An investigation of the experiences and perceptions of teachers with regards to staff development in a Namibian secondary school
- Authors: Nasima, Gideon Emmanuel
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Education -- Namibia Teachers -- In-service training -- Namibia School management and organization -- Namibia School principals -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1649 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003532
- Description: Staff development (SD) is regarded as an important process, both for the professional growth of teachers and the organizational development of schools. The literature on SD uses the concepts of ‘SD’, ‘professional development’ and ‘in-service training of teachers’ interchangeably. The purpose of this study is to investigate the teachers’ experiences and perceptions of SD practices in a Namibian secondary school. This qualitative case study was carried out at the school where I am teaching. Two methods were used to collect the data, namely a blend of semi-structured and unstructured interviews with three teachers and one focus group interview with five teachers. The analysis of the data collected was carried using the method suggested by Taylor and Bogdan (1998) which includes discovery, coding and discounting. These concepts are discussed in Chapter Three. The main finding of this research regards SD at the school as mainly in line with the traditional view. The study also made three other unusual findings that differ from the traditional view of SD held at the school. First, the principal’s role as a human resource manager of SD; second the pastoral role of a principal in SD and third the role of teachers’ unions in SD. All these findings are important for SD practices in schools and for further research because little is known in the current literature on SD. Finally, this study proposes further research to develop an organizational development (OD) cycle of problem solving to help create an internal policy on SD, which is currently nonexistent at the school.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Nasima, Gideon Emmanuel
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Education -- Namibia Teachers -- In-service training -- Namibia School management and organization -- Namibia School principals -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1649 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003532
- Description: Staff development (SD) is regarded as an important process, both for the professional growth of teachers and the organizational development of schools. The literature on SD uses the concepts of ‘SD’, ‘professional development’ and ‘in-service training of teachers’ interchangeably. The purpose of this study is to investigate the teachers’ experiences and perceptions of SD practices in a Namibian secondary school. This qualitative case study was carried out at the school where I am teaching. Two methods were used to collect the data, namely a blend of semi-structured and unstructured interviews with three teachers and one focus group interview with five teachers. The analysis of the data collected was carried using the method suggested by Taylor and Bogdan (1998) which includes discovery, coding and discounting. These concepts are discussed in Chapter Three. The main finding of this research regards SD at the school as mainly in line with the traditional view. The study also made three other unusual findings that differ from the traditional view of SD held at the school. First, the principal’s role as a human resource manager of SD; second the pastoral role of a principal in SD and third the role of teachers’ unions in SD. All these findings are important for SD practices in schools and for further research because little is known in the current literature on SD. Finally, this study proposes further research to develop an organizational development (OD) cycle of problem solving to help create an internal policy on SD, which is currently nonexistent at the school.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
An analysis of the compliance approach used by revenue authorities with specific reference to case selection and risk profiling
- Nel, M J
- Authors: Nel, M J
- Date: 2005
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:878 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001632
- Description: The vision of probably all revenue authorities is to promote compliance with the provisions of the taxation laws and to ensure responsible enforcement by the revenue authorities, thereby contributing to the economic well being of the country. As with virtually all revenue authorities the South African Revenue Services has to a large extent implemented the self-assessment approach to tax assessments. Because this system depends on this process of selfassessment, an effective risk-based audit approach is required to ensure that tax compliance and responsible enforcement is adhered to. An effective case selection methodology is required for revenue authorities to make informed choices on how best to direct their activities in order to address areas of greatest risk. Given these imperatives, the purpose of this study is to examine the case selection methodologies used by certain revenue authorities, including the South African Revenue Services, and to focus on the key elements of case selection: the use of computerised database systems, industry profiles, third party data and the role of the risk profiler. The results of the study indicate that the case selection methodology of the South African Revenue Services is lacking in some areas. Computerised risk analysis is limited to a certain classes of taxpayers and other aspects of concern are also highlighted in this study.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Nel, M J
- Date: 2005
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:878 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001632
- Description: The vision of probably all revenue authorities is to promote compliance with the provisions of the taxation laws and to ensure responsible enforcement by the revenue authorities, thereby contributing to the economic well being of the country. As with virtually all revenue authorities the South African Revenue Services has to a large extent implemented the self-assessment approach to tax assessments. Because this system depends on this process of selfassessment, an effective risk-based audit approach is required to ensure that tax compliance and responsible enforcement is adhered to. An effective case selection methodology is required for revenue authorities to make informed choices on how best to direct their activities in order to address areas of greatest risk. Given these imperatives, the purpose of this study is to examine the case selection methodologies used by certain revenue authorities, including the South African Revenue Services, and to focus on the key elements of case selection: the use of computerised database systems, industry profiles, third party data and the role of the risk profiler. The results of the study indicate that the case selection methodology of the South African Revenue Services is lacking in some areas. Computerised risk analysis is limited to a certain classes of taxpayers and other aspects of concern are also highlighted in this study.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
An analysis of the views of journalists and government officials regarding the impact of new vision's coverage of the Nakivubo Channel Rehabilitation Project
- Authors: Kaheru, Hamis
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Nakivubo Urban Wetland (Uganda) , Nakivubo Channel Rehabilitation Project , New Vision (Uganda) , Environmental protection -- Press coverage -- Uganda , Government and the press -- Uganda
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3439 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002893 , Nakivubo Urban Wetland (Uganda) , Nakivubo Channel Rehabilitation Project , New Vision (Uganda) , Environmental protection -- Press coverage -- Uganda , Government and the press -- Uganda
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Kaheru, Hamis
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Nakivubo Urban Wetland (Uganda) , Nakivubo Channel Rehabilitation Project , New Vision (Uganda) , Environmental protection -- Press coverage -- Uganda , Government and the press -- Uganda
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3439 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002893 , Nakivubo Urban Wetland (Uganda) , Nakivubo Channel Rehabilitation Project , New Vision (Uganda) , Environmental protection -- Press coverage -- Uganda , Government and the press -- Uganda
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
Exploring learners' mathematical understanding through an analysis of their solution strategies
- Authors: Penlington, Thomas Helm
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Mathematics -- Study and teaching (Elementary) Mathematics -- Problems, exercises, etc. Problem solving -- Study and teaching Reasoning Mathematical ability
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1934 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007642
- Description: The purpose of this study is to investigate various solution strategies employed by Grade 7 learners and their teachers when solving a given set of mathematical tasks. This study is oriented in an interpretive paradigm and is characterised by qualitative methods. The research, set in nine schools in the Eastern Cape, was carried out with nine learners and their mathematics teachers and was designed around two phases. The research tools consisted of a set of 12 tasks that were modelled after the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), and a process of clinical interviews that interrogated the solution strategies that were used in solving the 12 tasks. Aspects of grounded theory were used in the analysis of the data. The study reveals that in most tasks, learners relied heavily on procedural understanding at the expense of conceptual understanding. It also emphasises that the solution strategies adopted by learners, particularly whole number operations, were consistent with those strategies used by their teachers. Both learners and teachers favoured using the traditional, standard algorithm strategies and appeared to have learned these algorithms in isolation from concepts, failing to relate them to understanding. Another important finding was that there was evidence to suggest that some learners and teachers did employ their own constructed solution strategies. They were able to make sense of the problems and to 'mathematize' effectively and reason mathematically. An interesting outcome of the study shows that participants were more proficient in solving word problems than mathematical computations. This is in contrast to existing research on word problems, where it is shown that teachers find them difficult to teach and learners find them difficult to understand. The findings of this study also highlight issues for mathematics teachers to consider when dealing with computations and word problems involving number sense and other problem solving type problems.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Penlington, Thomas Helm
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Mathematics -- Study and teaching (Elementary) Mathematics -- Problems, exercises, etc. Problem solving -- Study and teaching Reasoning Mathematical ability
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1934 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007642
- Description: The purpose of this study is to investigate various solution strategies employed by Grade 7 learners and their teachers when solving a given set of mathematical tasks. This study is oriented in an interpretive paradigm and is characterised by qualitative methods. The research, set in nine schools in the Eastern Cape, was carried out with nine learners and their mathematics teachers and was designed around two phases. The research tools consisted of a set of 12 tasks that were modelled after the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), and a process of clinical interviews that interrogated the solution strategies that were used in solving the 12 tasks. Aspects of grounded theory were used in the analysis of the data. The study reveals that in most tasks, learners relied heavily on procedural understanding at the expense of conceptual understanding. It also emphasises that the solution strategies adopted by learners, particularly whole number operations, were consistent with those strategies used by their teachers. Both learners and teachers favoured using the traditional, standard algorithm strategies and appeared to have learned these algorithms in isolation from concepts, failing to relate them to understanding. Another important finding was that there was evidence to suggest that some learners and teachers did employ their own constructed solution strategies. They were able to make sense of the problems and to 'mathematize' effectively and reason mathematically. An interesting outcome of the study shows that participants were more proficient in solving word problems than mathematical computations. This is in contrast to existing research on word problems, where it is shown that teachers find them difficult to teach and learners find them difficult to understand. The findings of this study also highlight issues for mathematics teachers to consider when dealing with computations and word problems involving number sense and other problem solving type problems.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
The labour market drop-out rate : a new approach to estimating the returns to government investment in higher education : the case for marine science in South Africa
- Authors: Grootes, Pieter Brian
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Labor market Marine scientists -- South Africa Education -- Economic aspects -- South Africa Higher education and state -- South Africa Education -- Social aspects Human capital -- South Africa Education, Higher -- Economic aspects -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEcon
- Identifier: vital:950 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002684
- Description: The private and social returns to education literature share the same conclusion: that education is beneficial for both the individual and society. However, the theoretical underpinnings are flawed as the literature does not account for the main feature that leads to the acquisition of education: the private demand for education. An understanding of the factors that motivate the individual to invest in education would lead to a deeper insight as to why both private and social returns to education exist, and would provide a clearer framework on which to base the government funding of education. This thesis provides a first attempt at filling this gap by introducing a method of estimating the returns to government investment in education, which is labelled the ‘labour market drop-out rate approach’. The approach focuses on the social return to education, not in terms of graduate earnings, but in terms of the interaction of the graduate with the economy. The approach introduces a measure of expertise utilisation, based on the premise that there is no social return to an individual acquiring education if he or she does not utilise the acquired knowledge base on entering the labour market. The approach is tested using the labour market for marine scientists in South Africa as a case study. In this case the private demand for education is found to be heavily influenced by the provision of student bursaries from the National Research Foundation, with a resulting estimate of the social return to a degree in marine science being a mere 20% to 25%. Owing to this, a new approach to government investment in marine science is introduced, that of graduate contribution schemes. Of broader significance is the ease of application of this approach, it may be adopted to analyse any funding programme in which a government may decide to invest. As such, the labour market drop-out rate provides an extension to the returns to education literature through its theoretical dealings of the private demand for education, as well as a practical tool which government agencies can use to evaluate the efficacy of any government funding of education.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Grootes, Pieter Brian
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Labor market Marine scientists -- South Africa Education -- Economic aspects -- South Africa Higher education and state -- South Africa Education -- Social aspects Human capital -- South Africa Education, Higher -- Economic aspects -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEcon
- Identifier: vital:950 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002684
- Description: The private and social returns to education literature share the same conclusion: that education is beneficial for both the individual and society. However, the theoretical underpinnings are flawed as the literature does not account for the main feature that leads to the acquisition of education: the private demand for education. An understanding of the factors that motivate the individual to invest in education would lead to a deeper insight as to why both private and social returns to education exist, and would provide a clearer framework on which to base the government funding of education. This thesis provides a first attempt at filling this gap by introducing a method of estimating the returns to government investment in education, which is labelled the ‘labour market drop-out rate approach’. The approach focuses on the social return to education, not in terms of graduate earnings, but in terms of the interaction of the graduate with the economy. The approach introduces a measure of expertise utilisation, based on the premise that there is no social return to an individual acquiring education if he or she does not utilise the acquired knowledge base on entering the labour market. The approach is tested using the labour market for marine scientists in South Africa as a case study. In this case the private demand for education is found to be heavily influenced by the provision of student bursaries from the National Research Foundation, with a resulting estimate of the social return to a degree in marine science being a mere 20% to 25%. Owing to this, a new approach to government investment in marine science is introduced, that of graduate contribution schemes. Of broader significance is the ease of application of this approach, it may be adopted to analyse any funding programme in which a government may decide to invest. As such, the labour market drop-out rate provides an extension to the returns to education literature through its theoretical dealings of the private demand for education, as well as a practical tool which government agencies can use to evaluate the efficacy of any government funding of education.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
Three perspectives on ukuthwasa: the view from traditional beliefs, western psychiatry and transpersonal psychology
- Authors: Booi, Beauty Ntombizanele
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Healers -- South Africa , Divination -- South Africa , Schizophrenia -- Social aspects , Xhosa (African people) -- Psychology , Xhosa (African people) -- Social life and customs
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2936 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002445 , Healers -- South Africa , Divination -- South Africa , Schizophrenia -- Social aspects , Xhosa (African people) -- Psychology , Xhosa (African people) -- Social life and customs
- Description: Among the Xhosas, the healing sickness called intwaso is interptreted as a call by the ancestors to become a healer. Transpersonalists also see these initiatory illnesses as spiritual crises, while according to the widely accepted Western psychiatric view, illness is purely perceived in physical and psychological terms. A case study was conducted where a single participant who has undergone the process of ukuthwasa and is functioning as a traditional healer was interviewed. A series of interviews were done where information was gathered about significant experiences related to ukuthwasa process. Tapes were transcribed and a case narrative was written and interpreted using the traditional Xhosa beliefs, the western psychiatric and the transpersonal psychology perspectives. Strengths and weaknesses of each perspective were then examined.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Booi, Beauty Ntombizanele
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Healers -- South Africa , Divination -- South Africa , Schizophrenia -- Social aspects , Xhosa (African people) -- Psychology , Xhosa (African people) -- Social life and customs
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2936 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002445 , Healers -- South Africa , Divination -- South Africa , Schizophrenia -- Social aspects , Xhosa (African people) -- Psychology , Xhosa (African people) -- Social life and customs
- Description: Among the Xhosas, the healing sickness called intwaso is interptreted as a call by the ancestors to become a healer. Transpersonalists also see these initiatory illnesses as spiritual crises, while according to the widely accepted Western psychiatric view, illness is purely perceived in physical and psychological terms. A case study was conducted where a single participant who has undergone the process of ukuthwasa and is functioning as a traditional healer was interviewed. A series of interviews were done where information was gathered about significant experiences related to ukuthwasa process. Tapes were transcribed and a case narrative was written and interpreted using the traditional Xhosa beliefs, the western psychiatric and the transpersonal psychology perspectives. Strengths and weaknesses of each perspective were then examined.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
Rainfall variability in Southern Africa, its influences on streamflow variations and its relationships with climatic variations
- Authors: Valimba, Patrick
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Rain and rainfall -- Africa, Southern Climatic changes -- Africa, Southern Streamflow -- Africa, Southern
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:6030 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006159
- Description: Hydrological variability involving rainfall and streamflows in southern Africa have been often studied separately or have used cumulative rainfall and streamflow indices. The main objective of this study was to investigate spatio-temporal variations of rainfall, their influences on streamflows and their relationships with climatic variations with emphasis on indices that characterise the hydrological extremes, floods and droughts. It was found that 60-70% of the time when it rains, daily rainfalls are below their long-term averages and daily amounts below 10 mm are the most frequent in southern Africa. Spatially, climatologies of rainfall sub-divided the southern African subcontinent into the dry western/southwestern part and the “humid” eastern and northern part. The daily amounts below 20 mm contribute significantly to annual rainfall amounts in the dry part while all types of daily rainfall exceeding 1 mm have comparable contributions in the humid part. The climatologies indicated the highest likelihood of experiencing intense daily events during the core of the wet seasons with the highest frequencies in central Mozambique and the southern highlands of Tanzania. Interannual variations of rainfall indicated that significant changes had occurred between the late-1940s and early-1980s, particularly in the 1970s. The changes in rainfall were more evident in the number of daily rainfall events than in rainfall amounts, led generally to increasing early summer and decreased late summer rainfall. It was also found that intra-seasonal dry day sequences were an important parameter in the definition of a rainy season’s onset and end in southern Africa apart from rainfall amounts. Interannual variations of the rainy season characteristics (onset, end, duration) followed the variations of rainfall amounts and number of events. The duration of the rainy season was affected by the onset (Tanzania), onset or end (tropical southern Africa - southwestern highlands of Tanzania, Zambia, northern Zimbabwe and central Mozambique) and end (the remaing part of southern Africa). Flow duration curves (FDCs) identified three types of rivers (ephemeral, seasonal and perennial) in southern Africa with ephemeral rivers found mainly in the dry western part of the region. Seasonal streamflow patterns followed those of rainfall while interannual streamflow variations indicated significant changes of mean flows with little evidences of high and low flow regime changes except in Namibia and some parts of northern Zimbabwe. It was, however, not possible to provide strong links between the identified changes in streamflows and those in rainfall. Regarding the influences of climate variability on hydrological variability in southern Africa, rainfall variations in southern Africa were found to be influenced strongly by ENSO and SST in the tropical Indian ocean and moderately by SST in the south Madagascar basin. The influence of ENSO was consistent for all types of daily rainfall and peaks for the light and moderate (< 20 mm) events in the southern part and for the intense events in the northern part. SST in the tropical Indian ocean influence the light and moderate events while SST close to the region influence the heavy events. However, the relationships experienced significant changes in the mid-1950s and in the 1970s. The former changes led to improved associations while the latter deteriorated or reversed the relationships. The influences of climatic variables on streamflows and rainy season characteristics were inferred from the rainfall-streamflow and rainfall-climatic variables relationships.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Valimba, Patrick
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Rain and rainfall -- Africa, Southern Climatic changes -- Africa, Southern Streamflow -- Africa, Southern
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:6030 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006159
- Description: Hydrological variability involving rainfall and streamflows in southern Africa have been often studied separately or have used cumulative rainfall and streamflow indices. The main objective of this study was to investigate spatio-temporal variations of rainfall, their influences on streamflows and their relationships with climatic variations with emphasis on indices that characterise the hydrological extremes, floods and droughts. It was found that 60-70% of the time when it rains, daily rainfalls are below their long-term averages and daily amounts below 10 mm are the most frequent in southern Africa. Spatially, climatologies of rainfall sub-divided the southern African subcontinent into the dry western/southwestern part and the “humid” eastern and northern part. The daily amounts below 20 mm contribute significantly to annual rainfall amounts in the dry part while all types of daily rainfall exceeding 1 mm have comparable contributions in the humid part. The climatologies indicated the highest likelihood of experiencing intense daily events during the core of the wet seasons with the highest frequencies in central Mozambique and the southern highlands of Tanzania. Interannual variations of rainfall indicated that significant changes had occurred between the late-1940s and early-1980s, particularly in the 1970s. The changes in rainfall were more evident in the number of daily rainfall events than in rainfall amounts, led generally to increasing early summer and decreased late summer rainfall. It was also found that intra-seasonal dry day sequences were an important parameter in the definition of a rainy season’s onset and end in southern Africa apart from rainfall amounts. Interannual variations of the rainy season characteristics (onset, end, duration) followed the variations of rainfall amounts and number of events. The duration of the rainy season was affected by the onset (Tanzania), onset or end (tropical southern Africa - southwestern highlands of Tanzania, Zambia, northern Zimbabwe and central Mozambique) and end (the remaing part of southern Africa). Flow duration curves (FDCs) identified three types of rivers (ephemeral, seasonal and perennial) in southern Africa with ephemeral rivers found mainly in the dry western part of the region. Seasonal streamflow patterns followed those of rainfall while interannual streamflow variations indicated significant changes of mean flows with little evidences of high and low flow regime changes except in Namibia and some parts of northern Zimbabwe. It was, however, not possible to provide strong links between the identified changes in streamflows and those in rainfall. Regarding the influences of climate variability on hydrological variability in southern Africa, rainfall variations in southern Africa were found to be influenced strongly by ENSO and SST in the tropical Indian ocean and moderately by SST in the south Madagascar basin. The influence of ENSO was consistent for all types of daily rainfall and peaks for the light and moderate (< 20 mm) events in the southern part and for the intense events in the northern part. SST in the tropical Indian ocean influence the light and moderate events while SST close to the region influence the heavy events. However, the relationships experienced significant changes in the mid-1950s and in the 1970s. The former changes led to improved associations while the latter deteriorated or reversed the relationships. The influences of climatic variables on streamflows and rainy season characteristics were inferred from the rainfall-streamflow and rainfall-climatic variables relationships.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
An investigation of an undergraduate course module on the ethical aspects of information systems
- Authors: Charlesworth, Matthew
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Information technology , Information technology -- Moral and ethical aspects , Computers -- Moral and ethical aspects , Computer science -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- Curricula , Computer engineering -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- Curricula , Software engineering -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- Curricula , Information technology -- study and teaching (Higher) -- Curricula
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:1139 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002768 , Information technology , Information technology -- Moral and ethical aspects , Computers -- Moral and ethical aspects , Computer science -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- Curricula , Computer engineering -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- Curricula , Software engineering -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- Curricula , Information technology -- study and teaching (Higher) -- Curricula
- Description: An increased emphasis is being placed on ethics in Information Systems. An investigation of: the relevant literature which highlighted the growth of, and importance in understanding the moral philosophies which underlie Computer Ethics; and the official curricula recommendations that have increasingly and consistently recommended inclusion of courses describing the Social, Professional and Ethical responsibilities of Information Systems Professionals; and informed by the observations from two empirical Studies that showed the extent of unethical behaviour, and how this behaviour is diminished in those who have received formal tertiary level education resulted in a proposed new course module on Ethics in Information Systems. The module follows a sandwich-approach whereby two stand-alone modules are conducted on either side of integrated Computer Ethics content within the rest of the curriculum.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Charlesworth, Matthew
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Information technology , Information technology -- Moral and ethical aspects , Computers -- Moral and ethical aspects , Computer science -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- Curricula , Computer engineering -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- Curricula , Software engineering -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- Curricula , Information technology -- study and teaching (Higher) -- Curricula
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:1139 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002768 , Information technology , Information technology -- Moral and ethical aspects , Computers -- Moral and ethical aspects , Computer science -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- Curricula , Computer engineering -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- Curricula , Software engineering -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- Curricula , Information technology -- study and teaching (Higher) -- Curricula
- Description: An increased emphasis is being placed on ethics in Information Systems. An investigation of: the relevant literature which highlighted the growth of, and importance in understanding the moral philosophies which underlie Computer Ethics; and the official curricula recommendations that have increasingly and consistently recommended inclusion of courses describing the Social, Professional and Ethical responsibilities of Information Systems Professionals; and informed by the observations from two empirical Studies that showed the extent of unethical behaviour, and how this behaviour is diminished in those who have received formal tertiary level education resulted in a proposed new course module on Ethics in Information Systems. The module follows a sandwich-approach whereby two stand-alone modules are conducted on either side of integrated Computer Ethics content within the rest of the curriculum.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
Euphausiid population structure and grazing in the Indian sector of the Antarctic Polar Frontal Zone, during austral autumn
- Bernard, Anthony Thomas Firth
- Authors: Bernard, Anthony Thomas Firth
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Euphausiacea -- Antarctic Ocean , Euphausiacea -- Feeding and feeds
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5913 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1015960
- Description: The trophodynamics of the numerically dominant euphausiid species within a region of high mesoscale oceanographic variability in the southwest Indian sector of the Antarctic Polar Frontal Zone (PFZ) were investigated during the austral autumns April/May) of 2004 and 2005. During the 2004 survey, sub-surface (200 m) temperature profiles indicated that an intense frontal feature, formed by the convergence of the Sub-Antarctic Front (SAF) and the Antarctic Polar Front (APF) bisected the survey area into two distinct zones, the Sub- Antarctic Zone (SAZ) and the Antarctic Zone (AAZ). Total integrated chlorophyll-a (chl-a) biomass was typical for the region (< 25 mg chl-a m⁻²), and was dominated by picophytoplankton. Total euphausiid abundance and biomass ranged from 0.1 to 3.1 ind m⁻³ and 0.1 to 8.1 mg dwt m⁻³, respectively, and did not differ significantly between the stations occupied in the SAZ and AAZ (p > 0.05). The multivariate analysis identified two interacting mechanisms controlling the distribution patterns, abundance and biomass of the various euphausiid species, namely (1) diel changes in abundance and biomass, (2) and restricted distribution patterns associated with the different water masses. Ingestion rates were determined for five euphausiid species. E. triacantha was found to have the highest daily ingestion rate ranging from 1 226.1 to 6 029.1 ng pigm ind⁻¹d⁻¹, while the lowest daily ingestion rates were observed in the juvenile Thysanoessa species (6.4 to 943.0 ng pigm ind⁻¹ d⁻¹). The total grazing impact of the selected euphausiids ranged from < 0.1 to 20.1 μg pigm m⁻²d⁻¹, corresponding to < 0.15 % of the areal chl-a biomass. The daily ration estimates of autotrophic carbon for the euphausiids suggested that phytoplankton represented a minor component in their diets, with only the sub-adult E. vallentini consuming sufficient phytoplankton to meet their daily carbon requirements. A cyclonic cold-core eddy spawned from the region of the APF located in the southwest Indian sector of the PFZ was the dominant feature during the 2005 survey. The total areal chl-a biomass throughout the region was low, ranging between 5.6 and 11.4 mg chl-a m⁻², and was significantly higher within the core of the eddy compared to the surrounding waters (p < 0.05). RMT-8 and WP-2 total euphausiid abundance and biomass estimates were high, and ranged from 0.004 to 0.36 ind m⁻³ and 0.065 to 1.21 mg dwt m⁻³, and from 0.01 to 18.2 ind m⁻³ and 0.01 to 15.7 mg dwt m⁻³, respectively. A distinct spatial pattern in the euphausiid community was evident with the Antarctic species, Euphausia frigida, E. triacantha and E. superba predominating within the core of the eddy, while the PFZ waters were characterized by the sub-Antarctic species, E. longirostris, Stylocheiron maximum, Nematoscelis megalops and Thysanoessa gregaria. The eddy edge acted as a transition zone where species from both regions co-occurred. Within the survey area the combined ingestion rate of the six numerically dominant euphausiid species ranged between 0.02 and 5.31 μg pigm m⁻²d¹, which corresponded to a loss of between < 0.001 and 0.11 % of the available chl-a biomass. E. triacantha and juvenile T. macura were identified as the dominant grazers. There was no apparent spatial pattern in the grazing activity of the euphausiids within the region of investigation. The average daily rations of the euphausiids examined were < 2 % of their body carbon. The low daily ration of the euphausiids could be ascribed to the predominance of small picophytoplankton in the region of investigation, which are too small to be grazed efficiently by larger zooplankton. The marked spatial patterns in species composition and the elevated abundance and biomass of euphausiids, suggest that the mesoscale eddies contribute to the spatial and temporal heterogeneity of the planktonic community of the PFZ and may represent important foraging regions for many of the apex predators within the region.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Bernard, Anthony Thomas Firth
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Euphausiacea -- Antarctic Ocean , Euphausiacea -- Feeding and feeds
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5913 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1015960
- Description: The trophodynamics of the numerically dominant euphausiid species within a region of high mesoscale oceanographic variability in the southwest Indian sector of the Antarctic Polar Frontal Zone (PFZ) were investigated during the austral autumns April/May) of 2004 and 2005. During the 2004 survey, sub-surface (200 m) temperature profiles indicated that an intense frontal feature, formed by the convergence of the Sub-Antarctic Front (SAF) and the Antarctic Polar Front (APF) bisected the survey area into two distinct zones, the Sub- Antarctic Zone (SAZ) and the Antarctic Zone (AAZ). Total integrated chlorophyll-a (chl-a) biomass was typical for the region (< 25 mg chl-a m⁻²), and was dominated by picophytoplankton. Total euphausiid abundance and biomass ranged from 0.1 to 3.1 ind m⁻³ and 0.1 to 8.1 mg dwt m⁻³, respectively, and did not differ significantly between the stations occupied in the SAZ and AAZ (p > 0.05). The multivariate analysis identified two interacting mechanisms controlling the distribution patterns, abundance and biomass of the various euphausiid species, namely (1) diel changes in abundance and biomass, (2) and restricted distribution patterns associated with the different water masses. Ingestion rates were determined for five euphausiid species. E. triacantha was found to have the highest daily ingestion rate ranging from 1 226.1 to 6 029.1 ng pigm ind⁻¹d⁻¹, while the lowest daily ingestion rates were observed in the juvenile Thysanoessa species (6.4 to 943.0 ng pigm ind⁻¹ d⁻¹). The total grazing impact of the selected euphausiids ranged from < 0.1 to 20.1 μg pigm m⁻²d⁻¹, corresponding to < 0.15 % of the areal chl-a biomass. The daily ration estimates of autotrophic carbon for the euphausiids suggested that phytoplankton represented a minor component in their diets, with only the sub-adult E. vallentini consuming sufficient phytoplankton to meet their daily carbon requirements. A cyclonic cold-core eddy spawned from the region of the APF located in the southwest Indian sector of the PFZ was the dominant feature during the 2005 survey. The total areal chl-a biomass throughout the region was low, ranging between 5.6 and 11.4 mg chl-a m⁻², and was significantly higher within the core of the eddy compared to the surrounding waters (p < 0.05). RMT-8 and WP-2 total euphausiid abundance and biomass estimates were high, and ranged from 0.004 to 0.36 ind m⁻³ and 0.065 to 1.21 mg dwt m⁻³, and from 0.01 to 18.2 ind m⁻³ and 0.01 to 15.7 mg dwt m⁻³, respectively. A distinct spatial pattern in the euphausiid community was evident with the Antarctic species, Euphausia frigida, E. triacantha and E. superba predominating within the core of the eddy, while the PFZ waters were characterized by the sub-Antarctic species, E. longirostris, Stylocheiron maximum, Nematoscelis megalops and Thysanoessa gregaria. The eddy edge acted as a transition zone where species from both regions co-occurred. Within the survey area the combined ingestion rate of the six numerically dominant euphausiid species ranged between 0.02 and 5.31 μg pigm m⁻²d¹, which corresponded to a loss of between < 0.001 and 0.11 % of the available chl-a biomass. E. triacantha and juvenile T. macura were identified as the dominant grazers. There was no apparent spatial pattern in the grazing activity of the euphausiids within the region of investigation. The average daily rations of the euphausiids examined were < 2 % of their body carbon. The low daily ration of the euphausiids could be ascribed to the predominance of small picophytoplankton in the region of investigation, which are too small to be grazed efficiently by larger zooplankton. The marked spatial patterns in species composition and the elevated abundance and biomass of euphausiids, suggest that the mesoscale eddies contribute to the spatial and temporal heterogeneity of the planktonic community of the PFZ and may represent important foraging regions for many of the apex predators within the region.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
The biophysical dynamics of the Lower Shire River Floodplain fisheries in Malawi
- Authors: Chimatiro, Sloans Kalumba
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Shire River Valley (Malawi and Mozambique) Fisheries -- Malawi
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:5243 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005086
- Description: Fishes of African floodplains typically comprise populations having short life cycles, relatively few age groups, more generalised feeding behaviour, and which experience spawning success that is strongly influenced by abiotic factors such as hydrological regime of the river, climatic seasonality and habitat characteristics. In addition, African river-floodplain ecosystems do not have appropriate predictive models for estimating yield in these ecosystems. While most predictive models developed to date for floodplain fisheries have taken into account morpho-edaphic factors, they have generally excluded climatic factors as a mega-determinant of the variability of floodplain fisheries. The principle aim of this thesis has been to develop a predictive management model that incorporates data on essential biological aspects of the target species, characteristics of the habitat as well as overall climatic factors, and thus allow for adaptive management of the fisheries in a continuously fluctuating floodplain environment. Lower Shire Floodplain (34 ⁰ 45’ – 35 ⁰ E and 16 ⁰ 00’-17 ⁰ 15’ S) in Malawi, one of the major rivers-floodplains in the Zambezi Basin, was used to test this type of model. The major hypothesis tested in this study was that “the dynamics of the fishery of Lower Shire Floodplain are driven by and adapted to the seasonal, but predictable, hydro-climatic regime of the floodplain”. The specific objectives were: to describe the floodplain’s climate and hydrological pattern; to develop a quantitative characterisation of the major habitats of the Lower Shire Floodplain; to assess the fishery in terms of size, gear utilisation, gear selectivity and yield; to assess the biological parameters of the target species, necessary for the management of the fishery; to analyse how water fluctuation in the floodplain affects the recruitment and life history of the two target species; and to develop of a predictive hydro-climatic model to benefit the management of the fisheries. The climate of the floodplain was characterised by low (765 ± 198 mm) and fairly variable (Cv = 27%) rainfall, which largely occurred between December and January. The area was generally humid (mean RH 68%), with mild to hot (25- 33ºC) and variable monthly mean diurnal (12ºC) temperature. Four quarterly hydro-climatic seasons were identified and comprised: Quarter 1 (Jul-Sep) characterised by hot, dry weather with a low flood regime; Quarter 2 (Oct-Dec) hot, windy, wet weather with low-but-rising flood regime; Quarter 3 (Jan-Mar) hot humid, wet weather with the flood regime at peak; and Quarter 4 (Apr-Jun) humid and cool weather with receding flood regime. The annual hydrograph of the floodplain was represented by four categories of flood regime as: low (Jul-Sept), low-but-rising (Oct-Dec), peak (Jan- Mar), and falling (Apr-Jun). The floodplain experienced a water deficit of 95.1 mm.year⁻¹, and it was hypothesised that ground water recharge maintained water in the floodplain the rest of the year. Three major habitats were identified in the floodplain. The river-floodplain, characterised by deep fast-flowing water, sandy substrate and little emergent vegetation; the permanently connected lagoons, were shallow (≤ 2 m) with sandymud bottom and slow flowing water; and the seasonally connected lagoons had slowflowing stagnant water, with comparatively more emergent and floating vegetation. Physicochemical characteristics of the habitats varied significantly with hydroclimatic seasons (one-way ANOVA, p ≤ 0.05), indicating the influence of flood regime, which joined the habitats in a non-equilibrial spatial distribution. Consequently, during receding and low flood regimes river-floodplain and permanently connected lagoons exhibited similar characteristics while all three habitats had similar characteristics during the rising and peak flood regimes. It was, therefore, concluded that in floodplains, habitats shift horizontally and vertically according to the water level. Gill nets, cast nets, long line, and fish traps accounted for 99% of the total count of gears, and hence considered the major fishing sectors. Two principal species in the floodplain were the catfish Clarias gariepinus and the cichlid Oreochromis mossambicus. Length-at-maximum-selectivity (ø) and length-at-50%-sexual-maturity (Lm₅₀) for each of the two species showed that although they were selected into the four fishing sectors at lengths above maturity, maximum selectivity into the long line occurred at a length before maturity for O. mossambicus. In addition, the width of the gamma selectivity function (σ) indicated that a considerable proportion of juveniles of the two species were also selected. Therefore, it was decided that management for the floodplain be centred on controlling over-fishing and preserving the spawner stock, by banning seine and mosquito nets, and closing river-floodplain and permanently connected lagoons to fishing during the low flood regime. There were significant seasonal variations in CPUE, lowest in the low flood, and highest during the peak flood regime. Sectioned otoliths were used to determine the age and growth of the two principal species in the floodplain. Marginal zone analysis revealed that annulus formation in all the species occurred during the period of low air and water temperatures, high evaporation and receding water levels, hence a high rate of desiccation and negative water budget. For O. mossambicus, maximum age reached was 6 years while in C. gariepinus it was 9 years. The 3-parameter von Bertalanffy growth model adequately described growth as lt = 177.6(1-e⁻·⁴⁴⁽t ⁺ ¹·⁴³⁾) mm TL for O. mossambicus and lt = 502.9(1-e⁻°·³¹⁽t ⁺ ¹·⁹²⁾) mm TL for C. gariepinus. Female O. mossambicus reached 50%-sexual-maturity at 109 mm SL, while males matured at 105 mm, and both male and female C. gariepinus reached Lm₅₀ at 249 mm SL. The breeding seasons of both O. mossambicus and Clarias gariepinus were between September and March, with modal peaks in January and November, respectively. The annual total mortality rates (Z) were 0.62 ± 0.18 yr⁻¹ for O. mossambicus and 0.93 ± 0.47 yr⁻¹ for C. gariepinus. The mean empirical estimates of natural mortality (M) were 0.46 yr⁻¹ for O. mossambicus and 0.50 year⁻¹ for C. gariepinus, and fishing mortality (F) was calculated as 0.16 yr⁻¹ for O. mossambicus and 0.43 yr⁻¹ for C. gariepinus. The overall exploitation level (Z/K) was 1.41 for O. mossambicus and 3.01 for C. gariepinus. Given that the Z/K ratio was >1, it was asserted that both O. mossambicus and C. gariepinus were mortality-dominated and fairly heavily exploited. However, potential for sustainable exploitation existed since both species showed signs of resilience due short longevity and high rate of natural mortality. Given the limitation of simple exponential models of fish mortality and growth under the situation of seasonal fluctuation of water levels, a simple predictive hydroclimatic- fisheries model was developed. The model predicted the life-history and production parameters fairly accurately (0.53 ≤ r² ≥ 0.98, p ≤ 0.05), and showed that environmental and biological events in the floodplain significantly (0.43 ≤ r² ≥ 0.91, p ≤ 0.05) followed the periodic function of time (day-of-the-year), hence, strongly seasonal. In addition, the flood-pulse preceded all the major biological events, with predicted phase lags established at 55.6º for peak flood, 157.2º, 260.1º, 334.6º and 341.4º for condition factor for O. mossambicus, recruitment, spawning period for O. mossambicus and C. gariepinus, respectively. Therefore, it was recommended that water obstruction on the Shire River must ensure sufficient water flow during the peak flood and spawning period to allow flooding and inundation of the floodplain in order to create habitat favourable for spawning and feeding as well as improve recruitment.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Chimatiro, Sloans Kalumba
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Shire River Valley (Malawi and Mozambique) Fisheries -- Malawi
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:5243 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005086
- Description: Fishes of African floodplains typically comprise populations having short life cycles, relatively few age groups, more generalised feeding behaviour, and which experience spawning success that is strongly influenced by abiotic factors such as hydrological regime of the river, climatic seasonality and habitat characteristics. In addition, African river-floodplain ecosystems do not have appropriate predictive models for estimating yield in these ecosystems. While most predictive models developed to date for floodplain fisheries have taken into account morpho-edaphic factors, they have generally excluded climatic factors as a mega-determinant of the variability of floodplain fisheries. The principle aim of this thesis has been to develop a predictive management model that incorporates data on essential biological aspects of the target species, characteristics of the habitat as well as overall climatic factors, and thus allow for adaptive management of the fisheries in a continuously fluctuating floodplain environment. Lower Shire Floodplain (34 ⁰ 45’ – 35 ⁰ E and 16 ⁰ 00’-17 ⁰ 15’ S) in Malawi, one of the major rivers-floodplains in the Zambezi Basin, was used to test this type of model. The major hypothesis tested in this study was that “the dynamics of the fishery of Lower Shire Floodplain are driven by and adapted to the seasonal, but predictable, hydro-climatic regime of the floodplain”. The specific objectives were: to describe the floodplain’s climate and hydrological pattern; to develop a quantitative characterisation of the major habitats of the Lower Shire Floodplain; to assess the fishery in terms of size, gear utilisation, gear selectivity and yield; to assess the biological parameters of the target species, necessary for the management of the fishery; to analyse how water fluctuation in the floodplain affects the recruitment and life history of the two target species; and to develop of a predictive hydro-climatic model to benefit the management of the fisheries. The climate of the floodplain was characterised by low (765 ± 198 mm) and fairly variable (Cv = 27%) rainfall, which largely occurred between December and January. The area was generally humid (mean RH 68%), with mild to hot (25- 33ºC) and variable monthly mean diurnal (12ºC) temperature. Four quarterly hydro-climatic seasons were identified and comprised: Quarter 1 (Jul-Sep) characterised by hot, dry weather with a low flood regime; Quarter 2 (Oct-Dec) hot, windy, wet weather with low-but-rising flood regime; Quarter 3 (Jan-Mar) hot humid, wet weather with the flood regime at peak; and Quarter 4 (Apr-Jun) humid and cool weather with receding flood regime. The annual hydrograph of the floodplain was represented by four categories of flood regime as: low (Jul-Sept), low-but-rising (Oct-Dec), peak (Jan- Mar), and falling (Apr-Jun). The floodplain experienced a water deficit of 95.1 mm.year⁻¹, and it was hypothesised that ground water recharge maintained water in the floodplain the rest of the year. Three major habitats were identified in the floodplain. The river-floodplain, characterised by deep fast-flowing water, sandy substrate and little emergent vegetation; the permanently connected lagoons, were shallow (≤ 2 m) with sandymud bottom and slow flowing water; and the seasonally connected lagoons had slowflowing stagnant water, with comparatively more emergent and floating vegetation. Physicochemical characteristics of the habitats varied significantly with hydroclimatic seasons (one-way ANOVA, p ≤ 0.05), indicating the influence of flood regime, which joined the habitats in a non-equilibrial spatial distribution. Consequently, during receding and low flood regimes river-floodplain and permanently connected lagoons exhibited similar characteristics while all three habitats had similar characteristics during the rising and peak flood regimes. It was, therefore, concluded that in floodplains, habitats shift horizontally and vertically according to the water level. Gill nets, cast nets, long line, and fish traps accounted for 99% of the total count of gears, and hence considered the major fishing sectors. Two principal species in the floodplain were the catfish Clarias gariepinus and the cichlid Oreochromis mossambicus. Length-at-maximum-selectivity (ø) and length-at-50%-sexual-maturity (Lm₅₀) for each of the two species showed that although they were selected into the four fishing sectors at lengths above maturity, maximum selectivity into the long line occurred at a length before maturity for O. mossambicus. In addition, the width of the gamma selectivity function (σ) indicated that a considerable proportion of juveniles of the two species were also selected. Therefore, it was decided that management for the floodplain be centred on controlling over-fishing and preserving the spawner stock, by banning seine and mosquito nets, and closing river-floodplain and permanently connected lagoons to fishing during the low flood regime. There were significant seasonal variations in CPUE, lowest in the low flood, and highest during the peak flood regime. Sectioned otoliths were used to determine the age and growth of the two principal species in the floodplain. Marginal zone analysis revealed that annulus formation in all the species occurred during the period of low air and water temperatures, high evaporation and receding water levels, hence a high rate of desiccation and negative water budget. For O. mossambicus, maximum age reached was 6 years while in C. gariepinus it was 9 years. The 3-parameter von Bertalanffy growth model adequately described growth as lt = 177.6(1-e⁻·⁴⁴⁽t ⁺ ¹·⁴³⁾) mm TL for O. mossambicus and lt = 502.9(1-e⁻°·³¹⁽t ⁺ ¹·⁹²⁾) mm TL for C. gariepinus. Female O. mossambicus reached 50%-sexual-maturity at 109 mm SL, while males matured at 105 mm, and both male and female C. gariepinus reached Lm₅₀ at 249 mm SL. The breeding seasons of both O. mossambicus and Clarias gariepinus were between September and March, with modal peaks in January and November, respectively. The annual total mortality rates (Z) were 0.62 ± 0.18 yr⁻¹ for O. mossambicus and 0.93 ± 0.47 yr⁻¹ for C. gariepinus. The mean empirical estimates of natural mortality (M) were 0.46 yr⁻¹ for O. mossambicus and 0.50 year⁻¹ for C. gariepinus, and fishing mortality (F) was calculated as 0.16 yr⁻¹ for O. mossambicus and 0.43 yr⁻¹ for C. gariepinus. The overall exploitation level (Z/K) was 1.41 for O. mossambicus and 3.01 for C. gariepinus. Given that the Z/K ratio was >1, it was asserted that both O. mossambicus and C. gariepinus were mortality-dominated and fairly heavily exploited. However, potential for sustainable exploitation existed since both species showed signs of resilience due short longevity and high rate of natural mortality. Given the limitation of simple exponential models of fish mortality and growth under the situation of seasonal fluctuation of water levels, a simple predictive hydroclimatic- fisheries model was developed. The model predicted the life-history and production parameters fairly accurately (0.53 ≤ r² ≥ 0.98, p ≤ 0.05), and showed that environmental and biological events in the floodplain significantly (0.43 ≤ r² ≥ 0.91, p ≤ 0.05) followed the periodic function of time (day-of-the-year), hence, strongly seasonal. In addition, the flood-pulse preceded all the major biological events, with predicted phase lags established at 55.6º for peak flood, 157.2º, 260.1º, 334.6º and 341.4º for condition factor for O. mossambicus, recruitment, spawning period for O. mossambicus and C. gariepinus, respectively. Therefore, it was recommended that water obstruction on the Shire River must ensure sufficient water flow during the peak flood and spawning period to allow flooding and inundation of the floodplain in order to create habitat favourable for spawning and feeding as well as improve recruitment.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
The role of parallel computing in bioinformatics
- Authors: Akhurst, Timothy John
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Bioinformatics , Parallel programming (Computer science) , LINDA (Computer system) , Java (Computer program language) , Parallel processing (Electronic computers) , Genomics -- Data processing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:3986 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004045 , Bioinformatics , Parallel programming (Computer science) , LINDA (Computer system) , Java (Computer program language) , Parallel processing (Electronic computers) , Genomics -- Data processing
- Description: The need to intelligibly capture, manage and analyse the ever-increasing amount of publicly available genomic data is one of the challenges facing bioinformaticians today. Such analyses are in fact impractical using uniprocessor machines, which has led to an increasing reliance on clusters of commodity-priced computers. An existing network of cheap, commodity PCs was utilised as a single computational resource for parallel computing. The performance of the cluster was investigated using a whole genome-scanning program written in the Java programming language. The TSpaces framework, based on the Linda parallel programming model, was used to parallelise the application. Maximum speedup was achieved at between 30 and 50 processors, depending on the size of the genome being scanned. Together with this, the associated significant reductions in wall-clock time suggest that both parallel computing and Java have a significant role to play in the field of bioinformatics.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Akhurst, Timothy John
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Bioinformatics , Parallel programming (Computer science) , LINDA (Computer system) , Java (Computer program language) , Parallel processing (Electronic computers) , Genomics -- Data processing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:3986 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004045 , Bioinformatics , Parallel programming (Computer science) , LINDA (Computer system) , Java (Computer program language) , Parallel processing (Electronic computers) , Genomics -- Data processing
- Description: The need to intelligibly capture, manage and analyse the ever-increasing amount of publicly available genomic data is one of the challenges facing bioinformaticians today. Such analyses are in fact impractical using uniprocessor machines, which has led to an increasing reliance on clusters of commodity-priced computers. An existing network of cheap, commodity PCs was utilised as a single computational resource for parallel computing. The performance of the cluster was investigated using a whole genome-scanning program written in the Java programming language. The TSpaces framework, based on the Linda parallel programming model, was used to parallelise the application. Maximum speedup was achieved at between 30 and 50 processors, depending on the size of the genome being scanned. Together with this, the associated significant reductions in wall-clock time suggest that both parallel computing and Java have a significant role to play in the field of bioinformatics.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
Enabling reflexivity and the development of reflexive competence within course processes: a case study of an environmental education professional development course
- Authors: Raven, Glenda C
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Rhodes University / Gold Fields Course in Environmental Education Environmental education -- Research -- South Africa Environmental education -- South Africa -- Curricula Competency-based education -- South Africa Education and state -- South Africa Education -- Research
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:1507 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003389
- Description: This research was undertaken in the context of socio-economic transformation in South Africa, and more specifically, in the context of change in education policy. To support socio-economic transformation in South Africa after the first democratic elections in 1994, a competence-based National Qualifications Framework (NQF) was introduced in 1995. In responding to the particular socio-historical context of South Africa, the South African NQF is underpinned by the notion of applied competence, integrating practical, foundational and reflexive competence, which is the key and distinguishing feature of this competence-based framework. In this context of transformation, the research was aimed at an in-depth exploration of the notion of reflexivity and reflexive competence, and course processes that enable its development, with a view to providing curriculum development insights for learning programme development in the competence-based NQF, more broadly, and environmental education professional development programmes, more specifically. To enable these aims, the research was undertaken in the context of the Rhodes University / Gold Fields Participatory Course in Environmental Education (RU/GF course), as a case example of a professional development course that aims to develop critically reflexive practitioners. Within an interpretivist orientation, a multiple-embedded case study approach was used to gain insight into the relationship between course processes, reflexivity and the development of reflexive competence to clarify and provide a critical perspective on how competence develops in the context of the course. Data was collected over a period of one year using observation, interviewing and document analysis as the primary data collection techniques. Data was analysed through various phases and layers to inform data generation and the synthesising of data for further interpretation. Through the literature review undertaken within the study, various significant insights emerged around the notion of reflexivity and reflexive competence. Firstly, there appears to be a need to distinguish between reflexivity as social processes of change (social actions and interactions within social systems, structures and processes) and reflexive competence (a range of integrative elements of competence) that provides the evidence of an engagement within social processes of change. The second key insight emerging is the significance of social structure in shaping participation in reflexive processes, thus emphasising the duality of structure as both the medium for, and outcome of reflexive social actions and interactions and so challenges the deterministic conception of social structure. Further, the significance of an epistemologically framed notion of reflexivity and reflexive competence emerged, in the context of responding to the complex and uncertain quality of socio-ecological risks and in supporting change in context. Reflexivity, distinguished from processes of critical reflection, foregrounds a critical exploration of both knowledge and unawareness. As such a reinterpretation of reflexive competence is offered as a process of potential challenge to dominant and reigning forms of reasoning (knowledge frameworks) and consequent principles of ordering. Through this reframing of reflexive competence, the potential exists to destabilise dominant forms of reasoning and principles of ordering to create a broader scope of possibilities for action and change in context. This reframing of reflexive competence in the context of transformation in South Africa has critical implications for engaging within processes of learning programme design in the NQF to support an engagement within reflexive processes of change and the development of a range of integrative elements of reflexive competence. In this light, the study attempts to make the following contribution to curriculum deliberations within the context of environmental education and the NQF in relation to reflexivity, reflexive competence and change: ♦ Reflexivity is conceptualised as social processes of change with reflexive competence providing evidence of engagement within these social processes of change; ♦ An epistemologically framed conception of reflexivity and reflexive competence recognises how rules of reason and the ordering of the ‘reasonable’ person come to shape social life; and so ♦ Change is conceptualised as ruptures and breaks in dominant knowledge frames and the power relations embedded in these; ♦ Unawareness emerges as a key dimension within reflexive environmental education processes in responding to the unpredictable and uncertain nature of risks; ♦ An epistemological framing of reflexivity and reflexive competence highlights the need to develop open processes of learning to support the critical exploration of knowledge and unawareness; and ♦ Within this framing of reflexivity and reflexive competence, the difficulty emerges in specifically predefining reflexive competence to inform standard setting processes within a context of intended change. In framing data within this emerging conception of reflexivity and reflexive competence, a review of course processes highlighted potential areas for reorienting the RU/GF course to support change in context, for which I make specific recommendations. Drawing on the review of course processes in the RU/GF course, and in light of the reframing of reflexivity and reflexive competence, I further offer summative discussions as ‘possible implications’ for learning programme design in the South African competence-based NQF, broadly and environmental education professional development programmes in this framework, more specifically.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Raven, Glenda C
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Rhodes University / Gold Fields Course in Environmental Education Environmental education -- Research -- South Africa Environmental education -- South Africa -- Curricula Competency-based education -- South Africa Education and state -- South Africa Education -- Research
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:1507 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003389
- Description: This research was undertaken in the context of socio-economic transformation in South Africa, and more specifically, in the context of change in education policy. To support socio-economic transformation in South Africa after the first democratic elections in 1994, a competence-based National Qualifications Framework (NQF) was introduced in 1995. In responding to the particular socio-historical context of South Africa, the South African NQF is underpinned by the notion of applied competence, integrating practical, foundational and reflexive competence, which is the key and distinguishing feature of this competence-based framework. In this context of transformation, the research was aimed at an in-depth exploration of the notion of reflexivity and reflexive competence, and course processes that enable its development, with a view to providing curriculum development insights for learning programme development in the competence-based NQF, more broadly, and environmental education professional development programmes, more specifically. To enable these aims, the research was undertaken in the context of the Rhodes University / Gold Fields Participatory Course in Environmental Education (RU/GF course), as a case example of a professional development course that aims to develop critically reflexive practitioners. Within an interpretivist orientation, a multiple-embedded case study approach was used to gain insight into the relationship between course processes, reflexivity and the development of reflexive competence to clarify and provide a critical perspective on how competence develops in the context of the course. Data was collected over a period of one year using observation, interviewing and document analysis as the primary data collection techniques. Data was analysed through various phases and layers to inform data generation and the synthesising of data for further interpretation. Through the literature review undertaken within the study, various significant insights emerged around the notion of reflexivity and reflexive competence. Firstly, there appears to be a need to distinguish between reflexivity as social processes of change (social actions and interactions within social systems, structures and processes) and reflexive competence (a range of integrative elements of competence) that provides the evidence of an engagement within social processes of change. The second key insight emerging is the significance of social structure in shaping participation in reflexive processes, thus emphasising the duality of structure as both the medium for, and outcome of reflexive social actions and interactions and so challenges the deterministic conception of social structure. Further, the significance of an epistemologically framed notion of reflexivity and reflexive competence emerged, in the context of responding to the complex and uncertain quality of socio-ecological risks and in supporting change in context. Reflexivity, distinguished from processes of critical reflection, foregrounds a critical exploration of both knowledge and unawareness. As such a reinterpretation of reflexive competence is offered as a process of potential challenge to dominant and reigning forms of reasoning (knowledge frameworks) and consequent principles of ordering. Through this reframing of reflexive competence, the potential exists to destabilise dominant forms of reasoning and principles of ordering to create a broader scope of possibilities for action and change in context. This reframing of reflexive competence in the context of transformation in South Africa has critical implications for engaging within processes of learning programme design in the NQF to support an engagement within reflexive processes of change and the development of a range of integrative elements of reflexive competence. In this light, the study attempts to make the following contribution to curriculum deliberations within the context of environmental education and the NQF in relation to reflexivity, reflexive competence and change: ♦ Reflexivity is conceptualised as social processes of change with reflexive competence providing evidence of engagement within these social processes of change; ♦ An epistemologically framed conception of reflexivity and reflexive competence recognises how rules of reason and the ordering of the ‘reasonable’ person come to shape social life; and so ♦ Change is conceptualised as ruptures and breaks in dominant knowledge frames and the power relations embedded in these; ♦ Unawareness emerges as a key dimension within reflexive environmental education processes in responding to the unpredictable and uncertain nature of risks; ♦ An epistemological framing of reflexivity and reflexive competence highlights the need to develop open processes of learning to support the critical exploration of knowledge and unawareness; and ♦ Within this framing of reflexivity and reflexive competence, the difficulty emerges in specifically predefining reflexive competence to inform standard setting processes within a context of intended change. In framing data within this emerging conception of reflexivity and reflexive competence, a review of course processes highlighted potential areas for reorienting the RU/GF course to support change in context, for which I make specific recommendations. Drawing on the review of course processes in the RU/GF course, and in light of the reframing of reflexivity and reflexive competence, I further offer summative discussions as ‘possible implications’ for learning programme design in the South African competence-based NQF, broadly and environmental education professional development programmes in this framework, more specifically.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
The therapist as a "bad object": the use of countertransference enactment to facilitate communication in therapy
- Authors: Webster, Penny
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Countertransference (Psychology) Countertransference (Psychology) -- Therapeutic use Communication -- Psychological aspects Psychotherapist and patient Psychoanalysis
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:3083 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002592
- Description: Psychoanalysis as it exists today is not constituted by a single theoretical framework describing pathology and indicating a specific set of interventions. Since Freud originally conceptualised psychoanalytic understanding of pathology and psychoanalysis as a mode of intervention, there have been many revisions and reformulations of his theory. This thesis has attempted to integrate some psychoanalytic ideas regarding personality formation, psychopathology and psychotherapeutic intervention (Fairbairn, 1952; Ogden, 1992, 1994), with interpersonal (strategic / structural) ideas regarding intervention (Minuchin, 1974; Sullivan, 1940, 1953, 1964). In order to do so, the thesis used the relational psychoanalytic perspective, as depicted by Aron (1996) and Mitchell and Aron (1999), as an overarching conceptual framework. The focus from these points of view is the patient's internalized relationship patterns and the therapist's participation in their repetition. It is held that internalized relationship patterns are not only based on, but can be changed by, lived experience. From this perspective, the goal of therapy is to enhance the patient's capacity to reflect and think about experience, and therefore, to communicate about it. This means a change in the patient's predominant mode of communication. Ogden's (1994) modes of communication were described. The thesis suggested that Ogden's modes of communication can be stretched or translated into the types of communication outlined by Langs (1978). This thesis aimed to explore the deliberate use of countertransference responses to facilitate communication in the beginning stages of therapy with patients functioning predominantly in the paranoid-schizoid mode (Ogden, 1992). Patients who operate in this mode are often unable to tolerate interpretation and therefore traditional approaches to intervention are not effective. A "strategic / structural relational psychoanalytic" approach to treatment was proposed. It was suggested that therapists utilize joining and accommodation techniques as described by Minuchin (1974) and alter their style of interaction to match that of the various object relational constellations that they have managed to identify within the patient via their countertransference responses. It was hypothesized that patients need their therapists to be similar to their original objects in order to feel safe in the therapeutic environment and that this may facilitate communication in the beginning stages of therapy. The research utilized a qualitative research approach. Qualitative research methods attempt to use data gathered phenomenologically, always acknowledging the researcher's biases when gathering the data. The data gathered is then interpreted according to various theories or hermeneutic lenses. The hypothesis mentioned above has been investigated by analyzing three cases in terms of the research questions based on Langs' (1978) classification of communication. The thesis described the difficulties inherent in collecting clinical data from psychologists working from within a psychoanalytic framework. Eventually three sets of therapy details and verbatim therapy transcripts were obtained, provided in the thesis and analyzed in terms of the research questions. However evidence for the success of the hypothesized alternate approach was not found in this research study. It was suggested that other possible methods might be useful to investigate the hypothesized approach further.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Webster, Penny
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Countertransference (Psychology) Countertransference (Psychology) -- Therapeutic use Communication -- Psychological aspects Psychotherapist and patient Psychoanalysis
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:3083 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002592
- Description: Psychoanalysis as it exists today is not constituted by a single theoretical framework describing pathology and indicating a specific set of interventions. Since Freud originally conceptualised psychoanalytic understanding of pathology and psychoanalysis as a mode of intervention, there have been many revisions and reformulations of his theory. This thesis has attempted to integrate some psychoanalytic ideas regarding personality formation, psychopathology and psychotherapeutic intervention (Fairbairn, 1952; Ogden, 1992, 1994), with interpersonal (strategic / structural) ideas regarding intervention (Minuchin, 1974; Sullivan, 1940, 1953, 1964). In order to do so, the thesis used the relational psychoanalytic perspective, as depicted by Aron (1996) and Mitchell and Aron (1999), as an overarching conceptual framework. The focus from these points of view is the patient's internalized relationship patterns and the therapist's participation in their repetition. It is held that internalized relationship patterns are not only based on, but can be changed by, lived experience. From this perspective, the goal of therapy is to enhance the patient's capacity to reflect and think about experience, and therefore, to communicate about it. This means a change in the patient's predominant mode of communication. Ogden's (1994) modes of communication were described. The thesis suggested that Ogden's modes of communication can be stretched or translated into the types of communication outlined by Langs (1978). This thesis aimed to explore the deliberate use of countertransference responses to facilitate communication in the beginning stages of therapy with patients functioning predominantly in the paranoid-schizoid mode (Ogden, 1992). Patients who operate in this mode are often unable to tolerate interpretation and therefore traditional approaches to intervention are not effective. A "strategic / structural relational psychoanalytic" approach to treatment was proposed. It was suggested that therapists utilize joining and accommodation techniques as described by Minuchin (1974) and alter their style of interaction to match that of the various object relational constellations that they have managed to identify within the patient via their countertransference responses. It was hypothesized that patients need their therapists to be similar to their original objects in order to feel safe in the therapeutic environment and that this may facilitate communication in the beginning stages of therapy. The research utilized a qualitative research approach. Qualitative research methods attempt to use data gathered phenomenologically, always acknowledging the researcher's biases when gathering the data. The data gathered is then interpreted according to various theories or hermeneutic lenses. The hypothesis mentioned above has been investigated by analyzing three cases in terms of the research questions based on Langs' (1978) classification of communication. The thesis described the difficulties inherent in collecting clinical data from psychologists working from within a psychoanalytic framework. Eventually three sets of therapy details and verbatim therapy transcripts were obtained, provided in the thesis and analyzed in terms of the research questions. However evidence for the success of the hypothesized alternate approach was not found in this research study. It was suggested that other possible methods might be useful to investigate the hypothesized approach further.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
A critical investigation of plant optimization, to improve the production process of Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles in South Africa. (Jan 2004 - Sept 2004)
- Authors: Naidoo, Desalin Rajoo
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Automobile industry and trade -- South Africa -- Management Motor vehicle industry -- Production control -- South Africa Production management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:737 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003857
- Description: The research thesis reflects a positive improvement to the plant efficiency through strategic optimisation planning and controlling systems. It’s important to note that the set goals of the research were achieved, with total employee buy-in contributing to the success and sustainability of these improvements. Purposive sample methods allowed for the twenty employees from a total of 172, to be interviewed for both the pre and post testing. The paradigm of the research contributed to integrative communication between brainstorming and action. The efforts of the total workforce must be commended, for strategically aligning the organizational goals and objectives to realization. The content of the thesis, show a direct relationship between the plant optimisation and the increase in the production volumes. The understanding of the downtime reports for the period specified is a direct reflection to the improvement in quality, and the reduction of the overall poor workmanship graphs indicates positively to the reduction in cost. The last value driver, on-time delivery shows a vast improvement in maintaining the customer satisfaction, when considering the increase to the production volume capacity. These improvements have made further volume increases probable, and the understanding of Ikhwezi Trucktech management to negotiate with realized information for future capacity planning.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Naidoo, Desalin Rajoo
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Automobile industry and trade -- South Africa -- Management Motor vehicle industry -- Production control -- South Africa Production management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:737 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003857
- Description: The research thesis reflects a positive improvement to the plant efficiency through strategic optimisation planning and controlling systems. It’s important to note that the set goals of the research were achieved, with total employee buy-in contributing to the success and sustainability of these improvements. Purposive sample methods allowed for the twenty employees from a total of 172, to be interviewed for both the pre and post testing. The paradigm of the research contributed to integrative communication between brainstorming and action. The efforts of the total workforce must be commended, for strategically aligning the organizational goals and objectives to realization. The content of the thesis, show a direct relationship between the plant optimisation and the increase in the production volumes. The understanding of the downtime reports for the period specified is a direct reflection to the improvement in quality, and the reduction of the overall poor workmanship graphs indicates positively to the reduction in cost. The last value driver, on-time delivery shows a vast improvement in maintaining the customer satisfaction, when considering the increase to the production volume capacity. These improvements have made further volume increases probable, and the understanding of Ikhwezi Trucktech management to negotiate with realized information for future capacity planning.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
An investigation into the pharmacological properties of propolis
- Authors: Hu, Fuliang
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Propolis
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:5831 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007955
- Description: Propolis is a traditional value-added product from beekeeping, and has been widely used in medicine and the chemical industry because of its extensive biological activities. In this dissertation some pharmacological properties of propolis extracted by ethanol (EEP) and water (WSP) were studied by means of modem pharmacological methods. The results of the experiments show the following: 1. Both EEP and WSD led to decreased levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG), glycosylated haemoglobin (HBA1c), Fructosamine (FRU), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), uric acid (UA), malonaldehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), nitric oxide synthetase (NOS), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and very-low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) in the serum of fasting rats; and, to increased serum levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in rats with diabetes mellitus. This suggests that propolis can control blood glucose and modulate the metabolism of glucose, blood lipid and protein, leading to decreased outputs of lipid peroxidation and scavenging free radicals in rats with diabetes mellitus. 2. Both EEP and WSD showed inhibitory effects on swelling induced by Freund's complete adjuvant and decreased the degree of local inflammatory responses; significantly inhibited the increase of interleukin-6 (lL-6) in inflamed tissues, but had no significant effect on levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-y (IFN-y). The results are consistent with the interpretation that EEP and WSD may exert these effects by inhibiting the activation and differentiation of mononuclear macrophages. 3. Both EEP and WSD exhibited significant anti-inflammatory effects in animal models with respect to thoracic capillary vessel leakage in mice, Carrageenan-induced oedema, Carrageen-aninduced pleurisy and acute lung damage in rats. The mechanisms for the anti-inflammatory effects probably involve decreasing prostaglandin and NO levels. 4. Both EEP and WSD had an inhibitory effect on the level of TG, TC, LDL-C, glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT) and glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase (GOT) in serum, and TC, TG and MDA in liver of hyperlipidemic SD rats; but were without effects on HDL-C, MDA, SOD and NO in serum. EEP also reduced body weight, liver weight and liver index, but WSD did not reduce those indexes. The results showed that the two extracts contribute to the improvement of lipid metabolism in hyperlipidemic rats and provide them with the required anti-oxidative activity. 5. The 80% ethanol extracts of propolis had the highest flavonoid content. The flavone content of water extracts of propolis were obtained with a natural surface-active agent, under ultrasonic perturbation at 80°C, for 12 h and was 6.7 times greater than that of propolis extracted with water at room temperature. Compared to EEP, WSD has the same or a greater anti-tumor or anti-inflammation effect at the same dosage, and shows considerable pharmacological potential especially because of its low side effects and ease of preparation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Hu, Fuliang
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Propolis
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:5831 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007955
- Description: Propolis is a traditional value-added product from beekeeping, and has been widely used in medicine and the chemical industry because of its extensive biological activities. In this dissertation some pharmacological properties of propolis extracted by ethanol (EEP) and water (WSP) were studied by means of modem pharmacological methods. The results of the experiments show the following: 1. Both EEP and WSD led to decreased levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG), glycosylated haemoglobin (HBA1c), Fructosamine (FRU), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), uric acid (UA), malonaldehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), nitric oxide synthetase (NOS), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and very-low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) in the serum of fasting rats; and, to increased serum levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in rats with diabetes mellitus. This suggests that propolis can control blood glucose and modulate the metabolism of glucose, blood lipid and protein, leading to decreased outputs of lipid peroxidation and scavenging free radicals in rats with diabetes mellitus. 2. Both EEP and WSD showed inhibitory effects on swelling induced by Freund's complete adjuvant and decreased the degree of local inflammatory responses; significantly inhibited the increase of interleukin-6 (lL-6) in inflamed tissues, but had no significant effect on levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-y (IFN-y). The results are consistent with the interpretation that EEP and WSD may exert these effects by inhibiting the activation and differentiation of mononuclear macrophages. 3. Both EEP and WSD exhibited significant anti-inflammatory effects in animal models with respect to thoracic capillary vessel leakage in mice, Carrageenan-induced oedema, Carrageen-aninduced pleurisy and acute lung damage in rats. The mechanisms for the anti-inflammatory effects probably involve decreasing prostaglandin and NO levels. 4. Both EEP and WSD had an inhibitory effect on the level of TG, TC, LDL-C, glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT) and glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase (GOT) in serum, and TC, TG and MDA in liver of hyperlipidemic SD rats; but were without effects on HDL-C, MDA, SOD and NO in serum. EEP also reduced body weight, liver weight and liver index, but WSD did not reduce those indexes. The results showed that the two extracts contribute to the improvement of lipid metabolism in hyperlipidemic rats and provide them with the required anti-oxidative activity. 5. The 80% ethanol extracts of propolis had the highest flavonoid content. The flavone content of water extracts of propolis were obtained with a natural surface-active agent, under ultrasonic perturbation at 80°C, for 12 h and was 6.7 times greater than that of propolis extracted with water at room temperature. Compared to EEP, WSD has the same or a greater anti-tumor or anti-inflammation effect at the same dosage, and shows considerable pharmacological potential especially because of its low side effects and ease of preparation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
Tertiary treatment in integrated algal ponding systems
- Authors: Wells, Charles Digby
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Sewage -- Purification -- Anaerobic treatment , Water -- Purification -- Biological treatment
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4068 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006162 , Sewage -- Purification -- Anaerobic treatment , Water -- Purification -- Biological treatment
- Description: Inadequate sanitation is one of the leading causes of water pollution and consequently illness in many underdeveloped countries, including South Africa and, specifically, the Eastern Cape Province, where cholera has become endemic. As modern wastewater treatment processes are often energy intensive and expensive, they are not suitable for use in these areas. There is thus a need to develop more sustainable wastewater treatment technologies for application in smaller communities. The integrated algal ponding system (IAPS) was identified as a possible solution to this wastewater management problem and was investigated for adaptation to local conditions, at the Rhodes University Environmental Experimental Field Station in Grahamstown, South Africa. The system was monitored over a period of nine years, with various configuration adjustments of the high rate algal pond (HRAP) unit operation investigated. Under standard operating conditions, the system was able to achieve levels of nutrient and organic removal comparable with conventional wastewater treatment works. The mean nitrate level achieved in the effluent was below the 15mg.l-1 South African discharge standard, however, nitrate removal in the IAPS was found to be inconsistent. Although the system was unable to sustain chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal to below the 75mg.l-1 South African discharge standard, a removal rate of 87% was recorded, with the residual COD remaining in the form of algal biomass. Previous studies in the Eastern Cape Province have shown that few small wastewater treatment works produce effluent that meets the microbial count specification. Therefore, in addition to the collation of IAPS data from the entire nine year monitoring period, this study also investigated the use of the HRAP as an independent unit operation for disinfection of effluent from small sewage plants. It was demonstrated that the independent high rate algal pond (IHRAP) as a free standing unit operation could consistently produce water with Escherichia coli counts of 0cfu.100ml-1. The observed effect was related to a number of possible conditions prevailing in the system, including elevated pH, sunlight and dissolved oxygen. It was also found that the IHRAP greatly enhanced the nutrient removal capabilities of the conventional IAPS, making it possible to reliably and consistently maintain phosphate and ammonium levels in the final effluent to below 5mg.l-1 and 2mg.l-1 respectively (South African discharge standards are 10mg.l-1 and 3mg.l-1 in each case). The quality of the final effluent produced by the optimisation of the IAPS would allow it to be used for irrigation, thereby providing an alternative water source in water stressed areas. The system also proved to be exceptionally robust and data collected during periods of intensive and low management regimes were broadly comparable. Results of the 9 year study have demonstrated reliable performance of the IAPS and its use an appropriate, sustainable wastewater treatment option for small communities.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Wells, Charles Digby
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Sewage -- Purification -- Anaerobic treatment , Water -- Purification -- Biological treatment
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4068 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006162 , Sewage -- Purification -- Anaerobic treatment , Water -- Purification -- Biological treatment
- Description: Inadequate sanitation is one of the leading causes of water pollution and consequently illness in many underdeveloped countries, including South Africa and, specifically, the Eastern Cape Province, where cholera has become endemic. As modern wastewater treatment processes are often energy intensive and expensive, they are not suitable for use in these areas. There is thus a need to develop more sustainable wastewater treatment technologies for application in smaller communities. The integrated algal ponding system (IAPS) was identified as a possible solution to this wastewater management problem and was investigated for adaptation to local conditions, at the Rhodes University Environmental Experimental Field Station in Grahamstown, South Africa. The system was monitored over a period of nine years, with various configuration adjustments of the high rate algal pond (HRAP) unit operation investigated. Under standard operating conditions, the system was able to achieve levels of nutrient and organic removal comparable with conventional wastewater treatment works. The mean nitrate level achieved in the effluent was below the 15mg.l-1 South African discharge standard, however, nitrate removal in the IAPS was found to be inconsistent. Although the system was unable to sustain chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal to below the 75mg.l-1 South African discharge standard, a removal rate of 87% was recorded, with the residual COD remaining in the form of algal biomass. Previous studies in the Eastern Cape Province have shown that few small wastewater treatment works produce effluent that meets the microbial count specification. Therefore, in addition to the collation of IAPS data from the entire nine year monitoring period, this study also investigated the use of the HRAP as an independent unit operation for disinfection of effluent from small sewage plants. It was demonstrated that the independent high rate algal pond (IHRAP) as a free standing unit operation could consistently produce water with Escherichia coli counts of 0cfu.100ml-1. The observed effect was related to a number of possible conditions prevailing in the system, including elevated pH, sunlight and dissolved oxygen. It was also found that the IHRAP greatly enhanced the nutrient removal capabilities of the conventional IAPS, making it possible to reliably and consistently maintain phosphate and ammonium levels in the final effluent to below 5mg.l-1 and 2mg.l-1 respectively (South African discharge standards are 10mg.l-1 and 3mg.l-1 in each case). The quality of the final effluent produced by the optimisation of the IAPS would allow it to be used for irrigation, thereby providing an alternative water source in water stressed areas. The system also proved to be exceptionally robust and data collected during periods of intensive and low management regimes were broadly comparable. Results of the 9 year study have demonstrated reliable performance of the IAPS and its use an appropriate, sustainable wastewater treatment option for small communities.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
Incorporating indigenous management in rock art sites in KwaZulu-Natal
- Authors: Ndlovu, Ndukuyakhe
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Rock paintings -- Drakenberg Mountains , Cave paintings -- Drakensberg Mountains , San (African people) -- Art , Art, Prehistoric -- Drakensberg Mountains , Art, Prehistoric -- South Africa , Heritage tourism -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2089 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002652 , Rock paintings -- Drakenberg Mountains , Cave paintings -- Drakensberg Mountains , San (African people) -- Art , Art, Prehistoric -- Drakensberg Mountains , Art, Prehistoric -- South Africa , Heritage tourism -- South Africa
- Description: The majestic mountains of the uKhahlamba Drakensberg, formed many millennia ago were home to the Bushmen[footnote 1] or San people. They lived at these mountains for thousands of years before they were colonised by the Bantu speakers and the Europeans. Academic writings for many years have perpetuated the thinking that Bushman people were largely extinct. The dominance of this view in the academic writings was encouraged by historical evidence that Europeans and Bantu speakers hunted and killed Bushmen over the last several centuries. Researchers argue that the extermination of the Bushmen was because they were less human in the eyes of the foreigners, due to cattle raiding. There is still some element of this thinking amongst today’s academics, although research in the last decade is questioning this thinking. The question of whether descendants do exist is relevant to issues of rights of access to ancestral sacred sites, in particular rock art sites. At present, access to rock art sites is granted on qualification as an authentic fee-paying tourist (or affordability) rather than on group rights to a cultural heritage resource (cultural rights). Based on this, I argue that access to rock art sites is based on qualification rather than by right. This is largely driven by an approach that emphasises the physical conservation and financial sustainability of a site, rather than its spiritual maintenance. It has become clear that the interests in rock art by tourists and Bushman descendants are distinct from each other. Tourists have an aesthetic significance for rock art while Bushmen descendants have a spiritual significance for the paintings. Beyond any doubt, the physically based and financially driven approach has brought new challenges to today’s Bushmen descendants, whom in reaffirming their identities now have a new challenge to overcome. Not only are the rock art sites physically threatened but also they have lost much of their spiritual powers. Their fate lies in the hands of heritage officers who must determine access rights to the painted shelters. Both the National Heritage Resources Act and the KwaZulu-Natal Heritage Act acknowledge living heritage. However, the existence of this heritage is judged against the physical approach to rock art management. If the practises of descendants are perceived to be a threat to the rock art, they will not be approved. The case of the Duma is a classic example. Prior to the ritual ceremony at Game Pass Shelter, Kamberg, they were informed of the minimum standards for opening a rock art site to public and rules of how people should behave while visiting painted shelters. While it was evident that there are problems with the two approaches, the spiritual and physical approach, discussed in the thesis, it is important that solutions are identified. I do not believe that one approach on its own will be good enough, for reasons discussed in the thesis. Instead, the two approaches should be implemented together to compliment each other by identifying common grounds. I provide strategies as to how I believe that such a common ground can be reached. In addition, I provide my own analytical thinking as to how these strategies can be achieved. There is no general consensus over which term is appropriate. Both terms are considered by some academics to be derogatory or pejorative (Chennels 2003). San means vagabond and was given to the Bushmen by Khoi-Khoi people, because they considered themselves of a better social class, as they had domesticated animals and were more sedentary than Bushmen. However, according to WIMSA (Thoma 2003) the word San is derived from the Hai||om language meaning “people who gather”. It is normally written Saan but it has been accepted to write San. In 1993 the San requested to be called San when referred to as an entire group. If one refers to individual people/groups they like to be called by their language and cultural name i.e. Khwe, !Kung, !Xun, Ju|’hoansi, ‡Khomani, N|u, |’Auni, Hai||om, etc In this thesis, Bushmen is a preferred term, because it is a better-known term among the people who are central to this study. It is used without any insulting connotations attached to the term.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Ndlovu, Ndukuyakhe
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Rock paintings -- Drakenberg Mountains , Cave paintings -- Drakensberg Mountains , San (African people) -- Art , Art, Prehistoric -- Drakensberg Mountains , Art, Prehistoric -- South Africa , Heritage tourism -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2089 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002652 , Rock paintings -- Drakenberg Mountains , Cave paintings -- Drakensberg Mountains , San (African people) -- Art , Art, Prehistoric -- Drakensberg Mountains , Art, Prehistoric -- South Africa , Heritage tourism -- South Africa
- Description: The majestic mountains of the uKhahlamba Drakensberg, formed many millennia ago were home to the Bushmen[footnote 1] or San people. They lived at these mountains for thousands of years before they were colonised by the Bantu speakers and the Europeans. Academic writings for many years have perpetuated the thinking that Bushman people were largely extinct. The dominance of this view in the academic writings was encouraged by historical evidence that Europeans and Bantu speakers hunted and killed Bushmen over the last several centuries. Researchers argue that the extermination of the Bushmen was because they were less human in the eyes of the foreigners, due to cattle raiding. There is still some element of this thinking amongst today’s academics, although research in the last decade is questioning this thinking. The question of whether descendants do exist is relevant to issues of rights of access to ancestral sacred sites, in particular rock art sites. At present, access to rock art sites is granted on qualification as an authentic fee-paying tourist (or affordability) rather than on group rights to a cultural heritage resource (cultural rights). Based on this, I argue that access to rock art sites is based on qualification rather than by right. This is largely driven by an approach that emphasises the physical conservation and financial sustainability of a site, rather than its spiritual maintenance. It has become clear that the interests in rock art by tourists and Bushman descendants are distinct from each other. Tourists have an aesthetic significance for rock art while Bushmen descendants have a spiritual significance for the paintings. Beyond any doubt, the physically based and financially driven approach has brought new challenges to today’s Bushmen descendants, whom in reaffirming their identities now have a new challenge to overcome. Not only are the rock art sites physically threatened but also they have lost much of their spiritual powers. Their fate lies in the hands of heritage officers who must determine access rights to the painted shelters. Both the National Heritage Resources Act and the KwaZulu-Natal Heritage Act acknowledge living heritage. However, the existence of this heritage is judged against the physical approach to rock art management. If the practises of descendants are perceived to be a threat to the rock art, they will not be approved. The case of the Duma is a classic example. Prior to the ritual ceremony at Game Pass Shelter, Kamberg, they were informed of the minimum standards for opening a rock art site to public and rules of how people should behave while visiting painted shelters. While it was evident that there are problems with the two approaches, the spiritual and physical approach, discussed in the thesis, it is important that solutions are identified. I do not believe that one approach on its own will be good enough, for reasons discussed in the thesis. Instead, the two approaches should be implemented together to compliment each other by identifying common grounds. I provide strategies as to how I believe that such a common ground can be reached. In addition, I provide my own analytical thinking as to how these strategies can be achieved. There is no general consensus over which term is appropriate. Both terms are considered by some academics to be derogatory or pejorative (Chennels 2003). San means vagabond and was given to the Bushmen by Khoi-Khoi people, because they considered themselves of a better social class, as they had domesticated animals and were more sedentary than Bushmen. However, according to WIMSA (Thoma 2003) the word San is derived from the Hai||om language meaning “people who gather”. It is normally written Saan but it has been accepted to write San. In 1993 the San requested to be called San when referred to as an entire group. If one refers to individual people/groups they like to be called by their language and cultural name i.e. Khwe, !Kung, !Xun, Ju|’hoansi, ‡Khomani, N|u, |’Auni, Hai||om, etc In this thesis, Bushmen is a preferred term, because it is a better-known term among the people who are central to this study. It is used without any insulting connotations attached to the term.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
Impacts of wildlife and cattle grazing on spider (araneae) biodiversity in a highland savanna ecosystem, in Laikipia, Central Kenya
- Authors: Warui, Charles Mwaura
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Spiders -- Kenya Environmental monitoring -- Kenya Savanna ecology -- Kenya Biodiversity -- Kenya Species diversity -- Kenya Wildlife management -- Kenya Herbivores -- Ecology -- Kenya
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:5712 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005398
- Description: Spiders were sampled at Mpala Research Centre, Laikipia, Kenya by pitfall-trapping and sweep-netting from May 2001 to July 2002, at a Kenyan Long-term Exclosure Experiment. The aim was to establish species composition, checklist and examine spider responses to disturbances caused by cattle, megaherbivores (giraffe and elephants) and mesoherbivores (other ungulates) by looking at three levels of resolution, namely the overall community, guilds and individual species. This is the first controlled replicated experimental study on the effects on invertebrates (spiders) by different land uses (access by large herbivores). A total of 10,487 individuals from 132 species belonging to 30 families were recorded. The family Salticidae had the highest number of species (24), followed by Gnaphosidae (20), Araneidae and Lycosidae (15 each), Theridiidae and Thomisidae (8 each) and Zodariidae (4). Most of the other families had fewer than 4 species. Throughout the study period, species not previously sampled emerged after rainfall peaks. Exclosure treatments affected plant cover, spider diversity and total species mainly through the effects of cattle, whose presence significantly reduced relative vegetation cover. An increase in vegetation cover significantly increased the diversity, total species and species evenness of the overall spider community (total samples data set). Megaherbivores and mesoherbivores had no effects on overall spider diversity. Relative vegetation cover explained approximately 20-30% of variation in community diversity, species richness and species evenness. At the guild level of resolution, the exclosure treatments had no significant effects on diversity, species richness and species evenness of web builders, plant wanderers and ground wanderers. Plant wanderers were significantly and positively correlated with relative vegetation cover, which explained 17% of variation in their diversity. Six individual species responded strongly and in contrasting ways to the same environmental variables, indicating that this level was more sensitive to environmental changes than guilds or the overall spider community. Spider diversity, relative vegetation cover and rainfall varied at a temporal scale of months and not at a spatial scale of hundreds of metres. Only species diversity and species richness from sweep-netting samples and total species from pitfall-trapping varied significantly at a spatial scale of hundreds of metres. Ordination analysis revealed that sweep-netting samples were a better indicator of grazing impacts than pitfalltrapping or combined samples and grouped to reflect cattle grazing, non-cattle grazing and to a small extent the control treatments. Other ordination analyses showed that only samples from sweep-netting and not from pitfall-trapping, were spatially partitioned at a scale of hundreds of metres. This study concludes that the spider fauna of black cotton soil habitats is rich and useful for environmental monitoring and that monitoring of several individual species as indicator of grazing impacts in savanna could be useful and relatively easy.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Warui, Charles Mwaura
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Spiders -- Kenya Environmental monitoring -- Kenya Savanna ecology -- Kenya Biodiversity -- Kenya Species diversity -- Kenya Wildlife management -- Kenya Herbivores -- Ecology -- Kenya
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:5712 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005398
- Description: Spiders were sampled at Mpala Research Centre, Laikipia, Kenya by pitfall-trapping and sweep-netting from May 2001 to July 2002, at a Kenyan Long-term Exclosure Experiment. The aim was to establish species composition, checklist and examine spider responses to disturbances caused by cattle, megaherbivores (giraffe and elephants) and mesoherbivores (other ungulates) by looking at three levels of resolution, namely the overall community, guilds and individual species. This is the first controlled replicated experimental study on the effects on invertebrates (spiders) by different land uses (access by large herbivores). A total of 10,487 individuals from 132 species belonging to 30 families were recorded. The family Salticidae had the highest number of species (24), followed by Gnaphosidae (20), Araneidae and Lycosidae (15 each), Theridiidae and Thomisidae (8 each) and Zodariidae (4). Most of the other families had fewer than 4 species. Throughout the study period, species not previously sampled emerged after rainfall peaks. Exclosure treatments affected plant cover, spider diversity and total species mainly through the effects of cattle, whose presence significantly reduced relative vegetation cover. An increase in vegetation cover significantly increased the diversity, total species and species evenness of the overall spider community (total samples data set). Megaherbivores and mesoherbivores had no effects on overall spider diversity. Relative vegetation cover explained approximately 20-30% of variation in community diversity, species richness and species evenness. At the guild level of resolution, the exclosure treatments had no significant effects on diversity, species richness and species evenness of web builders, plant wanderers and ground wanderers. Plant wanderers were significantly and positively correlated with relative vegetation cover, which explained 17% of variation in their diversity. Six individual species responded strongly and in contrasting ways to the same environmental variables, indicating that this level was more sensitive to environmental changes than guilds or the overall spider community. Spider diversity, relative vegetation cover and rainfall varied at a temporal scale of months and not at a spatial scale of hundreds of metres. Only species diversity and species richness from sweep-netting samples and total species from pitfall-trapping varied significantly at a spatial scale of hundreds of metres. Ordination analysis revealed that sweep-netting samples were a better indicator of grazing impacts than pitfalltrapping or combined samples and grouped to reflect cattle grazing, non-cattle grazing and to a small extent the control treatments. Other ordination analyses showed that only samples from sweep-netting and not from pitfall-trapping, were spatially partitioned at a scale of hundreds of metres. This study concludes that the spider fauna of black cotton soil habitats is rich and useful for environmental monitoring and that monitoring of several individual species as indicator of grazing impacts in savanna could be useful and relatively easy.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
An investigation of information security in small and medium enterprises (SME's) in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Upfold, Christopher Tennant
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Small business -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Computer security -- South Africa Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Management information systems -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Computer security -- Standards -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:727 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003847
- Description: Small and Medium Enterprises (SME’s) embrace a wide range of information systems and technology that range from basic bookkeeping and general purpose office packages, through to advanced E-Business Web portals and Electronic Data Interchange (EDI). A survey, based on SABS ISO/IEC 17799 was administered to a select number of SME’s in the services sector, in the Eastern Cape. The results of the survey revealed that the level of information security awareness amongst SME leadership is as diverse as the state of practice of their information systems and technology. Although a minority of SME’s do embrace security frameworks such as SABS ISO/IEC 17799 or the International equivalent, BS7799, most SME leaders have not heard of security standards, and see information security as a technical intervention designed to address virus threats and data backups. Furthermore, there are several “stripped-down” standards and guidelines for SME’s, based mostly on SABS ISO/IEC 17799, but designed as streamlined, more easily implemented options. Again, these “lighter” frameworks are scarcely used and largely unknown by SME’s. Far from blaming SME leadership for not understanding the critical issues surrounding information security, the research concludes that SME leadership need to engage, understand and implement formal information security processes, failing which their organisations may be severely impacted by inadvertent threats / deliberate attacks on their information systems which could ultimately lead to business failure.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
An investigation of information security in small and medium enterprises (SME's) in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Upfold, Christopher Tennant
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Small business -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Computer security -- South Africa Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Management information systems -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Computer security -- Standards -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:727 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003847
- Description: Small and Medium Enterprises (SME’s) embrace a wide range of information systems and technology that range from basic bookkeeping and general purpose office packages, through to advanced E-Business Web portals and Electronic Data Interchange (EDI). A survey, based on SABS ISO/IEC 17799 was administered to a select number of SME’s in the services sector, in the Eastern Cape. The results of the survey revealed that the level of information security awareness amongst SME leadership is as diverse as the state of practice of their information systems and technology. Although a minority of SME’s do embrace security frameworks such as SABS ISO/IEC 17799 or the International equivalent, BS7799, most SME leaders have not heard of security standards, and see information security as a technical intervention designed to address virus threats and data backups. Furthermore, there are several “stripped-down” standards and guidelines for SME’s, based mostly on SABS ISO/IEC 17799, but designed as streamlined, more easily implemented options. Again, these “lighter” frameworks are scarcely used and largely unknown by SME’s. Far from blaming SME leadership for not understanding the critical issues surrounding information security, the research concludes that SME leadership need to engage, understand and implement formal information security processes, failing which their organisations may be severely impacted by inadvertent threats / deliberate attacks on their information systems which could ultimately lead to business failure.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
An investigation of female leaders' perceptions of organisational culture and leadership in a Catholic High School
- Jean-Louis, Lily-Claire Virginie
- Authors: Jean-Louis, Lily-Claire Virginie
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Catholic schools -- South Africa -- Administration School management and organization -- South Africa Educational leadership -- South Africa Corporate culture -- South Africa Women school administrators -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1625 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003507
- Description: For the past thirty years, leadership theories have focused on the importance of the individual within the school organisation. The shared assumptions and beliefs of the individuals working in the same organisation shape the school’s organisational culture, and organisational culture is a salient factor which should be considered when understanding educational leadership. The focus of my study is to explore the relationship between organisational culture and leadership. In the same context, new approaches to the study of leadership have explored the issue of gender in leadership. Female leadership studies - the second focus of this study - seek not only to restore the place of the individual but also argue a place for women in educational leadership. Based in the interpretive paradigm, this is a case study of a Catholic all-girl secondary school called the Loreto Convent School of Pretoria. Historically, the Loreto schools have aimed at promoting and empowering girls’ education and female leadership. It was therefore an appropriate site in which to explore organisational culture and its relationship with leadership, particularly female leadership. I purposefully chose three of the school’s female leaders - the school’s principal, the High school Head of Department and the High school head girl - focusing on their perceptions and experiences of their leadership and the school’s culture. My research findings show that an understanding of the relationship between organisational culture and leadership cannot be complete without acknowledging the importance of the leader as an individual, with his/her personal background and values, taking into account gender as well as the multiple roles that the individual has in society. Furthermore, the ‘humane’ characteristic of educational leadership leads to an understanding that the leader is often confronted with conflicting situations where he/she is caught between personal/organisational values and the need to achieve the task. Finally, my findings show that contemporary leaders are now called upon to work and participate in the promotion of social justice in order to fight against society’s socio-economic inequality and improve the quality of education and life.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Jean-Louis, Lily-Claire Virginie
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Catholic schools -- South Africa -- Administration School management and organization -- South Africa Educational leadership -- South Africa Corporate culture -- South Africa Women school administrators -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1625 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003507
- Description: For the past thirty years, leadership theories have focused on the importance of the individual within the school organisation. The shared assumptions and beliefs of the individuals working in the same organisation shape the school’s organisational culture, and organisational culture is a salient factor which should be considered when understanding educational leadership. The focus of my study is to explore the relationship between organisational culture and leadership. In the same context, new approaches to the study of leadership have explored the issue of gender in leadership. Female leadership studies - the second focus of this study - seek not only to restore the place of the individual but also argue a place for women in educational leadership. Based in the interpretive paradigm, this is a case study of a Catholic all-girl secondary school called the Loreto Convent School of Pretoria. Historically, the Loreto schools have aimed at promoting and empowering girls’ education and female leadership. It was therefore an appropriate site in which to explore organisational culture and its relationship with leadership, particularly female leadership. I purposefully chose three of the school’s female leaders - the school’s principal, the High school Head of Department and the High school head girl - focusing on their perceptions and experiences of their leadership and the school’s culture. My research findings show that an understanding of the relationship between organisational culture and leadership cannot be complete without acknowledging the importance of the leader as an individual, with his/her personal background and values, taking into account gender as well as the multiple roles that the individual has in society. Furthermore, the ‘humane’ characteristic of educational leadership leads to an understanding that the leader is often confronted with conflicting situations where he/she is caught between personal/organisational values and the need to achieve the task. Finally, my findings show that contemporary leaders are now called upon to work and participate in the promotion of social justice in order to fight against society’s socio-economic inequality and improve the quality of education and life.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005