Integrating the development of academic literacy into mainstream teaching and learning
- Authors: Amos, Trevor L
- Date: 1999
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/270891 , vital:54489 , xlink:href="https://hdl.handle.net/10520/AJA10113487_947"
- Description: Higher education is challenged to develop effective and independent learners of students who experience learning difficulties. These students are however, (potentially) able to engage in and do not necessarily lack the the inherent bstract cognitive capability necessary for academic success. The aim of this article is to be done in practice to integrate the development of academic literacy into mainstream teaching and learning.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1999
- Authors: Amos, Trevor L
- Date: 1999
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/270891 , vital:54489 , xlink:href="https://hdl.handle.net/10520/AJA10113487_947"
- Description: Higher education is challenged to develop effective and independent learners of students who experience learning difficulties. These students are however, (potentially) able to engage in and do not necessarily lack the the inherent bstract cognitive capability necessary for academic success. The aim of this article is to be done in practice to integrate the development of academic literacy into mainstream teaching and learning.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1999
Understanding and responding to student learning difficulties within the higher education context
- Amos, Trevor L, Fischer, Sarah
- Authors: Amos, Trevor L , Fischer, Sarah
- Date: 1998
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/270972 , vital:54497 , xlink:href="https://hdl.handle.net/10520/AJA10113487_570"
- Description: Higher education in South Africa is challenged to promote the academic success of students through quality teaching and learning. This article provides a sound theoretical understanding of student learning difficulties as difficulties of accessing and mastering the cognitive processes entailed in the groundrules of the specific academic disciplines within higher education Based on this theoretical groundwork. the article argues for the integration of academic development into the mainstream teaching and learning activities of specific disciplines where the tutorial system is used to develop the specific academic literacy required for success within the discipline.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1998
- Authors: Amos, Trevor L , Fischer, Sarah
- Date: 1998
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/270972 , vital:54497 , xlink:href="https://hdl.handle.net/10520/AJA10113487_570"
- Description: Higher education in South Africa is challenged to promote the academic success of students through quality teaching and learning. This article provides a sound theoretical understanding of student learning difficulties as difficulties of accessing and mastering the cognitive processes entailed in the groundrules of the specific academic disciplines within higher education Based on this theoretical groundwork. the article argues for the integration of academic development into the mainstream teaching and learning activities of specific disciplines where the tutorial system is used to develop the specific academic literacy required for success within the discipline.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1998
Factors Influencing the Entrepreneurial Orientation of Students
- Amos, Trevor L, Louw, L, Baxter, Jeremy
- Authors: Amos, Trevor L , Louw, L , Baxter, Jeremy
- Date: 2001
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/270879 , vital:54488 , xlink:href="https://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=jas.2001.329.334"
- Description: With entrepreneurship being an important catalyst in wealth creation, it is imperative that entrepreneurs be developed. The aim of this exploratory research is to contribute to our understanding of the development of entrepreneurs and to encourage further research in the area. This paper proposes a model of entrepreneurship and tests the influencing factors on this model. Based on the findings of this research, it appears that entrepreneurial activity of family members influences the development of entrepreneurship more than gender, race, age or education. With education being a logical site for the development of entrepreneurship within society, this finding raises more questions than it provides answers, highlighting the need for educators to critically review the educational process if entrepreneurship is to be a realistic outcome.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2001
- Authors: Amos, Trevor L , Louw, L , Baxter, Jeremy
- Date: 2001
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/270879 , vital:54488 , xlink:href="https://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=jas.2001.329.334"
- Description: With entrepreneurship being an important catalyst in wealth creation, it is imperative that entrepreneurs be developed. The aim of this exploratory research is to contribute to our understanding of the development of entrepreneurs and to encourage further research in the area. This paper proposes a model of entrepreneurship and tests the influencing factors on this model. Based on the findings of this research, it appears that entrepreneurial activity of family members influences the development of entrepreneurship more than gender, race, age or education. With education being a logical site for the development of entrepreneurship within society, this finding raises more questions than it provides answers, highlighting the need for educators to critically review the educational process if entrepreneurship is to be a realistic outcome.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2001
A systematic review of published literature examining the link between maternal attachment and adolescent anxiety
- Amos-Brown, Alexa https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8180-3176
- Authors: Amos-Brown, Alexa https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8180-3176
- Date: 2022-02
- Subjects: Adolescent psychopathology , Teenagers -- Mental health
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/23677 , vital:58295
- Description: Aim: Over the last few years, there has been a significant increase in mental health challenges in adolescents, specifically anxiety and depression. There has thus been concern around what could be causing this increase. The present study therefore aimed to examine the link between maternal attachment and adolescent anxiety. Methodology: The research was conducted using a qualitative systematic review as the methodological approach. The sample included ten academic journal articles. These articles were searched using Google Scholar and The University of Fort Hare’s library database search engine. Final articles were selected based on the systematic review process of ensuring that the articles matched the inclusion criteria, centred on the main research question and sub-questions. Findings and Results: At the end of the systematic review process, the final literature articles were analysed using thematic analysis, which identified, analysed, and reported emerging themes. The study revealed that secure attachment and sensitive parenting buffer and protect against the risk and onset of anxiety and adolescent internalizing behaviours. The thematic analysis findings identified emerging themes based on the data analysis, which include: ‘Sensitive parenting as a buffer’, ‘Quality attachment protects’, ‘Safe haven’, ‘Insecure attachment precedes emotion regulation difficulties’, ‘Insecure attachment is associated with anxiety’, ‘Social problems,’ and ‘Negative parental-control undermines attachment security’. Conclusion and recommendations: The extracts provided by the literature were able to successfully give sufficient information to meet all of my study’s research objectives. The findings revealed that very few articles spoke about interventions that can be applied to assist in the development of healthy maternal attachment. Therefore, it is recommended that research be conducted on attachment-based interventions and building restorative adolescent attachment bonds. , Thesis (MSoc) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-02
- Authors: Amos-Brown, Alexa https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8180-3176
- Date: 2022-02
- Subjects: Adolescent psychopathology , Teenagers -- Mental health
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/23677 , vital:58295
- Description: Aim: Over the last few years, there has been a significant increase in mental health challenges in adolescents, specifically anxiety and depression. There has thus been concern around what could be causing this increase. The present study therefore aimed to examine the link between maternal attachment and adolescent anxiety. Methodology: The research was conducted using a qualitative systematic review as the methodological approach. The sample included ten academic journal articles. These articles were searched using Google Scholar and The University of Fort Hare’s library database search engine. Final articles were selected based on the systematic review process of ensuring that the articles matched the inclusion criteria, centred on the main research question and sub-questions. Findings and Results: At the end of the systematic review process, the final literature articles were analysed using thematic analysis, which identified, analysed, and reported emerging themes. The study revealed that secure attachment and sensitive parenting buffer and protect against the risk and onset of anxiety and adolescent internalizing behaviours. The thematic analysis findings identified emerging themes based on the data analysis, which include: ‘Sensitive parenting as a buffer’, ‘Quality attachment protects’, ‘Safe haven’, ‘Insecure attachment precedes emotion regulation difficulties’, ‘Insecure attachment is associated with anxiety’, ‘Social problems,’ and ‘Negative parental-control undermines attachment security’. Conclusion and recommendations: The extracts provided by the literature were able to successfully give sufficient information to meet all of my study’s research objectives. The findings revealed that very few articles spoke about interventions that can be applied to assist in the development of healthy maternal attachment. Therefore, it is recommended that research be conducted on attachment-based interventions and building restorative adolescent attachment bonds. , Thesis (MSoc) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-02
Paper recycling patterns and potential interventions in the education sector: A case study of paper streams at Rhodes University, South Africa
- Amutenya, N, Shackleton, Charlie M, Whittington-Jones, Kevin J
- Authors: Amutenya, N , Shackleton, Charlie M , Whittington-Jones, Kevin J
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/181180 , vital:43705 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2008.12.001"
- Description: This paper considers the use of paper by academics and student computer laboratories at Rhodes University as a basis for identifying areas to reduce the amounts used and increase rates of recycling. A sample of 50 academic staff monitored the volume and purpose of the paper they used over 5 months, and the procurement officers in all the academic departments were interviewed regarding the total amount of paper used per academic department. Mean use was 34 ± 20 new sheets of paper per working day, of which 3% were trashed, 15% were kept for later use (as scrap or printed on the opposite side) and 79% were given out as notes to students, filed as records or posted out as mail to other departments or institutions. There was a significant relationship between number of students served by a department and the overall demand for paper, as well the number of staff per department and the number of recycling bins. The university could save approximately US$ 7000 per year for every 10% reduction in current use of paper (12,784 reams/year). Reduction in paper usage could be achieved through an increase in re-use of paper, printing handouts for students on both sides of each sheet of paper and by investing in printers that are capable of printing on both sides of a sheet of paper. Double-sided printers are only 20–25% more expensive than single-sided ones, but will potentially reduce paper usage by half. A 40% reduction would save the university approximately US $ 20,000 per year in direct costs, and more in reduced waste streams, as well as help promote the environmental image of the university. On a per unit basis, the higher costs for a double-sided printer in offices would be repaid in 9 months or less through reduced paper use.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
- Authors: Amutenya, N , Shackleton, Charlie M , Whittington-Jones, Kevin J
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/181180 , vital:43705 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2008.12.001"
- Description: This paper considers the use of paper by academics and student computer laboratories at Rhodes University as a basis for identifying areas to reduce the amounts used and increase rates of recycling. A sample of 50 academic staff monitored the volume and purpose of the paper they used over 5 months, and the procurement officers in all the academic departments were interviewed regarding the total amount of paper used per academic department. Mean use was 34 ± 20 new sheets of paper per working day, of which 3% were trashed, 15% were kept for later use (as scrap or printed on the opposite side) and 79% were given out as notes to students, filed as records or posted out as mail to other departments or institutions. There was a significant relationship between number of students served by a department and the overall demand for paper, as well the number of staff per department and the number of recycling bins. The university could save approximately US$ 7000 per year for every 10% reduction in current use of paper (12,784 reams/year). Reduction in paper usage could be achieved through an increase in re-use of paper, printing handouts for students on both sides of each sheet of paper and by investing in printers that are capable of printing on both sides of a sheet of paper. Double-sided printers are only 20–25% more expensive than single-sided ones, but will potentially reduce paper usage by half. A 40% reduction would save the university approximately US $ 20,000 per year in direct costs, and more in reduced waste streams, as well as help promote the environmental image of the university. On a per unit basis, the higher costs for a double-sided printer in offices would be repaid in 9 months or less through reduced paper use.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
A Systematic Visualisation Framework for Radio-Imaging Pipelines
- Authors: Andati, Lexy Acherwa Livoyi
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Radio interferometers , Radio astronomy -- Data processing , Radio astronomy -- Data processing -- Software , Jupyter
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/177338 , vital:42812
- Description: Pipelines for calibration and imaging of radio interferometric data produce many intermediate images and other data products (gain tables, etc.) These often contain valuable information about the quality of the data and the calibration, and can provide the user with valuable insights, if only visualised in the right way. However, the deluge of data that we’re experiencing with modern instruments means that most of these products are never looked at, and only the final images and data products are examined. Furthermore, the variety of imaging algorithms currently available, and the range of their options, means that very different results can be produced from the same set of original data. Proper understanding of this requires a systematic comparison that can be carried out both by individual users locally, and by the community globally. We address both problems by developing a systematic visualisation framework based around Jupyter notebooks, enriched with interactive plots based on the Bokeh and Datashader visualisation libraries. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Department of Physics and Electronics, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Andati, Lexy Acherwa Livoyi
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Radio interferometers , Radio astronomy -- Data processing , Radio astronomy -- Data processing -- Software , Jupyter
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/177338 , vital:42812
- Description: Pipelines for calibration and imaging of radio interferometric data produce many intermediate images and other data products (gain tables, etc.) These often contain valuable information about the quality of the data and the calibration, and can provide the user with valuable insights, if only visualised in the right way. However, the deluge of data that we’re experiencing with modern instruments means that most of these products are never looked at, and only the final images and data products are examined. Furthermore, the variety of imaging algorithms currently available, and the range of their options, means that very different results can be produced from the same set of original data. Proper understanding of this requires a systematic comparison that can be carried out both by individual users locally, and by the community globally. We address both problems by developing a systematic visualisation framework based around Jupyter notebooks, enriched with interactive plots based on the Bokeh and Datashader visualisation libraries. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Department of Physics and Electronics, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
Meerkat polarimetric observations of Pictor A
- Authors: Andati, Lexy Acherwa Livoyi
- Date: 2024-10-11
- Subjects: Polarimetry , MeerKAT , Radio astronomy , Radio galaxies , Cosmic magnetic fields , Pictor A
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/466896 , vital:76796 , DOI https://doi.org/10.21504/10962/466896
- Description: Pictor A is one of the brightest and closest radio galaxies in the Southern Hemisphere, offering a unique opportunity for in-depth studies of the astrophysics of radio galaxies and their interactions with their environments. Many multi-wavelength studies of this source have been done. However, the most comprehensive radio frequency study of Pictor A’s morphological components was conducted by Perley et al. (1997) using the Very Large Array (VLA) located in the Northern Hemisphere. To date, that work remains the most detailed study of Pictor A. In this thesis, we conducted a spectropolarimetric study of Pictor A using new L-band data obtained in 2019 from the high-sensitivity MeerKAT telescope, which provides the deepest and most sensitive data of this source at a continuous and finely sampled frequency coverage in the L-band. Thus, due to Pictor A’s proximity, high luminosity, and the MeerKAT’s high sensitivity, the data delivers a unique dataset for our study of the magnetic field structure of Pictor A and allows for a detailed study of the source’s morphological structures. We presented the steps taken during our calibration and data reduction, leading to polarimetryready images. During the first phase of calibration, excision of data corrupted by instrumental effects and radio frequency interference (RFI) resulted in only 50% useable data. Pictor A’s exceptionally bright western hotspot introduced significant artefacts in our images, mitigated in the second calibration phase through direction-dependent calibration. The calibrated data resulted in a multi-frequency synthesis (MFS) Stokes I image of Pictor A at 7.5′′ in resolution with an offsource RMS noise of ∼22 𝜇Jy/beam. The off-source noise in the Stokes Q and U sub-band images ranged between 95 – 278 𝜇Jy/beam and 41 – 233 𝜇Jy/beam, respectively. Additionally, we briefly highlighted the effects of RFI in the L-band on polarimetry, particularly the considerable loss of 𝜆2 coverage of ∼50%. All the calibration recipes used for this work were made available in this thesis. Using Pictor A’s data as a testbed, we introduced a Python-based tool, Smops, developed during the calibration stages of our work. Smops was designed for an intermediate post-processing step. It interpolates input sub-band model FITS images (such as those produced by WSClean) into finely channelized sub-band model FITS images, thereby generating model images at a higher frequency resolution. Smops reduces the need to generate model images with numerous sub-bands, which is computationally intensive and time-consuming. A higher resolution in frequency of the models facilitates more efficient model subtraction during self-calibration. We then presented the total intensity features of Pictor A, which the calibrated data reveals. We confirmed the presence of Pictor A’s radio jet extending from its core to the western hotspot. Notably, this feature, faint and barely visible in previous radio images, is now distinctly observed. The counterjet remains undetectable. Furthermore, we demonstrated the coexistence of radio emission, which is expected to align with previously observed X-ray diffuse emission. This observation confirmed the inverse Compton origin of Pictor A’s lobe emission. Employing the RM-synthesis technique for the spectropolarimetric study of Pictor A, we identified a relatively consistent rotation measure (RM) across its lobes, with an average RM of 48.06 ± 10.19 rad m−2 for the entire source. However, the eastern lobe displayed a wider RM dispersion than the western lobe. Moreover, our study affirmed the depolarisation asymmetry previously observed between the western and eastern lobes of Pictor A, where the eastern lobe exhibited significantly more depolarisation than its western counterpart. Most lines-of-sight across Pictor A displayed single-peaked Faraday spectra, indicating a single Faraday rotating screen. However, we also noted that several lines-of-sight (∼23%) showed more than one Faraday peak. An investigation into the ii possible causes of the multiple observed peaks using QU-fitting suggested that there is a possibility of a Faraday thick structure or multiple Faraday components along these paths. Furthermore, we estimated a Galactic RM contribution towards Pictor A of 23.57 ± 10.87 rad m−2. We concluded that while our Galaxy may contribute to the mean RM for this source, it cannot explain smallscale fluctuations, which suggests that some fraction of the observed rotation measures could result from some inter-galactic medium, X-ray gas near the shock boundary region (the sheath), or other unknown intervening material. We introduced Scrappy, a Python-based tool tailored for processing lines-of-sight data. Scrappy yields RM-synthesis diagnostic data products such as the data associated with each line-of-sight, and their corresponding plots in 𝜙-space (e.g. cleaned and dirty Faraday spectra and RMTF), and 𝜆2-space (e.g. the fractional polarisation, and Stokes Q and U ). Scrappy further avails a Bash-based pipeline, showrunner.sh, that processes input sub-band Stokes images, automatically selects usable sub-bands, stacks images into Stokes cubes, generates lines-of-sight, processes their corresponding data, and produces diagnostic plots. Additionally, it creates per-pixel maps of fractional polarisation, RM, polarisation angle, peak FDF, and linear polarised intensity. The pipeline ensures reproducibility. To visualise the diagnostic plots from Scrappy, we developed PolarVis, a simple web-based tool that enables the visualisation of diagnostic plots associated with each available line-of-sight, thus facilitating the quick exploration of interesting lines-of-sight in regions across this source. This tool facilitates the visualisation of polarisation behaviour for specific lines-of-sight, enabling quick identification of interesting regions of the source. Furthermore, its interactivity promotes the exploration of line-of-sight data. Availing data to the public with this tool permits validation or comparison of results from varying techniques, hence fostering a sense of transparency. As a result, the 2389 lines-of-sight of Pictor A are presented using PolarVis and are available at https://pica.ratt.center. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Physics and Electronics, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-10-11
- Authors: Andati, Lexy Acherwa Livoyi
- Date: 2024-10-11
- Subjects: Polarimetry , MeerKAT , Radio astronomy , Radio galaxies , Cosmic magnetic fields , Pictor A
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/466896 , vital:76796 , DOI https://doi.org/10.21504/10962/466896
- Description: Pictor A is one of the brightest and closest radio galaxies in the Southern Hemisphere, offering a unique opportunity for in-depth studies of the astrophysics of radio galaxies and their interactions with their environments. Many multi-wavelength studies of this source have been done. However, the most comprehensive radio frequency study of Pictor A’s morphological components was conducted by Perley et al. (1997) using the Very Large Array (VLA) located in the Northern Hemisphere. To date, that work remains the most detailed study of Pictor A. In this thesis, we conducted a spectropolarimetric study of Pictor A using new L-band data obtained in 2019 from the high-sensitivity MeerKAT telescope, which provides the deepest and most sensitive data of this source at a continuous and finely sampled frequency coverage in the L-band. Thus, due to Pictor A’s proximity, high luminosity, and the MeerKAT’s high sensitivity, the data delivers a unique dataset for our study of the magnetic field structure of Pictor A and allows for a detailed study of the source’s morphological structures. We presented the steps taken during our calibration and data reduction, leading to polarimetryready images. During the first phase of calibration, excision of data corrupted by instrumental effects and radio frequency interference (RFI) resulted in only 50% useable data. Pictor A’s exceptionally bright western hotspot introduced significant artefacts in our images, mitigated in the second calibration phase through direction-dependent calibration. The calibrated data resulted in a multi-frequency synthesis (MFS) Stokes I image of Pictor A at 7.5′′ in resolution with an offsource RMS noise of ∼22 𝜇Jy/beam. The off-source noise in the Stokes Q and U sub-band images ranged between 95 – 278 𝜇Jy/beam and 41 – 233 𝜇Jy/beam, respectively. Additionally, we briefly highlighted the effects of RFI in the L-band on polarimetry, particularly the considerable loss of 𝜆2 coverage of ∼50%. All the calibration recipes used for this work were made available in this thesis. Using Pictor A’s data as a testbed, we introduced a Python-based tool, Smops, developed during the calibration stages of our work. Smops was designed for an intermediate post-processing step. It interpolates input sub-band model FITS images (such as those produced by WSClean) into finely channelized sub-band model FITS images, thereby generating model images at a higher frequency resolution. Smops reduces the need to generate model images with numerous sub-bands, which is computationally intensive and time-consuming. A higher resolution in frequency of the models facilitates more efficient model subtraction during self-calibration. We then presented the total intensity features of Pictor A, which the calibrated data reveals. We confirmed the presence of Pictor A’s radio jet extending from its core to the western hotspot. Notably, this feature, faint and barely visible in previous radio images, is now distinctly observed. The counterjet remains undetectable. Furthermore, we demonstrated the coexistence of radio emission, which is expected to align with previously observed X-ray diffuse emission. This observation confirmed the inverse Compton origin of Pictor A’s lobe emission. Employing the RM-synthesis technique for the spectropolarimetric study of Pictor A, we identified a relatively consistent rotation measure (RM) across its lobes, with an average RM of 48.06 ± 10.19 rad m−2 for the entire source. However, the eastern lobe displayed a wider RM dispersion than the western lobe. Moreover, our study affirmed the depolarisation asymmetry previously observed between the western and eastern lobes of Pictor A, where the eastern lobe exhibited significantly more depolarisation than its western counterpart. Most lines-of-sight across Pictor A displayed single-peaked Faraday spectra, indicating a single Faraday rotating screen. However, we also noted that several lines-of-sight (∼23%) showed more than one Faraday peak. An investigation into the ii possible causes of the multiple observed peaks using QU-fitting suggested that there is a possibility of a Faraday thick structure or multiple Faraday components along these paths. Furthermore, we estimated a Galactic RM contribution towards Pictor A of 23.57 ± 10.87 rad m−2. We concluded that while our Galaxy may contribute to the mean RM for this source, it cannot explain smallscale fluctuations, which suggests that some fraction of the observed rotation measures could result from some inter-galactic medium, X-ray gas near the shock boundary region (the sheath), or other unknown intervening material. We introduced Scrappy, a Python-based tool tailored for processing lines-of-sight data. Scrappy yields RM-synthesis diagnostic data products such as the data associated with each line-of-sight, and their corresponding plots in 𝜙-space (e.g. cleaned and dirty Faraday spectra and RMTF), and 𝜆2-space (e.g. the fractional polarisation, and Stokes Q and U ). Scrappy further avails a Bash-based pipeline, showrunner.sh, that processes input sub-band Stokes images, automatically selects usable sub-bands, stacks images into Stokes cubes, generates lines-of-sight, processes their corresponding data, and produces diagnostic plots. Additionally, it creates per-pixel maps of fractional polarisation, RM, polarisation angle, peak FDF, and linear polarised intensity. The pipeline ensures reproducibility. To visualise the diagnostic plots from Scrappy, we developed PolarVis, a simple web-based tool that enables the visualisation of diagnostic plots associated with each available line-of-sight, thus facilitating the quick exploration of interesting lines-of-sight in regions across this source. This tool facilitates the visualisation of polarisation behaviour for specific lines-of-sight, enabling quick identification of interesting regions of the source. Furthermore, its interactivity promotes the exploration of line-of-sight data. Availing data to the public with this tool permits validation or comparison of results from varying techniques, hence fostering a sense of transparency. As a result, the 2389 lines-of-sight of Pictor A are presented using PolarVis and are available at https://pica.ratt.center. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Physics and Electronics, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-10-11
Immobilisation of an Aspergillus niger derived endo-1,4-β-mannanase, Man26A, for the production of prebiotic mannooligosaccharides from soybean meal
- Authors: Anderson, Amy Sage
- Date: 2024-10-11
- Subjects: Aspergillus niger , Soybean meal , Mannosidases , Oligosaccharides , Immobilized microorganisms
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/463897 , vital:76455
- Description: This study investigated the potential for antibiotic alternatives in the form of prebiotics produced from the enzymatic breakdown of soybean meal (SBM). This study first investigated the immobilisation of an endo-1,4-β-mannanase derived from Aspergillus niger on glutaraldehyde-activated chitosan nanoparticles (CTS) and glutaraldehyde-activated chitosan-coated magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles (MAGS-CTS) - which could be effectively used to hydrolyse the galactomannan contained in SBM in a recyclable manner. The mannooligosaccharides (MOS) produced from the enzymatic digestion of SBM were then analysed for their prebiotic and antimicrobial capabilities to determine whether the strategy employed was capable of promoting and inhibiting probiotic and pathogenic growth, respectively. An Aspergillus niger endo-1,4-β-mannanase, Man26A, was confirmed by FTIR (Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy) and XRD (X-ray powder diffraction) to be immobilised onto CTS and MAGS-CTS by covalent bonding. The immobilisation (%) and activity yields (%) were 81.14% and 35.45%, and 55.75% and 21.17%, respectively. The biochemical properties (pH and temperature optima, and temperature stability) of both the free CTS and MAGS-CTS immobilised Man26A enzymes were evaluated, with the pH optima shifting to a lower pH range after immobilisation (pH 2.0 – 3.0 vs. 5.0), while the temperature optima and stabilities remaining unchanged (at 60°C). CTS and free enzymes exhibited identical thermal stabilities, maintaining 100% activity for the first 6 hours at 55°C, while MAGS-CTS showed an immediate drop in relative activity after the first 30 minutes of incubation. Recyclability analysis revealed that CTS could be effectively reused for six reaction cycles, while the MAGS-CTS immobilised enzyme could only be used once. Both enzymes could be efficiently stored at 4ºC, showing a relative residual activity of 73% after 120 hours of storage. Substrate kinetic analysis showed that the free enzyme had the highest catalytic capabilities in hydrolysing locust bean gum (LBG), with the CTS immobilised enzyme was the most efficient in hydrolysing SBM, the insoluble, complex substrate. Sugar residues produced from the hydrolysis of LBG illustrated the effective breakdown of galactomannan to mannobiose (M2), mannotriose (M3), mannotetrose (M4), and mannohexose (M6). SBM-produced sugars analysed via TLC and HPLC indicated that the MOS residues were most probably glucose, galactose, and galactomannans (GM2 and GM3). The SBM-produced sugars were then evaluated for their prebiotic effect, illustrating their successful utilisation as a carbon source by probiotic bacteria; Streptococcus thermophilus, Bacillus subtilis and Lactobacillus bulgaricus. Evaluation of the antimicrobial activities of the SBM-produced sugars digested by probiotics suggested that their metabolites had the potential to be used as an antibiotic alternative. This study therefore illustrated that an endo-1,4-β-mannanase derived from Aspergillus niger could be immobilised successfully, for use in a recyclable reaction to produce MOS products. This study also described the successful use of SBM-sugars as a prebiotic, indicating a successful alternative to antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) by illustrating their positive effect on inhibiting growth of pathogenic bacterial species. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Biochemistry, Microbiology & Bioinformatics, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-10-11
- Authors: Anderson, Amy Sage
- Date: 2024-10-11
- Subjects: Aspergillus niger , Soybean meal , Mannosidases , Oligosaccharides , Immobilized microorganisms
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/463897 , vital:76455
- Description: This study investigated the potential for antibiotic alternatives in the form of prebiotics produced from the enzymatic breakdown of soybean meal (SBM). This study first investigated the immobilisation of an endo-1,4-β-mannanase derived from Aspergillus niger on glutaraldehyde-activated chitosan nanoparticles (CTS) and glutaraldehyde-activated chitosan-coated magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles (MAGS-CTS) - which could be effectively used to hydrolyse the galactomannan contained in SBM in a recyclable manner. The mannooligosaccharides (MOS) produced from the enzymatic digestion of SBM were then analysed for their prebiotic and antimicrobial capabilities to determine whether the strategy employed was capable of promoting and inhibiting probiotic and pathogenic growth, respectively. An Aspergillus niger endo-1,4-β-mannanase, Man26A, was confirmed by FTIR (Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy) and XRD (X-ray powder diffraction) to be immobilised onto CTS and MAGS-CTS by covalent bonding. The immobilisation (%) and activity yields (%) were 81.14% and 35.45%, and 55.75% and 21.17%, respectively. The biochemical properties (pH and temperature optima, and temperature stability) of both the free CTS and MAGS-CTS immobilised Man26A enzymes were evaluated, with the pH optima shifting to a lower pH range after immobilisation (pH 2.0 – 3.0 vs. 5.0), while the temperature optima and stabilities remaining unchanged (at 60°C). CTS and free enzymes exhibited identical thermal stabilities, maintaining 100% activity for the first 6 hours at 55°C, while MAGS-CTS showed an immediate drop in relative activity after the first 30 minutes of incubation. Recyclability analysis revealed that CTS could be effectively reused for six reaction cycles, while the MAGS-CTS immobilised enzyme could only be used once. Both enzymes could be efficiently stored at 4ºC, showing a relative residual activity of 73% after 120 hours of storage. Substrate kinetic analysis showed that the free enzyme had the highest catalytic capabilities in hydrolysing locust bean gum (LBG), with the CTS immobilised enzyme was the most efficient in hydrolysing SBM, the insoluble, complex substrate. Sugar residues produced from the hydrolysis of LBG illustrated the effective breakdown of galactomannan to mannobiose (M2), mannotriose (M3), mannotetrose (M4), and mannohexose (M6). SBM-produced sugars analysed via TLC and HPLC indicated that the MOS residues were most probably glucose, galactose, and galactomannans (GM2 and GM3). The SBM-produced sugars were then evaluated for their prebiotic effect, illustrating their successful utilisation as a carbon source by probiotic bacteria; Streptococcus thermophilus, Bacillus subtilis and Lactobacillus bulgaricus. Evaluation of the antimicrobial activities of the SBM-produced sugars digested by probiotics suggested that their metabolites had the potential to be used as an antibiotic alternative. This study therefore illustrated that an endo-1,4-β-mannanase derived from Aspergillus niger could be immobilised successfully, for use in a recyclable reaction to produce MOS products. This study also described the successful use of SBM-sugars as a prebiotic, indicating a successful alternative to antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) by illustrating their positive effect on inhibiting growth of pathogenic bacterial species. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Biochemistry, Microbiology & Bioinformatics, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-10-11
Screening for small molecule modulators of Trypanosoma brucei Hsp70 chaperone activity based upon alcyonarian coral-derived natural products
- Andreassend, Sarah K, Bentley, Stephen, Blatch, Gregory L, Boshoff, Aileen, Keyzers, Robert A
- Authors: Andreassend, Sarah K , Bentley, Stephen , Blatch, Gregory L , Boshoff, Aileen , Keyzers, Robert A
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/426045 , vital:72309 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.3390/md18020081"
- Description: The Trypanosoma brucei Hsp70/J-protein machinery plays an essential role in survival, differentiation, and pathogenesis of the protozoan parasite, and is an emerging target against African Trypanosomiasis. This study evaluated a set of small molecules, inspired by the malonganenones and nuttingins, as modulators of the chaperone activity of the cytosolic heat inducible T. brucei Hsp70 and constitutive TbHsp70.4 proteins. The compounds were assessed for cytotoxicity on both the bloodstream form of T. b. brucei parasites and a mammalian cell line. The compounds were then investigated for their modulatory effect on the aggregation suppression and ATPase activities of the TbHsp70 proteins. A structure–activity relationship for the malonganenone-class of alkaloids is proposed based upon these results.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Andreassend, Sarah K , Bentley, Stephen , Blatch, Gregory L , Boshoff, Aileen , Keyzers, Robert A
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/426045 , vital:72309 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.3390/md18020081"
- Description: The Trypanosoma brucei Hsp70/J-protein machinery plays an essential role in survival, differentiation, and pathogenesis of the protozoan parasite, and is an emerging target against African Trypanosomiasis. This study evaluated a set of small molecules, inspired by the malonganenones and nuttingins, as modulators of the chaperone activity of the cytosolic heat inducible T. brucei Hsp70 and constitutive TbHsp70.4 proteins. The compounds were assessed for cytotoxicity on both the bloodstream form of T. b. brucei parasites and a mammalian cell line. The compounds were then investigated for their modulatory effect on the aggregation suppression and ATPase activities of the TbHsp70 proteins. A structure–activity relationship for the malonganenone-class of alkaloids is proposed based upon these results.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
The setting of South Africa’s national minimum wage: an investigation into representative and participatory social dialogue
- Authors: Andrews, Adriaan
- Date: 2025-04
- Subjects: Minimum wage -- South Africa , Wages -- South Africa , Labour relations -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/71959 , vital:79161
- Description: In 1994, South Africa entered a new democratic era, culminating in the adoption of a new constitution in 1996. This constitution promotes representative and participatory democracy for all citizens. Through representative democracy, the electorate chooses political representatives to serve at local, provincial, and national levels. Participatory democracy, on the other hand, aims to involve citizens directly in decision-making processes that affect their lives, particularly in socio-economic matters (Finnemore & Koekemoer, 2018; Republic of South Africa, Public Participation Framework for the South African Legislative Sector, 2013). This research investigated representative and participatory democracy, social dialogue, and their application in developing the National Minimum Wage. The study explored the four institutions involved in the National Minimum Wage’s progression: the initiation at the National Economic Development and Labour Council where the actors went into negotiation; bargaining councils information sharing via roadshows conducted by the Department of Employment and Labour, discussions in both houses of Parliament, and the National Minimum Wage Commission, which oversees the maintenance and annual review of the wage rate. The primary objective of the study was to assess the extent to which the social dialogue principle of representation for all interested parties was upheld across these institutions. To achieve this, the research employed a qualitative approach, with exploratory and descriptive methods. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with ten respondents, eight of whom were interviewed, while two provided written responses, and through secondary data, namely the parliamentary committee minutes from the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces. The findings revealed significant shortcomings in representation at National Economic Development and Labour Council. Labour representation was dominated by three federations, Congress of South African Tade Unions, Federation of Unions of South Africa, and National Council of Trade Unions, leaving out trade unions unaffiliated with these federations and unorganised workers, including those in informal employment. Similarly, business representation was confined to a single confederation, Business Unity of South Africa, representing primarily large, organised businesses, with little to no input from small and medium-sized enterprises or informal employers. Government representation was limited to the national level, excluding local and provincial representatives and affected departments such as Tourism, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Small Business Development, and Women, Youth, and People with Disabilities. Community representation, which should have represented the voices of the unrepresented, only reflected a small fraction of the population. According to Treasury (2016) the negotiation process at National Economic Development and Labour Council was central to developing the Bill but excluded many affected and interested groups. During a deadlock in negotiations, then-Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa introduced an advisory panel of external experts to facilitate progress. Meanwhile, the Department of Employment and Labour conducted roadshows, ostensibly to share information with bargaining councils. However, limited data makes it unclear whether these roadshows effectively reached unrepresented groups. In Parliament, the Bill underwent deliberation in both houses, where political representatives engaged in committee discussions. Public participation was facilitated through written and verbal submissions, with a total of 92 submissions received. However, these submissions predominantly came from well-resourced organisations, and organisations already represented at National Economic Development and Labour Council. Vulnerable, unorganised, and underrepresented groups remained largely excluded from the public participation process, which some political representatives noted as disproportionately favouring the elite. The Bill was finally debated in the National Assembly by political representatives and became an Act on the 29th of May 2018 (Parliamentary Monitoring Group, 2017). The National Minimum Wage Commission comprises members from labour, business, and the community, reflecting the representation structure of National Economic Development and Labour Council as outlined in its founding Act. However, the one key representation present at National Economic Development and Labour Council but absent from the Commission is government representation. Additionally, the Commission includes external experts appointed at the discretion of the Minister of Employment and Labour (Department of Employment and Labour, 2021; National Minimum Wage Act, 2023).Given the majority of the Commission's composition mirrors National Economic Development and Labour Council, it implies that the representation challenges identified at National Economic Development and Labour Council have also been carried over to the Commission. Furthermore, the Minister of Employment and Labour holds significant authority, as the Commission’s role is limited to providing recommendations, with the final decision-making power resting with the Minister. What remains unclear is whether the Minister consults with other ministers from affected departments before making decisions based on the Commission’s recommendations regarding the minimum wage (National Minimum Wage Act, 2023). Furthermore, the research also explored satisfaction levels among National Economic Development and Labour Council respondents regarding the Bill that proceeded to Parliament. While respondents expressed general satisfaction, it is notable that labour representatives at National Economic Development and Labour Council made additional submissions in Parliament, suggesting that they were not entirely satisfied with the Bill in its original form that left National Economic Development and Labour Council. Given the representation and participation challenges identified throughout the process, the findings of this study reveal significant gaps in opportunities for all parties affected by the introduction of a national minimum wage to contribute meaningfully to the negotiation processes at National Economic Development and Labour Council, consultations within parliamentary portfolio committees, roadshows by the Department of Employment and Labour, and the annual review conducted by the National Minimum Wage Commission. To address these gaps, the researcher recommends that the National Economic Development and Labour Council implement a standardized scoping mechanism to ensure the inclusion of all affected stakeholders before new legislation is discussed. Additionally, Parliament should consider adopting an integrated, cross-portfolio approach to legislative development, while the National Minimum Wage Commission should expand the scope of its annual research on minimum wages. For the National Economic Development and Labour Council, the effective implementation of a more inclusive approach requires a robust and standardised mechanism for identifying and engaging all relevant stakeholders. In Parliament,portfolio committees could enhance accessibility by establishing more inclusive platforms for public participation. To strengthen the National Minimum Wage Commission’s annual review process, researchers could employ diverse methodologies to ensure a broader and more comprehensive assessment. Furthermore, all institutions involved should explore the role of digital and hybrid engagement platforms in enhancing participatory democracy. For future research, the study recommends establishing focus groups comprising individuals directly affected by the National Minimum Wage Bill. Additionally, further research should include case studies on the passage of other pieces of South African legislation to assess the extent and effectiveness of participatory democracy in legislative processes. Finally, the development of a more inclusive model for the National Economic Development and Labour Council, tailored to South Africa’s unique socio-economic structure, should be explored. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, School of Industrial Psychology and Human Resources, 2025
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2025-04
- Authors: Andrews, Adriaan
- Date: 2025-04
- Subjects: Minimum wage -- South Africa , Wages -- South Africa , Labour relations -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/71959 , vital:79161
- Description: In 1994, South Africa entered a new democratic era, culminating in the adoption of a new constitution in 1996. This constitution promotes representative and participatory democracy for all citizens. Through representative democracy, the electorate chooses political representatives to serve at local, provincial, and national levels. Participatory democracy, on the other hand, aims to involve citizens directly in decision-making processes that affect their lives, particularly in socio-economic matters (Finnemore & Koekemoer, 2018; Republic of South Africa, Public Participation Framework for the South African Legislative Sector, 2013). This research investigated representative and participatory democracy, social dialogue, and their application in developing the National Minimum Wage. The study explored the four institutions involved in the National Minimum Wage’s progression: the initiation at the National Economic Development and Labour Council where the actors went into negotiation; bargaining councils information sharing via roadshows conducted by the Department of Employment and Labour, discussions in both houses of Parliament, and the National Minimum Wage Commission, which oversees the maintenance and annual review of the wage rate. The primary objective of the study was to assess the extent to which the social dialogue principle of representation for all interested parties was upheld across these institutions. To achieve this, the research employed a qualitative approach, with exploratory and descriptive methods. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with ten respondents, eight of whom were interviewed, while two provided written responses, and through secondary data, namely the parliamentary committee minutes from the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces. The findings revealed significant shortcomings in representation at National Economic Development and Labour Council. Labour representation was dominated by three federations, Congress of South African Tade Unions, Federation of Unions of South Africa, and National Council of Trade Unions, leaving out trade unions unaffiliated with these federations and unorganised workers, including those in informal employment. Similarly, business representation was confined to a single confederation, Business Unity of South Africa, representing primarily large, organised businesses, with little to no input from small and medium-sized enterprises or informal employers. Government representation was limited to the national level, excluding local and provincial representatives and affected departments such as Tourism, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Small Business Development, and Women, Youth, and People with Disabilities. Community representation, which should have represented the voices of the unrepresented, only reflected a small fraction of the population. According to Treasury (2016) the negotiation process at National Economic Development and Labour Council was central to developing the Bill but excluded many affected and interested groups. During a deadlock in negotiations, then-Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa introduced an advisory panel of external experts to facilitate progress. Meanwhile, the Department of Employment and Labour conducted roadshows, ostensibly to share information with bargaining councils. However, limited data makes it unclear whether these roadshows effectively reached unrepresented groups. In Parliament, the Bill underwent deliberation in both houses, where political representatives engaged in committee discussions. Public participation was facilitated through written and verbal submissions, with a total of 92 submissions received. However, these submissions predominantly came from well-resourced organisations, and organisations already represented at National Economic Development and Labour Council. Vulnerable, unorganised, and underrepresented groups remained largely excluded from the public participation process, which some political representatives noted as disproportionately favouring the elite. The Bill was finally debated in the National Assembly by political representatives and became an Act on the 29th of May 2018 (Parliamentary Monitoring Group, 2017). The National Minimum Wage Commission comprises members from labour, business, and the community, reflecting the representation structure of National Economic Development and Labour Council as outlined in its founding Act. However, the one key representation present at National Economic Development and Labour Council but absent from the Commission is government representation. Additionally, the Commission includes external experts appointed at the discretion of the Minister of Employment and Labour (Department of Employment and Labour, 2021; National Minimum Wage Act, 2023).Given the majority of the Commission's composition mirrors National Economic Development and Labour Council, it implies that the representation challenges identified at National Economic Development and Labour Council have also been carried over to the Commission. Furthermore, the Minister of Employment and Labour holds significant authority, as the Commission’s role is limited to providing recommendations, with the final decision-making power resting with the Minister. What remains unclear is whether the Minister consults with other ministers from affected departments before making decisions based on the Commission’s recommendations regarding the minimum wage (National Minimum Wage Act, 2023). Furthermore, the research also explored satisfaction levels among National Economic Development and Labour Council respondents regarding the Bill that proceeded to Parliament. While respondents expressed general satisfaction, it is notable that labour representatives at National Economic Development and Labour Council made additional submissions in Parliament, suggesting that they were not entirely satisfied with the Bill in its original form that left National Economic Development and Labour Council. Given the representation and participation challenges identified throughout the process, the findings of this study reveal significant gaps in opportunities for all parties affected by the introduction of a national minimum wage to contribute meaningfully to the negotiation processes at National Economic Development and Labour Council, consultations within parliamentary portfolio committees, roadshows by the Department of Employment and Labour, and the annual review conducted by the National Minimum Wage Commission. To address these gaps, the researcher recommends that the National Economic Development and Labour Council implement a standardized scoping mechanism to ensure the inclusion of all affected stakeholders before new legislation is discussed. Additionally, Parliament should consider adopting an integrated, cross-portfolio approach to legislative development, while the National Minimum Wage Commission should expand the scope of its annual research on minimum wages. For the National Economic Development and Labour Council, the effective implementation of a more inclusive approach requires a robust and standardised mechanism for identifying and engaging all relevant stakeholders. In Parliament,portfolio committees could enhance accessibility by establishing more inclusive platforms for public participation. To strengthen the National Minimum Wage Commission’s annual review process, researchers could employ diverse methodologies to ensure a broader and more comprehensive assessment. Furthermore, all institutions involved should explore the role of digital and hybrid engagement platforms in enhancing participatory democracy. For future research, the study recommends establishing focus groups comprising individuals directly affected by the National Minimum Wage Bill. Additionally, further research should include case studies on the passage of other pieces of South African legislation to assess the extent and effectiveness of participatory democracy in legislative processes. Finally, the development of a more inclusive model for the National Economic Development and Labour Council, tailored to South Africa’s unique socio-economic structure, should be explored. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, School of Industrial Psychology and Human Resources, 2025
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2025-04
The morphogenesis of higher education leadership: a social realist exploratory journey
- Authors: Andrews, Ruth
- Date: 2023-10-13
- Subjects: Educational leadership South Africa , Education, Higher South Africa , Critical realism , Social realism , Educational change South Africa , Transformational leadership
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/442897 , vital:74051 , DOI 10.21504/10962/442897
- Description: The purpose of the study underpinning this thesis was to explore the tensions experienced by university leaders as they balance politics, power and the academic project whilst pursuing their ultimate concerns in the world. Universities are undergoing constant change, particularly in the present time of hypercomplexity, where the discourses of globalisation and neoliberalism condition higher education institutions and their leaders. This predisposes universities to operate as a market economy rather than as a public good. University leaders are under immense pressure as they seek to reposition themselves and exercise their agency in steering their institutions in a landscape fraught with complexity and contestation about the very nature of the modern university. The study was located in a traditional university in South Africa, which added another layer of complexity given the history of Apartheid and, the use of education as a means of discriminating against the black majority population, and the subsequent attempts by the government to transform the system following the first democratic election of 1994. Bhaskar’s (1989) critical realism and Archer’s (1998, 2000) social realism were used to frame the study theoretically. Bhaskar argues for the understanding of the world as an ‘open system’ in which experiences and events emerge from the tendential interplay of mechanisms at a layer of reality not directly accessible to empirical observation. Archer’s (2000) social realism draws on critical realism to provide a set of tools that allows an exploration of the social world in more detail. This study draws on the tools of analytical dualism, or the temporary separation of structure, culture and agency for analytical purposes, and Archer’s (1998) morphogenetic framework, which allows for the exploration of change, or non-change, over time. The overarching goal of the study was to explore how leaders at one South African university were enabled and constrained as they exercised their agency in the pursuit of projects they had identified to address their ultimate concerns about the world more generally and higher education in particular. However, the study also sought to explore the construct of leadership itself in a specific context by using Archer’s (2007, 2012) theoretical work on reflexivity. The study drew on in-depth interviews with senior leaders at the institution, including two vice-chancellors. The interviews were subjected to analysis, and the inferential tools of abduction and retroduction were used to identify the interplay of mechanisms located at the level of the Real, the deepest layer of reality posited by Bhaskar (1978), which led to the events and experiences reported by leaders. A literature review was used to identify additional theories that were used in the processes of abduction and retroduction. The study revealed that change, or rather non-change, is often concealed in cultural rhetoric veiled in leadership practices in acts assimilating past ideology and codified rules and practices with new codified rules and practices. Leaders often draw on powerful relational networks as they reflexively exercise their agency, and these networks can also work to constrain change. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Education, Education 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-10-13
- Authors: Andrews, Ruth
- Date: 2023-10-13
- Subjects: Educational leadership South Africa , Education, Higher South Africa , Critical realism , Social realism , Educational change South Africa , Transformational leadership
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/442897 , vital:74051 , DOI 10.21504/10962/442897
- Description: The purpose of the study underpinning this thesis was to explore the tensions experienced by university leaders as they balance politics, power and the academic project whilst pursuing their ultimate concerns in the world. Universities are undergoing constant change, particularly in the present time of hypercomplexity, where the discourses of globalisation and neoliberalism condition higher education institutions and their leaders. This predisposes universities to operate as a market economy rather than as a public good. University leaders are under immense pressure as they seek to reposition themselves and exercise their agency in steering their institutions in a landscape fraught with complexity and contestation about the very nature of the modern university. The study was located in a traditional university in South Africa, which added another layer of complexity given the history of Apartheid and, the use of education as a means of discriminating against the black majority population, and the subsequent attempts by the government to transform the system following the first democratic election of 1994. Bhaskar’s (1989) critical realism and Archer’s (1998, 2000) social realism were used to frame the study theoretically. Bhaskar argues for the understanding of the world as an ‘open system’ in which experiences and events emerge from the tendential interplay of mechanisms at a layer of reality not directly accessible to empirical observation. Archer’s (2000) social realism draws on critical realism to provide a set of tools that allows an exploration of the social world in more detail. This study draws on the tools of analytical dualism, or the temporary separation of structure, culture and agency for analytical purposes, and Archer’s (1998) morphogenetic framework, which allows for the exploration of change, or non-change, over time. The overarching goal of the study was to explore how leaders at one South African university were enabled and constrained as they exercised their agency in the pursuit of projects they had identified to address their ultimate concerns about the world more generally and higher education in particular. However, the study also sought to explore the construct of leadership itself in a specific context by using Archer’s (2007, 2012) theoretical work on reflexivity. The study drew on in-depth interviews with senior leaders at the institution, including two vice-chancellors. The interviews were subjected to analysis, and the inferential tools of abduction and retroduction were used to identify the interplay of mechanisms located at the level of the Real, the deepest layer of reality posited by Bhaskar (1978), which led to the events and experiences reported by leaders. A literature review was used to identify additional theories that were used in the processes of abduction and retroduction. The study revealed that change, or rather non-change, is often concealed in cultural rhetoric veiled in leadership practices in acts assimilating past ideology and codified rules and practices with new codified rules and practices. Leaders often draw on powerful relational networks as they reflexively exercise their agency, and these networks can also work to constrain change. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Education, Education 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-10-13
Adherence narratives of COVID-19 in KwaNobuhle Township, Eastern Cape
- Authors: Andries, Siyanda
- Date: 2023-12
- Subjects: Coronavirus Disease--Eastern Cape--South Africa , Vaccination--Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/63243 , vital:73240
- Description: The emergence of COVID-19 triggered a global health crisis that not only took many lives but disrupted economies, strained healthcare systems, and impacted social relations globally. KwaNobuhle township in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa falls under the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality. This municipality experienced some of South Africa’s highest COVID-19 fatalities, with the lowest levels of testing, active cases and hospitalisation in the country. This study investigates the narratives about COVID-19 prevention measures in KwaNobuhle. Primarily, it seeks to reveal how young and elderly peoples’ perceptions about COVID-19 influenced their compliance with prevention measures such as lockdown, testing and self-admission to hospital when sick. Fifteen residents of KwaNobuhle, who identify as Black people between 18 and 30 years and 50 and 65 years, were recruited as participants in this study. The two groups of study participants were recruited in order to enable an investigation into intergenerational narratives about infectious disease. In this study, Intergenerational narratives encompass stories, beliefs, and cultural traditions that transmit values, historical experiences, and a shared sense of identity, fostering connections between generations. This study provides an historical overview of how communities dealt with previous epidemics in South Africa and analyses how COVID-19 disrupted the lives of people with the preventative measures and changes that were implemented by the government. Social constructivism is a theory that emphasizes the role of social interactions and cultural context in shaping individuals' understanding of the world. Social constructivism theory is employed to frame the investigation of narratives of COVID-19 and is based on qualitative data collected through in-depth telephonic individual interviews. The data reveals that participants’ perceptions and narratives of diseases are shaped and influenced by their experiences and knowledge of the same. The findings confirm that the two different age groups of participants have distinct perspectives of COVID-19. Older participants rely on their past experiences of diseases, while younger participants form their understanding through mainstream and social media. This study further examines the inadequacy of healthcare system preparedness in South Africa to adequately address the onset of infectious diseases. Furthermore, this investigation unveils the way preventive measures against COVID-19 imposed inconvenience upon individuals' daily lives and overall lifestyles. These measures included curfews, a limitation on crowd size in public spaces vii such as markets, and the prohibition of alcohol consumption. Individuals who were reliant on the alcohol industry as their primary source of income were adversely affected. African traditional practices were also impacted, as burial custom alterations resulted. Lastly, the study illuminates that the acceptance and uptake of vaccinations was influenced by vaccine hesitancy, with social media serving as a prominent conduit for the proliferation of conspiracy theories in the context of COVID-19. , Thesis (Ma) -- Faculty of Humanities, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-12
- Authors: Andries, Siyanda
- Date: 2023-12
- Subjects: Coronavirus Disease--Eastern Cape--South Africa , Vaccination--Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/63243 , vital:73240
- Description: The emergence of COVID-19 triggered a global health crisis that not only took many lives but disrupted economies, strained healthcare systems, and impacted social relations globally. KwaNobuhle township in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa falls under the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality. This municipality experienced some of South Africa’s highest COVID-19 fatalities, with the lowest levels of testing, active cases and hospitalisation in the country. This study investigates the narratives about COVID-19 prevention measures in KwaNobuhle. Primarily, it seeks to reveal how young and elderly peoples’ perceptions about COVID-19 influenced their compliance with prevention measures such as lockdown, testing and self-admission to hospital when sick. Fifteen residents of KwaNobuhle, who identify as Black people between 18 and 30 years and 50 and 65 years, were recruited as participants in this study. The two groups of study participants were recruited in order to enable an investigation into intergenerational narratives about infectious disease. In this study, Intergenerational narratives encompass stories, beliefs, and cultural traditions that transmit values, historical experiences, and a shared sense of identity, fostering connections between generations. This study provides an historical overview of how communities dealt with previous epidemics in South Africa and analyses how COVID-19 disrupted the lives of people with the preventative measures and changes that were implemented by the government. Social constructivism is a theory that emphasizes the role of social interactions and cultural context in shaping individuals' understanding of the world. Social constructivism theory is employed to frame the investigation of narratives of COVID-19 and is based on qualitative data collected through in-depth telephonic individual interviews. The data reveals that participants’ perceptions and narratives of diseases are shaped and influenced by their experiences and knowledge of the same. The findings confirm that the two different age groups of participants have distinct perspectives of COVID-19. Older participants rely on their past experiences of diseases, while younger participants form their understanding through mainstream and social media. This study further examines the inadequacy of healthcare system preparedness in South Africa to adequately address the onset of infectious diseases. Furthermore, this investigation unveils the way preventive measures against COVID-19 imposed inconvenience upon individuals' daily lives and overall lifestyles. These measures included curfews, a limitation on crowd size in public spaces vii such as markets, and the prohibition of alcohol consumption. Individuals who were reliant on the alcohol industry as their primary source of income were adversely affected. African traditional practices were also impacted, as burial custom alterations resulted. Lastly, the study illuminates that the acceptance and uptake of vaccinations was influenced by vaccine hesitancy, with social media serving as a prominent conduit for the proliferation of conspiracy theories in the context of COVID-19. , Thesis (Ma) -- Faculty of Humanities, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-12
Revisiting Coloniasm : An exploration of its legacy in four African texts
- Andzongo, Marjorie Debande Eseme
- Authors: Andzongo, Marjorie Debande Eseme
- Date: 2011-01
- Subjects: Colonies -- History , Africa -- Colonisation , Africa -- Politics and government
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/23282 , vital:57019
- Description: The purpose of this study was to revisit the topic of colonialism once more, in order to ascertain whether it had both negative and positive impacts in Africa. This is so because colonialism is mostly renowned for its negative attributes, therefore, the study attempted to give a more balanced analysis of colonialism and its effects on the colonies and colonised subjects. To this effect, the study examined four African texts: Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart(1967), Ngugi wa Thiong’o and Ngugi Wa Mirri’s I Will Marry When I Want (1982), Mongo Beti’s Mission to Kala (1957) and Sembene Ousmane’s The Last of The Empire (1983). The analysis showed that colonialism did have damaging and constructive impacts on the former colonies. However, these constructive impacts have their limitations where Africans are concerned. The study also came to the conclusion that despite the destructiveness of colonialism there are vital aspects of the Western civilisation that need to be and have been accommodated by Africans. Therefore, amalgamating the positives of various cultures rather than trying to separate them, is the way forward for people of any race as the world has undeniably become a global village. It is easy to see the wrongs and injustices of European Imperialism in Africa. African culture was damaged. The Europeans did not understand tribal differences and tribal customs. They did not even try to understand. The Europeans forced the Africans to learn new ways. They tried to make the Africans feel inferior. They forced the Africans to accept European government, religion, and languages. They drew up colonial boundaries without giving any thought to splitting up tribes. Some of the things the Europeans did in Africa helped the natives. But most of those things were done for the sake of the Europeans. Railway systems, roads, and schools were built and the continent of Africa was opened up to the rest of the world. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2011
- Full Text:
- Authors: Andzongo, Marjorie Debande Eseme
- Date: 2011-01
- Subjects: Colonies -- History , Africa -- Colonisation , Africa -- Politics and government
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/23282 , vital:57019
- Description: The purpose of this study was to revisit the topic of colonialism once more, in order to ascertain whether it had both negative and positive impacts in Africa. This is so because colonialism is mostly renowned for its negative attributes, therefore, the study attempted to give a more balanced analysis of colonialism and its effects on the colonies and colonised subjects. To this effect, the study examined four African texts: Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart(1967), Ngugi wa Thiong’o and Ngugi Wa Mirri’s I Will Marry When I Want (1982), Mongo Beti’s Mission to Kala (1957) and Sembene Ousmane’s The Last of The Empire (1983). The analysis showed that colonialism did have damaging and constructive impacts on the former colonies. However, these constructive impacts have their limitations where Africans are concerned. The study also came to the conclusion that despite the destructiveness of colonialism there are vital aspects of the Western civilisation that need to be and have been accommodated by Africans. Therefore, amalgamating the positives of various cultures rather than trying to separate them, is the way forward for people of any race as the world has undeniably become a global village. It is easy to see the wrongs and injustices of European Imperialism in Africa. African culture was damaged. The Europeans did not understand tribal differences and tribal customs. They did not even try to understand. The Europeans forced the Africans to learn new ways. They tried to make the Africans feel inferior. They forced the Africans to accept European government, religion, and languages. They drew up colonial boundaries without giving any thought to splitting up tribes. Some of the things the Europeans did in Africa helped the natives. But most of those things were done for the sake of the Europeans. Railway systems, roads, and schools were built and the continent of Africa was opened up to the rest of the world. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2011
- Full Text:
A comparative study of multiculturalism in South Africa and Canada: evaluating successes and failures.
- Authors: Anele Mngadi
- Date: 2022-12
- Subjects: Race discrimination -- Economic aspects – South Africa , Social justice -- South Africa , Xenophobia
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/59435 , vital:62114
- Description: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the successes and failures of multiculturalism in South Africa and Canada through the lens of critical multiculturalism as its theoretical frame. As Canada is widely-acknowledged as having one of the best multiculturalism policy and implementation programmes in the world, this study aimed to draw lessons from the Canadian model of multiculturalism in order to make recommendations to improve multicultural practices in South Africa. It is worth noting that multiculturalism in Canada is not perfect as government still struggles to implement inclusive and reconciliatory programmes for the previously colonised Indigenous communities. This study used a qualitative thematic analysis to enable a comparison of multiculturalism in these two countries. The findings of this study suggest that having a comprehensive multiculturalism policy is fundamental to ensure that aspirations of a socially cohesive multiculturalism are not merely philosophical, but are formulated into government policies, with guidelines for implementation through the guidance of critical multiculturalism theory. The findings of this study also suggest that the persistent racialised socio-economic inequalities in South Africa continue to undermine multiculturalism and nation-building efforts. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Governmental and Social Sciences, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-12
- Authors: Anele Mngadi
- Date: 2022-12
- Subjects: Race discrimination -- Economic aspects – South Africa , Social justice -- South Africa , Xenophobia
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/59435 , vital:62114
- Description: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the successes and failures of multiculturalism in South Africa and Canada through the lens of critical multiculturalism as its theoretical frame. As Canada is widely-acknowledged as having one of the best multiculturalism policy and implementation programmes in the world, this study aimed to draw lessons from the Canadian model of multiculturalism in order to make recommendations to improve multicultural practices in South Africa. It is worth noting that multiculturalism in Canada is not perfect as government still struggles to implement inclusive and reconciliatory programmes for the previously colonised Indigenous communities. This study used a qualitative thematic analysis to enable a comparison of multiculturalism in these two countries. The findings of this study suggest that having a comprehensive multiculturalism policy is fundamental to ensure that aspirations of a socially cohesive multiculturalism are not merely philosophical, but are formulated into government policies, with guidelines for implementation through the guidance of critical multiculturalism theory. The findings of this study also suggest that the persistent racialised socio-economic inequalities in South Africa continue to undermine multiculturalism and nation-building efforts. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Governmental and Social Sciences, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-12
Analyzing Microsporidia sp. MB from sequence to biology: comprehensive exploration of the genome, protein structures, and functions through extensive bioinformatics analysis
- Authors: Ang'ang'o, Lilian Mbaisi
- Date: 2024-10-11
- Subjects: Microsporidia , Whole genome sequencing , Proteins Structure , Symbiont , Malaria Prevention , Vector control
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/466480 , vital:76734 , DOI https://doi.org/10.21504/10962/466480
- Description: Microsporidia are spore-forming intracellular organisms classified as the earliest divergent group within the Fungi kingdom. Microsporidia have been found widely affecting different hosts, including both vertebrates and invertebrates. The pathogenicity of microsporidia depends on their species and the host species they infect. Due to their obligate intracellular nature, microsporidia have extensively evolved. This is illustrated by their highly variable genome sizes and gene content. Being minimalist eukaryotes, the microsporidia genome is often associated with extreme gene reduction and compaction. However, these interesting microorganisms retain particular genes that help them acquire specific host nutrients, thereby relying heavily on their host for survival and proliferation. The mode of sexual reproduction of microsporidia has not been well-studied. Harnessing microsporidia in the laboratory is often a challenge, however, the advances in computational tools have made it cheaper and quicker to accurately predict and annotate these organisms to understand their mechanism of infection. Understanding the protein structure and function of these unique organisms is the baseline for providing insights into their biology and survival in their respective hosts. Microsporidia genomes contain a large proportion of hypothetical proteins of which their functions are not described. Vittaforma corneae ATCC 50505 was used as a model to highlight the functions and structure of these otherwise unknown proteins. A systematic annotation pipeline employing exhaustive computational tools was devised to carefully annotate the hypothetical proteins of V. corneae, aiming to characterize their structure and function.The genome of the novel microsporidian, Microsporidia sp. MB, a Plasmodium-transmission-blocking symbiont isolated from Anopheles mosquitoes in Sub-Saharan Africa, was sequenced, assembled, and annotated. The genome was found to contain over 2000 putative genes spanning its 5.9 Mb size and contained minimal repeats. Comparative phylogenomic analysis of Microsporidia sp. MB grouped this symbiont within the Enterocytozoonida (clade IV) microsporidia, clustering with its closest relative – V. corneae. Using robust computational techniques, prediction and characterization of the putative proteins of Microsporidia sp. MB was conducted. The decay of several proteins in the glycolytic pathway is one unique characteristic associated with microsporidia. The proteins retained or lost often vary across the microsporidian taxon. This study highlights the retention of most of the proteins involved in the glycolytic pathway in Microsporidia sp. MB. The available genome dataset of Microsporidia sp. MB was further used to infer its mode of sexual reproduction. The symbiont appears to have several meiotic-related gene orthologs, suggesting that it is capable of sexual reproduction. These findings describe the basic biology of Microsporidia sp. MB and provide a basis for future Next-Generation Sequencing, RNA sequencing experiments ultimately informing the application of this microorganism as a biological malaria control tool. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Biochemistry, Microbiology and Bioinformatics, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-10-11
- Authors: Ang'ang'o, Lilian Mbaisi
- Date: 2024-10-11
- Subjects: Microsporidia , Whole genome sequencing , Proteins Structure , Symbiont , Malaria Prevention , Vector control
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/466480 , vital:76734 , DOI https://doi.org/10.21504/10962/466480
- Description: Microsporidia are spore-forming intracellular organisms classified as the earliest divergent group within the Fungi kingdom. Microsporidia have been found widely affecting different hosts, including both vertebrates and invertebrates. The pathogenicity of microsporidia depends on their species and the host species they infect. Due to their obligate intracellular nature, microsporidia have extensively evolved. This is illustrated by their highly variable genome sizes and gene content. Being minimalist eukaryotes, the microsporidia genome is often associated with extreme gene reduction and compaction. However, these interesting microorganisms retain particular genes that help them acquire specific host nutrients, thereby relying heavily on their host for survival and proliferation. The mode of sexual reproduction of microsporidia has not been well-studied. Harnessing microsporidia in the laboratory is often a challenge, however, the advances in computational tools have made it cheaper and quicker to accurately predict and annotate these organisms to understand their mechanism of infection. Understanding the protein structure and function of these unique organisms is the baseline for providing insights into their biology and survival in their respective hosts. Microsporidia genomes contain a large proportion of hypothetical proteins of which their functions are not described. Vittaforma corneae ATCC 50505 was used as a model to highlight the functions and structure of these otherwise unknown proteins. A systematic annotation pipeline employing exhaustive computational tools was devised to carefully annotate the hypothetical proteins of V. corneae, aiming to characterize their structure and function.The genome of the novel microsporidian, Microsporidia sp. MB, a Plasmodium-transmission-blocking symbiont isolated from Anopheles mosquitoes in Sub-Saharan Africa, was sequenced, assembled, and annotated. The genome was found to contain over 2000 putative genes spanning its 5.9 Mb size and contained minimal repeats. Comparative phylogenomic analysis of Microsporidia sp. MB grouped this symbiont within the Enterocytozoonida (clade IV) microsporidia, clustering with its closest relative – V. corneae. Using robust computational techniques, prediction and characterization of the putative proteins of Microsporidia sp. MB was conducted. The decay of several proteins in the glycolytic pathway is one unique characteristic associated with microsporidia. The proteins retained or lost often vary across the microsporidian taxon. This study highlights the retention of most of the proteins involved in the glycolytic pathway in Microsporidia sp. MB. The available genome dataset of Microsporidia sp. MB was further used to infer its mode of sexual reproduction. The symbiont appears to have several meiotic-related gene orthologs, suggesting that it is capable of sexual reproduction. These findings describe the basic biology of Microsporidia sp. MB and provide a basis for future Next-Generation Sequencing, RNA sequencing experiments ultimately informing the application of this microorganism as a biological malaria control tool. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Biochemistry, Microbiology and Bioinformatics, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-10-11
Promoting Grade 9 mathematics teachers’ TPACK development through planning algebra lessons that integrate technology in Oshakati education circuit
- Authors: Angula, Mechtilde
- Date: 2024-10-11
- Subjects: Algebra Study and teaching (Secondary) Namibia Oshakati , Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge , Educational technology , Education Social aspects Namibia , Culturally relevant pedagogy Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/463669 , vital:76430
- Description: The revised curriculum in Namibia highlights the integration of digital tools to help learners understand mathematics better. For this purpose, teachers need to possess Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) to utilize technology effectively. However, using technology by itself does not guarantee better learning rather, it requires an understanding of how to integrate technology in teaching mathematics. Therefore, this case study explored Grade 9 mathematics teachers’ TPACK development through planning algebra lessons that integrate technology. An interpretive paradigm, supported by a pragmatic paradigm, underpins the study, and a qualitative case study approach was employed. The study purposively engaged ten Grade 9 mathematics teachers from four schools in Namibia. Demographic questionnaires, Semi-structured interviews, Reflective journals, notes from discussions, focus group interviews and document analysis were used to gain teachers’ insights on TPACK development. The study was guided by two educational theories: Bernstein's Sociology of Education (1971) and Bloom's Taxonomy of the Cognitive Domain (1956). Also, Mishra and Koehler’s TPACK framework (2009) was used to analyze the data. The findings showed that mathematics teachers had a positive view of technology integration in mathematics lessons and TPACK development through technology-integrated lesson planning, but they lacked the knowledge for planning lessons that integrate technology. Taking part in the intervention improved the selected mathematics teachers' understanding of TPACK, making them more confident about using technology in their teaching. The study also found different strategies to help teachers incorporate technology into their lessons, along with having a strong grasp of the subject and effective teaching methods. Based on these findings, it is suggested that in-service mathematics teachers take part in interventions focused on integrating technology into lesson planning. These interventions should demonstrate how technology can improve mathematics education and how it fits with both content and teaching methods. It is also recommended that these interventions emphasize the importance of Bloom's Taxonomy in using technology for mathematics education. The study concludes by suggesting further research on how planned lessons can be implemented in actual mathematics classrooms. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Secondary and Post-School Education, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-10-11
- Authors: Angula, Mechtilde
- Date: 2024-10-11
- Subjects: Algebra Study and teaching (Secondary) Namibia Oshakati , Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge , Educational technology , Education Social aspects Namibia , Culturally relevant pedagogy Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/463669 , vital:76430
- Description: The revised curriculum in Namibia highlights the integration of digital tools to help learners understand mathematics better. For this purpose, teachers need to possess Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) to utilize technology effectively. However, using technology by itself does not guarantee better learning rather, it requires an understanding of how to integrate technology in teaching mathematics. Therefore, this case study explored Grade 9 mathematics teachers’ TPACK development through planning algebra lessons that integrate technology. An interpretive paradigm, supported by a pragmatic paradigm, underpins the study, and a qualitative case study approach was employed. The study purposively engaged ten Grade 9 mathematics teachers from four schools in Namibia. Demographic questionnaires, Semi-structured interviews, Reflective journals, notes from discussions, focus group interviews and document analysis were used to gain teachers’ insights on TPACK development. The study was guided by two educational theories: Bernstein's Sociology of Education (1971) and Bloom's Taxonomy of the Cognitive Domain (1956). Also, Mishra and Koehler’s TPACK framework (2009) was used to analyze the data. The findings showed that mathematics teachers had a positive view of technology integration in mathematics lessons and TPACK development through technology-integrated lesson planning, but they lacked the knowledge for planning lessons that integrate technology. Taking part in the intervention improved the selected mathematics teachers' understanding of TPACK, making them more confident about using technology in their teaching. The study also found different strategies to help teachers incorporate technology into their lessons, along with having a strong grasp of the subject and effective teaching methods. Based on these findings, it is suggested that in-service mathematics teachers take part in interventions focused on integrating technology into lesson planning. These interventions should demonstrate how technology can improve mathematics education and how it fits with both content and teaching methods. It is also recommended that these interventions emphasize the importance of Bloom's Taxonomy in using technology for mathematics education. The study concludes by suggesting further research on how planned lessons can be implemented in actual mathematics classrooms. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Secondary and Post-School Education, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-10-11
Enabling Semantic Interoperability of Regional Trends of Disease Surveillance Data for Namibia Through a Health-Standards-Based Approach
- Angula, Nikodemus, Dlodlo, Nomusa, Mtshali, Progress Q
- Authors: Angula, Nikodemus , Dlodlo, Nomusa , Mtshali, Progress Q
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/474331 , vital:77702 , xlink:href="10.54646/BIJSCIT.005"
- Description: The Ministry of Health and Social Services in Namibia under the division of epidemiology uses a manual paper-based approach to capture disease surveillance data through 5 levels of reporting which include the community level, the health facility level, the district level, and the national level. As a result, this method of communicating and exchanging disease surveillance information is cost and time consuming, which delay disease surveillance information from reaching the head office on time. The current method that is being used to exchange and communicate disease surveillance data is a manual process which very time consuming due to the fact that surveillance officers have to organise and store the files and hunt down the information when it is needed and this can take time. Therefore, the study developed a prototype that aggregates disease surveillance data from the 14 regions in Namibia and can thus enable the disease service office to capture disease surveillance data through the use of mobile devices. The functionality of the prototype would allow a disease surveillance office in one regional office to access disease surveillance data of other regional office in real time. The method used to communicate disease surveillance data is through the excel spreadsheet (IDSR) which is called the integrated disease surveillance and response. Furthermore, the excel file will be sent to the relevant authority through email. However, we still do not have a web based system to report cases of diseases, instead this is a process starting from the intermediate hospital disease surveillance data which is captured then sent to the regional office and from the regional office the information is sent to the district office and then sent to the national office and from the national office the information is further sent to the WHO and other development partners as well as to the top management or to the highest authority. So it does not end at the national level but goes to management such as the Permanent Secretary, and the data is used to inform the development partners and the national surveillance office prepares official letters to the management as a form of reporting disease surveillance data. The symphonic surveillance office helps to detect a particular disease. The doctors send an investigation case form to the laboratory for testing the disease that has been identified.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Angula, Nikodemus , Dlodlo, Nomusa , Mtshali, Progress Q
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/474331 , vital:77702 , xlink:href="10.54646/BIJSCIT.005"
- Description: The Ministry of Health and Social Services in Namibia under the division of epidemiology uses a manual paper-based approach to capture disease surveillance data through 5 levels of reporting which include the community level, the health facility level, the district level, and the national level. As a result, this method of communicating and exchanging disease surveillance information is cost and time consuming, which delay disease surveillance information from reaching the head office on time. The current method that is being used to exchange and communicate disease surveillance data is a manual process which very time consuming due to the fact that surveillance officers have to organise and store the files and hunt down the information when it is needed and this can take time. Therefore, the study developed a prototype that aggregates disease surveillance data from the 14 regions in Namibia and can thus enable the disease service office to capture disease surveillance data through the use of mobile devices. The functionality of the prototype would allow a disease surveillance office in one regional office to access disease surveillance data of other regional office in real time. The method used to communicate disease surveillance data is through the excel spreadsheet (IDSR) which is called the integrated disease surveillance and response. Furthermore, the excel file will be sent to the relevant authority through email. However, we still do not have a web based system to report cases of diseases, instead this is a process starting from the intermediate hospital disease surveillance data which is captured then sent to the regional office and from the regional office the information is sent to the district office and then sent to the national office and from the national office the information is further sent to the WHO and other development partners as well as to the top management or to the highest authority. So it does not end at the national level but goes to management such as the Permanent Secretary, and the data is used to inform the development partners and the national surveillance office prepares official letters to the management as a form of reporting disease surveillance data. The symphonic surveillance office helps to detect a particular disease. The doctors send an investigation case form to the laboratory for testing the disease that has been identified.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Enabling semantic interoperability of crowdsourced disease surveillance data for namibia through a health-standards-based approach
- Angula, Nikodemus, Dlodlo, Nomusa, Mtshali, Progress Q
- Authors: Angula, Nikodemus , Dlodlo, Nomusa , Mtshali, Progress Q
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/474316 , vital:77701 , xlink:href="https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/8764830"
- Description: The government of Namibia has invested significantly in Health Information Systems (HIS) for the purposes of quality healthcare. Despite the huge investment in HIS in the Namibian health sector, the challenge of interoperability remains a problem due to the fact that the silo HIS in the Namibian health environment are not integrated in order to exchange and communicate disease surveillance data with each other. The challenge is the HIS are heterogeneous systems with unstructured data, different data formats, developed by different vendors and are running on different software. One source of disease surveillance data is provided by communities in a phenomenon normally referred to as crowdsourcing. As a result, the objective of this study was to develop a prototype that allows crowdsource users to utilise their mobile devices to access, exchange and communicate disease surveillance data in real time directly to the District Health Information Systems (DHIS-2) in regional offices and the national office of the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) in Namibia for semantic interoperability. The current method used for communicating disease surveillance information between the MoHSS, and its agency, the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) and public health institutions is a manual system which is not appropriate as it causes delays in the exchange of information among them. The prototype is grounded on health standards, such as Health Level Seven (HL7), and Integrated Health Exchange (IHE).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Angula, Nikodemus , Dlodlo, Nomusa , Mtshali, Progress Q
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/474316 , vital:77701 , xlink:href="https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/8764830"
- Description: The government of Namibia has invested significantly in Health Information Systems (HIS) for the purposes of quality healthcare. Despite the huge investment in HIS in the Namibian health sector, the challenge of interoperability remains a problem due to the fact that the silo HIS in the Namibian health environment are not integrated in order to exchange and communicate disease surveillance data with each other. The challenge is the HIS are heterogeneous systems with unstructured data, different data formats, developed by different vendors and are running on different software. One source of disease surveillance data is provided by communities in a phenomenon normally referred to as crowdsourcing. As a result, the objective of this study was to develop a prototype that allows crowdsource users to utilise their mobile devices to access, exchange and communicate disease surveillance data in real time directly to the District Health Information Systems (DHIS-2) in regional offices and the national office of the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) in Namibia for semantic interoperability. The current method used for communicating disease surveillance information between the MoHSS, and its agency, the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) and public health institutions is a manual system which is not appropriate as it causes delays in the exchange of information among them. The prototype is grounded on health standards, such as Health Level Seven (HL7), and Integrated Health Exchange (IHE).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Self-reports on the effectiveness of psychotherapy with therapists-in-training: an 18-month follow-up study at a psychology training clinic
- Authors: Angus, Catherine Clare
- Date: 1993
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/193069 , vital:45295
- Description: The purpose of this study is to ascertain whether the clients who make use of the services of the Psychology Clinic at Rhodes University perceive the masters students being trained at the Clinic as providing adequate psychotherapy. Using a sample of 18 clients, who underwent psychotherapy at the Rhodes Psychology Clinic during 1990, a follow-up study was conducted to ascertain the perceived success of that psychotherapy. Those variables most pertinent to the outcome of psychotherapy are examined. The study uses both qualitative and quantitative methodology and shows that, overall, 89% of the clients who participated in this study perceived the psychotherapy at the Rhodes Psychology Clinic to be satisfactory. The study also highlights those factors which were perceived to be negative in the psychotherapeutic equation and it is hoped that the findings can be beneficial in planning more efficient services for the Clinic in the future. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Psychology, 1993
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1993
- Authors: Angus, Catherine Clare
- Date: 1993
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/193069 , vital:45295
- Description: The purpose of this study is to ascertain whether the clients who make use of the services of the Psychology Clinic at Rhodes University perceive the masters students being trained at the Clinic as providing adequate psychotherapy. Using a sample of 18 clients, who underwent psychotherapy at the Rhodes Psychology Clinic during 1990, a follow-up study was conducted to ascertain the perceived success of that psychotherapy. Those variables most pertinent to the outcome of psychotherapy are examined. The study uses both qualitative and quantitative methodology and shows that, overall, 89% of the clients who participated in this study perceived the psychotherapy at the Rhodes Psychology Clinic to be satisfactory. The study also highlights those factors which were perceived to be negative in the psychotherapeutic equation and it is hoped that the findings can be beneficial in planning more efficient services for the Clinic in the future. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Psychology, 1993
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1993
The right to self-determination as a tool to entrench democracy as a system of governance in Nigeria
- Authors: Aniekwe, Chizoba C
- Date: 2023-12
- Subjects: Self-determination, National , Human rights -- Nigeria
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/29944 , vital:79212
- Description: The study undertaken provides a synopsis of the historical evolution of the concepts of right to self-determination other inter-dependent human rights, and modern African states. It reinforced that the right to self-determination is an inherent right that is universal in its application and interdependent, interrelated, and indivisible with other human rights. The study examines how the historical foundation of modern African states which emanated from the Berlin Conference organized by Europeans did not take the common heritage of mankind and other humanistic values which are a priori in human beings before the advent of the concept of human rights into consideration during the formation of African states such as Nigeria, South Africa, and others. That situation culminated in agitation for the right to self-determination within the context of decolonization. This is despite the espousing of the right by both Western and African philosophies. The study examines how the right to self-determination played and continues to play a pivotal role as an instrument of state legitimation and remedial justice even outside the context of decolonization. The outcome of agitations and legitimate resistance in the decolonization context did not cure the effect of the defective historical foundations in Nigeria. This is due to alien domination, exploitation, and oppression through structural violence and unfounded reliance on legal constructs or concepts such as uti-possidetis and territorial integrity. It resulted in the use of a façade of democracy to create sham unanimity among the people. Considering that democracy is indispensable for human rights. The study examines the connection between democracy and the right to self-determination. Also, it discusses the role of the constitution in reinforcing this connection, the impacts of the deprivation of the right to selfdetermination, and proffered solutions. Thus, it concludes by finding that the right to selfdetermination can be used as a tool to cure historical defects and entrench democracy as a system of governance in Nigeria and makes recommendations. , Thesis (MPhil) -- Faculty of Law, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-12
The right to self-determination as a tool to entrench democracy as a system of governance in Nigeria
- Authors: Aniekwe, Chizoba C
- Date: 2023-12
- Subjects: Self-determination, National , Human rights -- Nigeria
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/29944 , vital:79212
- Description: The study undertaken provides a synopsis of the historical evolution of the concepts of right to self-determination other inter-dependent human rights, and modern African states. It reinforced that the right to self-determination is an inherent right that is universal in its application and interdependent, interrelated, and indivisible with other human rights. The study examines how the historical foundation of modern African states which emanated from the Berlin Conference organized by Europeans did not take the common heritage of mankind and other humanistic values which are a priori in human beings before the advent of the concept of human rights into consideration during the formation of African states such as Nigeria, South Africa, and others. That situation culminated in agitation for the right to self-determination within the context of decolonization. This is despite the espousing of the right by both Western and African philosophies. The study examines how the right to self-determination played and continues to play a pivotal role as an instrument of state legitimation and remedial justice even outside the context of decolonization. The outcome of agitations and legitimate resistance in the decolonization context did not cure the effect of the defective historical foundations in Nigeria. This is due to alien domination, exploitation, and oppression through structural violence and unfounded reliance on legal constructs or concepts such as uti-possidetis and territorial integrity. It resulted in the use of a façade of democracy to create sham unanimity among the people. Considering that democracy is indispensable for human rights. The study examines the connection between democracy and the right to self-determination. Also, it discusses the role of the constitution in reinforcing this connection, the impacts of the deprivation of the right to selfdetermination, and proffered solutions. Thus, it concludes by finding that the right to selfdetermination can be used as a tool to cure historical defects and entrench democracy as a system of governance in Nigeria and makes recommendations. , Thesis (MPhil) -- Faculty of Law, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-12