An investigation of the English language demands of mathematical texts on data handling used in intermediate phase mathematics
- Authors: Jones, Angela Peta
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Mathematics Study and teaching (Elementary) South Africa , Middle school education South Africa , Information storage and retrieval systems Mathematics , Language complexity , Textbooks Readability , Language arts Correlation with content subjects South Africa , Content area reading South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/405259 , vital:70155
- Description: In the Intermediate Phase the majority of South African learners are transitioning from learning in their mother tongue to learning in English as well as from learning to read to reading to learn, and this is a major challenge. Textbooks are a key mediating artefact in the learning of mathematics and they present a challenge to the learner in terms of the language comprehension demands The data handling sections of mathematics textbooks are particularly dense in text. This is an important part of the mathematics curriculum as it is the beginning of statistical literacy learning. We need to be able to question, evaluate claims based on data, create arguments we can defend and use data meaningfully, it is thus crucial that learners acquire statistical literacy. This research sets out to examine the text in the data handling sections of four Intermediate Phase Mathematics book series in order to answer the following research question: What are the language comprehension demands of English mathematical texts on data handling that are used in South African Intermediate Phase Mathematics? The theories framing the study are Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory and Cummins’ second language acquisition theory. It is an interpretivist mixed method case study that takes the form of a document analysis.. The findings indicate that many units in the books analysed have a higher readability level than the grade level and will thus present a challenge to learners in terms of their ability to access the mathematical content. An analysis of the linguistic complexity revealed that the features contributing most to the complexity of the texts included words with seven or more letters, prepositional phrases, infinitives, complex verbs and complex/compound sentences. An examination of the non-textual elements revealed that most of them are accurate, connected, concise, contextual and these add to the comprehensibility although there were a few which could be possibly be distractors. It is hoped that the empirical findings of this study, will sensitise educators and publishers involved with the design of textbooks and workbooks to the type of language currently found and that they might give attention to the needs of English language learners when developing these texts. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Education, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
- Authors: Jones, Angela Peta
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Mathematics Study and teaching (Elementary) South Africa , Middle school education South Africa , Information storage and retrieval systems Mathematics , Language complexity , Textbooks Readability , Language arts Correlation with content subjects South Africa , Content area reading South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/405259 , vital:70155
- Description: In the Intermediate Phase the majority of South African learners are transitioning from learning in their mother tongue to learning in English as well as from learning to read to reading to learn, and this is a major challenge. Textbooks are a key mediating artefact in the learning of mathematics and they present a challenge to the learner in terms of the language comprehension demands The data handling sections of mathematics textbooks are particularly dense in text. This is an important part of the mathematics curriculum as it is the beginning of statistical literacy learning. We need to be able to question, evaluate claims based on data, create arguments we can defend and use data meaningfully, it is thus crucial that learners acquire statistical literacy. This research sets out to examine the text in the data handling sections of four Intermediate Phase Mathematics book series in order to answer the following research question: What are the language comprehension demands of English mathematical texts on data handling that are used in South African Intermediate Phase Mathematics? The theories framing the study are Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory and Cummins’ second language acquisition theory. It is an interpretivist mixed method case study that takes the form of a document analysis.. The findings indicate that many units in the books analysed have a higher readability level than the grade level and will thus present a challenge to learners in terms of their ability to access the mathematical content. An analysis of the linguistic complexity revealed that the features contributing most to the complexity of the texts included words with seven or more letters, prepositional phrases, infinitives, complex verbs and complex/compound sentences. An examination of the non-textual elements revealed that most of them are accurate, connected, concise, contextual and these add to the comprehensibility although there were a few which could be possibly be distractors. It is hoped that the empirical findings of this study, will sensitise educators and publishers involved with the design of textbooks and workbooks to the type of language currently found and that they might give attention to the needs of English language learners when developing these texts. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Education, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
Analysing equity and ethical dimensions of water governance challenges in the lower section of the upper Vaal River catchment, Gauteng, South Africa
- Authors: Tavengwa, Noleen Shamiso
- Date: 2023-10-13
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/424199 , vital:72132
- Description: Poor water governance practices have been identified as one of the root causes of water problems confronting the South African water sector. This is evident in the lower section of the Upper Vaal River Catchment, where ineffective implementation of the regulatory measures has resulted in multiple incidents of illegal discharge of effluent from municipal wastewater treatment works, industrial and mining activities. Pollution and deterioration of water quality is a major challenge in the catchment; the Vaal River is severely polluted beyond acceptable standards and impacts negatively on other water users who have legitimate rights to the water resources. Pollution not only affects human activities and use, but also has negative impacts on ecological health and functionality. Poor water governance practices raise ethical implications for the rights to water for both social and ecological components. Although many water governance challenges in South Africa have implications that border on values and ethics, the relationship between these concepts has hardly been explored. In order to contribute towards filling this gap, this study explores water governance challenges and their ethical implications, and then analyse the equity dimensions of key water challenges among institutional actors in the lower section of the Upper Vaal WMA, Gauteng. The study uses a qualitative research approach which involves several methods of data collection: document analysis, workshops, focus group discussions, key informant interviews and participant observation. The data collected were analysed using thematic analysis, and then applied an ethical framework to distil ethical implications of the identified water governance challenges. There are five water governance challenges that were identified, which are i) failure in the implementation of water legislation and regulations, ii) ineffective leadership and management, iii) cooperative governance and poor accountability, iv) decentralisation and ineffective participation, and v) finance, infrastructure, and technical capacity. The deterioration of water quality and pollution due to ineffective implementation of the regulatory system has ethical implications towards protection of the ecological system and sustainable management of the water resources for the present and future generation. Ineffective implementation of the regulatory measure also raises the issue of distributive equity between different water users and between current and future users. These implications are critical particularly when viewed from the perspective of systemic-relational ethical approach which posit that in social-ecological systems, all components ought to be treated with equal regards, and their inherent worth respected in order to maintain the unity of the SES. The idea of equal regards to the inherent worth of the component implies due respect, in ways that do not undermine the integrity of the entire system. The challenges identified in the system suggest that i) the right of the ecological system to water is undermined due to anthropogenic activities, which may in the long term undermine the functionality of the entire SES; ii) the right of the margined to access to water of the right quality is also undermined, and pollution costs is externalised. These are matters of ethics that thus deserved attention in policy and management considerations. The study analysed equity dimensions (distributive and procedural), targeting the key institutional water users (i.e., mines, industries, agriculture, municipalities, and the wastewater treatment works) in the lower section of the Upper Vaal River Catchment as equity candidates due to their activities that significantly impact the environment and the water resources. The cost of pollution caused by mining activities, industrial activities and the wastewater treatment works is externalised to other users who are not responsible for the pollution. In this regard study identified key drivers that raise concerns linked to distributive equity, which are ) pollution and water quality deterioration, ii) the legacies of mining activities, and iii) poor infrastructure maintenance, vandalism, and theft. Identifying these key drivers of distributive equity concerns is critical in ensuring that the water governance processes are designed in a way that stakeholders and actors reliant on water resources within the catchment have equitable and fair access without the effects of externalised costs from other actors. The identified water governance challenges in the catchment all borders on ethics, thus an ethical framework is crucial in tackling water related problems. The principles of ethics can be used as guidelines to decision-making process for the management and governance of water resources in South Africa. Therefore, implementing and incorporating principles of the systemic-relational ethics into policy making and water resources management will yield sustainable, efficient, and equitable use and management of water resources. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Institute for Water Research, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-10-13
- Authors: Tavengwa, Noleen Shamiso
- Date: 2023-10-13
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/424199 , vital:72132
- Description: Poor water governance practices have been identified as one of the root causes of water problems confronting the South African water sector. This is evident in the lower section of the Upper Vaal River Catchment, where ineffective implementation of the regulatory measures has resulted in multiple incidents of illegal discharge of effluent from municipal wastewater treatment works, industrial and mining activities. Pollution and deterioration of water quality is a major challenge in the catchment; the Vaal River is severely polluted beyond acceptable standards and impacts negatively on other water users who have legitimate rights to the water resources. Pollution not only affects human activities and use, but also has negative impacts on ecological health and functionality. Poor water governance practices raise ethical implications for the rights to water for both social and ecological components. Although many water governance challenges in South Africa have implications that border on values and ethics, the relationship between these concepts has hardly been explored. In order to contribute towards filling this gap, this study explores water governance challenges and their ethical implications, and then analyse the equity dimensions of key water challenges among institutional actors in the lower section of the Upper Vaal WMA, Gauteng. The study uses a qualitative research approach which involves several methods of data collection: document analysis, workshops, focus group discussions, key informant interviews and participant observation. The data collected were analysed using thematic analysis, and then applied an ethical framework to distil ethical implications of the identified water governance challenges. There are five water governance challenges that were identified, which are i) failure in the implementation of water legislation and regulations, ii) ineffective leadership and management, iii) cooperative governance and poor accountability, iv) decentralisation and ineffective participation, and v) finance, infrastructure, and technical capacity. The deterioration of water quality and pollution due to ineffective implementation of the regulatory system has ethical implications towards protection of the ecological system and sustainable management of the water resources for the present and future generation. Ineffective implementation of the regulatory measure also raises the issue of distributive equity between different water users and between current and future users. These implications are critical particularly when viewed from the perspective of systemic-relational ethical approach which posit that in social-ecological systems, all components ought to be treated with equal regards, and their inherent worth respected in order to maintain the unity of the SES. The idea of equal regards to the inherent worth of the component implies due respect, in ways that do not undermine the integrity of the entire system. The challenges identified in the system suggest that i) the right of the ecological system to water is undermined due to anthropogenic activities, which may in the long term undermine the functionality of the entire SES; ii) the right of the margined to access to water of the right quality is also undermined, and pollution costs is externalised. These are matters of ethics that thus deserved attention in policy and management considerations. The study analysed equity dimensions (distributive and procedural), targeting the key institutional water users (i.e., mines, industries, agriculture, municipalities, and the wastewater treatment works) in the lower section of the Upper Vaal River Catchment as equity candidates due to their activities that significantly impact the environment and the water resources. The cost of pollution caused by mining activities, industrial activities and the wastewater treatment works is externalised to other users who are not responsible for the pollution. In this regard study identified key drivers that raise concerns linked to distributive equity, which are ) pollution and water quality deterioration, ii) the legacies of mining activities, and iii) poor infrastructure maintenance, vandalism, and theft. Identifying these key drivers of distributive equity concerns is critical in ensuring that the water governance processes are designed in a way that stakeholders and actors reliant on water resources within the catchment have equitable and fair access without the effects of externalised costs from other actors. The identified water governance challenges in the catchment all borders on ethics, thus an ethical framework is crucial in tackling water related problems. The principles of ethics can be used as guidelines to decision-making process for the management and governance of water resources in South Africa. Therefore, implementing and incorporating principles of the systemic-relational ethics into policy making and water resources management will yield sustainable, efficient, and equitable use and management of water resources. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Institute for Water Research, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-10-13
Analysis of corporate failures: a case study of two South African banks
- Mqomboti, Xitshembiso Pronacia
- Authors: Mqomboti, Xitshembiso Pronacia
- Date: 2023-02
- Subjects: Business failures South Africa , Corporate governance South Africa , Risk management , Operational risk , Business ethics , Bank management South Africa , Banks and banking South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/419151 , vital:71620
- Description: This study analysed the factors that contributed to the failure of Venda Building Society Mutual Bank (VBS) and African Bank Limited and the impact it had on their key stakeholders. The specific objectives of this study were to evaluate African Bank and VBS bank's operational risk management processes and controls, the role of ethical failures at VBS bank and African Bank; and assess how the failures affected their stakeholders. The population sample of the study included African Bank and VBS. The study adopted a qualitative research method. Existing reports from both African Bank and VBS were used to collect data. The study adopted a thematic data analysis method, which includes data coding and the development of themes. The data analysis framework was derived from a defined set of research propositions and seven (7) themes were derived from this analysis method. The failure in operational controls of both banks and ineffective risk management structures including unethical conduct by the executive management and board of VBS bank, irregular financial transactions and weakened external auditing function resulted in an unaccountable executive relationship and reckless lending decision-making. This research study will expand on the existing body of knowledge on the failures and near-failures of banks in the South African banking sector. The South African banking industry and its regulatory bodies will be better equipped to strengthen their corporate governance in risk controls to mitigate future collapses and near collapses of banks. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Commerce, Rhodes Business School, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-02
- Authors: Mqomboti, Xitshembiso Pronacia
- Date: 2023-02
- Subjects: Business failures South Africa , Corporate governance South Africa , Risk management , Operational risk , Business ethics , Bank management South Africa , Banks and banking South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/419151 , vital:71620
- Description: This study analysed the factors that contributed to the failure of Venda Building Society Mutual Bank (VBS) and African Bank Limited and the impact it had on their key stakeholders. The specific objectives of this study were to evaluate African Bank and VBS bank's operational risk management processes and controls, the role of ethical failures at VBS bank and African Bank; and assess how the failures affected their stakeholders. The population sample of the study included African Bank and VBS. The study adopted a qualitative research method. Existing reports from both African Bank and VBS were used to collect data. The study adopted a thematic data analysis method, which includes data coding and the development of themes. The data analysis framework was derived from a defined set of research propositions and seven (7) themes were derived from this analysis method. The failure in operational controls of both banks and ineffective risk management structures including unethical conduct by the executive management and board of VBS bank, irregular financial transactions and weakened external auditing function resulted in an unaccountable executive relationship and reckless lending decision-making. This research study will expand on the existing body of knowledge on the failures and near-failures of banks in the South African banking sector. The South African banking industry and its regulatory bodies will be better equipped to strengthen their corporate governance in risk controls to mitigate future collapses and near collapses of banks. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Commerce, Rhodes Business School, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-02
Antimalarial activity of quinoline thiosemicarbazones: synthesis and antiplasmodial evaluation
- Nqeno, Lukhanyiso Khanyisile
- Authors: Nqeno, Lukhanyiso Khanyisile
- Date: 2022-04-06
- Subjects: Antimalarials , Quinoline , Thiosemicarbazones , Malaria Chemotherapy , Plasmodium falciparum , Malaria Africa, Sub-Saharan , Iron chelates Therapeutic use
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/291292 , vital:56841
- Description: Africa is one of the regions that is most affected by malaria, as 90% of all malaria deaths occur in sub-saharan Africa. Malaria is a life threatening disease responsible for an estimated 800000 deaths each year, the majority of these deaths occurred in children under the age of five. The disease is a mosquito-borne, and it is transmitted to humans by the female Anopheles mosquito. The parasite responsible for this disease belong to the Plasmodium genus with Plasmodium falciparum causing the most severe cases of the disease in humans. The most widely available anti-malarials were designed to specifically target the pathogenic blood stage in humans, however, in order to completely eradicate malaria there is a need for the development of medicines that not only target the pathogenic blood stage of the parasite but also block parasite transmission and eliminate asymptomatic and cryptic hepatic forms of the parasite. Iron chelators have recently gained importance as potent antimalarials, to cause infection nearly all protozoa obtain growth essential iron from their hosts. Iron is required for the development of the parasite. Deprivation of utilizable iron by chelation is a proficient approach to arrest parasite growth and associated infection. Thiosemicarbazones are known iron chelating agents by bonding through the sulfur and azomethine nitrogen atoms. This study is aimed at the identification of thiosemicarbazone based derivatives as possible antimalarial agents. Due to their iron chelation abilities there has been increasing interest in the investigation of thiosemicarbazones as possible antimalarials. During the course of this project, several thiosemicarbazone derivatives were synthesized and their structure confirmed using routine analytical techniques (NMR, FTIR, and HRMS). The synthesized compounds were evaluated in vitro against the chloroquine sensitive strain (3D7) of P. falciparum for antimarial activity. The compounds were also evaluated agsinst Hela cells for overt cytotoxicity. The compounds generally showed poor antimalarial activity. One compound (LKN11) was identified to possess intrinsic and moderate antimalarial activity of 6.6 μM. The compounds were generally not cytotoxic against Hela cell at concentrations of up to 20 μM, with only compound LKN10 showing modest cytotoxic activity of 9.5 μM. This research went on to identify two thiosemicarbazone based derivatives which had a significant effect on HeLa and pLDH cells. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Chemistry, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04-06
- Authors: Nqeno, Lukhanyiso Khanyisile
- Date: 2022-04-06
- Subjects: Antimalarials , Quinoline , Thiosemicarbazones , Malaria Chemotherapy , Plasmodium falciparum , Malaria Africa, Sub-Saharan , Iron chelates Therapeutic use
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/291292 , vital:56841
- Description: Africa is one of the regions that is most affected by malaria, as 90% of all malaria deaths occur in sub-saharan Africa. Malaria is a life threatening disease responsible for an estimated 800000 deaths each year, the majority of these deaths occurred in children under the age of five. The disease is a mosquito-borne, and it is transmitted to humans by the female Anopheles mosquito. The parasite responsible for this disease belong to the Plasmodium genus with Plasmodium falciparum causing the most severe cases of the disease in humans. The most widely available anti-malarials were designed to specifically target the pathogenic blood stage in humans, however, in order to completely eradicate malaria there is a need for the development of medicines that not only target the pathogenic blood stage of the parasite but also block parasite transmission and eliminate asymptomatic and cryptic hepatic forms of the parasite. Iron chelators have recently gained importance as potent antimalarials, to cause infection nearly all protozoa obtain growth essential iron from their hosts. Iron is required for the development of the parasite. Deprivation of utilizable iron by chelation is a proficient approach to arrest parasite growth and associated infection. Thiosemicarbazones are known iron chelating agents by bonding through the sulfur and azomethine nitrogen atoms. This study is aimed at the identification of thiosemicarbazone based derivatives as possible antimalarial agents. Due to their iron chelation abilities there has been increasing interest in the investigation of thiosemicarbazones as possible antimalarials. During the course of this project, several thiosemicarbazone derivatives were synthesized and their structure confirmed using routine analytical techniques (NMR, FTIR, and HRMS). The synthesized compounds were evaluated in vitro against the chloroquine sensitive strain (3D7) of P. falciparum for antimarial activity. The compounds were also evaluated agsinst Hela cells for overt cytotoxicity. The compounds generally showed poor antimalarial activity. One compound (LKN11) was identified to possess intrinsic and moderate antimalarial activity of 6.6 μM. The compounds were generally not cytotoxic against Hela cell at concentrations of up to 20 μM, with only compound LKN10 showing modest cytotoxic activity of 9.5 μM. This research went on to identify two thiosemicarbazone based derivatives which had a significant effect on HeLa and pLDH cells. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Chemistry, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04-06
Application of in vitro release testing (IVRT) to assess “sameness”/differences of topical clotrimazole formulations
- Wellington, Hannah Margaret Mary
- Authors: Wellington, Hannah Margaret Mary
- Date: 2023-10-13
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/419599 , vital:71658
- Description: Embargoed. Possible release date early 2025 pending publications. , Thesis (MSC Pharm) -- Faculty of Pharmacy, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-10-13
- Authors: Wellington, Hannah Margaret Mary
- Date: 2023-10-13
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/419599 , vital:71658
- Description: Embargoed. Possible release date early 2025 pending publications. , Thesis (MSC Pharm) -- Faculty of Pharmacy, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-10-13
Application of systems theory for analysing the sustainability foci and practices of the Faculty of Economics and Information Technology Systems: (A Case Study of Walter Sisulu University: Komani campus)
- Authors: Klishi, Konwaba Bomikazi
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Sustainable development Study and teaching (Higher) South Africa Mthatha , System theory , Curriculum evaluation South Africa Mthatha , Community engagement , Walter Sisulu University for Technology and Science
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/405281 , vital:70157
- Description: Sustainable development is a global concern that intertwines several factors, including poverty, biodiversity, inequality, water, and energy. This interconnection does not only affect the current generation but may have long term implications for future generations as we see the rapid spread of environmental risk in our local communities. In this study, systems theory was adapted for analysing the sustainability focus of the Faculty of Economics and Information Technology Systems (FEITS) at Walter Sisulu University. A qualitative research method was used during this research, and data collected from a purposive sample of staff, activities and documentation. In this study, Von Bertalanffy’s systems theory is applied to analyse the sustainability foci and practices of the FEITS. The study describes sustainability practices and concerns that emerge from research activities, community engagement activities and work-integrated learning. The theory is also used to analyse the connection between various subsystems of the faculty when addressing emerging local sustainability concerns. Education for sustainable development is an important aspect of this study as it considers the sustainability concerns in the curriculum from the perspective of current and future alternatives for the economy and socio-ecological aspects of communities. The following findings have emerged from the study: Contextual realities related to inequality were foci of discussion and concern in various qualifications. Socioecological issues and risks were found to be related to water and sanitation, food security and climate change. Sustainability discourse is related to health and wellbeing, peace, and security. There is an alignment of green skills to the curriculum of the faculty and pedagogical practices which relate to sustainability. The faculty participates in stakeholder platforms to respond local sustainability challenges and is developing courses in response to local development needs. This study has implications for the faculty’s curriculum in terms of the content of various qualifications, future research, and community engagement activities of the university. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Education, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
- Authors: Klishi, Konwaba Bomikazi
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Sustainable development Study and teaching (Higher) South Africa Mthatha , System theory , Curriculum evaluation South Africa Mthatha , Community engagement , Walter Sisulu University for Technology and Science
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/405281 , vital:70157
- Description: Sustainable development is a global concern that intertwines several factors, including poverty, biodiversity, inequality, water, and energy. This interconnection does not only affect the current generation but may have long term implications for future generations as we see the rapid spread of environmental risk in our local communities. In this study, systems theory was adapted for analysing the sustainability focus of the Faculty of Economics and Information Technology Systems (FEITS) at Walter Sisulu University. A qualitative research method was used during this research, and data collected from a purposive sample of staff, activities and documentation. In this study, Von Bertalanffy’s systems theory is applied to analyse the sustainability foci and practices of the FEITS. The study describes sustainability practices and concerns that emerge from research activities, community engagement activities and work-integrated learning. The theory is also used to analyse the connection between various subsystems of the faculty when addressing emerging local sustainability concerns. Education for sustainable development is an important aspect of this study as it considers the sustainability concerns in the curriculum from the perspective of current and future alternatives for the economy and socio-ecological aspects of communities. The following findings have emerged from the study: Contextual realities related to inequality were foci of discussion and concern in various qualifications. Socioecological issues and risks were found to be related to water and sanitation, food security and climate change. Sustainability discourse is related to health and wellbeing, peace, and security. There is an alignment of green skills to the curriculum of the faculty and pedagogical practices which relate to sustainability. The faculty participates in stakeholder platforms to respond local sustainability challenges and is developing courses in response to local development needs. This study has implications for the faculty’s curriculum in terms of the content of various qualifications, future research, and community engagement activities of the university. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Education, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
Application of web design techniques and best practices in implementing web development, maintenance and enhancement of RUBi websites and web application systems
- Authors: Tshabalalala, Thulani
- Date: 2023-10-13
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/424688 , vital:72175
- Description: The popularity of the web has seen various fields, such as the sciences taking advantage of this resource to further their scientific endeavours. This has seen science groups moving into developing websites and web applications, and such a group is the Research Unit in Bioinformative (RUBi). With the use of the web, the development and maintenance of whatever web-related tools become inevitable, given the continuous changes in the web space. This continuous evolution of web development and maintenance will come with techniques, principles and standards which will not only enable faster development of web entities but also ensure that modern hardware, fulfilment of the requirements to use such hardware and modern concepts are incorporated into forming web tools that enable such progression. Furthermore, introducing the previously mentioned progress of the web becomes an essential part of its development and maintenance. This paper did implement the processes of progressing the web using the technique of documentation and version control systems. The web development for the COVIDRUG website was done for the Covidrug-Africa Consortium (COVIDRUG) using the Django webdevelopment framework. The RUBi website and the MDM-Task we band the Job Management System (JMS) web applications were maintained for the maintenance aspect. Archives brought value regarding the traceability it provides of the various web-related aspects. The development showed a website’s potential value, particularly for research groups. The maintenance carried out showed how different techniques and approaches could be used in different maintenance prospects to achieve set objectives. The development and maintenance resulted in websites and web applications that have the features stated in their respective maintenance plans. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Biochemistry and Microbiology, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-10-13
- Authors: Tshabalalala, Thulani
- Date: 2023-10-13
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/424688 , vital:72175
- Description: The popularity of the web has seen various fields, such as the sciences taking advantage of this resource to further their scientific endeavours. This has seen science groups moving into developing websites and web applications, and such a group is the Research Unit in Bioinformative (RUBi). With the use of the web, the development and maintenance of whatever web-related tools become inevitable, given the continuous changes in the web space. This continuous evolution of web development and maintenance will come with techniques, principles and standards which will not only enable faster development of web entities but also ensure that modern hardware, fulfilment of the requirements to use such hardware and modern concepts are incorporated into forming web tools that enable such progression. Furthermore, introducing the previously mentioned progress of the web becomes an essential part of its development and maintenance. This paper did implement the processes of progressing the web using the technique of documentation and version control systems. The web development for the COVIDRUG website was done for the Covidrug-Africa Consortium (COVIDRUG) using the Django webdevelopment framework. The RUBi website and the MDM-Task we band the Job Management System (JMS) web applications were maintained for the maintenance aspect. Archives brought value regarding the traceability it provides of the various web-related aspects. The development showed a website’s potential value, particularly for research groups. The maintenance carried out showed how different techniques and approaches could be used in different maintenance prospects to achieve set objectives. The development and maintenance resulted in websites and web applications that have the features stated in their respective maintenance plans. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Biochemistry and Microbiology, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-10-13
Applying human factors and ergonomics system analysis methods to the V5-NRS Cessna 441 Conquest II aviation accident
- Authors: Fischer, Jordan Daena
- Date: 2023-10-13
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/424245 , vital:72136
- Description: Intro: Accidents are complex in nature with multiple contributing factors. The way in which accidents are investigated is important and using system-based analysis tools assists in understanding and mapping these contributing factors to learn from them. There has been an increase in the number of accidents that have occurred within the general aviation industry in South Africa and while accident investigations have been undertaken, these have not included the application of system-based analysis tools. This led to a collaboration between Rhodes University and the Accident and Incident Investigations Division (AIID) of the South African Civil Aviation Authority where it was agreed that two systems-based analysis tools will be applied to a previously investigated accident that occurred in 2015. Aims: The first aim of this thesis was to identify if, through the implementation of these systems-based tools, the systemic contributory factors could be determined using the existing report by the AIID. The second aim of this thesis was to identify if, using the two systems-based tools, the actors and levels involved in the accident could be identified and the third aim was to identify if the implementation of these tools generates the same or different recommendations to that of the AIID. Methods: The two systems-based analysis tools applied were AcciMap and Causal Analysis using Systems Theory (CAST). These tools were applied to the V5-NRS Cessna 441 Conquest II accident report which captured the details of how the aircraft flew into the Tygerberg mountain on its descent into the Cape Town International Airport in August 2015. Results: Through the application of these two systems-based analysis tools the major contributing factors elucidated throughout this analysis were: visual and lighting conditions, pilot experience, training, lack of terrain warning equipment, fatigue, inadequate oversight, and inadequate risk management. In line with these findings, the analysis revealed various actors across various levels (the crew; South African Air Traffic Control, the SACAA, WestAir (the operator) and the Namibian Civil Aviation Authority Through the elucidation of these factors at various levels, 14 to 15 different recommendations were generated which was more than the one recommendation that was generated by the AIID. Discussion: Even when applied to an existing report, both the CAST and Accimap tools were able to bring to light the systemic contributing factors to this accident and importantly, highlight the role that various actors and levels within the system had in this unfortunate event. Consistent with previous literature, most of the contributing factors were found at the lowest level (the crew in this case) and fewer, but key factors were identified at higher levels (management and regulator level). Importantly, the application of the systems tools facilitated a systematic and systemic analysis of this accident, which allowed for the generation of recommendations at all levels, not just at the operator level. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the benefits and importance behind implementing a systems-based analysis method to an accident as these tools generate more useful recommendations which allows for important lessons to be learned following accidents, with the intention of re-designing systems to prevent them from happening again. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Human Kinetics and Ergonomics, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-10-13
- Authors: Fischer, Jordan Daena
- Date: 2023-10-13
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/424245 , vital:72136
- Description: Intro: Accidents are complex in nature with multiple contributing factors. The way in which accidents are investigated is important and using system-based analysis tools assists in understanding and mapping these contributing factors to learn from them. There has been an increase in the number of accidents that have occurred within the general aviation industry in South Africa and while accident investigations have been undertaken, these have not included the application of system-based analysis tools. This led to a collaboration between Rhodes University and the Accident and Incident Investigations Division (AIID) of the South African Civil Aviation Authority where it was agreed that two systems-based analysis tools will be applied to a previously investigated accident that occurred in 2015. Aims: The first aim of this thesis was to identify if, through the implementation of these systems-based tools, the systemic contributory factors could be determined using the existing report by the AIID. The second aim of this thesis was to identify if, using the two systems-based tools, the actors and levels involved in the accident could be identified and the third aim was to identify if the implementation of these tools generates the same or different recommendations to that of the AIID. Methods: The two systems-based analysis tools applied were AcciMap and Causal Analysis using Systems Theory (CAST). These tools were applied to the V5-NRS Cessna 441 Conquest II accident report which captured the details of how the aircraft flew into the Tygerberg mountain on its descent into the Cape Town International Airport in August 2015. Results: Through the application of these two systems-based analysis tools the major contributing factors elucidated throughout this analysis were: visual and lighting conditions, pilot experience, training, lack of terrain warning equipment, fatigue, inadequate oversight, and inadequate risk management. In line with these findings, the analysis revealed various actors across various levels (the crew; South African Air Traffic Control, the SACAA, WestAir (the operator) and the Namibian Civil Aviation Authority Through the elucidation of these factors at various levels, 14 to 15 different recommendations were generated which was more than the one recommendation that was generated by the AIID. Discussion: Even when applied to an existing report, both the CAST and Accimap tools were able to bring to light the systemic contributing factors to this accident and importantly, highlight the role that various actors and levels within the system had in this unfortunate event. Consistent with previous literature, most of the contributing factors were found at the lowest level (the crew in this case) and fewer, but key factors were identified at higher levels (management and regulator level). Importantly, the application of the systems tools facilitated a systematic and systemic analysis of this accident, which allowed for the generation of recommendations at all levels, not just at the operator level. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the benefits and importance behind implementing a systems-based analysis method to an accident as these tools generate more useful recommendations which allows for important lessons to be learned following accidents, with the intention of re-designing systems to prevent them from happening again. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Human Kinetics and Ergonomics, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-10-13
Archontic Aporias: the mediums of memory
- Authors: Arbuckle, Julia Ruth
- Date: 2023-03-30
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/408727 , vital:70520
- Description: Contextualising my research within the Eastern Cape as a descendant of 1820 settlers, I question the modalities of historical recollection by introducing memory as a viable mode of archival production alongside that of the archive. Through interrogating Eastern Cape archival institutes and employing an autoethnographic approach to my familial archives, I show that archival curation affects the gaps, schisms, and interpretations of archives as much as the ‘unreliability’ of memory. I rely on definitions from Jacques Derrida and literature from Achille Mbembe and Verne Harris, as well as reflexive methodologies, to engage the ways of remembering the past and methods of storytelling. With this undertaking, I expose the aporias within archival processes. This written component is part of broader research that encompasses theoretical study and a practice-based Fine Arts research project culminating in an exhibition that shares themes of memory, archive, trauma, and curatorial and personal heritage management. This research engages in case studies of artworks by Angela Deane and Maureen de Jager to contextualise and position the creative process. , Thesis (MFA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Fine Art, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-03-30
- Authors: Arbuckle, Julia Ruth
- Date: 2023-03-30
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/408727 , vital:70520
- Description: Contextualising my research within the Eastern Cape as a descendant of 1820 settlers, I question the modalities of historical recollection by introducing memory as a viable mode of archival production alongside that of the archive. Through interrogating Eastern Cape archival institutes and employing an autoethnographic approach to my familial archives, I show that archival curation affects the gaps, schisms, and interpretations of archives as much as the ‘unreliability’ of memory. I rely on definitions from Jacques Derrida and literature from Achille Mbembe and Verne Harris, as well as reflexive methodologies, to engage the ways of remembering the past and methods of storytelling. With this undertaking, I expose the aporias within archival processes. This written component is part of broader research that encompasses theoretical study and a practice-based Fine Arts research project culminating in an exhibition that shares themes of memory, archive, trauma, and curatorial and personal heritage management. This research engages in case studies of artworks by Angela Deane and Maureen de Jager to contextualise and position the creative process. , Thesis (MFA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Fine Art, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-03-30
Assessing rural senior primary school natural science teachers’ TPACK: a case study
- Authors: Silvanus, Secilia Tulikefo
- Date: 2024-04
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/423902 , vital:72103
- Description: In today's world, technology has changed how people live and behave. The influence of technology contemplates a similar change in the education processes of teaching and learning. Many governments worldwide invest hugely in providing technological tools and facilities and training teachers to improve teaching and learning. The availability and access to technologies in schools seem to offer teachers opportunities to develop technological knowledge and integrate technology into teaching. Literature indicates that teachers must possess technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK) to integrate technology into teaching and learning processes effectively. However, other scholars have also suggested that teachers' TPACK develops and is shaped by many contexts. This study, therefore, sought to assess the rural senior primary Natural science teachers' TPACK. This qualitative case study was conducted with senior primary Natural science teachers in the educational circuit of Endola. An interpretive paradigm underpinned the study. The study employed semi-structured questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, focus group interviews, and observation to collect the data. The study used the TPACK as a theoretical and analytical framework. The study results showed that participants had a firmer grasp of subject content (CK) and traditional teaching methods (Pedagogical Knowledge - PK and Pedagogical Content Knowledge - PCK) compared to technological knowledge (TK) and technology-based pedagogies (Technological Pedagogical Knowledge - TPK, Technological Content Knowledge - TCK, and Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPCK). Findings support that the participants draw upon sources of Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) closely aligned with Content Knowledge (CK), Technological Content Knowledge (TCK), and Technological Pedagogical Knowledge (TPK) to integrate technology. The study included inadequate professional development, teachers' attitudes, insufficient hardware and internet connectivity, limited technological knowledge, time constraints, and restricted access to technology tools and resources as obstacles for teachers attempting to incorporate technology into their classrooms effectively. Furthermore, the data highlights ICT training and teachers' interest as enablers that motivated participants to integrate technology into their teaching practices. Therefore, the study recommends professional development programs focusing on providing science teachers with practical skills to utilise different technologies and address common technical issues. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Secondary and Post-School Education, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-04
- Authors: Silvanus, Secilia Tulikefo
- Date: 2024-04
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/423902 , vital:72103
- Description: In today's world, technology has changed how people live and behave. The influence of technology contemplates a similar change in the education processes of teaching and learning. Many governments worldwide invest hugely in providing technological tools and facilities and training teachers to improve teaching and learning. The availability and access to technologies in schools seem to offer teachers opportunities to develop technological knowledge and integrate technology into teaching. Literature indicates that teachers must possess technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK) to integrate technology into teaching and learning processes effectively. However, other scholars have also suggested that teachers' TPACK develops and is shaped by many contexts. This study, therefore, sought to assess the rural senior primary Natural science teachers' TPACK. This qualitative case study was conducted with senior primary Natural science teachers in the educational circuit of Endola. An interpretive paradigm underpinned the study. The study employed semi-structured questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, focus group interviews, and observation to collect the data. The study used the TPACK as a theoretical and analytical framework. The study results showed that participants had a firmer grasp of subject content (CK) and traditional teaching methods (Pedagogical Knowledge - PK and Pedagogical Content Knowledge - PCK) compared to technological knowledge (TK) and technology-based pedagogies (Technological Pedagogical Knowledge - TPK, Technological Content Knowledge - TCK, and Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPCK). Findings support that the participants draw upon sources of Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) closely aligned with Content Knowledge (CK), Technological Content Knowledge (TCK), and Technological Pedagogical Knowledge (TPK) to integrate technology. The study included inadequate professional development, teachers' attitudes, insufficient hardware and internet connectivity, limited technological knowledge, time constraints, and restricted access to technology tools and resources as obstacles for teachers attempting to incorporate technology into their classrooms effectively. Furthermore, the data highlights ICT training and teachers' interest as enablers that motivated participants to integrate technology into their teaching practices. Therefore, the study recommends professional development programs focusing on providing science teachers with practical skills to utilise different technologies and address common technical issues. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Secondary and Post-School Education, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-04
Assessing the density and distribution of spotted hyaenas (Crocuta crocuta) in Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Authors: Roberts, Peter Jean
- Date: 2022-04-06
- Subjects: Spotted hyena Home range South Africa Hluhluwe Game Reserve , Spotted hyena Habitat South Africa Hluhluwe Game Reserve , Animal population density South Africa Hluhluwe Game Reserve , Scouting cameras , Home range (Animal geography) , Spatially-explicit mark recapture (SECR)
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/292681 , vital:57006
- Description: Protected areas are becoming increasingly isolated refugia for large carnivores and are critical for their survival. Spotted hyaenas (Crocuta crocuta) have, for centuries, been ‘managed’ as problem causing animals and their conservation has been largely overlooked. To preserve a population, it is paramount to understand its distribution and abundance through reliable and cost-effective monitoring techniques. My study estimated the density of spotted hyaenas and their use of space in Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park (HiP), South Africa. I compared camera trap by-catch data and call-up surveys between 2013–2018 to assess spotted hyaena densities. The camera trap data estimated an average of 16.72 (SD: ±2.22) hyaenas per 100 km2 between 2013–2018, with an annual estimated high of 19.01 in 2018 and a low of 12.77 in 2015. The call-up surveys consistently produced lower estimates than those obtained from the camera trap data. These results highlight the importance of calibrating the response probability factor for call-up surveys to maintain precision. The space use of spotted hyaenas was analysed using the photo-capture data obtained during the same six-year period, to produce individual 100% Minimum Convex Polygon’s (MCPs). Seven clan territories were identified from individual female home ranges that overlapped by more than 66% of their MCPs. Territory sizes were similar to historical estimates for the park, with averages of 13.96 (SD: ±6.48) km2 in Hluhluwe and 34.61 (SD: ±23.87) km2 in iMfolozi. My study successfully used by-catch camera data to calculate annual density estimates and investigate the spatial use patterns for spotted hyaenas in HiP. I demonstrate that this approach is cost-effective and reliable for calculating density estimates. Conservation practitioners should take heed of the advancements in technology and analytical capacity now available to them to improve monitoring efforts. My study specifically calls for collaborative efforts to use existing camera trap data to improve regional estimates and population trends of spotted hyaenas across their range. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Zoology and Entomology, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04-06
- Authors: Roberts, Peter Jean
- Date: 2022-04-06
- Subjects: Spotted hyena Home range South Africa Hluhluwe Game Reserve , Spotted hyena Habitat South Africa Hluhluwe Game Reserve , Animal population density South Africa Hluhluwe Game Reserve , Scouting cameras , Home range (Animal geography) , Spatially-explicit mark recapture (SECR)
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/292681 , vital:57006
- Description: Protected areas are becoming increasingly isolated refugia for large carnivores and are critical for their survival. Spotted hyaenas (Crocuta crocuta) have, for centuries, been ‘managed’ as problem causing animals and their conservation has been largely overlooked. To preserve a population, it is paramount to understand its distribution and abundance through reliable and cost-effective monitoring techniques. My study estimated the density of spotted hyaenas and their use of space in Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park (HiP), South Africa. I compared camera trap by-catch data and call-up surveys between 2013–2018 to assess spotted hyaena densities. The camera trap data estimated an average of 16.72 (SD: ±2.22) hyaenas per 100 km2 between 2013–2018, with an annual estimated high of 19.01 in 2018 and a low of 12.77 in 2015. The call-up surveys consistently produced lower estimates than those obtained from the camera trap data. These results highlight the importance of calibrating the response probability factor for call-up surveys to maintain precision. The space use of spotted hyaenas was analysed using the photo-capture data obtained during the same six-year period, to produce individual 100% Minimum Convex Polygon’s (MCPs). Seven clan territories were identified from individual female home ranges that overlapped by more than 66% of their MCPs. Territory sizes were similar to historical estimates for the park, with averages of 13.96 (SD: ±6.48) km2 in Hluhluwe and 34.61 (SD: ±23.87) km2 in iMfolozi. My study successfully used by-catch camera data to calculate annual density estimates and investigate the spatial use patterns for spotted hyaenas in HiP. I demonstrate that this approach is cost-effective and reliable for calculating density estimates. Conservation practitioners should take heed of the advancements in technology and analytical capacity now available to them to improve monitoring efforts. My study specifically calls for collaborative efforts to use existing camera trap data to improve regional estimates and population trends of spotted hyaenas across their range. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Zoology and Entomology, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04-06
Assessment of cytotoxic artemisinin and its derivatives as DNA damaging inducing agents in triple-negative breast cancer cells
- Authors: Mkhwanazi, Ntando
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Breast Cancer , Artemisinin , DNA damage , Antineoplastic agents , Breast Cancer Treatment
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/362960 , vital:65378
- Description: In developing countries, including South Africa, breast cancer is the primary cause of cancer-related deaths among women. TNBC (triple-negative breast cancer) is an aggressive breast cancer subtype that is more prevalent in women of African descent. This subtype lacks the key receptors, namely the estrogen receptor (ER-), progesterone receptor (PR-), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2-) that are the basis of successful targeted therapies for other subtypes of the disease. To date, there are no effective, standardized targeted therapies for TNBC. Artemisinin is an anti-malarial drug and numerous derivatives of the compound have been developed to improve the potency and solubility of the parent compound. Artemisinin and its derivatives have gained attention as potential anti-cancer agents; however, such studies have not yet progressed to clinical trials and the precise mechanism of action of these compounds is yet to be fully explained. In this study, artemisinin, and its known derivative artesunate, as well as a novel derivative, WHN11, were investigated as DNA damage-inducing agents in TNBC. WHN11 was found to be the most potent of the three compounds, displaying an IC50 of 3.20 μM against HCC70 cells, artemisinin displayed an IC50 of 214.70 μM and artesunate displayed an IC50 of 25.48 μM. The compounds were less toxic to the MCF12A non-cancerous cells, with IC50 values 298.30, 87.53, and 8.35 μM for artemisinin, artesunate, and WHN11, respectively, and displayed selectivity indices of 1.39, 3.44 and 2.61 μM for artemisinin, artesunate, and WHN11, respectively. In silico and in vitro studies revealed that the artemisinin compounds bind to DNA through the minor groove. While all three compounds were able to bind to DNA, a comet assay revealed that only artemisinin and artesunate, and not WHN11, were able to cause DNA damage compared to the vehicle control, DMSO. Finally, a topoisomerase I (TOPO I) enzyme assay demonstrated that while the compounds appeared to display a degree of inhibition of TOPO I, as evidenced by a downward shift in the plasmid band on the agarose gel, they were not able to fully inhibit the enzyme to return the plasmid to the supercoiled conformation. In addition, combination studies revealed that artemisinin, artesunate, and WHN11 acted synergistically in combination with camptothecin, but displayed either an additive (artemisinin) or antagonistic (artesunate and WHN11) relationship when used in combination with etoposide. In conclusion, artemisinin, its known derivative artesunate, and novel and highly toxic derivative WHN11, all bind to DNA via the minor groove, however only artemisinin and artesunate, and not WHN11, cause DNA damage, indicating a potentially different mechanism of action of the three artemisinins. All three compounds act synergistically with camptothecin, which suggests interference with topoisomerase activity, partially supported by slight inhibition of TOPO I activity, and could indicate either direct inhibition of the enzyme or interference with enzyme function by competitive binding to the DNA. Further studies could help explore alternate DNA damage assays, to validate these findings, and the effect of the compounds on TOPO II activity could also be assessed. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Biochemistry and Microbiology, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
- Authors: Mkhwanazi, Ntando
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Breast Cancer , Artemisinin , DNA damage , Antineoplastic agents , Breast Cancer Treatment
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/362960 , vital:65378
- Description: In developing countries, including South Africa, breast cancer is the primary cause of cancer-related deaths among women. TNBC (triple-negative breast cancer) is an aggressive breast cancer subtype that is more prevalent in women of African descent. This subtype lacks the key receptors, namely the estrogen receptor (ER-), progesterone receptor (PR-), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2-) that are the basis of successful targeted therapies for other subtypes of the disease. To date, there are no effective, standardized targeted therapies for TNBC. Artemisinin is an anti-malarial drug and numerous derivatives of the compound have been developed to improve the potency and solubility of the parent compound. Artemisinin and its derivatives have gained attention as potential anti-cancer agents; however, such studies have not yet progressed to clinical trials and the precise mechanism of action of these compounds is yet to be fully explained. In this study, artemisinin, and its known derivative artesunate, as well as a novel derivative, WHN11, were investigated as DNA damage-inducing agents in TNBC. WHN11 was found to be the most potent of the three compounds, displaying an IC50 of 3.20 μM against HCC70 cells, artemisinin displayed an IC50 of 214.70 μM and artesunate displayed an IC50 of 25.48 μM. The compounds were less toxic to the MCF12A non-cancerous cells, with IC50 values 298.30, 87.53, and 8.35 μM for artemisinin, artesunate, and WHN11, respectively, and displayed selectivity indices of 1.39, 3.44 and 2.61 μM for artemisinin, artesunate, and WHN11, respectively. In silico and in vitro studies revealed that the artemisinin compounds bind to DNA through the minor groove. While all three compounds were able to bind to DNA, a comet assay revealed that only artemisinin and artesunate, and not WHN11, were able to cause DNA damage compared to the vehicle control, DMSO. Finally, a topoisomerase I (TOPO I) enzyme assay demonstrated that while the compounds appeared to display a degree of inhibition of TOPO I, as evidenced by a downward shift in the plasmid band on the agarose gel, they were not able to fully inhibit the enzyme to return the plasmid to the supercoiled conformation. In addition, combination studies revealed that artemisinin, artesunate, and WHN11 acted synergistically in combination with camptothecin, but displayed either an additive (artemisinin) or antagonistic (artesunate and WHN11) relationship when used in combination with etoposide. In conclusion, artemisinin, its known derivative artesunate, and novel and highly toxic derivative WHN11, all bind to DNA via the minor groove, however only artemisinin and artesunate, and not WHN11, cause DNA damage, indicating a potentially different mechanism of action of the three artemisinins. All three compounds act synergistically with camptothecin, which suggests interference with topoisomerase activity, partially supported by slight inhibition of TOPO I activity, and could indicate either direct inhibition of the enzyme or interference with enzyme function by competitive binding to the DNA. Further studies could help explore alternate DNA damage assays, to validate these findings, and the effect of the compounds on TOPO II activity could also be assessed. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Biochemistry and Microbiology, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
Assessment of Pitman Model Capabilities in Modelling Surface Water-Groundwater Interactions in the Lake Sibaya Catchment, South Africa
- Authors: Ramatsabana, Phatsimo Pearl
- Date: 2023-10-13
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/424188 , vital:72131
- Description: Difficulties arising from data scarcity, input data error or uncertainty, heterogeneous environments, lack of process understanding, and model structural uncertainty frequently constrain hydrological assessments of South African catchments. This research aimed to assess the usefulness of a “simpler” conceptual model for the conjunctive management of surface water and groundwater. The idea is that, to leverage the limited available data and information, a compromise between model complexity and data availability is required, which improves the use of models to produce reliable hydrological systems assessments. The research methodology focused on catchment-scale lake-groundwater dynamics to explore the limits of the groundwater components of the modified Pitman model (Hughes, 2004) in this type of environment, thus, determining the potential for using this model for integrated water assessments in South Africa. The Pitman model (Pitman, 1973; Hughes, 2013) is one of the most widely accepted models regarding surface water hydrology in South Africa; however, the newly incorporated groundwater components (Hughes, 2004) have not been applied as extensively as the surface water components. There remains uncertainty regarding their capability to adequately simulate groundwater processes and accurately represent surface and groundwater interactions in some environments. The model was assessed based on how well simulated water balance variables accurately reflected available evidence and expected catchment response (objective 1). Secondly, the research identified and addressed uncertainties as regards the structure and application of the model’s groundwater interaction components (objective 2). The model was set up for the Lake Sibaya catchment, which is a predominantly groundwater-driven system and, thus, provides an important opportunity to interrogate different aspects of uncertainty in both the conceptualizing and quantifying interaction processes. The study’s overall conclusion is that the model performed satisfactorily as it was able to simulate the lake’s water balance correctly enough such that the influences of dominating components were sensibly reflected in variations in streamflow and lake volumes. The following key findings were noted; (i) the lake volume shows a continuous decline, (ii) the lake volume decreased with increasing development (forestry and abstractions) in the lake catchment, (iii) there is significant rainfall uncertainty in the study area and the model showed high sensitivity to rainfall differences, (iv) robust conceptual knowledge of local catchment conditions was valuable for reducing some of the data related uncertainty in the study area and for producing realistic model simulations, (v) the Pitman model (Hughes, 2013) updated GW components can provide a valuable tool for modelling integrated hydrological processes; nevertheless, when applying the model to specific environments, implicit approaches may be necessary to account for processes that are not fully represented in the model. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Institute for Water Research, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-10-13
- Authors: Ramatsabana, Phatsimo Pearl
- Date: 2023-10-13
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/424188 , vital:72131
- Description: Difficulties arising from data scarcity, input data error or uncertainty, heterogeneous environments, lack of process understanding, and model structural uncertainty frequently constrain hydrological assessments of South African catchments. This research aimed to assess the usefulness of a “simpler” conceptual model for the conjunctive management of surface water and groundwater. The idea is that, to leverage the limited available data and information, a compromise between model complexity and data availability is required, which improves the use of models to produce reliable hydrological systems assessments. The research methodology focused on catchment-scale lake-groundwater dynamics to explore the limits of the groundwater components of the modified Pitman model (Hughes, 2004) in this type of environment, thus, determining the potential for using this model for integrated water assessments in South Africa. The Pitman model (Pitman, 1973; Hughes, 2013) is one of the most widely accepted models regarding surface water hydrology in South Africa; however, the newly incorporated groundwater components (Hughes, 2004) have not been applied as extensively as the surface water components. There remains uncertainty regarding their capability to adequately simulate groundwater processes and accurately represent surface and groundwater interactions in some environments. The model was assessed based on how well simulated water balance variables accurately reflected available evidence and expected catchment response (objective 1). Secondly, the research identified and addressed uncertainties as regards the structure and application of the model’s groundwater interaction components (objective 2). The model was set up for the Lake Sibaya catchment, which is a predominantly groundwater-driven system and, thus, provides an important opportunity to interrogate different aspects of uncertainty in both the conceptualizing and quantifying interaction processes. The study’s overall conclusion is that the model performed satisfactorily as it was able to simulate the lake’s water balance correctly enough such that the influences of dominating components were sensibly reflected in variations in streamflow and lake volumes. The following key findings were noted; (i) the lake volume shows a continuous decline, (ii) the lake volume decreased with increasing development (forestry and abstractions) in the lake catchment, (iii) there is significant rainfall uncertainty in the study area and the model showed high sensitivity to rainfall differences, (iv) robust conceptual knowledge of local catchment conditions was valuable for reducing some of the data related uncertainty in the study area and for producing realistic model simulations, (v) the Pitman model (Hughes, 2013) updated GW components can provide a valuable tool for modelling integrated hydrological processes; nevertheless, when applying the model to specific environments, implicit approaches may be necessary to account for processes that are not fully represented in the model. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Institute for Water Research, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-10-13
Associations between contraceptive use, physical activity, depression, and quality of life among women of childbearing age in Akure South Local Government area of Ondo State, Nigeria
- Authors: Alimi, Olabisi Ganiyat
- Date: 2023-10-13
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/424210 , vital:72133
- Description: Background: Population experts and policymakers are concerned about Nigeria's rapid annual population growth due to the country's high birth rate which was 5.3 births per woman in 2018. Fear of the side effects of modern contraceptives among Nigerian women contributes to the low rate of contraceptive use, which was reported to be 17% and 37% among married and sexually active unmarried women, respectively. Which is a significant cause of the high birth rate. Although the side effects of modern contraceptives on women's clinical and physiological variables are well known, studies examining the associations between contraceptive use and physical and psychosocial variables such as physical activity (PA), depression, and quality of life (QoL) in non-athletic Nigerian women of reproductive age are scarce. This study aimed to examine the associations between contraceptive use, PA, depression, and QoL among non-athletic women of childbearing age in Akure South Local Government, Ondo State, Nigeria. Methods: In a descriptive cross-sectional study, 646 women of childbearing age were recruited using the multistage sampling technique. The data of 496 current contraceptive users and 146 non-users were analysed, as 4 respondents did not respond regarding current contraceptive use status. The Global PA Questionnaire (GPAQ), Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI) and World Health QoL Organization Quality of Life Brief (WHOQoL BREF) were used to assess respondents’ scores/levels of PA, depression and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The GPAQ, BDI, and WHOQOL scores were compared between contraceptive users and non-users using non-parametric Quade Analysis of Covariance while age, married status, tribe, religion, and occupation were included covariates. PA, sedentary behaviour (SB), and BDI scores were categorized using guidelines. Contraceptive use/practice was the outcome variable. Pearson's chi-square test bivariate analysis and a multivariate logistic model were used to identify factors associated with contraceptive use (users and non-users). Crude and adjusted odds ratios and their confidence intervals were calculated to determine the significance of the association. The regression model was adjusted for age, marital status, religion, tribe, highest education level, occupation, awareness of contraceptives, current use, lifetime use, type, class, and duration of current contraception. “Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 29.73±6.10 years. The contraceptive users and non-users were not significantly different regarding their ages (p = 0.135), marital status (p = 0.245), highest education (p = 0.444), occupation (p = 0.238), and tribe (p = 0.192). The respondents’ lifetime and point prevalence of contraceptive uptake was 93.6% and 77.3%, respectively, while 72 (12.8%) reported experiencing contraception-related side effects. Of the 496 respondents who currently practice contraception, 146 (29.4%) were hormonal contraceptive users. The majority of the respondents had moderate and mild levels of PA (48.5%) and depression (51.4%), respectively, and a significantly higher proportion of contraceptive users had minimal and moderate depression levels than the non-users (p = 0.018). The contraceptive users demonstrated significantly higher median scores of BDI (p = 0.02), Physical health QoL (p < 0.001), environment QoL (p = 0.033) and overall QoL (0.004) than the non-users. Hormonal contraceptive users had significantly higher median PA walking/bicycling scores than non-hormonal users (p = 0.014). Respondents with mild and moderate depression levels had higher odds of being contraceptive users than those with minimal depression (AOR = 3.12, 95% CI = 1.43 – 6.80, p = 0.04 and 4.67, 95% CI = 1.92 – 11.36, p = 0.001 respectively). Conclusion: Contraceptive use is negatively associated with depression but positively related to Physical health, environment and overall domains of HRQoL. Healthcare professionals should consider women's mental and emotional condition while advising on family planning for optimal HRQoL. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Human Kinetics and Ergonomics, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-10-13
- Authors: Alimi, Olabisi Ganiyat
- Date: 2023-10-13
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/424210 , vital:72133
- Description: Background: Population experts and policymakers are concerned about Nigeria's rapid annual population growth due to the country's high birth rate which was 5.3 births per woman in 2018. Fear of the side effects of modern contraceptives among Nigerian women contributes to the low rate of contraceptive use, which was reported to be 17% and 37% among married and sexually active unmarried women, respectively. Which is a significant cause of the high birth rate. Although the side effects of modern contraceptives on women's clinical and physiological variables are well known, studies examining the associations between contraceptive use and physical and psychosocial variables such as physical activity (PA), depression, and quality of life (QoL) in non-athletic Nigerian women of reproductive age are scarce. This study aimed to examine the associations between contraceptive use, PA, depression, and QoL among non-athletic women of childbearing age in Akure South Local Government, Ondo State, Nigeria. Methods: In a descriptive cross-sectional study, 646 women of childbearing age were recruited using the multistage sampling technique. The data of 496 current contraceptive users and 146 non-users were analysed, as 4 respondents did not respond regarding current contraceptive use status. The Global PA Questionnaire (GPAQ), Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI) and World Health QoL Organization Quality of Life Brief (WHOQoL BREF) were used to assess respondents’ scores/levels of PA, depression and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The GPAQ, BDI, and WHOQOL scores were compared between contraceptive users and non-users using non-parametric Quade Analysis of Covariance while age, married status, tribe, religion, and occupation were included covariates. PA, sedentary behaviour (SB), and BDI scores were categorized using guidelines. Contraceptive use/practice was the outcome variable. Pearson's chi-square test bivariate analysis and a multivariate logistic model were used to identify factors associated with contraceptive use (users and non-users). Crude and adjusted odds ratios and their confidence intervals were calculated to determine the significance of the association. The regression model was adjusted for age, marital status, religion, tribe, highest education level, occupation, awareness of contraceptives, current use, lifetime use, type, class, and duration of current contraception. “Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 29.73±6.10 years. The contraceptive users and non-users were not significantly different regarding their ages (p = 0.135), marital status (p = 0.245), highest education (p = 0.444), occupation (p = 0.238), and tribe (p = 0.192). The respondents’ lifetime and point prevalence of contraceptive uptake was 93.6% and 77.3%, respectively, while 72 (12.8%) reported experiencing contraception-related side effects. Of the 496 respondents who currently practice contraception, 146 (29.4%) were hormonal contraceptive users. The majority of the respondents had moderate and mild levels of PA (48.5%) and depression (51.4%), respectively, and a significantly higher proportion of contraceptive users had minimal and moderate depression levels than the non-users (p = 0.018). The contraceptive users demonstrated significantly higher median scores of BDI (p = 0.02), Physical health QoL (p < 0.001), environment QoL (p = 0.033) and overall QoL (0.004) than the non-users. Hormonal contraceptive users had significantly higher median PA walking/bicycling scores than non-hormonal users (p = 0.014). Respondents with mild and moderate depression levels had higher odds of being contraceptive users than those with minimal depression (AOR = 3.12, 95% CI = 1.43 – 6.80, p = 0.04 and 4.67, 95% CI = 1.92 – 11.36, p = 0.001 respectively). Conclusion: Contraceptive use is negatively associated with depression but positively related to Physical health, environment and overall domains of HRQoL. Healthcare professionals should consider women's mental and emotional condition while advising on family planning for optimal HRQoL. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Human Kinetics and Ergonomics, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-10-13
Babantu ababomvu entliziyweni(People who are ‘Red’ in their hearts) and the myth of ‘modernity’
- Authors: Haynes, Duncan Robert
- Date: 2023-03-30
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/408897 , vital:70535
- Description: This study examines a history of urban research on ancestral belief of amaXhosa within the Greater East London region, Eastern Cape, South Africa which spanned much of the 20th century (1934–2002). Through extensive textual and literary investigation, this thesis offers new perspectives on this topic. Current theoretical explorations offer the tools to reassess the positionality of the researchers and in light of findings of these previous studies, highlighting above all, the presence of certain academic ‘blind-spots’. These ‘blind-spots’ are argued to have been caused by theoretical and methodological constraints, particularly around Western-centric definitions of the nature of 'modernity' that rely on the positivist notion of a singular unilinear path of time as a universal standard (and which thus defines 'progressiveness' and 'backwardness'). (These ‘blind spots’ were notably further strengthened by a Eurocentric interpretation of identity and a trend of Neo-Marxist scholarship between the 1970s and the 2010s1 which created a ‘taboo’ on addressing issues of culture, and especially of ancestral spirituality, as this was taken to be portraying Africans as culturally ‘static’ and backward and therefore supporting Apartheid ideologies of ‘separate development’). Through these textual investigations this thesis brings to light the, largely unrecognised, core of the issue or driving factor behind the difficulties in all of these previous studies. This is posited as the existence of a prevailing culture of ‘silence’ in Xhosa spaces (stretching from 1840–2000) regarding the sustained importance of 'Redness' (ancestral spirituality and traditional dimensions of identity due to the notion that it was 'backward'). This self-censoring is unpacked as having been an expedient response by many to the requirements for Xhosa pagans to wash off the symbolic red cosmetic clay at baptism, put on ‘decent’ Western clothing and shoes and take on Christian first names (‘shedding’ their previous names and identities) as processes deemed necessary to properly convert to Christianity (Frescura, 2015). More significantly however, it has been argued by scholars that adopting Christianity was the only way to be able to harness the power of education at a time of starvation related to the famine of the millennial Cattle Killing movement (1856–7) and the Xhosa military defeat at the end of the 100-year period of the British Xhosa Frontier Wars (1779–1879). This thesis uses perspectives offered by Queer theory to unpack the pain of this 'veiling' of aspects of identity as a necessary strategy for achieving economic 'success' amid the structural and epistemological violence of colonialism and apartheid. It is suggested that a combination of the ‘silence’ and ‘taboo’ area of the ‘blind-spot’ could completely ‘veil’ these epistemological realities from the view of many earlier researchers of urban Xhosa identity (whose cultural and linguistic backgrounds as well as etic positioning caused them to be unable to 'knock' to gain access into this normally ‘veiled’ world). This thesis combines these historical perspectives with contemporary scholarship and literary works to propose that these ‘Red’ aspects of identity and spirituality have always and still ‘continue’ to form a core, or crux, of Xhosa identity for a previously widely unrecognised and overwhelming majority of urban amaXhosa. This thesis uses the perspective offered by a Xhosa translation of the title of Mda's English language novel, 'A Heart of Redness’ (2000), to explore the importance of ancestral spirituality and clan identities to amaXhosa as a [previously invisible/veiled] ‘Redness of one's Heart’ for a high proportion of contemporary amaXhosa. In this way, this thesis agrees with scholars such as Latour (1993) and Mignolo (2007) in their 'jarring' expose regarding the epistemic violence of euro-normative notions of ‘modernity’. Here they call for a disruption of the pervasive idea of the West as being at the 'forefront' of human experience and even a challenge to the western reading of time. Finally, through exploring critique of the 'Secularisation Thesis' of the Western world, this thesis poses the implicit question contained in its title: ‘Is the western world now perhaps able to embrace a 'modernity' and integrative-cosmology that has been safe-guarded by Xhosa pagans since the 1840s?’ This study documented numerical indicators on the presence of ancestral belief and traditional dimensions of Xhosa identity from fieldwork conducted in an urban locality King William’s Town (Qonce) within the Buffalo City Municipality, Eastern Cape of South Africa from September 2018 to December 2019. In-depth quantitative and qualitative data were collected from lengthy interactions with 305 consenting Xhosa participants. These interactions comprised 129 semi-structured and 176 structured interviews, 61 of the latter formed the sample for numerical data analysis with which to give clarity on the abiding importance of ancestral spirituality for a vast majority of urban amaXhosa. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Anthropology, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-03-30
- Authors: Haynes, Duncan Robert
- Date: 2023-03-30
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/408897 , vital:70535
- Description: This study examines a history of urban research on ancestral belief of amaXhosa within the Greater East London region, Eastern Cape, South Africa which spanned much of the 20th century (1934–2002). Through extensive textual and literary investigation, this thesis offers new perspectives on this topic. Current theoretical explorations offer the tools to reassess the positionality of the researchers and in light of findings of these previous studies, highlighting above all, the presence of certain academic ‘blind-spots’. These ‘blind-spots’ are argued to have been caused by theoretical and methodological constraints, particularly around Western-centric definitions of the nature of 'modernity' that rely on the positivist notion of a singular unilinear path of time as a universal standard (and which thus defines 'progressiveness' and 'backwardness'). (These ‘blind spots’ were notably further strengthened by a Eurocentric interpretation of identity and a trend of Neo-Marxist scholarship between the 1970s and the 2010s1 which created a ‘taboo’ on addressing issues of culture, and especially of ancestral spirituality, as this was taken to be portraying Africans as culturally ‘static’ and backward and therefore supporting Apartheid ideologies of ‘separate development’). Through these textual investigations this thesis brings to light the, largely unrecognised, core of the issue or driving factor behind the difficulties in all of these previous studies. This is posited as the existence of a prevailing culture of ‘silence’ in Xhosa spaces (stretching from 1840–2000) regarding the sustained importance of 'Redness' (ancestral spirituality and traditional dimensions of identity due to the notion that it was 'backward'). This self-censoring is unpacked as having been an expedient response by many to the requirements for Xhosa pagans to wash off the symbolic red cosmetic clay at baptism, put on ‘decent’ Western clothing and shoes and take on Christian first names (‘shedding’ their previous names and identities) as processes deemed necessary to properly convert to Christianity (Frescura, 2015). More significantly however, it has been argued by scholars that adopting Christianity was the only way to be able to harness the power of education at a time of starvation related to the famine of the millennial Cattle Killing movement (1856–7) and the Xhosa military defeat at the end of the 100-year period of the British Xhosa Frontier Wars (1779–1879). This thesis uses perspectives offered by Queer theory to unpack the pain of this 'veiling' of aspects of identity as a necessary strategy for achieving economic 'success' amid the structural and epistemological violence of colonialism and apartheid. It is suggested that a combination of the ‘silence’ and ‘taboo’ area of the ‘blind-spot’ could completely ‘veil’ these epistemological realities from the view of many earlier researchers of urban Xhosa identity (whose cultural and linguistic backgrounds as well as etic positioning caused them to be unable to 'knock' to gain access into this normally ‘veiled’ world). This thesis combines these historical perspectives with contemporary scholarship and literary works to propose that these ‘Red’ aspects of identity and spirituality have always and still ‘continue’ to form a core, or crux, of Xhosa identity for a previously widely unrecognised and overwhelming majority of urban amaXhosa. This thesis uses the perspective offered by a Xhosa translation of the title of Mda's English language novel, 'A Heart of Redness’ (2000), to explore the importance of ancestral spirituality and clan identities to amaXhosa as a [previously invisible/veiled] ‘Redness of one's Heart’ for a high proportion of contemporary amaXhosa. In this way, this thesis agrees with scholars such as Latour (1993) and Mignolo (2007) in their 'jarring' expose regarding the epistemic violence of euro-normative notions of ‘modernity’. Here they call for a disruption of the pervasive idea of the West as being at the 'forefront' of human experience and even a challenge to the western reading of time. Finally, through exploring critique of the 'Secularisation Thesis' of the Western world, this thesis poses the implicit question contained in its title: ‘Is the western world now perhaps able to embrace a 'modernity' and integrative-cosmology that has been safe-guarded by Xhosa pagans since the 1840s?’ This study documented numerical indicators on the presence of ancestral belief and traditional dimensions of Xhosa identity from fieldwork conducted in an urban locality King William’s Town (Qonce) within the Buffalo City Municipality, Eastern Cape of South Africa from September 2018 to December 2019. In-depth quantitative and qualitative data were collected from lengthy interactions with 305 consenting Xhosa participants. These interactions comprised 129 semi-structured and 176 structured interviews, 61 of the latter formed the sample for numerical data analysis with which to give clarity on the abiding importance of ancestral spirituality for a vast majority of urban amaXhosa. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Anthropology, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-03-30
Baseline assessments for foundation phase reading in isiXhosa: a case study
- Authors: Nesi, Nolubabalo Amanda
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Test of Early Reading Ability , Xhosa language , Reading (Elementary) Ability testing , Reading (Elementary) Social aspects South Africa Makhanda , Dynamic assessment (Education)
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/406320 , vital:70258
- Description: The main objective of this study was to investigate the use of baseline assessments for reading in isiXhosa in Foundation Phase. It focused on how teachers conduct baseline assessments, the assessment tools they use, and their responsiveness to baseline assessments data in terms of curriculum planning and practice, given the lack of explicit guidelines and tools specifically developed for African languages. The lack of clarity may lead teachers to assume that the same assessment approaches and practices apply across all official languages despite their linguistic and sociolinguistic differences. Vygotsky’s socio-cultural theory of learning and Biggs’ concept on constructive alignment are used as the theoretical and conceptual framework for this study. The premise for this study was that it would be problematic to apply similar assessment approaches and use the same tools for all official South African languages. The socio-cultural approach emphasises the importance of language learning and learning generally according to the context within which language occurs. The main research sites are two Quintile 1 schools in a township in Makhanda District. These schools have been receiving external intervention which includes a baseline assessment for isiXhosa reading from Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs). This study sought to provide some insights on whether previous assessments have informed subsequent teaching practices. The findings of the study revealed that the most prominent tool for assessing reading in isiXhosa is Early Grade Reading Assessment (EGRA) and the tools used by external literacy interventions in the two schools were adapted versions of EGRA. Additionally, the subtasks in the baseline assessment tools used were aligned to the linguistic features of isiXhosa besides the nonsense word component. Furthermore, teachers were assessing and teaching reading at lower levels than expected in the grades 2 and 3 in this study. This study recommends that teachers respond to the baseline assessment data appropriately to develop reading competencies. In addition, there is need for an alignment between the linguistic features, the curriculum and strategies of teaching reading. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Languages and Literatures, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
- Authors: Nesi, Nolubabalo Amanda
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Test of Early Reading Ability , Xhosa language , Reading (Elementary) Ability testing , Reading (Elementary) Social aspects South Africa Makhanda , Dynamic assessment (Education)
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/406320 , vital:70258
- Description: The main objective of this study was to investigate the use of baseline assessments for reading in isiXhosa in Foundation Phase. It focused on how teachers conduct baseline assessments, the assessment tools they use, and their responsiveness to baseline assessments data in terms of curriculum planning and practice, given the lack of explicit guidelines and tools specifically developed for African languages. The lack of clarity may lead teachers to assume that the same assessment approaches and practices apply across all official languages despite their linguistic and sociolinguistic differences. Vygotsky’s socio-cultural theory of learning and Biggs’ concept on constructive alignment are used as the theoretical and conceptual framework for this study. The premise for this study was that it would be problematic to apply similar assessment approaches and use the same tools for all official South African languages. The socio-cultural approach emphasises the importance of language learning and learning generally according to the context within which language occurs. The main research sites are two Quintile 1 schools in a township in Makhanda District. These schools have been receiving external intervention which includes a baseline assessment for isiXhosa reading from Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs). This study sought to provide some insights on whether previous assessments have informed subsequent teaching practices. The findings of the study revealed that the most prominent tool for assessing reading in isiXhosa is Early Grade Reading Assessment (EGRA) and the tools used by external literacy interventions in the two schools were adapted versions of EGRA. Additionally, the subtasks in the baseline assessment tools used were aligned to the linguistic features of isiXhosa besides the nonsense word component. Furthermore, teachers were assessing and teaching reading at lower levels than expected in the grades 2 and 3 in this study. This study recommends that teachers respond to the baseline assessment data appropriately to develop reading competencies. In addition, there is need for an alignment between the linguistic features, the curriculum and strategies of teaching reading. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Languages and Literatures, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
Benchmarking tax practitioner regulation in Zimbabwe and South Africa against German best practice
- Authors: Munkuli, Charles
- Date: 2023-10-13
- Subjects: Tax consultants South Africa , Taxpayer compliance South Africa , Revenue authority , Taxation Law and legislation South Africa , Taxation Law and legislation Zimbabwe , Taxation Law and legislation Germany
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/419621 , vital:71660
- Description: The regulation of professionals who offer any type of service to the public is a critical intervention towards protecting the public from unscrupulous behaviour. The regulation of tax practitioners is no exception as it is a critical element in protecting the taxpaying public and the fiscus against improper conduct by tax practitioners, as well as preventing revenue leakages due to inaccurate or incorrect declarations made by taxpayers. A major contributor of regulation would be strengthening or improving compliance. This study analyses the frameworks that regulate tax practitioners in Zimbabwe and South Africa and evaluates them against best practice as is found in Germany. Germany has been regulating tax practitioners for 50 years and can rightly be recognised as best practice. This is achieved by reviewing and evaluating institutional and legislative mechanisms in the regulatory frameworks adopted in the three countries in order to identify possible areas of improvement in Zimbabwe and South Africa. The research is situated in the interpretative paradigm and the research methodology is qualitative in nature, involving the critical review of documentary data. The study concludes that both South Africa and Zimbabwe have room to improve in certain areas and makes recommendations aimed at strengthening their respective regulatory frameworks. Both South Africa and Zimbabwe could promulgate a law that deals exclusively with the regulation of tax practitioners, and institute an independent body that deals exclusively with tax practitioner related issues. In Zimbabwe, the Public Accountants and Auditors’ Board should be replaced with a body dedicated to serving tax practitioners. Informing the taxpaying public is important and, particularly in Zimbabwe, measures should be adopted to inform taxpayers about their rights and obligations, the role of tax practitioners, and the interface with the tax administration. The Zimbabwean regulatory model should also recognise other non-accounting and auditing-oriented professions, such as the law profession, as tax practitioners. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Commerce, Accounting, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-10-13
- Authors: Munkuli, Charles
- Date: 2023-10-13
- Subjects: Tax consultants South Africa , Taxpayer compliance South Africa , Revenue authority , Taxation Law and legislation South Africa , Taxation Law and legislation Zimbabwe , Taxation Law and legislation Germany
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/419621 , vital:71660
- Description: The regulation of professionals who offer any type of service to the public is a critical intervention towards protecting the public from unscrupulous behaviour. The regulation of tax practitioners is no exception as it is a critical element in protecting the taxpaying public and the fiscus against improper conduct by tax practitioners, as well as preventing revenue leakages due to inaccurate or incorrect declarations made by taxpayers. A major contributor of regulation would be strengthening or improving compliance. This study analyses the frameworks that regulate tax practitioners in Zimbabwe and South Africa and evaluates them against best practice as is found in Germany. Germany has been regulating tax practitioners for 50 years and can rightly be recognised as best practice. This is achieved by reviewing and evaluating institutional and legislative mechanisms in the regulatory frameworks adopted in the three countries in order to identify possible areas of improvement in Zimbabwe and South Africa. The research is situated in the interpretative paradigm and the research methodology is qualitative in nature, involving the critical review of documentary data. The study concludes that both South Africa and Zimbabwe have room to improve in certain areas and makes recommendations aimed at strengthening their respective regulatory frameworks. Both South Africa and Zimbabwe could promulgate a law that deals exclusively with the regulation of tax practitioners, and institute an independent body that deals exclusively with tax practitioner related issues. In Zimbabwe, the Public Accountants and Auditors’ Board should be replaced with a body dedicated to serving tax practitioners. Informing the taxpaying public is important and, particularly in Zimbabwe, measures should be adopted to inform taxpayers about their rights and obligations, the role of tax practitioners, and the interface with the tax administration. The Zimbabwean regulatory model should also recognise other non-accounting and auditing-oriented professions, such as the law profession, as tax practitioners. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Commerce, Accounting, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-10-13
Big T’s and small T’s: an explorative study on trauma narratives in South Africa
- Authors: Naidoo, Rinisa
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Psychic trauma , Anthropology , Mental health South Africa , Apartheid South Africa Personal narratives , Culture Psychological aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/408641 , vital:70512
- Description: The 21st century has seen a dramatic increase in chronic non-infectious diseases, especially in the area of mental health. Medical anthropologists have seen a rise in the development of mental illnesses in both developed and developing nations. There is, however, little research conducted on trauma narratives that do not stem from political violence from an anthropological lens. South Africa has various understandings of trauma depending on the cultural context and it is crucial to examine these narratives as this provides vital information of the daily lived experiences of trauma survivors. Key themes draw on issues of trauma denialism, communicating distress, traumatic symptoms and the development of mental illnesses as a result of traumatic exposure. The data was analysed through Goffman’s (1959) Presentation of Self in Everyday Life illustrating various ways how survivors present themselves depending on the particular audience. This research employed both qualitative and quantitative research methods to gather a holistic understanding of trauma survivors. With the use of semi-structured interviews of Stressful Life Events Questionnaire coupled with observations of online support groups for trauma survivors, this research has provided rich ethnographic evidence of the impact that culture has on trauma narratives illustrating a clear normalcy of trauma present in South Africa. , Thesis (MSocSci) -- Faculty of Humanities, Anthropology, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
- Authors: Naidoo, Rinisa
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Psychic trauma , Anthropology , Mental health South Africa , Apartheid South Africa Personal narratives , Culture Psychological aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/408641 , vital:70512
- Description: The 21st century has seen a dramatic increase in chronic non-infectious diseases, especially in the area of mental health. Medical anthropologists have seen a rise in the development of mental illnesses in both developed and developing nations. There is, however, little research conducted on trauma narratives that do not stem from political violence from an anthropological lens. South Africa has various understandings of trauma depending on the cultural context and it is crucial to examine these narratives as this provides vital information of the daily lived experiences of trauma survivors. Key themes draw on issues of trauma denialism, communicating distress, traumatic symptoms and the development of mental illnesses as a result of traumatic exposure. The data was analysed through Goffman’s (1959) Presentation of Self in Everyday Life illustrating various ways how survivors present themselves depending on the particular audience. This research employed both qualitative and quantitative research methods to gather a holistic understanding of trauma survivors. With the use of semi-structured interviews of Stressful Life Events Questionnaire coupled with observations of online support groups for trauma survivors, this research has provided rich ethnographic evidence of the impact that culture has on trauma narratives illustrating a clear normalcy of trauma present in South Africa. , Thesis (MSocSci) -- Faculty of Humanities, Anthropology, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
Bioactivity evaluation of manno-oligosaccharides produced from spent coffee grounds using a Bacillus sp. derived endo-1,4-β-mannanase
- Authors: Magengelele, Mihle
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/365233 , vital:65719
- Description: Thesis embargoed. Possible release date set for early 2024. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Biochemistry and Microbiology, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
- Authors: Magengelele, Mihle
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/365233 , vital:65719
- Description: Thesis embargoed. Possible release date set for early 2024. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Biochemistry and Microbiology, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
Biochemical and genetic analysis of the Mycobacterium smegmatis CnoX Chaperedoxin
- Authors: Watkins, Ariana Heloise Jo
- Date: 2023-03-29
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/422403 , vital:71939
- Description: Mycobacterium (M.) tuberculosis (Mtb) encounters numerous physical and chemical stresses associated with host immunity during infection. These include exposure to reactive oxygen, chlorine and nitrogen species, low pH, hypoxia, nutrient starvation, and metal toxicity. Cellular proteins are particularly susceptible to damage by these stresses, and the ability to prevent their irreversible damage is consequently crucial for bacterial growth and survival. Mtb employs a network of proteins that includes chaperones, disaggregases, and proteases to maintain the integrity of its proteome. The chaperedoxin, CnoX, is a recently identified stress-inducible chaperone that combines redox and holdase activities to prevent the over-oxidation and aggregation of proteins in E. coli and other proteobacterial species. In this study, we identified orthologs of the E. coli CnoX (EcCnoX) in Mtb and M. smegmatis (Msm). Bioinformatics analysis of the Mtb and Msm CnoX orthologs (MtCnoX and MsCnoX, respectively) revealed that they possess similar domains, domain architectures and predicted tertiary structures as previously characterised CnoX enzymes, i.e. an N-terminal thioredoxin (Trx) domain fused to a C-terminal TPR-motif containing domain. The EcCnoX, MsCnoX, and MtCnoX enzymes were expressed as recombinant, His-tagged proteins in E. coli and purified to near homogeneity. Biochemical analysis of the recombinant CnoX enzymes revealed that the MsCnoX and MtCnoX both lack thiol-disulphide oxidoreductase (thioredoxin) activity, as evidenced by their inability to catalyse the reduction of the disulphide bonds of insulin in vitro. Both mycobacterial CnoX enzymes displayed activity as chaperones (holdases) during thermal aggregation assays of the model substrate, malate dehydrogenase (MDH). In contrast to previously reported findings for EcCnoX, the holdase activity of the mycobacterial CnoX enzymes was constitutive and did not require exposure to hypochlorous acid (HOCl) for activation. To establish the physiological role of CnoX in Msm, cnoX knockdown (KD) and knockout (KO) mutants were generated using CRISPRi-mediated gene silencing or homologous recombination, respectively. Consistent with previous findings, CnoX activity was not essential for the growth of Msm under conventional growth conditions. Reducing or eliminating CnoX activity in the Msm KD or KO mutants, respectively, did not confer increased sensitivity to HOCl as has been observed for an E. coli cnoX mutant. Reduced CnoX activity in Msm did, however, confer sensitivity to the superoxide generator, plumbagin, and front-line antitubercular drugs rifampicin and isoniazid. The combination of biochemical and physiological data presented suggests that MsCnoX may function as a holdase for substrates following proteotoxic damage induced by certain types of oxidants, a line of investigation that will be pursued in future studies. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Biochemistry and Microbiology, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-03-29
- Authors: Watkins, Ariana Heloise Jo
- Date: 2023-03-29
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/422403 , vital:71939
- Description: Mycobacterium (M.) tuberculosis (Mtb) encounters numerous physical and chemical stresses associated with host immunity during infection. These include exposure to reactive oxygen, chlorine and nitrogen species, low pH, hypoxia, nutrient starvation, and metal toxicity. Cellular proteins are particularly susceptible to damage by these stresses, and the ability to prevent their irreversible damage is consequently crucial for bacterial growth and survival. Mtb employs a network of proteins that includes chaperones, disaggregases, and proteases to maintain the integrity of its proteome. The chaperedoxin, CnoX, is a recently identified stress-inducible chaperone that combines redox and holdase activities to prevent the over-oxidation and aggregation of proteins in E. coli and other proteobacterial species. In this study, we identified orthologs of the E. coli CnoX (EcCnoX) in Mtb and M. smegmatis (Msm). Bioinformatics analysis of the Mtb and Msm CnoX orthologs (MtCnoX and MsCnoX, respectively) revealed that they possess similar domains, domain architectures and predicted tertiary structures as previously characterised CnoX enzymes, i.e. an N-terminal thioredoxin (Trx) domain fused to a C-terminal TPR-motif containing domain. The EcCnoX, MsCnoX, and MtCnoX enzymes were expressed as recombinant, His-tagged proteins in E. coli and purified to near homogeneity. Biochemical analysis of the recombinant CnoX enzymes revealed that the MsCnoX and MtCnoX both lack thiol-disulphide oxidoreductase (thioredoxin) activity, as evidenced by their inability to catalyse the reduction of the disulphide bonds of insulin in vitro. Both mycobacterial CnoX enzymes displayed activity as chaperones (holdases) during thermal aggregation assays of the model substrate, malate dehydrogenase (MDH). In contrast to previously reported findings for EcCnoX, the holdase activity of the mycobacterial CnoX enzymes was constitutive and did not require exposure to hypochlorous acid (HOCl) for activation. To establish the physiological role of CnoX in Msm, cnoX knockdown (KD) and knockout (KO) mutants were generated using CRISPRi-mediated gene silencing or homologous recombination, respectively. Consistent with previous findings, CnoX activity was not essential for the growth of Msm under conventional growth conditions. Reducing or eliminating CnoX activity in the Msm KD or KO mutants, respectively, did not confer increased sensitivity to HOCl as has been observed for an E. coli cnoX mutant. Reduced CnoX activity in Msm did, however, confer sensitivity to the superoxide generator, plumbagin, and front-line antitubercular drugs rifampicin and isoniazid. The combination of biochemical and physiological data presented suggests that MsCnoX may function as a holdase for substrates following proteotoxic damage induced by certain types of oxidants, a line of investigation that will be pursued in future studies. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Biochemistry and Microbiology, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-03-29