Generating guidance on public preferences for the location of wind turbine farms in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Hosking, Jessica Lee
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Power resources -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Energy industries -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Wind power plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:8989 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1009439 , Power resources -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Energy industries -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Wind power plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: There is consensus that Eskom, South Africa’s main energy supplier, needs to expand its energy generating capacity in order to satisfy the growing demand for electricity, but there is less agreement on how it should do this. The existing supply is heavily reliant on thermal generation using coal, but the combustion of fossil fuels for electricity generation may contribute to climate change because it causes harmful greenhouse gases to be emitted into the atmosphere. This emission is something South Africa has committed itself to reducing. One way of achieving this is by the adoption of cleaner technologies for energy generation. One of these technologies is harnessing wind energy. The problem with harnessing wind energy is where to locate the turbines to harness the wind because these turbines ‘industrialise’ the environment in which they are located. They are a source of increased noise, a visual disturbance, cause increased instances of bird and bat mortality and the destruction of flora or the naturalness of the landscape in the areas in which they are located. The residents located near wind farm developments are most negatively affected and bear the greatest cost in this regard. A proper social appraisal of wind turbine projects would have to take this cost into account. Before such developments are approved there should be an assessment made of the impact on the residents, these impacts should be incorporated into the cost-benefit analysis. The negatively affected residents should also be compensated. The objective of this study was not to undertake a cost-benefit analysis of such a wind farm proposal, but to estimate the negative external cost imposed on nearby residents of such an industry, and thereby calculate appropriate compensation to be paid to these residents. Quantifying preferences for proposed, but not-yet developed, wind farms may be done by applying non-market valuation techniques, e.g. through one of the stated preference methodologies, such as a discrete choice experiment. The selected study site for providing guidance was one where Red Cap Investments Pty (Ltd) has proposed the development of a wind farm - in the Kouga local municipality. The basis for drawing conclusions was the analysis of the response samples of two groups of Kouga residents, distinguished by socio economic status; 270 from each group, 540 in total. The methodology applied to analyse the responses was a discrete choice experiment. The questionnaire administered included attitude, knowledge and demographic questions as well as a choice experiment section. The choice experiment section of the questionnaire required that the respondents choose between two different hypothetical onshore wind energy development scenarios and a status quo option. The hypothetical scenarios comprised different levels of wind farm attributes. The attributes included in the experiment were determined by international studies and focus group meetings. These attributes were: distance between the wind turbines and residential area, clustering of the turbines (job opportunities created by the wind farm development for underprivileged respondent group), number of turbines and subsidy allocated to each household. Three different choice experiment models were estimated for each socio-economic group: a conditional logit (CL), nested logit (NL) and a random parameters logit (RPL) model. It was found that, in the affluent respondent group, the simpler CL model provided the best fit. In the underprivileged respondent group, the RPL model, with the number of jobs created by the wind farm project as a random parameter1, explained by the gender of the respondent, provided the best fit. The estimated models identified distance as an important factor in both sampled respondent groups. Both respondent groups preferred that the wind farm be located further away from their residential areas. In addition to distance, the underprivileged respondent group also valued new job opportunities as an important determinant of choice. The affluent respondent group were very sensitive to densely clustered turbines but were almost indifferent between two of the effects coded levels of the clustering attribute “moderately close together” and “widely spaced apart”. Welfare estimates for the significant attributes in each socio-economic group were computed from the best fit models. Table 1 shows the resulting willingness to accept (WTA) compensation measures for distance in both socio-economic respondent groups.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Generating guidance on public preferences for the location of wind turbine farms in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Hosking, Jessica Lee
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Power resources -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Energy industries -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Wind power plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:8989 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1009439 , Power resources -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Energy industries -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Wind power plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: There is consensus that Eskom, South Africa’s main energy supplier, needs to expand its energy generating capacity in order to satisfy the growing demand for electricity, but there is less agreement on how it should do this. The existing supply is heavily reliant on thermal generation using coal, but the combustion of fossil fuels for electricity generation may contribute to climate change because it causes harmful greenhouse gases to be emitted into the atmosphere. This emission is something South Africa has committed itself to reducing. One way of achieving this is by the adoption of cleaner technologies for energy generation. One of these technologies is harnessing wind energy. The problem with harnessing wind energy is where to locate the turbines to harness the wind because these turbines ‘industrialise’ the environment in which they are located. They are a source of increased noise, a visual disturbance, cause increased instances of bird and bat mortality and the destruction of flora or the naturalness of the landscape in the areas in which they are located. The residents located near wind farm developments are most negatively affected and bear the greatest cost in this regard. A proper social appraisal of wind turbine projects would have to take this cost into account. Before such developments are approved there should be an assessment made of the impact on the residents, these impacts should be incorporated into the cost-benefit analysis. The negatively affected residents should also be compensated. The objective of this study was not to undertake a cost-benefit analysis of such a wind farm proposal, but to estimate the negative external cost imposed on nearby residents of such an industry, and thereby calculate appropriate compensation to be paid to these residents. Quantifying preferences for proposed, but not-yet developed, wind farms may be done by applying non-market valuation techniques, e.g. through one of the stated preference methodologies, such as a discrete choice experiment. The selected study site for providing guidance was one where Red Cap Investments Pty (Ltd) has proposed the development of a wind farm - in the Kouga local municipality. The basis for drawing conclusions was the analysis of the response samples of two groups of Kouga residents, distinguished by socio economic status; 270 from each group, 540 in total. The methodology applied to analyse the responses was a discrete choice experiment. The questionnaire administered included attitude, knowledge and demographic questions as well as a choice experiment section. The choice experiment section of the questionnaire required that the respondents choose between two different hypothetical onshore wind energy development scenarios and a status quo option. The hypothetical scenarios comprised different levels of wind farm attributes. The attributes included in the experiment were determined by international studies and focus group meetings. These attributes were: distance between the wind turbines and residential area, clustering of the turbines (job opportunities created by the wind farm development for underprivileged respondent group), number of turbines and subsidy allocated to each household. Three different choice experiment models were estimated for each socio-economic group: a conditional logit (CL), nested logit (NL) and a random parameters logit (RPL) model. It was found that, in the affluent respondent group, the simpler CL model provided the best fit. In the underprivileged respondent group, the RPL model, with the number of jobs created by the wind farm project as a random parameter1, explained by the gender of the respondent, provided the best fit. The estimated models identified distance as an important factor in both sampled respondent groups. Both respondent groups preferred that the wind farm be located further away from their residential areas. In addition to distance, the underprivileged respondent group also valued new job opportunities as an important determinant of choice. The affluent respondent group were very sensitive to densely clustered turbines but were almost indifferent between two of the effects coded levels of the clustering attribute “moderately close together” and “widely spaced apart”. Welfare estimates for the significant attributes in each socio-economic group were computed from the best fit models. Table 1 shows the resulting willingness to accept (WTA) compensation measures for distance in both socio-economic respondent groups.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Genetic algorithm for Artificial Neural Network training for the purpose of Automated Part Recognition
- Authors: Buys, Stefan
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Genetic algorithms , Software architecture
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:9648 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1008356 , Genetic algorithms , Software architecture
- Description: Object or part recognition is of major interest in industrial environments. Current methods implement expensive camera based solutions. There is a need for a cost effective alternative to be developed. One of the proposed methods is to overcome the hardware, camera, problem by implementing a software solution. Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) are to be used as the underlying intelligent software as they have high tolerance for noise and have the ability to generalize. A colleague has implemented a basic ANN based system comprising of an ANN and three cost effective laser distance sensors. However, the system is only able to identify 3 different parts and needed hard coding changes made by trial and error. This is not practical for industrial use in a production environment where there are a large quantity of different parts to be identified that change relatively regularly. The ability to easily train more parts is required. Difficulties associated with traditional mathematically guided training methods are discussed, which leads to the development of a Genetic Algorithm (GA) based evolutionary training method that overcomes these difficulties and makes accurate part recognition possible. An ANN hybridised with GA training is introduced and a general solution encoding scheme which is used to encode the required ANN connection weights. Experimental tests were performed in order to determine the ideal GA performance and control parameters as studies have indicated that different GA control parameters can lead to large differences in training accuracy. After performing these tests, the training accuracy was analyzed by investigation into GA performance as well as hardware based part recognition performance. This analysis identified the ideal GA control parameters when training an ANN for the purpose of part recognition and showed that the ANN generally trained well and could generalize well on data not presented to it during training.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Buys, Stefan
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Genetic algorithms , Software architecture
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:9648 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1008356 , Genetic algorithms , Software architecture
- Description: Object or part recognition is of major interest in industrial environments. Current methods implement expensive camera based solutions. There is a need for a cost effective alternative to be developed. One of the proposed methods is to overcome the hardware, camera, problem by implementing a software solution. Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) are to be used as the underlying intelligent software as they have high tolerance for noise and have the ability to generalize. A colleague has implemented a basic ANN based system comprising of an ANN and three cost effective laser distance sensors. However, the system is only able to identify 3 different parts and needed hard coding changes made by trial and error. This is not practical for industrial use in a production environment where there are a large quantity of different parts to be identified that change relatively regularly. The ability to easily train more parts is required. Difficulties associated with traditional mathematically guided training methods are discussed, which leads to the development of a Genetic Algorithm (GA) based evolutionary training method that overcomes these difficulties and makes accurate part recognition possible. An ANN hybridised with GA training is introduced and a general solution encoding scheme which is used to encode the required ANN connection weights. Experimental tests were performed in order to determine the ideal GA performance and control parameters as studies have indicated that different GA control parameters can lead to large differences in training accuracy. After performing these tests, the training accuracy was analyzed by investigation into GA performance as well as hardware based part recognition performance. This analysis identified the ideal GA control parameters when training an ANN for the purpose of part recognition and showed that the ANN generally trained well and could generalize well on data not presented to it during training.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Geo-spatial autocorrelation as a metric for the detection of fast-flux botnet domains
- Stalmans, Etienne, Hunter, Samuel O, Irwin, Barry V W
- Authors: Stalmans, Etienne , Hunter, Samuel O , Irwin, Barry V W
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/429799 , vital:72640 , 10.1109/ISSA.2012.6320433
- Description: Botnets consist of thousands of hosts infected with malware. Botnet owners communicate with these hosts using Command and Control (C2) servers. These C2 servers are usually infected hosts which the botnet owners do not have physical access to. For this reason botnets can be shut down by taking over or blocking the C2 servers. Botnet owners have employed numerous shutdown avoidance techniques. One of these techniques, DNS Fast-Flux, relies on rapidly changing address records. The addresses returned by the Fast-Flux DNS servers consist of geographically widely distributed hosts. The distributed nature of Fast-Flux botnets differs from legitimate domains, which tend to have geographically clustered server locations. This paper examines the use of spatial autocorrelation techniques based on the geographic distribution of domain servers to detect Fast-Flux domains. Moran's I and Geary's C are used to produce classifiers using multiple geographic co-ordinate systems to produce efficient and accurate results. It is shown how Fast-Flux domains can be detected reliably while only a small percentage of false positives are produced.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Stalmans, Etienne , Hunter, Samuel O , Irwin, Barry V W
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/429799 , vital:72640 , 10.1109/ISSA.2012.6320433
- Description: Botnets consist of thousands of hosts infected with malware. Botnet owners communicate with these hosts using Command and Control (C2) servers. These C2 servers are usually infected hosts which the botnet owners do not have physical access to. For this reason botnets can be shut down by taking over or blocking the C2 servers. Botnet owners have employed numerous shutdown avoidance techniques. One of these techniques, DNS Fast-Flux, relies on rapidly changing address records. The addresses returned by the Fast-Flux DNS servers consist of geographically widely distributed hosts. The distributed nature of Fast-Flux botnets differs from legitimate domains, which tend to have geographically clustered server locations. This paper examines the use of spatial autocorrelation techniques based on the geographic distribution of domain servers to detect Fast-Flux domains. Moran's I and Geary's C are used to produce classifiers using multiple geographic co-ordinate systems to produce efficient and accurate results. It is shown how Fast-Flux domains can be detected reliably while only a small percentage of false positives are produced.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Government-sponsored community development projects as poverty alleviation tools: evidence from Mdantsane, East London
- Authors: Gedze, Ntombebhongo
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Economic development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Poverty -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agricultural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agriculture and state -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Eastern Cape -- South Africa , Poverty alleviation , Community participation , Mdantsane Township
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Soc Sc (Rural Development)
- Identifier: vital:11948 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1005995 , Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Economic development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Poverty -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agricultural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agriculture and state -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Eastern Cape -- South Africa , Poverty alleviation , Community participation , Mdantsane Township
- Description: The study investigates whether government-sponsored community development projects in the township of Mdantsane, Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, South Africa, have achieved the intended goal of alleviating poverty among the beneficiaries. The specific outcomes of poverty alleviation are: improved income, acquisition of new skills, reduced dependence on welfare grants. Four urban farming projects were selected, namely: Buffalo City Organic Producers, Sakhisizwe Nursery, Lusindiso Farmer’s Trading Co-operative and Mbombela Co-operative. Focus group discussions and a mini survey were conducted with project beneficiaries, while relevant government officials were interviewed. Conceptual insights were drawn from community development theory. The findings showed that the broader context within which the projects occurred was characterised by a pro-poor social policy, relative availability of resources with which to translate it into action, and a measure of entrepreneurial potential amongst community members. However, while one of the projects showed some promise (in the sense that beneficiaries acquired new skills and had a generally positive attitude despite not enjoying any improved income status), all the others appeared doomed and trapped in dynamics such as: excessive government control of the management of the initiatives, ineffective project monitoring, and the mischaracterisation of the initiatives by both the government and the beneficiaries. A distorted sense of ownership and perverse community participation seemed to prevail, which in turn robbed the initiatives of their poverty alleviation potential. The study thus concluded that specific benefactor-beneficiary dynamics are crucial for the success of a given anti-poverty intervention. A robust pro-poor social policy, availability of resources with which to translate it into action, and local entrepreneurial potential do not in themselves bring about success; they must operate in a certain way and be undergirded by certain principles for them to become a powerful mechanism for alleviating poverty. It is against this background that the researcher offers some recommendations.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Gedze, Ntombebhongo
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Economic development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Poverty -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agricultural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agriculture and state -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Eastern Cape -- South Africa , Poverty alleviation , Community participation , Mdantsane Township
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Soc Sc (Rural Development)
- Identifier: vital:11948 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1005995 , Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Economic development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Poverty -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agricultural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agriculture and state -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Eastern Cape -- South Africa , Poverty alleviation , Community participation , Mdantsane Township
- Description: The study investigates whether government-sponsored community development projects in the township of Mdantsane, Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, South Africa, have achieved the intended goal of alleviating poverty among the beneficiaries. The specific outcomes of poverty alleviation are: improved income, acquisition of new skills, reduced dependence on welfare grants. Four urban farming projects were selected, namely: Buffalo City Organic Producers, Sakhisizwe Nursery, Lusindiso Farmer’s Trading Co-operative and Mbombela Co-operative. Focus group discussions and a mini survey were conducted with project beneficiaries, while relevant government officials were interviewed. Conceptual insights were drawn from community development theory. The findings showed that the broader context within which the projects occurred was characterised by a pro-poor social policy, relative availability of resources with which to translate it into action, and a measure of entrepreneurial potential amongst community members. However, while one of the projects showed some promise (in the sense that beneficiaries acquired new skills and had a generally positive attitude despite not enjoying any improved income status), all the others appeared doomed and trapped in dynamics such as: excessive government control of the management of the initiatives, ineffective project monitoring, and the mischaracterisation of the initiatives by both the government and the beneficiaries. A distorted sense of ownership and perverse community participation seemed to prevail, which in turn robbed the initiatives of their poverty alleviation potential. The study thus concluded that specific benefactor-beneficiary dynamics are crucial for the success of a given anti-poverty intervention. A robust pro-poor social policy, availability of resources with which to translate it into action, and local entrepreneurial potential do not in themselves bring about success; they must operate in a certain way and be undergirded by certain principles for them to become a powerful mechanism for alleviating poverty. It is against this background that the researcher offers some recommendations.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
GPF : a framework for general packet classification on GPU co-processors
- Authors: Nottingham, Alastair
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Graphics processing units , Coprocessors , Computer network protocols , Computer networks -- Security measures , NVIDIA Corporation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4661 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006662 , Graphics processing units , Coprocessors , Computer network protocols , Computer networks -- Security measures , NVIDIA Corporation
- Description: This thesis explores the design and experimental implementation of GPF, a novel protocol-independent, multi-match packet classification framework. This framework is targeted and optimised for flexible, efficient execution on NVIDIA GPU platforms through the CUDA API, but should not be difficult to port to other platforms, such as OpenCL, in the future. GPF was conceived and developed in order to accelerate classification of large packet capture files, such as those collected by Network Telescopes. It uses a multiphase SIMD classification process which exploits both the parallelism of packet sets and the redundancy in filter programs, in order to classify packet captures against multiple filters at extremely high rates. The resultant framework - comprised of classification, compilation and buffering components - efficiently leverages GPU resources to classify arbitrary protocols, and return multiple filter results for each packet. The classification functions described were verified and evaluated by testing an experimental prototype implementation against several filter programs, of varying complexity, on devices from three GPU platform generations. In addition to the significant speedup achieved in processing results, analysis indicates that the prototype classification functions perform predictably, and scale linearly with respect to both packet count and filter complexity. Furthermore, classification throughput (packets/s) remained essentially constant regardless of the underlying packet data, and thus the effective data rate when classifying a particular filter was heavily influenced by the average size of packets in the processed capture. For example: in the trivial case of classifying all IPv4 packets ranging in size from 70 bytes to 1KB, the observed data rate achieved by the GPU classification kernels ranged from 60Gbps to 900Gbps on a GTX 275, and from 220Gbps to 3.3Tbps on a GTX 480. In the less trivial case of identifying all ARP, TCP, UDP and ICMP packets for both IPv4 and IPv6 protocols, the effective data rates ranged from 15Gbps to 220Gbps (GTX 275), and from 50Gbps to 740Gbps (GTX 480), for 70B and 1KB packets respectively. , LaTeX with hyperref package
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Nottingham, Alastair
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Graphics processing units , Coprocessors , Computer network protocols , Computer networks -- Security measures , NVIDIA Corporation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4661 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006662 , Graphics processing units , Coprocessors , Computer network protocols , Computer networks -- Security measures , NVIDIA Corporation
- Description: This thesis explores the design and experimental implementation of GPF, a novel protocol-independent, multi-match packet classification framework. This framework is targeted and optimised for flexible, efficient execution on NVIDIA GPU platforms through the CUDA API, but should not be difficult to port to other platforms, such as OpenCL, in the future. GPF was conceived and developed in order to accelerate classification of large packet capture files, such as those collected by Network Telescopes. It uses a multiphase SIMD classification process which exploits both the parallelism of packet sets and the redundancy in filter programs, in order to classify packet captures against multiple filters at extremely high rates. The resultant framework - comprised of classification, compilation and buffering components - efficiently leverages GPU resources to classify arbitrary protocols, and return multiple filter results for each packet. The classification functions described were verified and evaluated by testing an experimental prototype implementation against several filter programs, of varying complexity, on devices from three GPU platform generations. In addition to the significant speedup achieved in processing results, analysis indicates that the prototype classification functions perform predictably, and scale linearly with respect to both packet count and filter complexity. Furthermore, classification throughput (packets/s) remained essentially constant regardless of the underlying packet data, and thus the effective data rate when classifying a particular filter was heavily influenced by the average size of packets in the processed capture. For example: in the trivial case of classifying all IPv4 packets ranging in size from 70 bytes to 1KB, the observed data rate achieved by the GPU classification kernels ranged from 60Gbps to 900Gbps on a GTX 275, and from 220Gbps to 3.3Tbps on a GTX 480. In the less trivial case of identifying all ARP, TCP, UDP and ICMP packets for both IPv4 and IPv6 protocols, the effective data rates ranged from 15Gbps to 220Gbps (GTX 275), and from 50Gbps to 740Gbps (GTX 480), for 70B and 1KB packets respectively. , LaTeX with hyperref package
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Gravitational entropy and thermodynamics away from the horizon
- Authors: Brustein, R , Medved, A J M
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6818 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004328
- Description: We define, by an integral of geometric quantities over a spherical shell of arbitrary radius, an invariant gravitational entropy. This definition relies on defining a gravitational energy and pressure, and it reduces at the horizon of both black branes and black holes to Wald's Noether charge entropy. We support the thermodynamic interpretation of the proposed entropy by showing that, for some cases, the field theory duals of the entropy, energy and pressure are the same as the corresponding quantities in the field theory. In this context, the Einstein equations are equivalent to the field theory thermodynamic relation TdS=dE+PdV supplemented by an equation of state
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Brustein, R , Medved, A J M
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6818 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004328
- Description: We define, by an integral of geometric quantities over a spherical shell of arbitrary radius, an invariant gravitational entropy. This definition relies on defining a gravitational energy and pressure, and it reduces at the horizon of both black branes and black holes to Wald's Noether charge entropy. We support the thermodynamic interpretation of the proposed entropy by showing that, for some cases, the field theory duals of the entropy, energy and pressure are the same as the corresponding quantities in the field theory. In this context, the Einstein equations are equivalent to the field theory thermodynamic relation TdS=dE+PdV supplemented by an equation of state
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Graviton n-point functions for UV-complete theories in Anti-de Sitter space
- Authors: Brustein, R , Medved, A J M
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: text , Article
- Identifier: vital:6820 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004427
- Description: We calculate graviton n-point functions in an anti-de Sitter black brane background for effective gravity theories whose linearized equations of motion have at most two time derivatives. We compare the n-point functions in Einstein gravity to those in theories whose leading correction is quadratic in the Riemann tensor. The comparison is made for any number of gravitons and for all physical graviton modes in a kinematic region for which the leading correction can significantly modify the Einstein result. We find that the n-point functions of Einstein gravity depend on at most a single angle, whereas those of the corrected theories may depend on two angles. For the four-point functions, Einstein gravity exhibits linear dependence on the Mandelstam variable s versus a quadratic dependence on s for the corrected theory.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Brustein, R , Medved, A J M
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: text , Article
- Identifier: vital:6820 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004427
- Description: We calculate graviton n-point functions in an anti-de Sitter black brane background for effective gravity theories whose linearized equations of motion have at most two time derivatives. We compare the n-point functions in Einstein gravity to those in theories whose leading correction is quadratic in the Riemann tensor. The comparison is made for any number of gravitons and for all physical graviton modes in a kinematic region for which the leading correction can significantly modify the Einstein result. We find that the n-point functions of Einstein gravity depend on at most a single angle, whereas those of the corrected theories may depend on two angles. For the four-point functions, Einstein gravity exhibits linear dependence on the Mandelstam variable s versus a quadratic dependence on s for the corrected theory.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Green business and environmental issues: family versus non-family business
- Grobler, Marthinus Petrus Johannes
- Authors: Grobler, Marthinus Petrus Johannes
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Environmental impact analysis -- South Africa , Family-owned business enterprises
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8636 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1008058 , Environmental impact analysis -- South Africa , Family-owned business enterprises
- Description: The aim of the study was to understand whether family businesses and non-family business differ from one another regarding green business and environmental issues. Green business issues are of global importance for the continued existence of business within the world. Businesses do not exist in isolation but within the context of the environment within which they function. Business has an impact on the environment and the environment has an impact on business. Furthermore, family businesses constitute a large part of the world economy and estimates range from 60-90 percent of GDP contributed by family businesses. In the South African context family businesses also form a significant part of the business environment. A literature study was conducted. The study identified five factors and considered each of these factors in the study. The five factors are: Green Business; Values; Stewardship; Succession; and, Stakeholders. In addition to a literature, primary research was conducted and data were collected by means of a questionnaire that collected data on the factors identified as well as some biographical information, including race, age and the sectors in which the respondents operated. The study’s findings correspond with the literature study, although no clear difference was found between family business and non-family business relating to green business and environmental issues. Family businesses do however believe that they are stewards of the environment and need to care for the environment.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Grobler, Marthinus Petrus Johannes
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Environmental impact analysis -- South Africa , Family-owned business enterprises
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8636 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1008058 , Environmental impact analysis -- South Africa , Family-owned business enterprises
- Description: The aim of the study was to understand whether family businesses and non-family business differ from one another regarding green business and environmental issues. Green business issues are of global importance for the continued existence of business within the world. Businesses do not exist in isolation but within the context of the environment within which they function. Business has an impact on the environment and the environment has an impact on business. Furthermore, family businesses constitute a large part of the world economy and estimates range from 60-90 percent of GDP contributed by family businesses. In the South African context family businesses also form a significant part of the business environment. A literature study was conducted. The study identified five factors and considered each of these factors in the study. The five factors are: Green Business; Values; Stewardship; Succession; and, Stakeholders. In addition to a literature, primary research was conducted and data were collected by means of a questionnaire that collected data on the factors identified as well as some biographical information, including race, age and the sectors in which the respondents operated. The study’s findings correspond with the literature study, although no clear difference was found between family business and non-family business relating to green business and environmental issues. Family businesses do however believe that they are stewards of the environment and need to care for the environment.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Growth and characterization of ZnO nanorods using chemical bath deposition
- Authors: Urgessa, Zelalem Nigussa
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Zinc oxide , Photoluminescence , Semiconductor nanocrystals , Semiconductors -- Materials , Chemical reactions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:10559 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021124 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021119
- Description: Semiconductor devices are commonplace in every household. One application of semiconductors in particular, namely solid state lighting technology, is destined for a bright future. To this end, ZnO nanostructures have gained substantial interest in the research community, in part because of its requisite large direct band gap. Furthermore, the stability of the exciton (binding energy 60 meV) in this material, can lead to lasing action based on exciton recombination and possibly exciton interaction, even above room temperature. Therefore, it is very important to realize controllable growth of ZnO nanostructures and investigate their properties. The main motivation for this thesis is not only to successfully realize the controllable growth of ZnO nanorods, but also to investigate the structure, optical and electrical properties in detail by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy (steady state and time resolved) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Furthermore, strong rectification in the ZnO/p-Si heterojunction is demonstrated. Nanorods have been successfully synthesized on silicon by a two-step process, involving the pre-coating of the substrate by a seed layer, followed by the chemical bath deposition of the nanorods. ZnO seed layers with particle sizes of about 5 nm are achieved by the thermal decomposition of zinc acetate dihydrate dissolved in ethanol. The effects of the seed layer density on the distribution, alignment and uniformity of subsequently grown nanorods were studied. The aspect ratio, orientation and distribution of nanorods are shown to be well controlled through adjusting the density of the ZnO nanoparticles pre-coated onto the substrates. It is shown that the seed layer is a prerequisite for the growth of well aligned ZnO nanorods on lattice mismatched Si substrate. The influence of various nanorod growth parameters on the morphology, optical and electrical properties of the nanorods were also systematically studied. These include the oxygen to zinc molar ratio, the pH of the growth solution, the concentration of the reactants, the growth temperature and growth time, different hydroxide precursors and the addition of surface passivating agents to the growth solution. By controlling these xii parameters different architectures of nanostructures, like spherical particles, well aligned nanorods, nanoflowers and thin films of different thicknesses are demonstrated. A possible growth mechanism for ZnO nanostructures in solution is proposed. XRD indicated that all the as-grown nanostructures produced above 45 C crystallize in the wurtzite structure and post growth annealing does not significantly enhance the crystalline quality of the material. In material grown at lower temperature, traces of zinc hydroxide were observed. The optical quality of the nanostructures was investigated using both steady-state PL and time-resolved (TR) PL from 4 K to room temperature. In the case of as-grown samples, both UV and defect related emissions have been observed for all nanostructures. The effect of post-growth annealing on the optical quality of the nanostructures was carefully examined. The effect of annealing in different atmospheres was also investigated. Regardless of the annealing environment annealing at a temperature as low as 300 C enhances the UV emission and suppresses defect related deep level emission. However, annealing above 500 C is required to out-diffuse hydrogen, the presence of which is deduced from the I4 line in the low temperature PL spectra of ZnO. TRPL was utilized to investigate lifetime decay profiles of nanorods upon different post growth treatments. The bound exciton lifetime strongly depends on the post-growth annealing temperature: the PL decay time is much faster for as grown rods, confirming the domination of surface assisted recombination. In general, the PL analysis showed that the PL of nanorods have the same characteristics as that of bulk ZnO, except for the stronger contribution from surface related bound excitons in the former case. Surface adsorbed impurities causing depletion and band bending in the near surface region is implied from both time resolved and steady state PL. Finally, although strong rectification in the ZnO/p-Si heterojunction is illustrated, no electroluminescence has been achieved. This is explained in terms of the band offset between ZnO and Si and interfacial states. Different schemes are proposed to improve the performance of ZnO/Si heterojunction light emitting devices.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Urgessa, Zelalem Nigussa
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Zinc oxide , Photoluminescence , Semiconductor nanocrystals , Semiconductors -- Materials , Chemical reactions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:10559 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021124 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021119
- Description: Semiconductor devices are commonplace in every household. One application of semiconductors in particular, namely solid state lighting technology, is destined for a bright future. To this end, ZnO nanostructures have gained substantial interest in the research community, in part because of its requisite large direct band gap. Furthermore, the stability of the exciton (binding energy 60 meV) in this material, can lead to lasing action based on exciton recombination and possibly exciton interaction, even above room temperature. Therefore, it is very important to realize controllable growth of ZnO nanostructures and investigate their properties. The main motivation for this thesis is not only to successfully realize the controllable growth of ZnO nanorods, but also to investigate the structure, optical and electrical properties in detail by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy (steady state and time resolved) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Furthermore, strong rectification in the ZnO/p-Si heterojunction is demonstrated. Nanorods have been successfully synthesized on silicon by a two-step process, involving the pre-coating of the substrate by a seed layer, followed by the chemical bath deposition of the nanorods. ZnO seed layers with particle sizes of about 5 nm are achieved by the thermal decomposition of zinc acetate dihydrate dissolved in ethanol. The effects of the seed layer density on the distribution, alignment and uniformity of subsequently grown nanorods were studied. The aspect ratio, orientation and distribution of nanorods are shown to be well controlled through adjusting the density of the ZnO nanoparticles pre-coated onto the substrates. It is shown that the seed layer is a prerequisite for the growth of well aligned ZnO nanorods on lattice mismatched Si substrate. The influence of various nanorod growth parameters on the morphology, optical and electrical properties of the nanorods were also systematically studied. These include the oxygen to zinc molar ratio, the pH of the growth solution, the concentration of the reactants, the growth temperature and growth time, different hydroxide precursors and the addition of surface passivating agents to the growth solution. By controlling these xii parameters different architectures of nanostructures, like spherical particles, well aligned nanorods, nanoflowers and thin films of different thicknesses are demonstrated. A possible growth mechanism for ZnO nanostructures in solution is proposed. XRD indicated that all the as-grown nanostructures produced above 45 C crystallize in the wurtzite structure and post growth annealing does not significantly enhance the crystalline quality of the material. In material grown at lower temperature, traces of zinc hydroxide were observed. The optical quality of the nanostructures was investigated using both steady-state PL and time-resolved (TR) PL from 4 K to room temperature. In the case of as-grown samples, both UV and defect related emissions have been observed for all nanostructures. The effect of post-growth annealing on the optical quality of the nanostructures was carefully examined. The effect of annealing in different atmospheres was also investigated. Regardless of the annealing environment annealing at a temperature as low as 300 C enhances the UV emission and suppresses defect related deep level emission. However, annealing above 500 C is required to out-diffuse hydrogen, the presence of which is deduced from the I4 line in the low temperature PL spectra of ZnO. TRPL was utilized to investigate lifetime decay profiles of nanorods upon different post growth treatments. The bound exciton lifetime strongly depends on the post-growth annealing temperature: the PL decay time is much faster for as grown rods, confirming the domination of surface assisted recombination. In general, the PL analysis showed that the PL of nanorods have the same characteristics as that of bulk ZnO, except for the stronger contribution from surface related bound excitons in the former case. Surface adsorbed impurities causing depletion and band bending in the near surface region is implied from both time resolved and steady state PL. Finally, although strong rectification in the ZnO/p-Si heterojunction is illustrated, no electroluminescence has been achieved. This is explained in terms of the band offset between ZnO and Si and interfacial states. Different schemes are proposed to improve the performance of ZnO/Si heterojunction light emitting devices.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Guidelines for the adaptation of the TETRA educational programme at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University to address human behavioural issues
- Authors: Fouche Nico Pieter
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University -- Communication systems , Human behavior
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9801 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1012248 , Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University -- Communication systems , Human behavior
- Description: Information is a vitally important asset to organizations and the information should be protected to sustain the value it provides to the organization. Information is transferred via different mediums in these organizations. An example would be Terrestrial Trunked Radio or TETRA, which is utilized within organizations to provide a technically very secure form of digital radio communication. TETRA is a communications technology that is currently being successfully used throughout the world for secure, reliable and robust critical communication. TETRA is used by Public Safety and Security (PSS) and transportation sectors, amongst others. PSS includes police officers, fire marshals and emergency medical units who require protected and accurate information that could influence decisions that could make difference between life and death. The TETRA educational programme offered by the TETRA Academy at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU), educates TETRA users in various aspects of the TETRA standard. TETRA is viewed as a technically very secure communication standard, as it utilizes security features such as mutual authentication, air interface encryption, end-to-end encryption, jamming detection and ambience listening, amongst other security techniques to ensure that the information traversing through the network is kept secure. The TETRA educational programme material includes many physical and technical controls to assist TETRA users in protecting information. However, to what extent does the TETRA educational programme address operational controls? Operational controls address what is often referred to as the weakest link in information security – human behavioural issues. Humans can be exploited through human manipulation attacks, which include social engineering and bribery. Therefore, this study argues towards adapting the TETRA educational programme offered at the NMMU to address these human behavioural issues.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Fouche Nico Pieter
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University -- Communication systems , Human behavior
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9801 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1012248 , Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University -- Communication systems , Human behavior
- Description: Information is a vitally important asset to organizations and the information should be protected to sustain the value it provides to the organization. Information is transferred via different mediums in these organizations. An example would be Terrestrial Trunked Radio or TETRA, which is utilized within organizations to provide a technically very secure form of digital radio communication. TETRA is a communications technology that is currently being successfully used throughout the world for secure, reliable and robust critical communication. TETRA is used by Public Safety and Security (PSS) and transportation sectors, amongst others. PSS includes police officers, fire marshals and emergency medical units who require protected and accurate information that could influence decisions that could make difference between life and death. The TETRA educational programme offered by the TETRA Academy at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU), educates TETRA users in various aspects of the TETRA standard. TETRA is viewed as a technically very secure communication standard, as it utilizes security features such as mutual authentication, air interface encryption, end-to-end encryption, jamming detection and ambience listening, amongst other security techniques to ensure that the information traversing through the network is kept secure. The TETRA educational programme material includes many physical and technical controls to assist TETRA users in protecting information. However, to what extent does the TETRA educational programme address operational controls? Operational controls address what is often referred to as the weakest link in information security – human behavioural issues. Humans can be exploited through human manipulation attacks, which include social engineering and bribery. Therefore, this study argues towards adapting the TETRA educational programme offered at the NMMU to address these human behavioural issues.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Guidelines for the design of a mobile phone application for deaf people
- Authors: Yeratziotis, George
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Mobile communication systems -- Design and construction , Deaf -- Means of communication
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9750 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1007925 , Mobile communication systems -- Design and construction , Deaf -- Means of communication
- Description: Deaf people in South Africa are no longer a minority group and their needs regarding communication and interaction must therefore be taken into consideration. This demographic does not communicate and interact in the same way as hearing people, which means that any existing usability or accessibility guidelines do not apply. As a result, Deaf people do not have access to information in the same way that a hearing person does. Providing proper access to Information and Communications Technology services, which meet their particular needs, will help the hearing impaired to better integrate into society. The importance of demolishing the communication barrier between the hearing and the hearing impaired is very important. Many people assume that sign language is somehow based on oral language. However, this is not the case. Sign languages are natural visual-spatial languages, and form a contrast with spoken languages which are auditory-vocal based. Acknowledging this fact in 2008, the South African Sign Language Policy Implementation Conference together with several governmental bodies suggested that South African Sign Language should become recognized as the 12th official language of South Africa. Due to the fact that cell phone technology continues to evolve, it will remain a tool of communication upon which Deaf people heavily rely on. The cell phone fulfils a basic need for everyone, but especially for the Deaf demographic as they rely on the short message system to communicate. Deaf people are currently faced with a lack of appropriate mobile phone applications, which would allow them to communicate with hearing as well as deaf people. The primary objective of this research was therefore to make mobile technology equally accessible meaning usable to members of the Deaf demographic. The focus of the research was to investigate the communication barrier and a range of variables that can influence the deaf user’s experience. Topics such as user interface design, usability and interaction were investigated. The outcome of this research was to propose a set of guidelines that, when applied to the design of a website or to phone application accessibility, would ensure communication and interaction from a deaf user. The proposed set of guidelines was then applied to the design of the high fidelity prototype of a mobile phone application. The specific application is a messaging phone application that allows deaf users to communicate with other deaf and hearing users via short message system. A mobile phone application that allows Deaf people to send and receive messages based on the sign language alphabet. The application was named Signchat. Purpose of this was to visibly display how the guidelines were implemented in Signchat. While Signchat’s main purpose is to accommodate the needs of Deaf people, it is also a learning tool and an application that bridges the gap by allowing deaf and hearing users to communicate.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Yeratziotis, George
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Mobile communication systems -- Design and construction , Deaf -- Means of communication
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9750 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1007925 , Mobile communication systems -- Design and construction , Deaf -- Means of communication
- Description: Deaf people in South Africa are no longer a minority group and their needs regarding communication and interaction must therefore be taken into consideration. This demographic does not communicate and interact in the same way as hearing people, which means that any existing usability or accessibility guidelines do not apply. As a result, Deaf people do not have access to information in the same way that a hearing person does. Providing proper access to Information and Communications Technology services, which meet their particular needs, will help the hearing impaired to better integrate into society. The importance of demolishing the communication barrier between the hearing and the hearing impaired is very important. Many people assume that sign language is somehow based on oral language. However, this is not the case. Sign languages are natural visual-spatial languages, and form a contrast with spoken languages which are auditory-vocal based. Acknowledging this fact in 2008, the South African Sign Language Policy Implementation Conference together with several governmental bodies suggested that South African Sign Language should become recognized as the 12th official language of South Africa. Due to the fact that cell phone technology continues to evolve, it will remain a tool of communication upon which Deaf people heavily rely on. The cell phone fulfils a basic need for everyone, but especially for the Deaf demographic as they rely on the short message system to communicate. Deaf people are currently faced with a lack of appropriate mobile phone applications, which would allow them to communicate with hearing as well as deaf people. The primary objective of this research was therefore to make mobile technology equally accessible meaning usable to members of the Deaf demographic. The focus of the research was to investigate the communication barrier and a range of variables that can influence the deaf user’s experience. Topics such as user interface design, usability and interaction were investigated. The outcome of this research was to propose a set of guidelines that, when applied to the design of a website or to phone application accessibility, would ensure communication and interaction from a deaf user. The proposed set of guidelines was then applied to the design of the high fidelity prototype of a mobile phone application. The specific application is a messaging phone application that allows deaf users to communicate with other deaf and hearing users via short message system. A mobile phone application that allows Deaf people to send and receive messages based on the sign language alphabet. The application was named Signchat. Purpose of this was to visibly display how the guidelines were implemented in Signchat. While Signchat’s main purpose is to accommodate the needs of Deaf people, it is also a learning tool and an application that bridges the gap by allowing deaf and hearing users to communicate.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Guidelines to establish an e-safety awareness in South Africa
- Authors: De Lange, Mariska
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Internet and children--Safety measures , Internet in education , Online etiquette
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9747 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1007863 , Internet and children--Safety measures , Internet in education , Online etiquette
- Description: Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has become an integral part of almost every individual’s life. Although ICT, particularly the Internet, might offer numerous opportunities, individuals should also be aware of the associated risks. Especially with the younger generations who can be seen as being the most vulnerable to online dangers as they are becoming more involved in online activities. Children are utilizing new technologies from an early age and should know how to keep themselves and others safe whilst accessing the Internet. However, most of them do not have the required knowledge and expertise to protect themselves. This is because, under most circumstances, the parents do not understand their children’s online behaviours and activities and are, therefore, unable to teach their children how to utilize it safe and responsibly. A school can be seen as the perfect place to teach children safe online behaviours. However, there is currently a definite lack of e-Safety in South African schools, because no e-Safety policies are in place and there is little or nothing in curricula with regards to e-Safety. This can lead to additional concerns. The primary objective of this research study is, therefore, to develop, motivate and verify a framework that might contribute towards the development of an e-Safety culture. This e-Safety culture should allow individuals to adapt their behavior towards the secure utilization of ICT. However, for the purpose of this research study, the focus will primarily be on learners from primary and secondary schools.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: De Lange, Mariska
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Internet and children--Safety measures , Internet in education , Online etiquette
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9747 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1007863 , Internet and children--Safety measures , Internet in education , Online etiquette
- Description: Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has become an integral part of almost every individual’s life. Although ICT, particularly the Internet, might offer numerous opportunities, individuals should also be aware of the associated risks. Especially with the younger generations who can be seen as being the most vulnerable to online dangers as they are becoming more involved in online activities. Children are utilizing new technologies from an early age and should know how to keep themselves and others safe whilst accessing the Internet. However, most of them do not have the required knowledge and expertise to protect themselves. This is because, under most circumstances, the parents do not understand their children’s online behaviours and activities and are, therefore, unable to teach their children how to utilize it safe and responsibly. A school can be seen as the perfect place to teach children safe online behaviours. However, there is currently a definite lack of e-Safety in South African schools, because no e-Safety policies are in place and there is little or nothing in curricula with regards to e-Safety. This can lead to additional concerns. The primary objective of this research study is, therefore, to develop, motivate and verify a framework that might contribute towards the development of an e-Safety culture. This e-Safety culture should allow individuals to adapt their behavior towards the secure utilization of ICT. However, for the purpose of this research study, the focus will primarily be on learners from primary and secondary schools.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Guy Butler’s South Africanism: ‘Being present where you are’
- Authors: Wright, Laurence
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: vital:7069 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007460 , https://doi.org/10.1080/10131752.2012.730182
- Description: preprint , A peer-reviewed lecture delivered at Rhodes University on the occasion of the presentation to Professor Wright of the English Academy's Gold Medal, 16 November 2011. Guy Butler (1918-2001) has been gone some ten years. This lecture sets out to illuminate the thinking behind his important role in South Africa's national life. The institutions he created continue to make vital cultural contributions in South Africa's efforts to make sense of its own complex historical make-up, working towards a happier, richer, and more equal future. However, despite what he achieved, there is little surety that today the rationale informing his massive effort to foster processes of artistic and cultural endeavour has been appreciated or accurately understood.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Wright, Laurence
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: vital:7069 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007460 , https://doi.org/10.1080/10131752.2012.730182
- Description: preprint , A peer-reviewed lecture delivered at Rhodes University on the occasion of the presentation to Professor Wright of the English Academy's Gold Medal, 16 November 2011. Guy Butler (1918-2001) has been gone some ten years. This lecture sets out to illuminate the thinking behind his important role in South Africa's national life. The institutions he created continue to make vital cultural contributions in South Africa's efforts to make sense of its own complex historical make-up, working towards a happier, richer, and more equal future. However, despite what he achieved, there is little surety that today the rationale informing his massive effort to foster processes of artistic and cultural endeavour has been appreciated or accurately understood.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Haul Music : transnationalism and musical performance in the Saharaui refugee camps of Tindouf, Algeria
- Authors: Gimenez Amoros, Luis
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Bedouins -- Music -- Research Sahrawi (African people) -- Migrations Social change -- Arab countries Arab countries -- Social life and customs Civilization, Arab
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MMus
- Identifier: vital:2637 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002302
- Description: The thesis presents ethnographic data and musical analysis (in the form of transcriptions) of Haul music which is the music style performed by Bedouin societies in Trab el Bidan region (Mauritania, Western Sahara, northern Mali, southern Algeria and northern Morocco). It is based on field research undertaken in Algeria in 2004-05 in the refugee camps of Tindouf, Algeria, where Saharaui people (a Bedouin society)live in exile. This research is unique and original as Haul has not, until now, been explored in depth by any scholar. My research on Haul reveals that the changes in Saharaui music in the refugee camps of Tindouf reflect changes in the musical traditions of Bedouin societies as whole; changes that can be traced to the revolution which occurred in Western Sahara in 1975, and changes that are a result of the migrations and life in exile that followed. I argue that these changes occurred due to the transnational experiences undergone by Saharaui people in their forced exile (caused by the Moroccan state) from their homeland in Western Sahara to Algeria. Further, I assert that the invocation of memory in Bedouin musical styles is evidence of past musical practices being retained in contemporary Haul performance, although other musical changes are similarly in progress.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Gimenez Amoros, Luis
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Bedouins -- Music -- Research Sahrawi (African people) -- Migrations Social change -- Arab countries Arab countries -- Social life and customs Civilization, Arab
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MMus
- Identifier: vital:2637 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002302
- Description: The thesis presents ethnographic data and musical analysis (in the form of transcriptions) of Haul music which is the music style performed by Bedouin societies in Trab el Bidan region (Mauritania, Western Sahara, northern Mali, southern Algeria and northern Morocco). It is based on field research undertaken in Algeria in 2004-05 in the refugee camps of Tindouf, Algeria, where Saharaui people (a Bedouin society)live in exile. This research is unique and original as Haul has not, until now, been explored in depth by any scholar. My research on Haul reveals that the changes in Saharaui music in the refugee camps of Tindouf reflect changes in the musical traditions of Bedouin societies as whole; changes that can be traced to the revolution which occurred in Western Sahara in 1975, and changes that are a result of the migrations and life in exile that followed. I argue that these changes occurred due to the transnational experiences undergone by Saharaui people in their forced exile (caused by the Moroccan state) from their homeland in Western Sahara to Algeria. Further, I assert that the invocation of memory in Bedouin musical styles is evidence of past musical practices being retained in contemporary Haul performance, although other musical changes are similarly in progress.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Having a phone, having style:
- Authors: Schoon, Alette
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/159506 , vital:40303 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC135828
- Description: It was dusk, and a group of young men with a dog trailing behind them, were walking past on a dusty township road in Hooggenoeg, an RDP village on the rim of the Grahamstown bowl. While they ambled along, one was holding up a mobile phone on which music was playing, dancing while he walked. This was exactly the kind of thing I was hoping to observe in my new identity as researcher and participant observer, and was why I had agreed to judge the Hooggenoeg fashion show which turned out to be more of a beauty competition. While I'm not generally fond of these kind of shows and the way they essentialise beauty, I agreed because I wanted to get more of a sense of how mobile phones are integrated into the everyday lives of these young adults.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Schoon, Alette
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/159506 , vital:40303 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC135828
- Description: It was dusk, and a group of young men with a dog trailing behind them, were walking past on a dusty township road in Hooggenoeg, an RDP village on the rim of the Grahamstown bowl. While they ambled along, one was holding up a mobile phone on which music was playing, dancing while he walked. This was exactly the kind of thing I was hoping to observe in my new identity as researcher and participant observer, and was why I had agreed to judge the Hooggenoeg fashion show which turned out to be more of a beauty competition. While I'm not generally fond of these kind of shows and the way they essentialise beauty, I agreed because I wanted to get more of a sense of how mobile phones are integrated into the everyday lives of these young adults.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Henry Williams : The Glasbury Bellfounder, and the production and tuning of bells
- Authors: Lewis, Colin A
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: Book chapter
- Identifier: vital:6159 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004779 , Full text available to the end of Chapter 2
- Description: The production and tuning of church bells is described before attention is paid to Henry Williams, the Glasbury bellfounder who died in 1722, and his bells. The bells of TP, his apparent successor are also described. Henry Williams was probably a member of the Williams family of Gwernyfed and was born c 1635. His presumed family connections are described. Bells known to have been cast by Henry Williams between 1677 and 1719 are listed; their distribution depicted; and their qualities assessed. The inventory of Williams' possessions at the time of his death is presented and discussed. Bells cast by TP during a brief foray into bell founding, apparently 1738-40, are described and their qualities assessed. TP was probably Benjamin Tanner (T), the industrialist specialising in iron production who succeeded Williams at the Pipton forge (P) in Aberllynfi parish near Glasbury, or Tanner (T) and Samuel Prichard (P). Prichard was the grandson of Henry Williams and his sole executor. , A complete copy of this book is available at The Whiting Society of Ringers at: http://www.whitingsociety.org.uk
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Lewis, Colin A
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: Book chapter
- Identifier: vital:6159 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004779 , Full text available to the end of Chapter 2
- Description: The production and tuning of church bells is described before attention is paid to Henry Williams, the Glasbury bellfounder who died in 1722, and his bells. The bells of TP, his apparent successor are also described. Henry Williams was probably a member of the Williams family of Gwernyfed and was born c 1635. His presumed family connections are described. Bells known to have been cast by Henry Williams between 1677 and 1719 are listed; their distribution depicted; and their qualities assessed. The inventory of Williams' possessions at the time of his death is presented and discussed. Bells cast by TP during a brief foray into bell founding, apparently 1738-40, are described and their qualities assessed. TP was probably Benjamin Tanner (T), the industrialist specialising in iron production who succeeded Williams at the Pipton forge (P) in Aberllynfi parish near Glasbury, or Tanner (T) and Samuel Prichard (P). Prichard was the grandson of Henry Williams and his sole executor. , A complete copy of this book is available at The Whiting Society of Ringers at: http://www.whitingsociety.org.uk
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
High pressure liquid chromatographic quantification of nitrile biocatalysis
- Authors: Mathiba, Kgama
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: High performance liquid chromatography , Rhodococcus , Biocatalysis , Organic compounds -- Industrial applications
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4129 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1015710
- Description: Nitrile biocatalysts are of use in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries for the synthesis of carboxyamides and carboxylic acids. In particular, the application of biocatalysts in the synthesis of single enantiomer compounds is of increasing interest, but requires novel substrate specific highly stereoselective biocatalysts. Addition to the limited toolbox of known nitrile biocatalysts requires definitive characterisation of the biocatalysts through accurate determination of the substrate profiles and quantification of activity. The accurate quantification of stereoisomers chiral mixtures to determine biocatalyst stereoselectivity remains a significant challenge due to the difficulty in separating stereoisomers by physical methods. The known nitrile metabolising organism, Rhodococcus rhodochrous ATCC BAA-870, was grown in a defined medium and harvested, providing whole cell biocatalyst. Additional biomass was disrupted to provide a cell free enzyme extract, which was put through an enzyme purification protocol to provide a solution with specific activity of 351 U.mg⁻¹. A portion of the enzyme was self immobilised using the SphereZyme™ technique. The nitrile hydratase SphereZymes™ (1.2 U.mg⁻¹ initial activity) that were prepared had pH and temperature optima of 6 and 30°C respectively, and could be recovered by repeated washing. The particles retained activity in the presence of the organic solvents isooctane and n-hexadecane saturated with 50 mM phosphate buffer (pH 7.5). An initial analytical system was devised for quantification of the nitrile hydratase activity using the non-chiral substrate benzonitrile. An improved reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography method was developed to separate and quantify benzamide, benzoic acid and benzonitrile. The mobile phase consisting of 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid in H₂O and acetonitrile (70:30, %v/v), at a flow rate of 0.5 ml.ml⁻¹, 25°C, resolved all three analytes in 3.5 minutes on a Waters X-Terra MS C18 3.5μm column. UV detection was carried out at 210 nm. Analytical methods to determine activity and enantioselectivity of the whole cell biocatalyst were subsequently developed for both β-amino nitriles and β-hydroxy nitrile substrates and hydrolysis products.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Mathiba, Kgama
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: High performance liquid chromatography , Rhodococcus , Biocatalysis , Organic compounds -- Industrial applications
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4129 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1015710
- Description: Nitrile biocatalysts are of use in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries for the synthesis of carboxyamides and carboxylic acids. In particular, the application of biocatalysts in the synthesis of single enantiomer compounds is of increasing interest, but requires novel substrate specific highly stereoselective biocatalysts. Addition to the limited toolbox of known nitrile biocatalysts requires definitive characterisation of the biocatalysts through accurate determination of the substrate profiles and quantification of activity. The accurate quantification of stereoisomers chiral mixtures to determine biocatalyst stereoselectivity remains a significant challenge due to the difficulty in separating stereoisomers by physical methods. The known nitrile metabolising organism, Rhodococcus rhodochrous ATCC BAA-870, was grown in a defined medium and harvested, providing whole cell biocatalyst. Additional biomass was disrupted to provide a cell free enzyme extract, which was put through an enzyme purification protocol to provide a solution with specific activity of 351 U.mg⁻¹. A portion of the enzyme was self immobilised using the SphereZyme™ technique. The nitrile hydratase SphereZymes™ (1.2 U.mg⁻¹ initial activity) that were prepared had pH and temperature optima of 6 and 30°C respectively, and could be recovered by repeated washing. The particles retained activity in the presence of the organic solvents isooctane and n-hexadecane saturated with 50 mM phosphate buffer (pH 7.5). An initial analytical system was devised for quantification of the nitrile hydratase activity using the non-chiral substrate benzonitrile. An improved reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography method was developed to separate and quantify benzamide, benzoic acid and benzonitrile. The mobile phase consisting of 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid in H₂O and acetonitrile (70:30, %v/v), at a flow rate of 0.5 ml.ml⁻¹, 25°C, resolved all three analytes in 3.5 minutes on a Waters X-Terra MS C18 3.5μm column. UV detection was carried out at 210 nm. Analytical methods to determine activity and enantioselectivity of the whole cell biocatalyst were subsequently developed for both β-amino nitriles and β-hydroxy nitrile substrates and hydrolysis products.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Higher education, academic communities, and the intellectual virtues
- Authors: Jones, Ward E
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/275647 , vital:55066 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1111/edth.12005"
- Description: Because higher education brings members of academic communities in direct contact with students, the reflective higher education student is in an excellent position for developing two important intellectual virtues: confidence and humility. However, academic communities differ as to whether their members reach consensus, and their teaching practices reflect this difference. In this essay, Ward Jones argues that both consensus-reaching and non-consensus-reaching communities can encourage the development of intellectual confidence and humility in their students, although each will do so in very different ways.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Jones, Ward E
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/275647 , vital:55066 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1111/edth.12005"
- Description: Because higher education brings members of academic communities in direct contact with students, the reflective higher education student is in an excellent position for developing two important intellectual virtues: confidence and humility. However, academic communities differ as to whether their members reach consensus, and their teaching practices reflect this difference. In this essay, Ward Jones argues that both consensus-reaching and non-consensus-reaching communities can encourage the development of intellectual confidence and humility in their students, although each will do so in very different ways.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Histopathological changes in male wistar rats maintained on a water-based sutherlandia frutescens extract
- Authors: Wickens, Nicolas John
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Rats -- Physiology , Rats as laboratory animals
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/4742 , vital:20670
- Description: In this study a standardized 46 week chronic drinking water toxicity protocol was used to elucidate the toxic potential of Sutherlandia frutescens (S. frutescens) using histopathologic, morphometric and transmission electron microscopic analysis. The histopathologic changes in the duodenum, heart, kidney, liver, lung, pancreas and spleen of male Wistar rats were evaluated. Fifty-four rats were randomly divided into four groups: Group 1 – Normal diet control (ND control), n=7, Group 2 – Normal diet + plant extract (ND + p), n=9, Group 3 – High fat diet control (HFD control), n=19Group 4 – High fat diet + p (HFD + p), n=19In the high fat group male Wistar rats were fed ±55 g/day of a specialised high fat diet over a 46 week period to induce obesity and an insulin resistant state. The treatment groups (groups 2 and 4) received a dose concentration of a tea extract of the S. frutescens plant in their drinking water daily. This study showed that the consumption of S. frutescens significantly reduces weight gain in male Wistar rats on a chronic high fat diet (p≤0.001 vs. HFD control group). S. frutescens appears to propagate periportal and centrilobular glycogen storage in rat hepatocytes in the experimental groups as exemplified by a significantly (p≤0.0001 vs. control groups) increased incidences of Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS) positive staining S. frutescens also reduced intracellular lipid accumulation as made evident by the significantly lower incidence of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), hepatic steatosis and pancreatic interstitial fat. Obesity was associated with increased fibrotic lesions such as myocardial perivascular fibrosis, centrilobular hepatic fibrosis and pancreatic periductal fibrosis. Obesity associated hypertension contributed to the widespread and significant increase in the average lesion severity of arterial congestion in all organs in the HFD control group. Pulmonary infection was equally prevalent in all rats. Despite the complex histopathology in all groups, differences in the control groups, such as, the presence of a conservative polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMNL) infiltration, substantial intra-alveolar oedema and focal arterial wall hypertrophy in the control groups was highly suggestive of Sendai viral infection. However histopathologic evidence, in the treatment groups, suggested chronic recurrent viral infection with superimposed Mycoplasma pulmonis (M. pulmonis) bacterial infection. The impact of advanced suppurative pulmonary infection was widespread and exemplified by increased lesion incidences of spontaneous murine progressive cardiomyopathy (MCP) and spontaneous chronic progressive nephropathy (CPN) among others. In conclusion S. frutescens administered for 46 weeks to male Wistar rats significantly lowered intracellular lipid accumulation and obesity associated myocardial, renal, hepatobiliary, pulmonary and pancreatic histopathology. Moreover, duodenal, cardiovascular, hepatobiliary, pulmonary, renal, pancreatic and splenic tissue did not show histopathologic evidence of direct plant extract associated toxicity or carcinogenicity.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Wickens, Nicolas John
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Rats -- Physiology , Rats as laboratory animals
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/4742 , vital:20670
- Description: In this study a standardized 46 week chronic drinking water toxicity protocol was used to elucidate the toxic potential of Sutherlandia frutescens (S. frutescens) using histopathologic, morphometric and transmission electron microscopic analysis. The histopathologic changes in the duodenum, heart, kidney, liver, lung, pancreas and spleen of male Wistar rats were evaluated. Fifty-four rats were randomly divided into four groups: Group 1 – Normal diet control (ND control), n=7, Group 2 – Normal diet + plant extract (ND + p), n=9, Group 3 – High fat diet control (HFD control), n=19Group 4 – High fat diet + p (HFD + p), n=19In the high fat group male Wistar rats were fed ±55 g/day of a specialised high fat diet over a 46 week period to induce obesity and an insulin resistant state. The treatment groups (groups 2 and 4) received a dose concentration of a tea extract of the S. frutescens plant in their drinking water daily. This study showed that the consumption of S. frutescens significantly reduces weight gain in male Wistar rats on a chronic high fat diet (p≤0.001 vs. HFD control group). S. frutescens appears to propagate periportal and centrilobular glycogen storage in rat hepatocytes in the experimental groups as exemplified by a significantly (p≤0.0001 vs. control groups) increased incidences of Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS) positive staining S. frutescens also reduced intracellular lipid accumulation as made evident by the significantly lower incidence of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), hepatic steatosis and pancreatic interstitial fat. Obesity was associated with increased fibrotic lesions such as myocardial perivascular fibrosis, centrilobular hepatic fibrosis and pancreatic periductal fibrosis. Obesity associated hypertension contributed to the widespread and significant increase in the average lesion severity of arterial congestion in all organs in the HFD control group. Pulmonary infection was equally prevalent in all rats. Despite the complex histopathology in all groups, differences in the control groups, such as, the presence of a conservative polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMNL) infiltration, substantial intra-alveolar oedema and focal arterial wall hypertrophy in the control groups was highly suggestive of Sendai viral infection. However histopathologic evidence, in the treatment groups, suggested chronic recurrent viral infection with superimposed Mycoplasma pulmonis (M. pulmonis) bacterial infection. The impact of advanced suppurative pulmonary infection was widespread and exemplified by increased lesion incidences of spontaneous murine progressive cardiomyopathy (MCP) and spontaneous chronic progressive nephropathy (CPN) among others. In conclusion S. frutescens administered for 46 weeks to male Wistar rats significantly lowered intracellular lipid accumulation and obesity associated myocardial, renal, hepatobiliary, pulmonary and pancreatic histopathology. Moreover, duodenal, cardiovascular, hepatobiliary, pulmonary, renal, pancreatic and splenic tissue did not show histopathologic evidence of direct plant extract associated toxicity or carcinogenicity.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Hiv/Aids communication and youth behaviour in South Africa: a study of female high school students in the Eastern Cape Province
- Authors: Mpofu, Nkosinothando
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: HIV infections -- Social aspects -- South Africa , AIDS (Disease) -- Social aspects -- South Africa , Communication in public health -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Com)
- Identifier: vital:11368 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1015374 , HIV infections -- Social aspects -- South Africa , AIDS (Disease) -- Social aspects -- South Africa , Communication in public health -- South Africa
- Description: Human Immuno-Deficiency Virus and Acquired Immune-Deficiency Syndrome communication remains one of the most significant tools in the fight against HIV/AIDS given the absence of the cure to fight the growth and spread of the global pandemic. Through the use of information, HIV/AIDS communication seeks to empower recipients or societies with skills that will help reduce their risk of infection. South Africa has seen a high visibility of HIV/AIDS communication programmes or campaigns aimed at empowering different audiences, whilst paying particular emphasis on the most vulnerable. Young people, in particular young women, have a higher prevalence of HIV/AIDS in South Africa. This has prompted the development of many youth focused communication campaigns which have sought to address factors that increase young people`s vulnerability to HIV infection. However, despite the high visibility of HIV/AIDS communication campaigns targeting young people, high risk behaviours are still being seen among young women. Important to note are the high teenage pregnancy rates, growing abuse of substances and even the premature engagement of sexual activities among female youths. This, therefore, raises questions on the effect of HIV/AIDS communication programmes in encouraging protective behaviour against risky behavioural practices amongst young women. Using both quantitative and qualitative research approaches to this study, an investigation was conducted into whether current HIV/AIDS communication campaigns have been limited (in terms of effectiveness) when it comes to communicating with young women on issues relating to HIV/AIDS. Awareness of HIV/AIDS and HIV/AIDS communication programmes, relevance of HIV/AIDS communication programmes, the factors that influence the use and understanding of HIV/AIDS messages and the impact of HIV/AIDS communication on attitude and behaviour change amongst female youths is measured. A total of 350 questionnaire copies were self-administered to 350 participants, with a 100 percent response rate. From the 350 participants, seventy five took part in focus group discussions. Data obtained was analysed using SPSS (for descriptive statistics), and the grounded theory. The results of the study indicate that all participants were aware of HIV/AIDS with at least 60% of the participants aware of at least three HIV/AIDS communication campaigns. When measuring the relevance of HIV/AIDS communication campaigns, participants (58%) indicate that issues discussed in most HIV/AIDS communication campaigns increased the relevance of HIV/AIDS messages to young women although such relevance was, for some respondents, affected by limited access to communication campaigns. Results also show that levels of knowledge and understanding of factors that expose young women to HIV infections differed amongst participants in as much as the factors that hinder the use of advice contained in HIV/AIDS messages also differed. Sixty-nine percent of the participants have knowledge and a better understanding of factors that expose young females to HIV infections. Twenty-five percent of the participants identified peer pressure, whilst 23% identified limited access to HIV/AIDS communication campaigns and another 18% identified a disregard of HIV/AIDS messages as significant factors that limit the ability of individuals to implement advice contained in HIV/AIDS messages. The results also indicate that although HIV/AIDS communication campaigns seem to have played a role in empowering some participants, there is still a significant minority whom communication has not effectively communicated with. Based on these findings, the study suggests, amongst other things, the need to intensify current HIV/AIDS communication campaigns through the provision of consistent messages on appropriate condom use, the identification of easily accessible communication channels and the development of thought provoking and attention grabbing campaigns as well as the need to continue to directly involve young women in the processes of their own development.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Mpofu, Nkosinothando
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: HIV infections -- Social aspects -- South Africa , AIDS (Disease) -- Social aspects -- South Africa , Communication in public health -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Com)
- Identifier: vital:11368 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1015374 , HIV infections -- Social aspects -- South Africa , AIDS (Disease) -- Social aspects -- South Africa , Communication in public health -- South Africa
- Description: Human Immuno-Deficiency Virus and Acquired Immune-Deficiency Syndrome communication remains one of the most significant tools in the fight against HIV/AIDS given the absence of the cure to fight the growth and spread of the global pandemic. Through the use of information, HIV/AIDS communication seeks to empower recipients or societies with skills that will help reduce their risk of infection. South Africa has seen a high visibility of HIV/AIDS communication programmes or campaigns aimed at empowering different audiences, whilst paying particular emphasis on the most vulnerable. Young people, in particular young women, have a higher prevalence of HIV/AIDS in South Africa. This has prompted the development of many youth focused communication campaigns which have sought to address factors that increase young people`s vulnerability to HIV infection. However, despite the high visibility of HIV/AIDS communication campaigns targeting young people, high risk behaviours are still being seen among young women. Important to note are the high teenage pregnancy rates, growing abuse of substances and even the premature engagement of sexual activities among female youths. This, therefore, raises questions on the effect of HIV/AIDS communication programmes in encouraging protective behaviour against risky behavioural practices amongst young women. Using both quantitative and qualitative research approaches to this study, an investigation was conducted into whether current HIV/AIDS communication campaigns have been limited (in terms of effectiveness) when it comes to communicating with young women on issues relating to HIV/AIDS. Awareness of HIV/AIDS and HIV/AIDS communication programmes, relevance of HIV/AIDS communication programmes, the factors that influence the use and understanding of HIV/AIDS messages and the impact of HIV/AIDS communication on attitude and behaviour change amongst female youths is measured. A total of 350 questionnaire copies were self-administered to 350 participants, with a 100 percent response rate. From the 350 participants, seventy five took part in focus group discussions. Data obtained was analysed using SPSS (for descriptive statistics), and the grounded theory. The results of the study indicate that all participants were aware of HIV/AIDS with at least 60% of the participants aware of at least three HIV/AIDS communication campaigns. When measuring the relevance of HIV/AIDS communication campaigns, participants (58%) indicate that issues discussed in most HIV/AIDS communication campaigns increased the relevance of HIV/AIDS messages to young women although such relevance was, for some respondents, affected by limited access to communication campaigns. Results also show that levels of knowledge and understanding of factors that expose young women to HIV infections differed amongst participants in as much as the factors that hinder the use of advice contained in HIV/AIDS messages also differed. Sixty-nine percent of the participants have knowledge and a better understanding of factors that expose young females to HIV infections. Twenty-five percent of the participants identified peer pressure, whilst 23% identified limited access to HIV/AIDS communication campaigns and another 18% identified a disregard of HIV/AIDS messages as significant factors that limit the ability of individuals to implement advice contained in HIV/AIDS messages. The results also indicate that although HIV/AIDS communication campaigns seem to have played a role in empowering some participants, there is still a significant minority whom communication has not effectively communicated with. Based on these findings, the study suggests, amongst other things, the need to intensify current HIV/AIDS communication campaigns through the provision of consistent messages on appropriate condom use, the identification of easily accessible communication channels and the development of thought provoking and attention grabbing campaigns as well as the need to continue to directly involve young women in the processes of their own development.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012