Guidelines for cybersecurity education campaigns
- Authors: Reid, Rayne
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Computer security Computer networks -- Security measures
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/14091 , vital:27416
- Description: In our technology- and information-infused world, cyberspace is an integral part of modern-day society. As the number of active cyberspace users increases, so too does the chances of a cyber threat finding a vulnerable target increase. All cyber users who are exposed to cyber risks need to be educated about cyber security. Human beings play a key role in the implementation and governing of an entire cybersecurity and cybersafety solution. The effectiveness of any cybersecurity and cybersafety solutions in a societal or individual context is dependent on the human beings involved in the process. If these human beings are either unaware or not knowledgeable about their roles in the security solution they become the weak link in these cybersecurity solutions. It is essential that all users be educated to combat any threats. Children are a particularly vulnerable subgroup within society. They are digital natives and make use of ICT, and online services with increasing frequency, but this does not mean they are knowledgeable about or behaving securely in their cyber activities. Children will be exposed to cyberspace throughout their lifetimes. Therefore, cybersecurity and cybersafety should be taught to children as a life-skill. There is a lack of well-known, comprehensive cybersecurity and cybersafety educational campaigns which target school children. Most existing information security and cybersecurity education campaigns limit their scope. Literature reports mainly on education campaigns focused on primary businesses, government agencies and tertiary education institutions. Additionally, most guidance for the design and implementation of security and safety campaigns: are for an organisational context, only target organisational users, and mostly provide high-level design recommendations. This thesis addressed the lack of guidance for designing and implementing cybersecurity and cybersafety educational campaigns suited to school learners as a target audience. The thesis aimed to offer guidance for designing and implementing education campaigns that educate school learners about cybersecurity and cybersafety. This was done through the implementation of an action research process over a five-year period. The action research process involved cybersecurity and cybersafety educational interventions at multiple schools. A total of 18 actionable guidelines were derived from this research to guide the design and implementation of cybersecurity and cybersafety education campaigns which aim to educate school children.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Reid, Rayne
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Computer security Computer networks -- Security measures
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/14091 , vital:27416
- Description: In our technology- and information-infused world, cyberspace is an integral part of modern-day society. As the number of active cyberspace users increases, so too does the chances of a cyber threat finding a vulnerable target increase. All cyber users who are exposed to cyber risks need to be educated about cyber security. Human beings play a key role in the implementation and governing of an entire cybersecurity and cybersafety solution. The effectiveness of any cybersecurity and cybersafety solutions in a societal or individual context is dependent on the human beings involved in the process. If these human beings are either unaware or not knowledgeable about their roles in the security solution they become the weak link in these cybersecurity solutions. It is essential that all users be educated to combat any threats. Children are a particularly vulnerable subgroup within society. They are digital natives and make use of ICT, and online services with increasing frequency, but this does not mean they are knowledgeable about or behaving securely in their cyber activities. Children will be exposed to cyberspace throughout their lifetimes. Therefore, cybersecurity and cybersafety should be taught to children as a life-skill. There is a lack of well-known, comprehensive cybersecurity and cybersafety educational campaigns which target school children. Most existing information security and cybersecurity education campaigns limit their scope. Literature reports mainly on education campaigns focused on primary businesses, government agencies and tertiary education institutions. Additionally, most guidance for the design and implementation of security and safety campaigns: are for an organisational context, only target organisational users, and mostly provide high-level design recommendations. This thesis addressed the lack of guidance for designing and implementing cybersecurity and cybersafety educational campaigns suited to school learners as a target audience. The thesis aimed to offer guidance for designing and implementing education campaigns that educate school learners about cybersecurity and cybersafety. This was done through the implementation of an action research process over a five-year period. The action research process involved cybersecurity and cybersafety educational interventions at multiple schools. A total of 18 actionable guidelines were derived from this research to guide the design and implementation of cybersecurity and cybersafety education campaigns which aim to educate school children.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Guidelines for secure cloud-based personal health records
- Authors: Mxoli, Ncedisa Avuya Mercia
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Cloud computing -- Security measures , Computer security Data mining Medical records -- Data processing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/14134 , vital:27433
- Description: Traditionally, health records have been stored in paper folders at the physician’s consulting rooms – or at the patient’s home. Some people stored the health records of their family members, so as to keep a running history of all the medical procedures they went through, and what medications they were given by different physicians at different stages of their lives. Technology has introduced better and safer ways of storing these records, namely, through the use of Personal Health Records (PHRs). With time, different types of PHRs have emerged, i.e. local, remote server-based, and hybrid PHRs. Web-based PHRs fall under the remote server-based PHRs; and recently, a new market in storing PHRs has emerged. Cloud computing has become a trend in storing PHRs in a more accessible and efficient manner. Despite its many benefits, cloud computing has many privacy and security concerns. As a result, the adoption rate of cloud services is not yet very high. A qualitative and exploratory research design approach was followed in this study, in order to reach the objective of proposing guidelines that could assist PHR providers in selecting a secure Cloud Service Provider (CSP) to store their customers’ health data. The research methods that were used include a literature review, systematic literature review, qualitative content analysis, reasoning, argumentation and elite interviews. A systematic literature review and qualitative content analysis were conducted to examine those risks in the cloud environment that could have a negative impact on the secure storing of PHRs. PHRs must satisfy certain dimensions, in order for them to be meaningful for use. While these were highlighted in the research, it also emerged that certain risks affect the PHR dimensions directly, thus threatening the meaningfulness and usability of cloud-based PHRs. The literature review revealed that specific control measures can be adopted to mitigate the identified risks. These control measures form part of the material used in this study to identify the guidelines for secure cloud-based PHRs. The guidelines were formulated through the use of reasoning and argumentation. After the guidelines were formulated, elite interviews were conducted, in order to validate and finalize the main research output: i.e. guidelines. The results of this study may alert PHR providers to the risks that exist in the cloud environment; so that they can make informed decisions when choosing a CSP for storing their customers’ health data.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Mxoli, Ncedisa Avuya Mercia
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Cloud computing -- Security measures , Computer security Data mining Medical records -- Data processing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/14134 , vital:27433
- Description: Traditionally, health records have been stored in paper folders at the physician’s consulting rooms – or at the patient’s home. Some people stored the health records of their family members, so as to keep a running history of all the medical procedures they went through, and what medications they were given by different physicians at different stages of their lives. Technology has introduced better and safer ways of storing these records, namely, through the use of Personal Health Records (PHRs). With time, different types of PHRs have emerged, i.e. local, remote server-based, and hybrid PHRs. Web-based PHRs fall under the remote server-based PHRs; and recently, a new market in storing PHRs has emerged. Cloud computing has become a trend in storing PHRs in a more accessible and efficient manner. Despite its many benefits, cloud computing has many privacy and security concerns. As a result, the adoption rate of cloud services is not yet very high. A qualitative and exploratory research design approach was followed in this study, in order to reach the objective of proposing guidelines that could assist PHR providers in selecting a secure Cloud Service Provider (CSP) to store their customers’ health data. The research methods that were used include a literature review, systematic literature review, qualitative content analysis, reasoning, argumentation and elite interviews. A systematic literature review and qualitative content analysis were conducted to examine those risks in the cloud environment that could have a negative impact on the secure storing of PHRs. PHRs must satisfy certain dimensions, in order for them to be meaningful for use. While these were highlighted in the research, it also emerged that certain risks affect the PHR dimensions directly, thus threatening the meaningfulness and usability of cloud-based PHRs. The literature review revealed that specific control measures can be adopted to mitigate the identified risks. These control measures form part of the material used in this study to identify the guidelines for secure cloud-based PHRs. The guidelines were formulated through the use of reasoning and argumentation. After the guidelines were formulated, elite interviews were conducted, in order to validate and finalize the main research output: i.e. guidelines. The results of this study may alert PHR providers to the risks that exist in the cloud environment; so that they can make informed decisions when choosing a CSP for storing their customers’ health data.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Gypsum deposits associated with the Whitehill Formation (Ecca Group) in the Steytlerville-Jansenville Area, Southern Karoo, South Africa
- Authors: Almanza, Roberto Daniel
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Gypsum -- South Africa Concretions -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/15292 , vital:28215
- Description: The Steyterville-Jansenville gypsum field is one of South Africa’s smaller deposits, yet plays host to several gypsum mines, both past and present. This study aims to deconstruct the processes involved in the precipitation of various quantities and grades of gypsum in the lower Ecca Group of the Karoo Supergroup. The calcium and sulphate ions required to form the gypsum mineral (CaSO4•2H2O) are derived from the mid- to lower-shale of the Whitehill Formation, which is carbonate- and pyrite-rich. Gypsum formation is dependent on the availability of pyrite as opposed to calcite, which is in abundance throughout the 30m thick, Early Ufimian (late Permian) Whitehill Formation. Weathered shale, which has been folded and faulted, forms the host environment in which gypsum has precipitated. Folding of the shale occurs as a series of large- and medium-scale anticlines and synclines that strike east to west. These structures, which formed during the Cape Orogeny indicate that stresses were exerted from the south-southwest towards the north-northeast. Folded calcite veins surrounded by amorphous pyrite, observed in thin section suggest that pyrite and calcite were precipitated together prior to a deformation event. Oxidation of pyrite following these deformation events results in the concentration of sulphides within the hinge zones of the folds (weakest zone) and this is where the larger gypsum deposits are found at the surface. Carbonate concretions in the Whitehill Formation up to 5m in length and 3m in width are common in the study area, and suggest a relationship with the deposition of the shale whereby calcium-rich nuclei grew in a concentric fashion during a non-depositional hiatus period. This period is also associated with a higher concentration of pyrite and could explain the occurrence of concretions together with adjacent gypsum-rich shale. Pyrite framboids observed under the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) provide evidence to suggest concentric growth of initially deposited microcrystals including nucleation and growth of nodules and concretions observed within the Whitehill Formation. Prerequisites for gypsum formation also include restricted drainage such as a pan, a clay layer in the drainage area and an arid climate where evaporation exceeds precipitation. The preferred surface conditions for gypsum formation would be low-lying areas which are surrounded by gently-sloping topography promoting the concentration of aqueous solutions in a calcite- and pyrite-rich area. Groundwater solution would initially dissolve the calcite and clay minerals, and pyrite and the quartz minerals would remain in the host rock. Areas with greater calcite and clay pores would accommodate more groundwater and thus promote a greater surface area for chemical reactions. This enhances the potential for the oxidation of pyrite to form sulphate ions, which can later combine with calcium ions to precipitate gypsum crystals. Alternatively, the oxidation of pyrite, which produces acidity, dissolves the carbonate host and the calcium- and sulphate-rich solution then precipitates gypsum. The combination of the structural and geomorphological processes is key to the formation of economic gypsum deposits. The potential for extensive gypsum reserves within the Steytlerville-Jansenville field remains valid, provided the target is located over a predominantly weathered Whitehill Formation outcrop, preferably in an area which has undergone extensive deformation (such as a fold hinge zone), and is favourable for the concentration of ground and surface water within a low-lying area.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Almanza, Roberto Daniel
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Gypsum -- South Africa Concretions -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/15292 , vital:28215
- Description: The Steyterville-Jansenville gypsum field is one of South Africa’s smaller deposits, yet plays host to several gypsum mines, both past and present. This study aims to deconstruct the processes involved in the precipitation of various quantities and grades of gypsum in the lower Ecca Group of the Karoo Supergroup. The calcium and sulphate ions required to form the gypsum mineral (CaSO4•2H2O) are derived from the mid- to lower-shale of the Whitehill Formation, which is carbonate- and pyrite-rich. Gypsum formation is dependent on the availability of pyrite as opposed to calcite, which is in abundance throughout the 30m thick, Early Ufimian (late Permian) Whitehill Formation. Weathered shale, which has been folded and faulted, forms the host environment in which gypsum has precipitated. Folding of the shale occurs as a series of large- and medium-scale anticlines and synclines that strike east to west. These structures, which formed during the Cape Orogeny indicate that stresses were exerted from the south-southwest towards the north-northeast. Folded calcite veins surrounded by amorphous pyrite, observed in thin section suggest that pyrite and calcite were precipitated together prior to a deformation event. Oxidation of pyrite following these deformation events results in the concentration of sulphides within the hinge zones of the folds (weakest zone) and this is where the larger gypsum deposits are found at the surface. Carbonate concretions in the Whitehill Formation up to 5m in length and 3m in width are common in the study area, and suggest a relationship with the deposition of the shale whereby calcium-rich nuclei grew in a concentric fashion during a non-depositional hiatus period. This period is also associated with a higher concentration of pyrite and could explain the occurrence of concretions together with adjacent gypsum-rich shale. Pyrite framboids observed under the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) provide evidence to suggest concentric growth of initially deposited microcrystals including nucleation and growth of nodules and concretions observed within the Whitehill Formation. Prerequisites for gypsum formation also include restricted drainage such as a pan, a clay layer in the drainage area and an arid climate where evaporation exceeds precipitation. The preferred surface conditions for gypsum formation would be low-lying areas which are surrounded by gently-sloping topography promoting the concentration of aqueous solutions in a calcite- and pyrite-rich area. Groundwater solution would initially dissolve the calcite and clay minerals, and pyrite and the quartz minerals would remain in the host rock. Areas with greater calcite and clay pores would accommodate more groundwater and thus promote a greater surface area for chemical reactions. This enhances the potential for the oxidation of pyrite to form sulphate ions, which can later combine with calcium ions to precipitate gypsum crystals. Alternatively, the oxidation of pyrite, which produces acidity, dissolves the carbonate host and the calcium- and sulphate-rich solution then precipitates gypsum. The combination of the structural and geomorphological processes is key to the formation of economic gypsum deposits. The potential for extensive gypsum reserves within the Steytlerville-Jansenville field remains valid, provided the target is located over a predominantly weathered Whitehill Formation outcrop, preferably in an area which has undergone extensive deformation (such as a fold hinge zone), and is favourable for the concentration of ground and surface water within a low-lying area.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Halogen substituted A2B type Co (III) triarylcorroles
- Niu, Yingjie, Li, Minzhi, Zhang, Qianchong, Zhu, Weihua, Mack, John, Fomo, Gertrude, Nyokong, Tebello, Liang, Xu
- Authors: Niu, Yingjie , Li, Minzhi , Zhang, Qianchong , Zhu, Weihua , Mack, John , Fomo, Gertrude , Nyokong, Tebello , Liang, Xu
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/233048 , vital:50051 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dyepig.2017.02.049"
- Description: Seven low symmetry A2B type Co(III)triarylcorroles with electron withdrawing meso-aryl substituents have been synthesized and characterized. A detailed analysis of the optical and redox properties has been carried out by comparing their optical spectroscopy, electrochemistry and spectroelectrochemistry to trends predicted in a series of DFT and TD-DFT calculations. The results demonstrate that Co(III)corroles are highly effective catalysts for hydrogen evolution reactions (HERs). Moreover, there is a marked enhancement in their homogenous catalytic ability when halogen atoms are introduced at the B position, which demonstrates that facile modifying the meso-aryl rings is a effective strategy for developing new HER catalysts. The electrochemical results demonstrate that an unusual two step modulation of HER reactions can be achieved by using singly and doubly electrochemical reduced cobalt triarylcorroles anions.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Niu, Yingjie , Li, Minzhi , Zhang, Qianchong , Zhu, Weihua , Mack, John , Fomo, Gertrude , Nyokong, Tebello , Liang, Xu
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/233048 , vital:50051 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dyepig.2017.02.049"
- Description: Seven low symmetry A2B type Co(III)triarylcorroles with electron withdrawing meso-aryl substituents have been synthesized and characterized. A detailed analysis of the optical and redox properties has been carried out by comparing their optical spectroscopy, electrochemistry and spectroelectrochemistry to trends predicted in a series of DFT and TD-DFT calculations. The results demonstrate that Co(III)corroles are highly effective catalysts for hydrogen evolution reactions (HERs). Moreover, there is a marked enhancement in their homogenous catalytic ability when halogen atoms are introduced at the B position, which demonstrates that facile modifying the meso-aryl rings is a effective strategy for developing new HER catalysts. The electrochemical results demonstrate that an unusual two step modulation of HER reactions can be achieved by using singly and doubly electrochemical reduced cobalt triarylcorroles anions.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Happiness in the private physiotherapy sector of South Africa
- Authors: Elliot, Michael
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Happiness Well-being , Health behavior -- Economic aspects Economics -- Sociological aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/15171 , vital:28171
- Description: There is limited research pertaining to assessing the happiness levels of various disciplines within the healthcare industry. Furthermore, happiness and physiotherapy studies are two research areas that are not necessarily associated with one another on a global perspective. Hence, the happiness levels have not been adequately established for private physiotherapists. This treatise is the first attempt to evaluate the happiness levels of private physiotherapists in South Africa. A thorough literature review was conducted to determine the current climate of happiness studies pertaining to the business industry, with focus on private physiotherapy businesses in the healthcare sector. The literature review enabled the development of a hypothesised model, which was tested with quantitative techniques consisting of a questionnaire, data collection and statistical analysis. The research confirmed that influence, social relations, life balance, optimism, work and leisure are all positively associated with the happiness levels of private physiotherapists in South Africa. These variables are recommended as key focus areas for physiotherapy business owners to address, in order to positively affect happiness levels in the workplace and thereby create favourable bottom line results. In accordance with the reviewed literature and the findings of this treatise, by adequately addressing these variables the business owners of physiotherapy practices will generate a workforce that are more productive, demonstrate greater collaboration with colleagues and customers, produce happier customers, are more positively energised and are less absent and more loyal to the business. It is recommended that the proposed model is tested to provide further benefit to the industry by constructing evidence-based retention and recruitment strategies for high performing private physiotherapy staff.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Elliot, Michael
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Happiness Well-being , Health behavior -- Economic aspects Economics -- Sociological aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/15171 , vital:28171
- Description: There is limited research pertaining to assessing the happiness levels of various disciplines within the healthcare industry. Furthermore, happiness and physiotherapy studies are two research areas that are not necessarily associated with one another on a global perspective. Hence, the happiness levels have not been adequately established for private physiotherapists. This treatise is the first attempt to evaluate the happiness levels of private physiotherapists in South Africa. A thorough literature review was conducted to determine the current climate of happiness studies pertaining to the business industry, with focus on private physiotherapy businesses in the healthcare sector. The literature review enabled the development of a hypothesised model, which was tested with quantitative techniques consisting of a questionnaire, data collection and statistical analysis. The research confirmed that influence, social relations, life balance, optimism, work and leisure are all positively associated with the happiness levels of private physiotherapists in South Africa. These variables are recommended as key focus areas for physiotherapy business owners to address, in order to positively affect happiness levels in the workplace and thereby create favourable bottom line results. In accordance with the reviewed literature and the findings of this treatise, by adequately addressing these variables the business owners of physiotherapy practices will generate a workforce that are more productive, demonstrate greater collaboration with colleagues and customers, produce happier customers, are more positively energised and are less absent and more loyal to the business. It is recommended that the proposed model is tested to provide further benefit to the industry by constructing evidence-based retention and recruitment strategies for high performing private physiotherapy staff.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Happiness is somebody’s name
- Authors: Jijana, Thabo
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Creative writing (Higher education) South Africa , South African fiction (English) 21st century , Short stories, South African (English) 21st century
- Language: English , Xhosa
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/7268 , vital:21237
- Description: This collection of loosely interlinked short stories is a “book of imaginary beings”. It draws its influence from amaXhosa history, religion and mythology. Written in a fluid blend of isiXhosa and English, the stories make use of innovative forms and an inventive, pared-down language to create new and strange perspectives on our past, present and future. Ranging in length from brief mini-sagas to longer vignettes, the collection touches on such diverse subjects as the lore and superstitions surrounding the mythical being of tokoloshe, sorcery in the black community, and other fantastical elements of amaXhosa folklore. Literary influences include the Syrian writer Osama Olamar, whose writing about inanimate and everyday objects is both interesting and rare; Amos Tutuola, whose appropriation of Yoruba mythology I have learned much from; the Argentinian writer Julio Cortazar who has the facility to articulate the fantastical in a straightforward narrative; and Taban Lo Liyong, the Ugandan writer, whose fabulist work has served as stimulus for many of these stories.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Jijana, Thabo
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Creative writing (Higher education) South Africa , South African fiction (English) 21st century , Short stories, South African (English) 21st century
- Language: English , Xhosa
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/7268 , vital:21237
- Description: This collection of loosely interlinked short stories is a “book of imaginary beings”. It draws its influence from amaXhosa history, religion and mythology. Written in a fluid blend of isiXhosa and English, the stories make use of innovative forms and an inventive, pared-down language to create new and strange perspectives on our past, present and future. Ranging in length from brief mini-sagas to longer vignettes, the collection touches on such diverse subjects as the lore and superstitions surrounding the mythical being of tokoloshe, sorcery in the black community, and other fantastical elements of amaXhosa folklore. Literary influences include the Syrian writer Osama Olamar, whose writing about inanimate and everyday objects is both interesting and rare; Amos Tutuola, whose appropriation of Yoruba mythology I have learned much from; the Argentinian writer Julio Cortazar who has the facility to articulate the fantastical in a straightforward narrative; and Taban Lo Liyong, the Ugandan writer, whose fabulist work has served as stimulus for many of these stories.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Health promotion: approaches to dietary salt reduction
- Authors: Mushoriwa, Fadzai
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPharm
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/44761 , vital:25439
- Description: Background Globally, non-communicable diseases are the leading causes of mortality and morbidity, with the majority of these occurring in low-middle income countries. The devastating consequences of non-communicable diseases could be curtailed through better management of four modifiable factors: physical inactivity; tobacco use; harmful use of alcohol; and unhealthy diets. The World Health Organisation has recommended dietary salt reduction as a cost-effective strategy in combatting the burden of NCDs. Consumer awareness and education is one of three primary strategies that have been identified by the World Health Organisation to achieve population-wide salt reduction. It involves the provision of salt reduction knowledge and the promotion of healthy salt related practices. These campaigns are a necessity in populations with high discretionary salt use such as South Africa. For these health promotion activities to succeed, they need to be developed with consideration of factors such as the environment, culture, and socio-economic standing of the intended target population. This two-phase health promotion study was conducted at St Mary’s Development and Care Centre and the Assumption Sisters Nutrition Centre. These are two community based organisations located in Grahamstown, South Africa. A needs assessment was conducted to identify the knowledge and practices of cooks and guardians from these centres on dietary salt reduction. The aim of the second phase of the study was to conduct an educational intervention and to develop a culturally appropriate and contextually specific health information intervention through a participatory process. Method: This was a qualitative study that was supported by elements of quantitative research.. The first phase of the current study was a needs assessment. The first step involved an observational phase with cooks from the centres. The aim was to observe their discretionary salt use during food preparation and to document the salt content in the processed foods available at each centre. Semi-structured interviews were then conducted, with 3 cooks and 16 guardians1 from the centres, to assess their knowledge and practices regarding salt reduction.Parents or the people responsible for the care of the children attending both centres. Guided by findings from the needs assessment phase, an educational intervention was developed. This phase involved the participatory development of three health information leaflets and a series of educational interactive sessions were conducted. Quantitative tests to assess the readability, suitability, and actionability were conducted on the leaflets. Qualitative assessment of the leaflets involved formative evaluations conducted by health care professionals, phase 1 participants, Rhodes University peer educators, an African languages and cultural expert, and a Rhodes University student wellness manager. This step was included to assess the content validity, context specificity, acceptability, and cultural appropriateness of the materials. Educational interactive sessions were guided by constructs of the Social Cognitive Theory and were conducted on three main topics: ‘Salt and my health’, ‘Reducing salt in my diet’, and ‘Reading food labels’. Results: The majority of the processed foods available at both centres contained low to medium levels of salt. Children at the centres were not provided with salt shakers on the tables during meal times. Cooks did not use measuring utensils when adding salt during meal preparation. Semistructured interviews revealed that participants lacked both declarative and procedural knowledge. In terms of declarative knowledge, they were unaware of the daily salt intake recommendations and the relationship between salt and sodium. Participants were able to identify hypertension as one of the health related consequences of high salt consumption. Most participants were responsible for purchasing groceries in their households. Their selfreported food label reading behaviours and inability to read food labels highlighted their lack of procedural knowledge. Most participants reported that they added salt during meal preparation and at mealtimes, highlighting high discretionary salt use. Some participants were also aware of cultural or religious uses of salt. The developed health information leaflets were considered to be written at a readability level appropriate for the target audience. The leaflets were also deemed to be actionable, culturally appropriate, and contextually specific and suitable materials. The educational interactive sessions were found to be interesting and informative. Conclusions: Findings from the needs assessment revealed the need for an educational intervention to address the identified gaps in the participants’ knowledge and practices regarding dietary salt reduction. The developed health information leaflets were found to be informative, culturally appropriate, and contextually specific, as planned. Interactive sessions provided an excellent platform to supply participants with concise and accurate information, increasing the possibility of improving their salt reduction related knowledge.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Mushoriwa, Fadzai
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPharm
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/44761 , vital:25439
- Description: Background Globally, non-communicable diseases are the leading causes of mortality and morbidity, with the majority of these occurring in low-middle income countries. The devastating consequences of non-communicable diseases could be curtailed through better management of four modifiable factors: physical inactivity; tobacco use; harmful use of alcohol; and unhealthy diets. The World Health Organisation has recommended dietary salt reduction as a cost-effective strategy in combatting the burden of NCDs. Consumer awareness and education is one of three primary strategies that have been identified by the World Health Organisation to achieve population-wide salt reduction. It involves the provision of salt reduction knowledge and the promotion of healthy salt related practices. These campaigns are a necessity in populations with high discretionary salt use such as South Africa. For these health promotion activities to succeed, they need to be developed with consideration of factors such as the environment, culture, and socio-economic standing of the intended target population. This two-phase health promotion study was conducted at St Mary’s Development and Care Centre and the Assumption Sisters Nutrition Centre. These are two community based organisations located in Grahamstown, South Africa. A needs assessment was conducted to identify the knowledge and practices of cooks and guardians from these centres on dietary salt reduction. The aim of the second phase of the study was to conduct an educational intervention and to develop a culturally appropriate and contextually specific health information intervention through a participatory process. Method: This was a qualitative study that was supported by elements of quantitative research.. The first phase of the current study was a needs assessment. The first step involved an observational phase with cooks from the centres. The aim was to observe their discretionary salt use during food preparation and to document the salt content in the processed foods available at each centre. Semi-structured interviews were then conducted, with 3 cooks and 16 guardians1 from the centres, to assess their knowledge and practices regarding salt reduction.Parents or the people responsible for the care of the children attending both centres. Guided by findings from the needs assessment phase, an educational intervention was developed. This phase involved the participatory development of three health information leaflets and a series of educational interactive sessions were conducted. Quantitative tests to assess the readability, suitability, and actionability were conducted on the leaflets. Qualitative assessment of the leaflets involved formative evaluations conducted by health care professionals, phase 1 participants, Rhodes University peer educators, an African languages and cultural expert, and a Rhodes University student wellness manager. This step was included to assess the content validity, context specificity, acceptability, and cultural appropriateness of the materials. Educational interactive sessions were guided by constructs of the Social Cognitive Theory and were conducted on three main topics: ‘Salt and my health’, ‘Reducing salt in my diet’, and ‘Reading food labels’. Results: The majority of the processed foods available at both centres contained low to medium levels of salt. Children at the centres were not provided with salt shakers on the tables during meal times. Cooks did not use measuring utensils when adding salt during meal preparation. Semistructured interviews revealed that participants lacked both declarative and procedural knowledge. In terms of declarative knowledge, they were unaware of the daily salt intake recommendations and the relationship between salt and sodium. Participants were able to identify hypertension as one of the health related consequences of high salt consumption. Most participants were responsible for purchasing groceries in their households. Their selfreported food label reading behaviours and inability to read food labels highlighted their lack of procedural knowledge. Most participants reported that they added salt during meal preparation and at mealtimes, highlighting high discretionary salt use. Some participants were also aware of cultural or religious uses of salt. The developed health information leaflets were considered to be written at a readability level appropriate for the target audience. The leaflets were also deemed to be actionable, culturally appropriate, and contextually specific and suitable materials. The educational interactive sessions were found to be interesting and informative. Conclusions: Findings from the needs assessment revealed the need for an educational intervention to address the identified gaps in the participants’ knowledge and practices regarding dietary salt reduction. The developed health information leaflets were found to be informative, culturally appropriate, and contextually specific, as planned. Interactive sessions provided an excellent platform to supply participants with concise and accurate information, increasing the possibility of improving their salt reduction related knowledge.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Hearing the citizens: inequality, access to journalists and the prospects for inclusively mediated spaces of political deliberation in South Africa
- Authors: Oelofsen, Marietjie
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/35030 , vital:24309
- Description: This study examines the extent to which material and social inequality in post-apartheid South Africa affect possibilities for poor citizens to gain access to mainstream spaces of mediated political deliberation. Access is problematized in terms of the possibilities that exist for poor citizens to ‘appear’ in these spaces as emancipated citizens with political agency. The study is motivated by a perception that South Africa’s middle-class and privileged citizens have more access to political deliberation because mainstream journalists pay more attention to their political concerns. Because mediated political deliberation provides a space for articulating the political will of citizens it is important that it reflects the multiple, and diverse range of voices that make up South Africa’s polity. If the experience of socioeconomically marginalised citizens is not registered in the same way as the experience of citizens with economic and political power, the balance of political decision-making continues to be skewed against the interests of the poor. Rather than a media-centric approach, the study centres on perceptions and views of poor citizens about their relationship with mainstream journalists. The study combines information from group interviews with citizens from Hangberg, Cape Town with 410 news reports in 18 mainstream newspapers about Hangberg citizens over a 20-year period. The interviews show that poor citizens feel largely excluded from mediated political deliberation; not because they do not appear in the news but because of how they appear in the news. The news reports confirm that mainstream journalists pay more attention to voices with political and economic power than to the voices of poor citizens. Even in news reports about Hangberg citizens, political leaders and non-governmental experts often talk about the problems in Hangberg more than the citizens of Hangberg themselves talk about these problems. Building on a relatively new scholarly interest in ‘active’ and ‘political’ listening in media studies and democratic theory (Bickford 1996, Dreher 2009, Couldry 2009, Dobson 2014, Wasserman 2013, Garman and Malila 2014), I consider listening as a constitutive element of the way in which journalists engage with poor citizens in mediated deliberative spaces. I ask whether different practices of listening can enable journalists to construct narratives that provide marginalised groups with different possibilities for equal access to, and participation in these spaces?
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Oelofsen, Marietjie
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/35030 , vital:24309
- Description: This study examines the extent to which material and social inequality in post-apartheid South Africa affect possibilities for poor citizens to gain access to mainstream spaces of mediated political deliberation. Access is problematized in terms of the possibilities that exist for poor citizens to ‘appear’ in these spaces as emancipated citizens with political agency. The study is motivated by a perception that South Africa’s middle-class and privileged citizens have more access to political deliberation because mainstream journalists pay more attention to their political concerns. Because mediated political deliberation provides a space for articulating the political will of citizens it is important that it reflects the multiple, and diverse range of voices that make up South Africa’s polity. If the experience of socioeconomically marginalised citizens is not registered in the same way as the experience of citizens with economic and political power, the balance of political decision-making continues to be skewed against the interests of the poor. Rather than a media-centric approach, the study centres on perceptions and views of poor citizens about their relationship with mainstream journalists. The study combines information from group interviews with citizens from Hangberg, Cape Town with 410 news reports in 18 mainstream newspapers about Hangberg citizens over a 20-year period. The interviews show that poor citizens feel largely excluded from mediated political deliberation; not because they do not appear in the news but because of how they appear in the news. The news reports confirm that mainstream journalists pay more attention to voices with political and economic power than to the voices of poor citizens. Even in news reports about Hangberg citizens, political leaders and non-governmental experts often talk about the problems in Hangberg more than the citizens of Hangberg themselves talk about these problems. Building on a relatively new scholarly interest in ‘active’ and ‘political’ listening in media studies and democratic theory (Bickford 1996, Dreher 2009, Couldry 2009, Dobson 2014, Wasserman 2013, Garman and Malila 2014), I consider listening as a constitutive element of the way in which journalists engage with poor citizens in mediated deliberative spaces. I ask whether different practices of listening can enable journalists to construct narratives that provide marginalised groups with different possibilities for equal access to, and participation in these spaces?
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Heat shock proteins as modulators and therapeutic targets of chronic disease: an integrated perspective
- Edkins, Adrienne L, Price, John T, Pockley, A Graham, Blatch, Gregory L
- Authors: Edkins, Adrienne L , Price, John T , Pockley, A Graham , Blatch, Gregory L
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/164332 , vital:41109 , DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2016.0521
- Description: Many heat shock proteins (HSPs) are essential to survival as a consequence of their role as molecular chaperones, and play a critical role in maintaining cellular proteostasis by integrating the fundamental processes of protein folding and degradation. HSPs are arguably among the most prominent classes of proteins that have been broadly linked to many human disorders, with changes in their expression profile and/or intracellular/extracellular location now being described as contributing to the pathogenesis of a number of different diseases. Although the concept was initially controversial, it is now widely accepted that HSPs have additional biological functions over and above their role in proteostasis (so-called ‘protein moonlighting’).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Edkins, Adrienne L , Price, John T , Pockley, A Graham , Blatch, Gregory L
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/164332 , vital:41109 , DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2016.0521
- Description: Many heat shock proteins (HSPs) are essential to survival as a consequence of their role as molecular chaperones, and play a critical role in maintaining cellular proteostasis by integrating the fundamental processes of protein folding and degradation. HSPs are arguably among the most prominent classes of proteins that have been broadly linked to many human disorders, with changes in their expression profile and/or intracellular/extracellular location now being described as contributing to the pathogenesis of a number of different diseases. Although the concept was initially controversial, it is now widely accepted that HSPs have additional biological functions over and above their role in proteostasis (so-called ‘protein moonlighting’).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Help or hindrance? a critical analysis of the agreement on sanitary and phytosanitary measures, and its effects on developing countries
- Authors: Waterworth, Tayla
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/7090 , vital:21216
- Description: WHILE it is accepted that the category of "developing country" is a broad one, it can nevertheless be acknowledged that the countries which fall within this categorisation share several common features. Such common features include their lack of financial resources and scientific capacity, and their reliance on trade in primary agricultural goods. The Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures was originally created to regulate trade in primary agricultural goods, and so its provisions are of great significance to developing countries. In its Preamble the Agreement acknowledges both the unique circumstances of developing countries and its desire to assist them in entering into and expanding within the international trading markets. As part of this endeavour, several provisions were included in the Agreement which purport to protect and provide for the interests of developing countries. In its inception, its Preamble, and the very nature of its content, the Agreement shows a desire to assist developing countries wherever possible. Unfortunately, a close analysis of the provisions of the Agreement shows that this desire has not been fulfilled. Many of the provisions of the Agreement are heavily skewed toward the interests of importing Members, often at the expense of developing Members - particularly those that export primary agricultural goods. Even the provisions of the Agreement which purport to provide protection and special and differential treatment specifically for developing countries frequently fall short, either as a result of ambiguous phrasing or poor textual interpretation by the dispute settlement bodies of the World Trade Organization. As a result, there exists a potential within the Agreement to have a significant detrimental impact on the international trading opportunities of exporting developing countries. In this thesis I analyse the provisions of the Agreement to determine where, why and how they are likely to have, or are having, a detrimental impact on developing countries (particularly exporting developing countries). After identifying these problems I examine and discuss several potential solutions and how they may be implemented to minimise - or even remove - the negative impact on developing countries and their international trading markets.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Waterworth, Tayla
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/7090 , vital:21216
- Description: WHILE it is accepted that the category of "developing country" is a broad one, it can nevertheless be acknowledged that the countries which fall within this categorisation share several common features. Such common features include their lack of financial resources and scientific capacity, and their reliance on trade in primary agricultural goods. The Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures was originally created to regulate trade in primary agricultural goods, and so its provisions are of great significance to developing countries. In its Preamble the Agreement acknowledges both the unique circumstances of developing countries and its desire to assist them in entering into and expanding within the international trading markets. As part of this endeavour, several provisions were included in the Agreement which purport to protect and provide for the interests of developing countries. In its inception, its Preamble, and the very nature of its content, the Agreement shows a desire to assist developing countries wherever possible. Unfortunately, a close analysis of the provisions of the Agreement shows that this desire has not been fulfilled. Many of the provisions of the Agreement are heavily skewed toward the interests of importing Members, often at the expense of developing Members - particularly those that export primary agricultural goods. Even the provisions of the Agreement which purport to provide protection and special and differential treatment specifically for developing countries frequently fall short, either as a result of ambiguous phrasing or poor textual interpretation by the dispute settlement bodies of the World Trade Organization. As a result, there exists a potential within the Agreement to have a significant detrimental impact on the international trading opportunities of exporting developing countries. In this thesis I analyse the provisions of the Agreement to determine where, why and how they are likely to have, or are having, a detrimental impact on developing countries (particularly exporting developing countries). After identifying these problems I examine and discuss several potential solutions and how they may be implemented to minimise - or even remove - the negative impact on developing countries and their international trading markets.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Highly efficient CCl bond cleavage and unprecedented CC bond cleavage of environmentally toxic DDT through molecular electrochemical catalysis
- Liang, Xu, Huang, Tingting, Li, Minzhi, Mack, John, Wildervanck, Martijn, Nyokong, Tebello, Zhu, Weihua
- Authors: Liang, Xu , Huang, Tingting , Li, Minzhi , Mack, John , Wildervanck, Martijn , Nyokong, Tebello , Zhu, Weihua
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/188921 , vital:44798 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcata.2017.07.026"
- Description: The electrocatalytic properties of a Co(II)octaalkoxyphthalocyanine complex (Co(II)Pc) with eight strongly electron-donating substituents provide the first example of the complete dechlorination of DDT through molecular electrocatalysis, rather than the use of metal electrodes which had been achieved previously. Interaction with a highly nucleophilic [Co(I)Pc]2− species results in rapid cleavage of the C(sp3) Cl, C(sp2) Cl and aromatic C(sp2) Cl bonds. Bis(p-chlorophenyl)methanone (BPCl2) is detected in high yield along with its full dechlorination product, diphenylmethanone (BP) and the conventional C Cl bond cleavage products, due to an unprecedented C C bond cleavage reaction that is followed by the formation of a C−O bond. Theoretical calculations are used to analyze trends in the electronic structure of the Co(II)octaalkoxyphthalocyanine complex that account for the efficiency of the C Cl bond cleavage reactions, and the reaction process and mechanism are analyzed in depth.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Liang, Xu , Huang, Tingting , Li, Minzhi , Mack, John , Wildervanck, Martijn , Nyokong, Tebello , Zhu, Weihua
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/188921 , vital:44798 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcata.2017.07.026"
- Description: The electrocatalytic properties of a Co(II)octaalkoxyphthalocyanine complex (Co(II)Pc) with eight strongly electron-donating substituents provide the first example of the complete dechlorination of DDT through molecular electrocatalysis, rather than the use of metal electrodes which had been achieved previously. Interaction with a highly nucleophilic [Co(I)Pc]2− species results in rapid cleavage of the C(sp3) Cl, C(sp2) Cl and aromatic C(sp2) Cl bonds. Bis(p-chlorophenyl)methanone (BPCl2) is detected in high yield along with its full dechlorination product, diphenylmethanone (BP) and the conventional C Cl bond cleavage products, due to an unprecedented C C bond cleavage reaction that is followed by the formation of a C−O bond. Theoretical calculations are used to analyze trends in the electronic structure of the Co(II)octaalkoxyphthalocyanine complex that account for the efficiency of the C Cl bond cleavage reactions, and the reaction process and mechanism are analyzed in depth.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Home activities promoting mathematical skills in foundation phase : a case study of grandmother-headed households
- Authors: Hlungulu, Nolukholo Faith
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Home and school -- South Africa -- Case studies Education -- Parent participation -- South Africa -- Case studies Education, Elementary -- South Africa -- Case studies
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/4926 , vital:28796
- Description: Recent factors identified as contributory to poor mathematics performance in South Africa include lack of parental involvement coupled by the divorce of mathematics education to children’s everyday lives. This exploratory study, therefore focused on home activities grandmothers engage their Grade 2 grandchildren that may promote mathematical skills of Foundation Phase learners. This study followed a qualitative, interpretive and case study research design, to explore home activities grandmothers engage their Grade 2 grandchildren that may promote mathematical skills of Foundation Phase learners. A small scale study of six grandmothers and three Grade 2 teachers were sampled through purposive and snowball sampling. In line with the protocol of the case study, semi-structured individual face to face interviews and shadowing were used to collect data. One striking feature of the main findings was the diversity mathematics applications home activities contained. These include physical, financial and fun playful home activities. Data also revealed that these home activities could reinforce numbers and what numbers mean; reinforce shape recognition and spatial relationships; complement matching, classification and sorting and reinforce measuring and time. This implies that curriculum must incorporate children’s social capital. Both teachers and grandmothers acknowledged that children’s mathematics education is complex and an effective partnership between grandmothers and teachers is needed if children are to be competent in mathematics.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Hlungulu, Nolukholo Faith
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Home and school -- South Africa -- Case studies Education -- Parent participation -- South Africa -- Case studies Education, Elementary -- South Africa -- Case studies
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/4926 , vital:28796
- Description: Recent factors identified as contributory to poor mathematics performance in South Africa include lack of parental involvement coupled by the divorce of mathematics education to children’s everyday lives. This exploratory study, therefore focused on home activities grandmothers engage their Grade 2 grandchildren that may promote mathematical skills of Foundation Phase learners. This study followed a qualitative, interpretive and case study research design, to explore home activities grandmothers engage their Grade 2 grandchildren that may promote mathematical skills of Foundation Phase learners. A small scale study of six grandmothers and three Grade 2 teachers were sampled through purposive and snowball sampling. In line with the protocol of the case study, semi-structured individual face to face interviews and shadowing were used to collect data. One striking feature of the main findings was the diversity mathematics applications home activities contained. These include physical, financial and fun playful home activities. Data also revealed that these home activities could reinforce numbers and what numbers mean; reinforce shape recognition and spatial relationships; complement matching, classification and sorting and reinforce measuring and time. This implies that curriculum must incorporate children’s social capital. Both teachers and grandmothers acknowledged that children’s mathematics education is complex and an effective partnership between grandmothers and teachers is needed if children are to be competent in mathematics.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Home ownership in the gap-housing market in South Africa
- Authors: Ludidi, Daniel Dumisa
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Home ownership -- South Africa Housing -- South Africa , Bond market -- South Africa Real estate investment -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/18299 , vital:28616
- Description: The access to adequate housing is a constitutional right, in terms of Section 26 (1) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, Act 108 of 1996. Access to housing in South Africa is still an ideal and not a reality. The increase in housing prices reduces affordability, which creates a barrier to the housing market for South Africans to fully participate. The South African housing market is divided, based on the affordability of households, with a gap within the property market. The gap-housing market is a market, which does not receive a government subsidy; and furthermore, it does not qualify for bond finance by the private financial institutions. The gap-housing market includes households that earn between R3,500 to R15,000 per month for residential properties valued between R116,703 to R483,481. The problem is a lack of supply in the gap-housing market to meet the demand; and this is also affected by the poor performance of the subsidy-housing market. The gap-housing market is not traded adequately, due to a lack of supply caused by stricter lending criteria from the banks. The study was conducted by means of reviewing the related literature and by an empirical study. A survey was conducted using the quantitative approach through a distribution of research questionnaires to different organizations within the judgement sample population. The objective of the study is to review the gap-housing market and to make recommendations. The descriptive survey was conducted among specialists that are participating in the South African housing market. The findings of the study suggest that there is a relationship between incentive and participation, as well as a relationship between participation – with access, supply and trading in the gap-housing market. This study will contribute to the South African housing market body of knowledge – by addressing the problem of a gap within the housing market.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Ludidi, Daniel Dumisa
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Home ownership -- South Africa Housing -- South Africa , Bond market -- South Africa Real estate investment -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/18299 , vital:28616
- Description: The access to adequate housing is a constitutional right, in terms of Section 26 (1) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, Act 108 of 1996. Access to housing in South Africa is still an ideal and not a reality. The increase in housing prices reduces affordability, which creates a barrier to the housing market for South Africans to fully participate. The South African housing market is divided, based on the affordability of households, with a gap within the property market. The gap-housing market is a market, which does not receive a government subsidy; and furthermore, it does not qualify for bond finance by the private financial institutions. The gap-housing market includes households that earn between R3,500 to R15,000 per month for residential properties valued between R116,703 to R483,481. The problem is a lack of supply in the gap-housing market to meet the demand; and this is also affected by the poor performance of the subsidy-housing market. The gap-housing market is not traded adequately, due to a lack of supply caused by stricter lending criteria from the banks. The study was conducted by means of reviewing the related literature and by an empirical study. A survey was conducted using the quantitative approach through a distribution of research questionnaires to different organizations within the judgement sample population. The objective of the study is to review the gap-housing market and to make recommendations. The descriptive survey was conducted among specialists that are participating in the South African housing market. The findings of the study suggest that there is a relationship between incentive and participation, as well as a relationship between participation – with access, supply and trading in the gap-housing market. This study will contribute to the South African housing market body of knowledge – by addressing the problem of a gap within the housing market.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Homecoming
- Authors: Mazwai, Nontsikelelo
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/164930 , vital:41185
- Description: Thesis (MA)--Rhodes University, Faculty of Humanities, School of Languages, 2017
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Mazwai, Nontsikelelo
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/164930 , vital:41185
- Description: Thesis (MA)--Rhodes University, Faculty of Humanities, School of Languages, 2017
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Homeless men in East London : an exploration of significant life experiences to self-concepts
- Authors: Lobi, Thembelihle
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Homeless persons Homelessness Homeless men
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Counselling Psychology
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16069 , vital:40661
- Description: This dissertation investigated the life experiences of homeless persons and how they come to view their self-concepts as homeless men. The theoretical framework that underpinned this study was the self-concept theory and social identity theory. In this contextual descriptive study, four homeless men between ages of 28-50 participated in the study. Data was collected by means of disposable cameras and recorded interviews. Thematic analysis was employed to analyse data. The study found that when the participants first became homeless, they encountered stigmatisation and were not ready to accept the homeless identity as it conflicted with their past identity. However, with prolonged homelessness, they took on the new identity and the roles that come with it. The study found that homeless men view themselves as worthless due to their experiences on the street which include living under inhumane conditions, victimisation, and stigma associated with being homeless. The participants have internalised the negative utterances from housed people, which has negatively affected their self-image to a point where they view themselves as worthless,useless and forgetable. The study also found that homeless men use various methods to survive on the streets, which were both self-enhancing such as participating in the informal economy such as car guarding, car washing and collecting tins in exchange for money; and self-destructive such as using substances, risky sexual behaviour. The participants were found to have low self-concepts because of the tough experiences they encounter on the street.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Lobi, Thembelihle
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Homeless persons Homelessness Homeless men
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Counselling Psychology
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16069 , vital:40661
- Description: This dissertation investigated the life experiences of homeless persons and how they come to view their self-concepts as homeless men. The theoretical framework that underpinned this study was the self-concept theory and social identity theory. In this contextual descriptive study, four homeless men between ages of 28-50 participated in the study. Data was collected by means of disposable cameras and recorded interviews. Thematic analysis was employed to analyse data. The study found that when the participants first became homeless, they encountered stigmatisation and were not ready to accept the homeless identity as it conflicted with their past identity. However, with prolonged homelessness, they took on the new identity and the roles that come with it. The study found that homeless men view themselves as worthless due to their experiences on the street which include living under inhumane conditions, victimisation, and stigma associated with being homeless. The participants have internalised the negative utterances from housed people, which has negatively affected their self-image to a point where they view themselves as worthless,useless and forgetable. The study also found that homeless men use various methods to survive on the streets, which were both self-enhancing such as participating in the informal economy such as car guarding, car washing and collecting tins in exchange for money; and self-destructive such as using substances, risky sexual behaviour. The participants were found to have low self-concepts because of the tough experiences they encounter on the street.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Household socio-economic characteristics and their effect on livelihood strategy preferences in Shawbury, Qumbu
- Authors: Nongalo, Mwezi Bongile
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Food security -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Household surveys -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/12065 , vital:39132
- Description: At the centre of rural development are household livelihood strategies. The livelihoods of South Africa’s rural African poor have long been characterized by diverse activities, and intertwined with urban opportunities. This study describes the livelihood strategies of rural households, identifies the determinants of these livelihood strategies and seeks to identify the role of preferences and household characteristics in changing livelihood strategies in Shawbury in the small town in Qumbu. It also identifies the relationships between household and individual characteristics and livelihood strategies. A random sampling technique was used to select 100 households in Shawbury. Descriptive analysis techniques were used to describe the characteristics of the households and livelihood strategies and to identify the relationships between household characteristics and livelihood strategy preferences, a multinomial logit regression model was used. The livelihood strategies used for the multinomial logit regression were commercial agricultural production/ production for selling; subsistence agricultural production/ production for consumption; non-farm employment; social grants and remittances. For much of the research available for livelihood strategies, tools such as the sustainable livelihoods framework have been the focus for studying the determinants of livelihood strategies; however, these tools have little to no consideration for the aspirations and preferences of the individuals in question. This study highlights some possible tools that could be used to examine the influence of aspirations and preferences on changing livelihood strategies including the consumer choice framework, the domestic development cycle, the social network framework for decision-making, the social systems approach and conjoint analysis. For this study, the actual preferences of livelihood strategies among the households are presented using conjoint analysis. This study finds that households in the same area have different characteristics and that livelihood strategies of Shawbury’s households are primarily non- farm, that include dependency on remittances, social grants and formal employment. It finds that households that generate income from wage employment (non-farm) and farm activities are better off than other households. Analysis of the characteristics of rural households also revealed that age, labour endowment, education, and land size holding are some of the barriers that poor households in rural areas face when attempting to enter into high-return livelihood strategies. The multinomial logit regression model has helped to identify some of the factors that influence the preference of certain livelihood strategies by households, are gender of the household head, age of the household head, size of the land owned, and educational level of the household head, household size, and livestock value. This analysis presents evidence about the relationship between household characteristics contributing to the adoption of certain livelihood strategies by people of Shawbury. The conjoint analysis has helped to identify that the most preferred to the least preferred livelihood activities are non-farm labour activities, crop production, animal production, contact with family/leisure and other natural resource based activities respectively.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Nongalo, Mwezi Bongile
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Food security -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Household surveys -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/12065 , vital:39132
- Description: At the centre of rural development are household livelihood strategies. The livelihoods of South Africa’s rural African poor have long been characterized by diverse activities, and intertwined with urban opportunities. This study describes the livelihood strategies of rural households, identifies the determinants of these livelihood strategies and seeks to identify the role of preferences and household characteristics in changing livelihood strategies in Shawbury in the small town in Qumbu. It also identifies the relationships between household and individual characteristics and livelihood strategies. A random sampling technique was used to select 100 households in Shawbury. Descriptive analysis techniques were used to describe the characteristics of the households and livelihood strategies and to identify the relationships between household characteristics and livelihood strategy preferences, a multinomial logit regression model was used. The livelihood strategies used for the multinomial logit regression were commercial agricultural production/ production for selling; subsistence agricultural production/ production for consumption; non-farm employment; social grants and remittances. For much of the research available for livelihood strategies, tools such as the sustainable livelihoods framework have been the focus for studying the determinants of livelihood strategies; however, these tools have little to no consideration for the aspirations and preferences of the individuals in question. This study highlights some possible tools that could be used to examine the influence of aspirations and preferences on changing livelihood strategies including the consumer choice framework, the domestic development cycle, the social network framework for decision-making, the social systems approach and conjoint analysis. For this study, the actual preferences of livelihood strategies among the households are presented using conjoint analysis. This study finds that households in the same area have different characteristics and that livelihood strategies of Shawbury’s households are primarily non- farm, that include dependency on remittances, social grants and formal employment. It finds that households that generate income from wage employment (non-farm) and farm activities are better off than other households. Analysis of the characteristics of rural households also revealed that age, labour endowment, education, and land size holding are some of the barriers that poor households in rural areas face when attempting to enter into high-return livelihood strategies. The multinomial logit regression model has helped to identify some of the factors that influence the preference of certain livelihood strategies by households, are gender of the household head, age of the household head, size of the land owned, and educational level of the household head, household size, and livestock value. This analysis presents evidence about the relationship between household characteristics contributing to the adoption of certain livelihood strategies by people of Shawbury. The conjoint analysis has helped to identify that the most preferred to the least preferred livelihood activities are non-farm labour activities, crop production, animal production, contact with family/leisure and other natural resource based activities respectively.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Household socio-economic characteristics and their effect on livelihood strategy preferences in Shawbury, Qumbu
- Authors: Nongalo, Mwezi Bongile
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Food security -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Household surveys -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/12150 , vital:39175
- Description: At the centre of rural development are household livelihood strategies. The livelihoods of South Africa’s rural African poor have long been characterized by diverse activities, and intertwined with urban opportunities. This study describes the livelihood strategies of rural households, identifies the determinants of these livelihood strategies and seeks to identify the role of preferences and household characteristics in changing livelihood strategies in Shawbury in the small town in Qumbu. It also identifies the relationships between household and individual characteristics and livelihood strategies. A random sampling technique was used to select 100 households in Shawbury. Descriptive analysis techniques were used to describe the characteristics of the households and livelihood strategies and to identify the relationships between household characteristics and livelihood strategy preferences, a multinomial logit regression model was used. The livelihood strategies used for the multinomial logit regression were commercial agricultural production/ production for selling; subsistence agricultural production/ production for consumption; non-farm employment; social grants and remittances. For much of the research available for livelihood strategies, tools such as the sustainable livelihoods framework have been the focus for studying the determinants of livelihood strategies; however these tools have little to no consideration for the aspirations and preferences of the individuals in question. This study highlights some possible tools that could be used to examine the influence of aspirations and preferences on changing livelihood strategies including the consumer choice framework, the domestic development cycle, the social network framework for decision making, the social systems approach and conjoint analysis. For this study, the actual preferences of livelihood strategies among the households are presented using conjoint analysis. This study finds that households in the same area have different characteristics and that livelihood strategies of Shawbury’s households are primarily non- farm, that include dependency on remittances, social grants and formal employment. It finds that households that generate income from wage employment (non-farm) and farm activities are better off than other households. Analysis of the characteristics of rural households also revealed that age, labour endowment, education, and land size holding are some of the barriers that poor households in rural areas face when attempting to enter into high-return livelihood strategies. The multinomial logit regression model has helped to identify some of the factors that influence the preference of certain livelihood strategies by households, are gender of the household head, age of the household head, size of the land owned, and educational level of the household head, household size, and livestock value. This analysis presents evidence about the relationship between household characteristics contributing to the adoption of certain livelihood strategies by people of Shawbury. The conjoint analysis has helped to identify that the most preferred to the least preferred livelihood activities are non-farm labour activities, crop production, animal production, contact with family/leisure and other natural resource based activities respectively.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Nongalo, Mwezi Bongile
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Food security -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Household surveys -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/12150 , vital:39175
- Description: At the centre of rural development are household livelihood strategies. The livelihoods of South Africa’s rural African poor have long been characterized by diverse activities, and intertwined with urban opportunities. This study describes the livelihood strategies of rural households, identifies the determinants of these livelihood strategies and seeks to identify the role of preferences and household characteristics in changing livelihood strategies in Shawbury in the small town in Qumbu. It also identifies the relationships between household and individual characteristics and livelihood strategies. A random sampling technique was used to select 100 households in Shawbury. Descriptive analysis techniques were used to describe the characteristics of the households and livelihood strategies and to identify the relationships between household characteristics and livelihood strategy preferences, a multinomial logit regression model was used. The livelihood strategies used for the multinomial logit regression were commercial agricultural production/ production for selling; subsistence agricultural production/ production for consumption; non-farm employment; social grants and remittances. For much of the research available for livelihood strategies, tools such as the sustainable livelihoods framework have been the focus for studying the determinants of livelihood strategies; however these tools have little to no consideration for the aspirations and preferences of the individuals in question. This study highlights some possible tools that could be used to examine the influence of aspirations and preferences on changing livelihood strategies including the consumer choice framework, the domestic development cycle, the social network framework for decision making, the social systems approach and conjoint analysis. For this study, the actual preferences of livelihood strategies among the households are presented using conjoint analysis. This study finds that households in the same area have different characteristics and that livelihood strategies of Shawbury’s households are primarily non- farm, that include dependency on remittances, social grants and formal employment. It finds that households that generate income from wage employment (non-farm) and farm activities are better off than other households. Analysis of the characteristics of rural households also revealed that age, labour endowment, education, and land size holding are some of the barriers that poor households in rural areas face when attempting to enter into high-return livelihood strategies. The multinomial logit regression model has helped to identify some of the factors that influence the preference of certain livelihood strategies by households, are gender of the household head, age of the household head, size of the land owned, and educational level of the household head, household size, and livestock value. This analysis presents evidence about the relationship between household characteristics contributing to the adoption of certain livelihood strategies by people of Shawbury. The conjoint analysis has helped to identify that the most preferred to the least preferred livelihood activities are non-farm labour activities, crop production, animal production, contact with family/leisure and other natural resource based activities respectively.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
How compatible are urban livestock and urban green spaces and trees?: An assessment in a medium-sized South African town
- Shackleton, Charlie M, Guild, Jenny, Bromham, B, Impey, S, Jarrett, Mitchell, Ngubane, S, Steijl, K
- Authors: Shackleton, Charlie M , Guild, Jenny , Bromham, B , Impey, S , Jarrett, Mitchell , Ngubane, S , Steijl, K
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/181048 , vital:43694 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1080/19463138.2017.1314968"
- Description: Urban green spaces and trees provide multiple benefits to urban residents and the sustainability of cities. A poorly examined benefit is the provision of fodder to urban livestock. However, the presence and activities of livestock may be incompatible with other uses, although this has been little studied. We examined the impacts of livestock on trees and parks along a gradient of declining livestock density, complemented with a tree planting experiment to monitor damage. Neighbouring residents and park managers were interviewed regarding their perceptions of damage caused by livestock. The negative impacts on soil compaction, tree damage and death increased with increasing livestock densities. Thorny tree species were damaged significantly less (13 %) than non-thorny species (77 %), as were protected trees (25 %) relative to unprotected ones (65 %). There was more tree damage in public green spaces (PUGS) (54 %) than control sites (38 %). The majority of local residents felt that livestock should not be allowed in formal PUGS, and most urban park managers regarded livestock damage as a strong disincentive to plant trees. These results show the need for management of the trade-offs caused by livestock and greater appreciation of livestock as agents shaping aspects of PUGS.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Shackleton, Charlie M , Guild, Jenny , Bromham, B , Impey, S , Jarrett, Mitchell , Ngubane, S , Steijl, K
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/181048 , vital:43694 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1080/19463138.2017.1314968"
- Description: Urban green spaces and trees provide multiple benefits to urban residents and the sustainability of cities. A poorly examined benefit is the provision of fodder to urban livestock. However, the presence and activities of livestock may be incompatible with other uses, although this has been little studied. We examined the impacts of livestock on trees and parks along a gradient of declining livestock density, complemented with a tree planting experiment to monitor damage. Neighbouring residents and park managers were interviewed regarding their perceptions of damage caused by livestock. The negative impacts on soil compaction, tree damage and death increased with increasing livestock densities. Thorny tree species were damaged significantly less (13 %) than non-thorny species (77 %), as were protected trees (25 %) relative to unprotected ones (65 %). There was more tree damage in public green spaces (PUGS) (54 %) than control sites (38 %). The majority of local residents felt that livestock should not be allowed in formal PUGS, and most urban park managers regarded livestock damage as a strong disincentive to plant trees. These results show the need for management of the trade-offs caused by livestock and greater appreciation of livestock as agents shaping aspects of PUGS.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
How phase feeding manipulation affects growth, performance, feed cost, carcass characteristics and the quality of meat from broilers
- Authors: Sokanyile, Sanda
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Animal nutrition , Feeds , Broilers (Chickens)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/5565 , vital:29334
- Description: The main objective of the study was to determine how phase feeding manipulation affects growth performance, feed cost, carcass characteristics and quality of meat from broiler chickens. A total of 180 day old un-sexed broiler chicks (Cobb 500) were separated into 3 dietary treatments of 60 birds per treatment and each treatment was replicated 3 times with 20 birds per replicate. The dietary treatments were as follows: T1 (starter 1-7 days; grower 8-21 days; finisher 22-35 days), T2 (starter 1-14 days; grower 15-21 days, finisher 22-35 days) and T3 (starter 1-14 days; grower 15-28 days; finisher 29-35 days). Feed intake and body weight gains were recorded weekly in kilograms. Average daily gain and feed conversion ratio were computed weekly. At day 35, the chickens were slaughtered and 12 representative breast muscles from each treatment were used for the determination of muscle pH (pH1, pH24 and pH48) and colour coordinates (Lightness – L*, redness – a* and yellowness – b*) in triplicate at 1 hour, 24 hours and 48 hours post-mortem.Feed intake (FI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), average daily gain (ADG) and average body weight at slaughter (ABW) were not significant (P>0.05) amongst the treatments. The most cost efficient feed (which accumulated the cheapest cost feed per kg were) T1 (R11.32) and T3 (R11.32) although there was a slight difference in the gross profit of these treatments T1 (R45.71) and T3 (R44.48). Carcass characteristics were the same (P > 0.05) across the treatments except for the wing, thigh, drumstick and the breast (P < 0.05). T2 had the highest wing weight (166.63±8.60), T1 (113.03±8.60) and the lowest in T3 (74.46±8.60). The thigh weight were greater (P<0.05) in T2 (185.69±4.34); T1 (185.54±4.34) compared to T3 (166.97±4.34) which was lower. Treatments 1 (204.17±6.57), T2 (197±6.57) had heavier (P<0.05) breast weights than T3 (186.06±6.57). Dietary treatments had no significant effect (P > 0.05) on pH of the breast meat. No differences were observed in colour during the 1 hour period after slaughter. At 24 hours after slaughter, the L* values were different (P < 0.05) in T1 and T2 (44.3 ± 0.37; 43.7 ± 0.37), respectively, T1 and T3 were the same. The a*-values were different (P < 0.05) at 48 hours after slaughter for T1 and T3 (4.5 ± 0.27; 3.4 ± 0.27), T2 was the same as T1. It was therefore, concluded that since manipulation of starter phase did not have adverse effects on growth performance, gross profit, slight statistical difference in meat quality attributes and carcass characteristics. Therefore, the manipulation of starter diet has the potential to be used in broiler production.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Sokanyile, Sanda
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Animal nutrition , Feeds , Broilers (Chickens)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/5565 , vital:29334
- Description: The main objective of the study was to determine how phase feeding manipulation affects growth performance, feed cost, carcass characteristics and quality of meat from broiler chickens. A total of 180 day old un-sexed broiler chicks (Cobb 500) were separated into 3 dietary treatments of 60 birds per treatment and each treatment was replicated 3 times with 20 birds per replicate. The dietary treatments were as follows: T1 (starter 1-7 days; grower 8-21 days; finisher 22-35 days), T2 (starter 1-14 days; grower 15-21 days, finisher 22-35 days) and T3 (starter 1-14 days; grower 15-28 days; finisher 29-35 days). Feed intake and body weight gains were recorded weekly in kilograms. Average daily gain and feed conversion ratio were computed weekly. At day 35, the chickens were slaughtered and 12 representative breast muscles from each treatment were used for the determination of muscle pH (pH1, pH24 and pH48) and colour coordinates (Lightness – L*, redness – a* and yellowness – b*) in triplicate at 1 hour, 24 hours and 48 hours post-mortem.Feed intake (FI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), average daily gain (ADG) and average body weight at slaughter (ABW) were not significant (P>0.05) amongst the treatments. The most cost efficient feed (which accumulated the cheapest cost feed per kg were) T1 (R11.32) and T3 (R11.32) although there was a slight difference in the gross profit of these treatments T1 (R45.71) and T3 (R44.48). Carcass characteristics were the same (P > 0.05) across the treatments except for the wing, thigh, drumstick and the breast (P < 0.05). T2 had the highest wing weight (166.63±8.60), T1 (113.03±8.60) and the lowest in T3 (74.46±8.60). The thigh weight were greater (P<0.05) in T2 (185.69±4.34); T1 (185.54±4.34) compared to T3 (166.97±4.34) which was lower. Treatments 1 (204.17±6.57), T2 (197±6.57) had heavier (P<0.05) breast weights than T3 (186.06±6.57). Dietary treatments had no significant effect (P > 0.05) on pH of the breast meat. No differences were observed in colour during the 1 hour period after slaughter. At 24 hours after slaughter, the L* values were different (P < 0.05) in T1 and T2 (44.3 ± 0.37; 43.7 ± 0.37), respectively, T1 and T3 were the same. The a*-values were different (P < 0.05) at 48 hours after slaughter for T1 and T3 (4.5 ± 0.27; 3.4 ± 0.27), T2 was the same as T1. It was therefore, concluded that since manipulation of starter phase did not have adverse effects on growth performance, gross profit, slight statistical difference in meat quality attributes and carcass characteristics. Therefore, the manipulation of starter diet has the potential to be used in broiler production.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Hybrid additive manufacturing platform for the production of composite wind turbine blade moulds
- Authors: Momsen, Timothy Benjamin
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Manufacturing processes -- Automation Production control -- Automation , Production management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEng
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/19091 , vital:28772
- Description: This dissertation discusses the application of additive manufacturing technologies for production of a large-scale rapid prototyping machine, which will be used to produce moulds for prototype composite turbine blades for the emerging renewables energy industry within the Eastern Cape region in South Africa. The conceptualization and design of three complete printer builds resulted in the amalgamation of a final system, following stringent theoretical design, simulation, and feasibility analysis. Following the initial product design cycle stage, construction and performance testing of a large-scale additive manufacturing platform were performed. In-depth statistical analysis of the mechatronic system was undertaken, particularly related to print-head locational accuracy, repeatability, and effects of parameter variation on printer performance. The machine was analysed to assess feasibility for use in the mould-making industry with accuracy and repeatability metrics of 0.121 mm and 0.156 mm rivalling those produced by some of the more accurate fused deposition modellers commercially available. The research data gathered serves to confirm that rapid prototyping is a good alternative manufacturing method for wind turbine blade plug and mould production.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Momsen, Timothy Benjamin
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Manufacturing processes -- Automation Production control -- Automation , Production management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEng
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/19091 , vital:28772
- Description: This dissertation discusses the application of additive manufacturing technologies for production of a large-scale rapid prototyping machine, which will be used to produce moulds for prototype composite turbine blades for the emerging renewables energy industry within the Eastern Cape region in South Africa. The conceptualization and design of three complete printer builds resulted in the amalgamation of a final system, following stringent theoretical design, simulation, and feasibility analysis. Following the initial product design cycle stage, construction and performance testing of a large-scale additive manufacturing platform were performed. In-depth statistical analysis of the mechatronic system was undertaken, particularly related to print-head locational accuracy, repeatability, and effects of parameter variation on printer performance. The machine was analysed to assess feasibility for use in the mould-making industry with accuracy and repeatability metrics of 0.121 mm and 0.156 mm rivalling those produced by some of the more accurate fused deposition modellers commercially available. The research data gathered serves to confirm that rapid prototyping is a good alternative manufacturing method for wind turbine blade plug and mould production.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017