mobile telephone branch of industry in Uganda. Much remains unknown as regards users' perceptions of expected and actual service quality and any potential disparity thereof. In the same spirit, much remains unknown as regards providers' perceptions of users' expectations and users' real expectations and potential disparity thereof. In order to measure the aforementioned disparities, the Gaps model was used in which Gaps 1 and 5 were measured for providers and users of mobile telephone services in the branch industry in Uganda.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2010
Day-of-the-week effect : evidence from nine sectors of the South African stock market
- Authors: Mbululu, Douglas
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Stock exchanges -- South Africa , Johannesburg Stock Exchange , Stocks -- Prices -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:1024 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002759 , Stock exchanges -- South Africa , Johannesburg Stock Exchange , Stocks -- Prices -- South Africa
- Description: The day-of-the-week effect in share prices is one of the most extensively researched anomalies, especially in developed markets. However, emerging African stock markets have received little attention in this regard. This study breaks new ground in using non-parametric tests directly on skewness and kurtosis to examine whether the day-of-he-week effect exists in nine listed stock market sector indices of the JSE Securities Exchange of South Africa (JSE). Different day-of-the-week effects were found to be present in the statistical moments of returns of these nine JSE sectors
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Mbululu, Douglas
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Stock exchanges -- South Africa , Johannesburg Stock Exchange , Stocks -- Prices -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:1024 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002759 , Stock exchanges -- South Africa , Johannesburg Stock Exchange , Stocks -- Prices -- South Africa
- Description: The day-of-the-week effect in share prices is one of the most extensively researched anomalies, especially in developed markets. However, emerging African stock markets have received little attention in this regard. This study breaks new ground in using non-parametric tests directly on skewness and kurtosis to examine whether the day-of-he-week effect exists in nine listed stock market sector indices of the JSE Securities Exchange of South Africa (JSE). Different day-of-the-week effects were found to be present in the statistical moments of returns of these nine JSE sectors
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010