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Feature-fusion guidelines for image-based multi-modal biometric fusion

  • Authors: Brown, Dane L , Bradshaw, Karen L
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/460063 , vital:75889 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.18489/sacj.v29i1.436"
  • Description: The feature level, unlike the match score level, lacks multi-modal fusion guidelines. This work demonstrates a newapproach for improved image-based biometric feature-fusion. The approach extracts and combines the face, fingerprintand palmprint at the feature level for improved human identification accuracy. Feature-fusion guidelines, proposed inour recent work, are extended by adding a new face segmentation method and the support vector machine classifier.The new face segmentation method improves the face identification equal error rate (EER) by 10%. The support vectormachine classifier combined with the new feature selection approach, proposed in our recent work, outperforms otherclassifiers when using a single training sample. Feature-fusion guidelines take the form of strengths and weaknessesas observed in the applied feature processing modules during preliminary experiments. The guidelines are used toimplement an effective biometric fusion system at the feature level, using a novel feature-fusion methodology, reducingthe EER of two groups of three datasets namely: SDUMLA face, SDUMLA fingerprint and IITD palmprint; MUCT Face,MCYT Fingerprint and CASIA Palmprint.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2017

Feature-fusion guidelines for image-based multi-modal biometric fusion

  • Authors: Brown, Dane L , Bradshaw, Karen L
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/465689 , vital:76632 , xlink:href="https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC-90afb1388"
  • Description: The feature level, unlike the match score level, lacks multi-modal fusion guidelines. This work demonstrates a new approach for improved image-based biometric feature-fusion. The approach extracts and combines the face, fingerprint and palmprint at the feature level for improved human identification accuracy. Feature-fusion guidelines, proposed in our recent work, are extended by adding a new face segmentation method and the support vector machine classifier. The new face segmentation method improves the face identification equal error rate (EER) by 10%. The support vector machine classifier combined with the new feature selection approach, proposed in our recent work, outperforms other classifiers when using a single training sample. Feature-fusion guidelines take the form of strengths and weaknesses as observed in the applied feature processing modules during preliminary experiments. The guidelines are used to implement an effective biometric fusion system at the feature level, using a novel feature-fusion methodology, reducing the EER of two groups of three datasets namely: SDUMLA face, SDUMLA fingerprint and IITD palmprint; MUCT Face, MCYT Fingerprint and CASIA Palmprint.
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  • Date Issued: 2017

Features of an annealing-induced thermoluminescence peak in α-Al2O3: C, Mg

  • Authors: Kalita, Jitumani M , Chithambo, Makaiko L
  • Date: 2017
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/116013 , vital:34289 , DOI: 10.1016/j.optmat.2017.05.034
  • Description: We report the thermoluminescence glow curves of beta irradiated single crystal α-Al2O3:C,Mg after annealing at 700 and 900 °C. A glow curve measured at 1 °C/s from samples irradiated to 1 Gy following annealing at 700 and 900 °C shows a high intensity peak at 163 °C and seven secondary peaks of weaker intensity at 43, 73, 100, 195, 280, 329 and 370 °C. Comparing the position of the peaks in the annealed samples with those in an un-annealed one, it is observed that the peak at 100 °C appears only after annealing at and above 700 °C. Kinetic analysis of this annealing-induced peak was carried out using the initial rise, whole glow peak, peak shape, curve fitting and variable heating rate methods. The order of kinetics of the peak was determined as first order using various methods including the Tm-Tstop technique and the dependence of Tm on irradiation dose. The activation energy of the peak is about 1.01 eV and the frequency factor of the order of 1012 s−1. The peak was found to be affected by thermal quenching in analysis based on change of peak intensity with heating rate. The activation energy of thermal quenching was evaluated as 1.06 ± 0.08 eV. We speculate that the annealing-induced peak is due to formation of a new electron trap after destruction of the F22+(2 Mg) centre when the sample is annealed at 700 °C. The annealing-induced peak fades with storage between irradiation and measurement. It was also concluded that electrons from traps corresponding to secondary peaks get re-trapped at the main electron trap.
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  • Date Issued: 2017

Female teachers teaching sexuality education in the HIV and AIDS curriculum in Zimbabwean urban secondary schools

  • Authors: Gudyanga, Ephias
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: Sex instruction for youth -- Zimbabwe , Women in education -- Zimbabwe AIDS (Disease) -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- Zimbabwe Sex instruction for children -- Zimbabwe
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DEd
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/15104 , vital:28124
  • Description: This study is focussed on female teachers teaching sexuality education in the HIV and AIDS curriculum in Zimbabwean urban secondary schools. In spite of the importance of education and HIV and AIDS education in preventing HIV infections, Zimbabwe secondary school Guidance and Counseling teachers are not engaging optimally with the current Guidance and Counseling, HIV and AIDS & Life Skills education curriculum, and hence, they are not serving the needs of the learners in the context of the HIV and AIDS pandemic. This study, therefore, explored the following research question with its set of secondary research questions: How can Guidance and Counseling teachers be enabled to teach sexuality education within the HIV and AIDS education curriculum suitable for the Zimbabwe secondary school context? What are Guidance and Counseling teachers’ understandings and interpretations of the current HIV and AIDS education curriculum in Zimbabwe secondary schools? What are Guidance and Counseling teachers’ values and beliefs that underpin their approach to teaching sexuality education within the HIV and AIDS education curriculum in Zimbabwe secondary schools? What do Guidance and Counseling teachers experience as challenges to teaching the necessary critical content in sexuality education within the HIV and AIDS education curriculum? How can Guidance and Counseling teachers be enabled to overcome the challenges they experience and teach the necessary critical content in sexuality education in the HIV and AIDS education curriculum? Eight female Guidance and Counseling urban secondary school teachers, conveniently and purposively selected from Gweru district in Zimbabwe, comprised the sample of participants. Situated within a qualitative research design, and informed by a critical paradigm, I used participatory visual methodology, with drawing and focus group discussion as methods for data generation. Participatory and thematic analysis was used to analyse the data which was theoretically framed by Cultural Historical Activity Theory, as a lens through which I explained the meaning of my findings. The findings, in four themes, revealed that the Guidance and Counseling teachers have an understanding of the Guidance and Counseling curriculum and made their voices heard on how it was designed but also how it should be designed, with whose input it should be designed and why, and how teachers should be supported in implementing it and ensuring that it is appropriate to the context in which they teach. The Guidance and Counseling teachers reflected on and reconsidered their own values and beliefs in relation to the values underpinning the sexuality education within the HIV and AIDS curriculum in order to fulfil their professional role in the context of the HIV epidemic. Even though the Guidance and Counseling female teachers were enthusiastic to teach sexuality education - in the age of HIV and AIDS - in the particular school and community context, they found themselves in an educational system that did not seem to support their work in an optimal way, and in a community with diverse cultures, cultural practices and beliefs of which some seemed to contradict what was supposed to be taught in the curriculum. The participatory visual methodology, however, enabled a process in which the Guidance and Counseling female teachers could reflect on themselves, the context in which they taught, their sexuality education work and also learn from each other. In this way their agency seemed to have been enabled to address the challenges and consider how they could teach sexuality education in their secondary schools in Zimbabwe. The findings have several implications for policy in terms of the Guidance and Counseling curriculum, resource mobilization, pedagogy, engaging with cultural issues, and supporting vulnerable children; and for practice in terms of teacher professional development, teacher training, and for stakeholder contribution. I therefore argue, drawing on Cultural Historical Activity Theory, that the Guidance and Counseling teachers could be enabled to teach sexuality education if the three Activity Systems, namely the Guidance and Counseling teachers, the school system, and the community, work together as one Activity System, engaging with each other in a generative way focused on the same outcome. The Guidance and Counseling teachers could therefore transform their realities if they are enabled to see how their teaching of sexuality education in school is linked to the context of the school and the culture of the community in which they teach and live, and engage with each other to achieve the same objective, namely teaching sexuality education in secondary schools in Zimbabwe, and in so doing enable the learners to make informed choices in the context of HIV and AIDS.
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  • Date Issued: 2017

Female university students’ perceptions of the effects of maternal loss on their identity and intimacy development

  • Authors: Makalima, Phaphama
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: Intimacy (Psychology) Identity (Psychology) , Students -- South Africa -- Psychological aspects Developmental psychology -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/18090 , vital:28575
  • Description: Early maternal loss and its effects on daughters’ development has generated interest internationally. Yet very few studies have been conducted within South Africa, even though the prevalence of South African children growing up with the loss of their mothers is on the increase particularly due to HIV and Aids. This field of study is particularly important as mothers play a significant developmental role in children’s wellbeing. This study focused on exploring NMMU female students’ perceptions of the effects of maternal loss before adolescence on their identity and intimacy development. A qualitative research approach was followed in order to gain in-depth understanding regarding these perceived effects. A purposive, non-probability sampling method was employed to select participants and semi-structured interviews were conducted with them to explore and describe their perceptions. Attachment theory was utilised to provide a theoretical understanding of the potential impact of such loss on identity and intimacy development. Erikson’s psychosocial development theory was employed to describe the nature of personal identity and intimacy. The role of mothers in the South African context is perceived to be of importance with much focus on daughters’ identity development. Childhood maternal loss for daughters was perceived to effect the identity formation of participants in the study. The majority of participants perceived not having been able to spend enough time with their biological mothers to have limited their self-exploration. The participants perceived that this loss also had an effect on their intimacy as it isolated them from their peers and available support systems due to the fear of experiencing losing a person again in their lives.
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  • Date Issued: 2017

Ferrocenyl and organic novobiocin derivatives: synthesis and their in vitro biological activity

  • Authors: Mbaba, Mziyanda , Mabhula, Amanda N , Boel, Natasha , Edkins, Adrienne L , Isaacs, Michelle , Hoppe, Heinrich C , Khanye, Setshaba D
  • Date: 2017
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/66189 , vital:28914 , https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2017.04.014
  • Description: publisher version , A focused series of novobiocin derivatives containing a ferrocene unit together with their corresponding organic novobiocin analogues have been synthesized in modest to good yields. These compounds were screened for biological activity against a chloroquine-sensitive strain of Plasmodium falciparum (3D7) and human breast cancer cell line (HCC38). With the exception of compounds 5c and 5d, the general trend observed is that incorporation of the ferrocene moiety into novobiocin scaffold resulted in compounds 6a–d/6f showing enhanced activity compared to organic analogues 5a–b and 5e–f.
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  • Date Issued: 2017

Fibronectin is a stress responsive gene regulated by HSF1 in response to geldanamycin

  • Authors: Dhanani, Karim C H , Samson, William J , Edkins, Adrienne L
  • Date: 2017
  • Language: English
  • Type: article , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/59931 , vital:27711 , https://doi:10.1038/s41598-017-18061-y
  • Description: Fibronectin is an extracellular matrix glycoprotein with key roles in cell adhesion and migration. Hsp90 binds directly to fibronectin and Hsp90 depletion regulates fibronectin matrix stability. Where inhibition of Hsp90 with a C-terminal inhibitor, novobiocin, reduced the fibronectin matrix, treatment with an N-terminal inhibitor, geldanamycin, increased fibronectin levels. Geldanamycin treatment induced a stress response and a strong dose and time dependent increase in fibronectin mRNA via activation of the fibronectin promoter. Three putative heat shock elements (HSEs) were identified in the fibronectin promoter. Loss of two of these HSEs reduced both basal and geldanamycin-induced promoter activity, as did inhibition of the stress-responsive transcription factor HSF1. Binding of HSF1 to one of the putative HSE was confirmed by ChIP under basal conditions, and occupancy shown to increase with geldanamycin treatment. These data support the hypothesis that fibronectin is stress-responsive and a functional HSF1 target gene. COLA42 and LAMB3 mRNA levels were also increased with geldanamycin indicating that regulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) genes by HSF1 may be a wider phenomenon. Taken together, these data have implications for our understanding of ECM dynamics in stress-related diseases in which HSF1 is activated, and where the clinical application of N-terminal Hsp90 inhibitors is intended.
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  • Date Issued: 2017

Figuring maternity: Christine Dixie's Parturient Prospects

  • Authors: Schmahmann, Brenda
  • Date: 2017
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/147748 , vital:38667 , https://doi.org/10.1080/00043389.2007.11877068
  • Description: The Interior, Birthing Tray and Parturition are three sub-sections of a project entitled Parturient Prospects that artist Christine Dixie began in 2005, when she was pregnant with her second child, and completed by the end of 2006. In Parturient Prospects, the author reveals, Dixie situates her experiences against Western discourses, especially images from early modern Europe. Focusing on the ways in which visual representations construct woman as ‘other’, Dixie invokes reference to not only representations of birth and maternity but also religious, medical and geographical images.
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  • Date Issued: 2017

Financial decision-making of fathers with social grants in Nkonkobe municipality, Eastern Cape province

  • Authors: Ketani, Nolubabalo
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: Decision making Dependency Public welfare
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , Social Work
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/11773 , vital:39105
  • Description: The aim of this study was to examine the role of fathers receiving social grants in family decision-making processes within households in Nkonkobe Municipality, Eastern Cape Province. The study also investigated how money from social grants is utilised by fathers, taking into consideration, the impact of such decisions on the well-being of family members. A methodological triangulation approach was adopted for data collection. One hundred and seventy questionnaires were administered to beneficiaries of social grants, selected using multi stage sampling. The data was then coded on Microsoft excel package and run using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software for analysis. These yielded quantitative results which were then complemented by qualitative results obtained from 25 in-depth interviews conducted with caregivers residing with respondents. The major findings of the study revealed that most fathers earning social grants, made family decisions with their partners. Co-operative bargaining, resulting in the distribution of power in the decision-making process is relatively more prominent in most poor rural households. The effect of bargaining power emphasises the importance of gender empowerment in family decision-making processes. On the other hand, it is established that economic factors (such as income and employment status and age as a social factor) play a critical role in positioning other household members in decision-making within the family. As a result, children and unemployed household members have very limited decision power. The findings also revealed that social grants are the main source of income, if not, the only source of income in most households. Beneficiaries spend the money received on basic needs such as food, school fees, clothing and health, thus reducing hunger and suffering among beneficiaries. Therefore, social grants play a significant role in improving food security among poor households. Additionally, social grants are not only used for meeting individual needs of target groups of people in the household but for the entire needs of the household. The poverty gap been on the decline and such drop has been significant among poorest of the poor. Consequently, they impact positively beyond individual recipients and thus, strengthening intergenerational relations within poor families. Furthermore, it is established from the study that the role of male caregivers is an important one, and it is anticipated that many fathers will be involved in caregiving in the future. This is due to a variety of social demographic factors such as divorce, substance abuse, incarceration of parents, child abuse and neglect, health problems and death. Consequently, fathers receiving social grants, represent an important resource for poor households, especially for children. In a nutshell, with high incidences of poverty, coupled with HIV/AIDS epidemic, economic hardships, high rate of unemployment, absent parents and orphan crisis; the experiences and contributions of social grant earning fathers in caregiving, need to be acknowledged as they play a significant and benevolent role in well-being of family members, especially in the lives of children from vulnerable and poor homes. It is recommended that government should focus on promoting developmental policies that will contribute to poverty alleviation and reduce income inequalities in rural communities. Intervention plans should seek to develop exit programmes that capacitate households and communities to empower themselves. On the other hand, the development of support for male caregivers in private, public and community initiatives are commended to build capacity and empower fathers to cope with challenges associated with parenting.
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  • Date Issued: 2017

Financial development in the SADC: growth and cross-country spatial spill-over effects

  • Authors: Bara, Alex
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: Economic development -- South Africa Economic assistance -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/14950 , vital:27943
  • Description: This study was prompted by the prevailing imbalance in financial development across SADC countries, which is not consistent with the linkages and interconnectedness of financial systems of these economies. South Africa is the most financially developed country in Africa, yet it is surrounded by economies with relatively small and underdeveloped financial systems, contrary to the spatial proximity theory in finance. The study performed a number of empirical estimations in respect of the spatiality of financial development, motivated by the intention to assess the growth and spatial spill-over effects of financial development in SADC. The study provides new information in spatial spill-over dynamics of financial development, which could inform policy development particularly in view of the on-going financial integration in the SADC region. The study also contributes to regional economic development in SADC from a finance perspective. The analysis was performed using annual data for all the 15 SADC countries, spanning for the period 1985 to 2014. Using the Generalised Method of Moments approach, the study finds that financial development does not support economic growth in SADC. Financial reforms were found to be insufficient to drive growth. A bi-directional causality between financial development and economic growth was established with causality being strong when flowing from economic growth to financial development. The extended Aghion, Howitt and Mayer-Foulkes Model, estimated by an Autoregressive Distributive Lag approach, established that financial innovation has a positive relation to economic growth in SADC, particularly in the long-run. There is no causality, in either direction, between financial innovation and economic growth in both the short and long-run. The Spatial Durbin Model reveals a presence of positive spatial effects on financial development in the region and that proximity to South Africa yields consistent effects of spatial externality in money markets and inconsistent spatial externality in credit markets. The monetary union has no influence on spatial dynamics of financial development in SADC. The generalised impulse response analysis of a Bayesian VAR model indicate that shocks in South Africa’s financial sector has positive, but constrained and in some cases weak, financial spill-over effects on both economic growth and financial development of other SADC countries. The study established, using the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index, a high level of financial market concentration for SADC, cantered in South Africa, and a fair distribution when South Africa is excluded. Dynamic panel models established that financial market concentration reduces financial development in SADC. South Africa’s financial development has mixed and opposing effects on financial market concentration in SADC. The findings also show that international finance has a positive, but currently weak, effect on financial development in SADC and countries with international financial centres contribute more to financial development than countries without. Proximity to South Africa creates huge potential for increasing financial development in SADC through spill-overs and more benefits of spatial proximity are realised in the long-run. Given the strong spatial effects in money markets and significant positive spill-overs in credit markets in the region, countries closer to South Africa need to link their money and credit markets to the South African markets and possibly benchmark to the Rand so as to benefit from proximity and spill-overs from South Africa. The results also suggest that SADC countries need to capitalise on their proximity to South Africa to enhance financial development by promoting economic growth, financial innovation, opening and diversification of financial sectors and linkages to global financial markets. Financial innovation supports financial inclusion, cross-border flows of funds, remittances and trade in SADC and has effects of enabling integration with developed markets and facilitating economic activity. Opening financial sectors enhances diversification of financial systems, increases competition and efficiency. To enhance access to international finance, the study suggests the creation of information centres in South Africa with SADC countries as economic hinterlands, commercialisation of solutions to SADC countries financial challenges, financial integration and support for deepening of financial systems in these countries. Strengthening economic growth could also increase financial development given a strong demand-following causality. The major challenge, however, is that some of the SADC countries have underdeveloped and highly concentrated financial systems characterised by high financial intermediation inefficiencies, high financial exclusion, weak financial infrastructure and regulations. Consequently, countries suffer financial leakages, are not receptive to spatial externalities and financial spill-overs from South Africa and often generate financial spillbacks to South Africa. SADC countries should, however, first address the issue of financial exclusion, financial infrastructure and regulation as well as efficiency in the financial markets. The SADC countries need mechanisms to attract financial development from South Africa to benefit from positive spill-overs and instruments to deal with negative externalities of financial shocks in South Africa. Overall, there is potential for increased financial development in SADC by consolidating absorption of positive financial spill-overs and externalities of proximity to South Africa -particularly in the medium to long term. Heterogeneity among SADC countries and the varying levels of financial development, however, dictates that the region should promote financial integration in order to enhance development of underdeveloped financial systems through spatial spill-over gains.
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  • Date Issued: 2017

Financial inclusion in South Africa

  • Authors: Abrahams, Rayghana
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: Financial services industry -- South Africa , Financial institutions -- South Africa Finance -- South Africa South Africa -- Economic conditions
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/13579 , vital:27240
  • Description: The research for this study was guided by the question on whether the financial inclusion improvement strategies of the South African government adequately address the financial inclusion targets, as set out in the National Development Plan. This descriptive non-empirical study was conducted by means of a literature review. The secondary data used for the study were collected from a number of sources, namely: (i) the 2015 Brookings Financial and Digital Inclusion Project report; (ii) the 2014 Global Findex survey; (iii) the InterMedia surveys; (iv) Financial Access surveys; (v) various national FinScope surveys; and (iv) a number of working papers of the World Bank related to financial inclusion. The data revealed that South Africa, with its sophisticated financial sector, was early to adopt policies and initiatives to advance financial inclusion and the country has experienced a noticeable increase in financial inclusion from 61% in 2004 to 87% in 2015. South Africa is 3% away from its National Development Plan goal of 90% financial inclusion by 2030. This indicates that overall, the financial inclusion initiatives adopted by the South African government were successful.
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  • Date Issued: 2017

Financial sustainability mechanisms for local NGOs in the Gauteng province, South Africa

  • Authors: Manzere, Bogadi Patricia
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: Non-governmental organizations -- South Africa -- Gauteng -- Finance Nonprofit organizations -- South Africa -- Gauteng -- Finance , Nonprofit organizations -- South Africa -- Gauteng -- Management Finance, Public -- South Africa -- Gauteng
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MPhil
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/18562 , vital:28682
  • Description: The role of NGOs has been widely recognised in eradicating poverty and creating sustainable development in communities. Governments and private corporations view them as complementary partners in enhancing the livelihoods of people. In order to survive, NGOs need to be financially sustainable to carry out their missions. Their existence is, however, threatened by the current economic and political climate. In South Africa, the recent global economic recession and the country’s recovery from the apartheid system since 1994 have both had a negative impact in funding financial flow to NGOs. Compounded by the growing demand for new NGOs, evidence shows that there is fierce competition between NGOs for the same funding and, since NGOs by nature do not produce commercial outputs, they are limited to pursue funding opportunities made available through donations. This study explored the issues of financial sustainability within local NGOs in the Gauteng Province. The aim was to build mechanisms that could be put in place to monitor organisational financial sustainability over time. The study used a qualitative methodology and the researcher adopted an exploratory design to gain insight and meaning into the issues faced by NGOs. A sample of ten members from local NGOs in the Gauteng Province was identified and data was collected through key informant interviews and questionnaires. The study found that the majority of NGOs face difficulties in achieving financial sustainability over the long-term. The results indicated that funding in the sector is shrinking, with very few NGOs surviving through endowments. Their major challenges in raising funds are due to area limitations, competition within the sector, lack of skills, staff shortage and visibility. They optimise available opportunities but also acknowledge that they are not implementing other fundraising strategies that could be effective in raising funds. Evidence also showed that these NGOs are meeting the requirements of good financial management practices, which could improve their likelihood to achieve financial sustainability. The research recommends that NGOs need to be empowered to negotiate restrictions under the grants, raise endowments through income-generating activities, manage stakeholder relationships and cost any future funding prospects for key decision making that is likely to have an impact on the structure and the strategic direction of an organisation.
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  • Date Issued: 2017

Financing sustainable cities in South Africa

  • Authors: Ducie, Gregory Justin
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: Sustainable development -- South Africa , Cities and towns -- South Africa -- Economic conditions Finance -- South Africa Developing countries -- Economic conditions
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/15577 , vital:28273
  • Description: Although directives exist with respect to promoting sustainable development, financial strategies to cater for collective sustainable development, along with an increasing population, need to be formulated relevant to metropolitan and urban areas. This study determined the infrastructure investment basis of a sustainable city to investigate various funding mechanisms resulting in the design of a model for the financing of sustainable cities. For the study, first the various infrastructure investment alternatives were established from the literature, and thirteen themes and their relevant interventions were identified. Tangible and intangible methods of assessment were then identified as ways to calculate the acceptability of an intervention. A case study based on a hypothetical city was developed to determine the infrastructure investment base. Initially, only one intervention of a theme was populated and then confirmed by city development experts. Thereafter, all the themes were populated, and the acceptability of the interventions were determined. This provided an overview of the investment base of a sustainable city. The investment base facilitated deriving applicable tools and instruments to finance it. As a result, possible finance alternatives were derived for each of the identified themes. Although most of the financing of sustainable cities revolved around public sector finance, the private sector also played an important role for the financing of sustainable cities. Based on the investment base for sustainable cities and the resultant financing thereof, a model for the financing of sustainable cities was developed. The model consisted of four components. Firstly, the model included an application of financing tools and instruments relevant to the identified themes of sustainable city development. Secondly, the model included the application of financing tools and instruments with respect to an immediate interventionist focus, a facilitative focus, a gradual intervention and an enabling intervention. Thirdly, the model included financing tools and instrument types in terms of incentive, opportunity, punitive and mandatory interventions. Fourthly, the model included the application of financing tools and instruments with respect to scale in terms of a city-wide application, sector-wide application, urban application or suburban application. In addition, the model included the application of financing tools and instruments and their relation to addressing poverty within the city context. Although the public sector will always remain the key initiator behind infrastructure development, various mechanisms of financing, along with applicable financing partners and the basis of investment, are required to address future sustainable cities. This study may potentially form the basis of that platform.
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  • Date Issued: 2017

First example of nonlinear optical materials based on nanoconjugates of sandwich phthalocyanines with quantum dots

  • Authors: Oluwole, David O , Yagodin, Alexey V , Mkhize, Nhlakanipho C , Sekhosana, Kutloana E , Martynov, Alexander G , Gorbunova, Yulia G , Tsivadze, Aslan Yu , Nyokong, Tebello
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/238014 , vital:50577 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.201604401"
  • Description: We report original, selective, and efficient approaches to novel nonlinear optical (NLO) materials, namely homoleptic double- and triple-decker europium(III) complexes 2 and 3 with the A3B-type phthalocyanine ligand (2,3-bis[2′-(2′′-hydroxyethoxy)ethoxy]-9,10,16,17,23,24-hexa-n-butoxyphthalocyanine 1) bearing two anchoring diethyleneglycol chains terminated with OH groups. Their covalently linked nanoconjugates with mercaptosuccinic acid-capped ternary CdSeTe/CdTeS/ZnSeS quantum dots are prepared in the presence of an ethyl(dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide activating agent. Optical limiting (OL) properties of the obtained low-symmetry complexes and their conjugates with quantum dots (QDs) are measured for the first time by the open-aperture Z-scan technique (532 nm laser and pulse rate of 10 ns). For comparison, symmetrical double- and triple-decker EuIII octa-n-butoxyphthalocyaninates 5 and 6 and their mixtures with trioctylphosphine oxide-capped QDs are also synthesized and studied. It is revealed that both lowering of molecular symmetry and expansion of the π-electron system upon moving from double- to triple-decker complexes significantly improves the OL characteristics, making the low-symmetry triple-decker complex 3 the most efficient optical limiter in the studied family of sandwich complexes, affording 50 % lowering of light transmittance below 0.5 J cm−2 input fluence. Conjugation (both covalent and noncovalent) with QDs affords further enhancement of the OL properties of both double- and triple-decker complexes. Altogether, the obtained results contribute to the development of novel nonlinear optical materials for future nanoelectronic and optical device applications.
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  • Date Issued: 2017

Fiscal, deficit, inflation, money supply and exchange rate in South Africa

  • Authors: Tala, Lavisa
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: nflation (Finance) -- South Africa Foreign exchange rates -- South Africa , Money supply -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MPhil
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/23261 , vital:30502
  • Description: This study empirically investigates the relationship between fiscal deficit, inflation, M3 money supply and the exchange rate in South Africa. The study makes use of quarterly macroeconomic time-series data sets comprising 84 observations, covering the period from 1994Q1 to 2015Q4. The unit root tests conducted employed the Augmented Dickey Fuller (ADF) and Phillips-Perron (PP) tests. The results reveal that the variables become stationary at first difference. The Johansen co-integration technique suggests that there is at least one co-integrating equation among the variables. The results of the Engle-Granger approach, which is residual based, show that the residuals are stationary, thus validating the existence of a long-run relationship between the model variables. The study carried out a Granger causality test. The results indicate that there is a strong Granger causal relationship between the variables (IF) and (FD). Another strong causal relationship emerges between inflation and money supply. The ECM model was employed to identify the speed of adjustment as a response to the departures from the long-run equilibrium path. The estimated coefficient of the ECM error term has the required sign and is statistically significant at the five per cent level of significance. The error term indicates a quick convergence to equilibrium. The study concludes that the dependent variable (FD) is jointly caused by all the independent variables in the long-run. The results of the variance decomposition of the variable (FD) to innovations resulting from IF, MS and RER indicate that own shocks remain the dominant source of total fluctuations in the forecast error of the variables. The findings of the study are efficient and reliable as the estimated model passed all the major diagnostic tests. By implication the findings suggest that the estimated model show high goodness of fit and is thus reliable for policy making. The study recommends a fiscal adjustment that will enhance economic growth. Additionally, a fiscal policy that will aim at identifying and mitigating other possible leakages that narrow the tax base should be considered.
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  • Date Issued: 2017

Flexible Metal–Porphyrin Dimers (M= MnIIICl, CoII, NiII, CuII)

  • Authors: Li, Minzhi , Zhang, Qian , Xu, Li , Zhu, Weihua , Mack, John , May, Aviwe K , Nyokong, Tebello , Kobayashi, Nagao , Liang, Xu
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/239676 , vital:50754 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1002/cplu.201600475"
  • Description: Four metalloporphyrin dimers linked by bridging amide-bonded xanthene moieties and that contain either MnIII, CoII, NiII, or CuII metal centers were synthesized. Various spectroscopic, electrochemical, and spectroelectrochemical methods were used to study trends in their properties. Their electronic structure and optical properties were analyzed through a comparison of the electronic absorption and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectral data with the results of time-dependent (TD)-DFT calculations.
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  • Date Issued: 2017

Fluorescence behaviour of supramolecular hybrids containing graphene quantum dots and pyrene-derivatized phthalocyanines and porphyrins

  • Authors: Achadu, Ojodomo John , Managa, Muthumuni , Nyokong, Tebello
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/188953 , vital:44801 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotochem.2016.10.029"
  • Description: Novel pyrene-derivatized zinc and cobalt phthalocyanines (Pcs) and porphyrins (Ps) were immobilized on graphene quantum dots (GQDs) to form GQDs-Pcs and GQDs-Ps supramolecular hybrids via the π–π stacking interaction method. Spectroscopic evidence shows that the resultant hybrids were stable owing to the strong π–π stacking interaction between the GQDs and the respective Pcs and Ps, thus leading to the fabrication of interesting and functional supramolecular hybrids by taking advantage of the delocalized π electron systems of GQDs and the macrocycles. The conjugates showed increased fluorescence quantum yields for the Pcs/Ps, but decreased values for the GQDs in the conjugates. These novel hybrid materials could potentially be deployed for studies in both fundamental and applied perspectives due to the synergistic contributions resulting from the combination of their excellent electronic and optical properties.
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  • Date Issued: 2017

Forage production, nutritive value and intake rates by goats of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan (L.) forages grown in the subtropical region of South Africa

  • Authors: Buthelezi, Lindokuhle Sizwe
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: Forage Pigeon pea Forage plants
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/7852 , vital:30773
  • Description: Different growth stages and drying methods were used to assess forage production, nutritive value and intake of leaves from three Cajanus cajan varieties (ICEAP 00557, ICEAP 01514 and CIMMYT 100/01). In the 2016/17 growing season, three complete randomized block designs (CRBD’s) were conducted. Regrowth parameters were measured during both the both vegetative and flowering stages. The plots were harvested at the flowering stage. Biomass yields were measured at the flowering stage. The harvested leaves were then dried under the two different drying methods. The methods used were shade- and oven-drying at 60 oC. This was used to determine dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL) and total non-structural carbohydrates (TNC) for the C. cajan varieties. Minerals Ca, Mg, K, Na, K/(Ca+Mg), P and Zn, Cu, Mn and Fe and phytochemicals condensed tannins, phenolic compounds and saponins were also analyzed. The intake rates and in vitro and in sacco ruminal degradabilities were also determined. The survival percentage was significantly different (P<0.05) only across the means of varieties. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in the number of shoots per plant, stems per shoot and coppice stems produced by the three C. cajan varieties at vegetative and flowering stage. There was a significant difference (P<0.05) in the heights of plants recorded by the varieties only at flowering stage. The yields of fresh biomass in C. cajan was significantly different (P<0.05) across all the varieties harvested in 2016. In all the varieties there was a significant difference (P<0.05) in dry matter yield in both seasons of 2016 and 2017. The effect of browse varieties and drying methods showed a significant effect (P<0.05) on DM, CP, fat, NDIN, ADIN and hemicellulose content of varieties. There was little impact by varieties and drying methods (P<0.05) on ash, NDF, ADF, ADL, TNC and cellulose content of varieties. Varieties and drying method had no effect (P>0.05) on Ca, Mg and K except for Na and P. There was no effect caused by varieties and drying methods (P>0.05) on Zn and Mn with Cu and Fe being the exceptions. Oven drying showed an overall reduction in the tannin concentration on leaves while there was an increase in saponins. The different varieties had no effect (P>0.05) on the IIR, 0.0275±0.0089, 0.0275±0.0077 and 0.0409±0.0109 for Cv1, Cv2 and Cv3, respectively. The day of the trial and browse variety had an effect (P<0.05) on bite rate. However, the day of trial had no significant effect (P>0.05) on both bite size and the instantaneous intake rate. Individual goat had a significant effect (P<0.05) on bite rate. There was a significant difference (P<0.05) in the in vitro and in sacco rapidly degradable fractions (a) of all the three varieties but the drying method had no effect (P>0.05). The slowly degradable fraction (b) and degradation rate constant (c) of all varieties was not significantly different (P>0.05) on both drying methods during IV DaisyII procedure. However, b and c, in all the varieties was significantly different (P<0.05) in both drying methods during the in sacco procedure. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in the mean potentially degradable fraction (a+b) across all C. cajan varieties during IV DaisyII procedure, however a+c of all varieties was significantly different (P<0.05) in both the drying methods during the in sacco procedure. The effective in vitro and in sacco degradability of the varieties was significantly different (P<0.05) with a rumen outflow rate of 2, 5 and 8 percent per hour. The shade-dried varieties had a higher (P<0.05) ED than the oven-dried materials during IV DaisyII and the in sacco procedures. It was concluded that the decline in yield of C. cajan during the study is a reflection of poor survival, the insufficient regeneration from seed, nutrient depletion over time and the extended dry seasons. Therefore, shade drying is commended method of drying forages.
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  • Date Issued: 2017

Foraging behaviour and thermal physiology of Cape sugarbirds: sex-specific responses to temperature

  • Authors: Molepo, Mokgatla Jerry
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: Sexual dimorphism (Animals) , Sex differences Birds -- Behavior
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/19124 , vital:28775
  • Description: Body size (Mb) determines an animal’s energy and water demands for thermoregulation. Sexual dimorphism in Mb is common across many species, but its physiological consequences (e.g. energy and water demands) remain poorly understood. In this study, I determined if the sexually dimorphic Cape Sugarbird (Promerops cafer)–males are up to 15% larger than females, show sex-specific foraging patterns and physiological responses. To determine intraspecific variability behavioural in response to temperature, I compared flower visitation rates between male and female Cape Sugarbirds at different times of the day, and among days that varied in maximum air temperature. A total of 1207 males and 561 females were observed. Female Cape Sugarbirds visited flowers more often and continued to feed especially on hot days. Males generally dominated flower resources throughout the day, except on hot days. I also compared physiological responses in EWL, RMR and Tb between males and females at high air temperatures. There were no significant differences between the two sexes. Aggression which was overlooked appeared to have a high influence on foraging behaviour of Cape Sugarbirds. These results suggest that female Cape Sugarbirds will be more prone to energy and water stress during hot and dry summers in the Fynbos region because of resource dominance by male Cape Sugarbirds. Endemic birds, such as the Cape Sugarbird, warrant a conservation priority, especially since they are the dominant pollinator of the Protea plants in the Fynbos biome. The findings of this study will provide insights into population persistence of Cape Sugarbirds in response to predicted heat waves and rise in global temperatures.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2017

Foraging ecology of gentoo penguins pygoscelis papua at the Falkland Islands

  • Authors: Handley, Jonathan Murray
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: Gentoo penguin -- Food -- Falkland Islands Gentoo penguin -- Ecology
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/14113 , vital:27431
  • Description: Marine top predators often occupy broad geographical ranges that encompass varied habitats. Therefore, a pre-requisite towards conserving these animals is to determine the components of their realized niche, and investigate whether a species is a specialist or a generalist. For generalist species, it is also necessary to understand if local specialisation occurs. Uncovering these components can allow us to build models of a species realized niche that may then be used to infer habitat use in unsampled locations. However, fully understanding the components of a marine top predators realized niche is challenging owing to the limited opportunity for in situ observations. Overcoming these limitations is a key step in marine top predator research. It will enhance our understanding of trophic coupling in marine systems, and aid in the development of tools to better study these predators in their dynamic environment. Seabirds, penguins (Spheniscids) in particular, are a group of animals for which investigating their realized niche is of vital importance. This is because numerous species face growing uncertainty in the Anthropocene, and in a time of rapid environmental change there is furthermore a need to better understand the potential use of these birds as indicators of ecosystem health. The aim of this thesis, therefore, is to investigate the foraging ecology of gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) at the Falkland Islands. At the Falkland Islands, limited historical information exists regarding this species foraging ecology, with most information coming from a single location at the Falklands. As the Falkland Islands have the world’s largest population of gentoo penguins, elucidating factors influencing this population will have global relevance. Furthermore, historical information indicated potential competition with fisheries, and with prospecting for hydrocarbons and an inshore fishery, there is a need to understand the distribution of these birds across the islands. Penguins are also well suited to carry biologging devices allowing for in situ observations of inter and intraspecific interactions, as well as habitat specific interactions. In this study, I sampled birds over three breeding seasons, from four breeding colonies - chosen for their varied surrounding at sea habitat - across the Falkland Islands. I investigated the diet with stomach content and stable isotope analysis, the at-sea distribution with GPS and time depth recorders, and how these birds behaved at sea using custom made animal-borne camera loggers. Furthermore, I developed a method to recognise prey encounter events from back mounted accelerometers, using a supervised machine learning approach. As part of the first species specific description of diet at this scale for the Falklands, I revealed six key prey items for the birds: rock cod (Patagonotothen spp.), lobster krill (Munida spp.), Falkland herring (Sprattus fuegensis), Patagonian squid (Doryteuthis gahi), juvenile fish (likely all nototheniids), and southern blue whiting (Micromesistius australis). The use of animal-borne camera loggers verified that not only do gentoo penguins consume a diverse array of prey items, but they adopted various methods to capture and pursue prey, with evidence of birds following optimal foraging theory. Prey composition varied significantly between study sites with the at-sea distribution and habitat use of penguins reflecting that of local prey. Birds from colonies close to gently sloping, shallow waters, foraged primarily in a benthic manner and had larger niche widths. However, those at a colony surrounded by steeply sloping, deeper waters, typically foraged in a pelagic manner. Contrasting diet patterns were also prevalent from stable isotope data, and the niche widths of birds relating to both stomach content and stable isotope data were larger at colonies where benthic foraging was prevalent. Therefore, it was clear that surrounding bathymetry played a key role in shaping this species’ foraging ecology, and that at the population level at the Falkland Islands birds are generalists. However, at individual colonies some specialisation occurs to take advantage of locally available prey. I developed habitat distribution models - via boosted regression trees – which transferred well in time but poorly across space. Reasons for poor model transfer might relate to the generalist foraging nature of these birds and the reduced availability of environmental predictors owing to the limited range of these birds. I furthermore developed a method to identify prey encounter events that can also, to a degree, distinguish between prey items. This method will be a promising approach to refine habitat distribution models in future. These habitat distribution models could potentially contribute to marine spatial planning at the Falkland Islands. Footage from animal-borne camera loggers clearly showed that prey behaviour can significantly influence trophic coupling in marine systems and should be accounted for in studies using marine top predators as samplers of mid to lower trophic level species. Ultimately, flexibility in foraging strategies and inter-colony variation will play a critical role when assessing factors such as interspecific competition or overlap with anthropogenic activities.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2017
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