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Implementation of multicultural education by high school teachers in multicultural classrooms in selected schools-Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

  • Authors: Matshikiza, Siphokazi , Luggya, S K
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Multicultural education -- Eastern Cape -- South Africa Culturally relevant pedagogy -- Eastern Cape -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Education)
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/11352 , vital:39064
  • Description: This study deals with the implementation of Multicultural Education by High School Teachers (HST) in multicultural classrooms in selected high schools in Chris Hani West District of Education, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The purpose of the study was to explore the implementation of ME by HST in multicultural classrooms. The study was located in an interpretivist paradigm, which enabled the researcher to obtain data directly from the subjects themselves, by sitting with the participants and hearing their views, voices, perceptions, opinions, interpretations and expectations with regard to the implementation of Multicultural Education (ME) in High Schools. Case study research design was adopted in the study in order to get in-depth information about what is happening in schools. Purposive sampling strategy was used by the researcher to select individuals who could offer an authentic account of the phenomenon under study. The researcher collected data, which were qualitative in nature utilising basic semi- structured face- to- face interviews, focus groups, classroom observations and document analysis. The data were collected and analysed inductively for the themes and patterns to be derived. The study revealed that ME approach is being implemented by some of the teachers in the selected schools however, there were challenges encountered. According to the findings of the study, it was revealed that teachers did not receive training from the Department of Education on how to implement ME approach at the schools. It was also found that teachers were empowered only with different types of prescribed textbooks and the guidelines on the course content in their learning.The study recommends that ME should be part of the curriculum for in-service teacher training. The school policy framework should enforce and regulate the practice of ME by the HST. In this regard, teachers need to be well equipped to be able to implement ME effectively. Therefore, the classroom strategies and interventions need to be created to provide equal learning opportunities for all diverse learners from different backgrounds with different learning needs in the multicultural classrooms. However, the Department of Education should organise workshops and seminars for the teachers to be able to implement ME effectively in the classrooms. v Furthermore, the Department should ensure that the content of the books that the publishers select for the learners do incorporate ME throughout the topics and themes of the books. Adequate resources should be provided for both learners and teachers for the successful implementation of ME. Parents should be involved for new developments and curriculum transformation in the school level as vital stakeholders. This should encourage the ownership of the education process by everybody involved to yield positive outcome. Language policy on the curriculum should be revisited for all the learning areas except the learners’ mother tongue. This could make the learners understand the content of their relevant learning areas easily. Therefore, teachers need to shift from old approach to the new approach to meet and be able to address the needs of the learners effectively. Support and monitoring should be rendered by the Department of Education for the successful implementation of ME.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

Stakeholder relationship management of a Chinese Mining Organisation in Zimbabwe

  • Authors: Chodokufa, Kudakwashe
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Industrial management -- Zimbabwe , Mineral industries -- Zimbabwe -- Management , Investments, Chinese -- Zimbabwe
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/115127 , vital:34080
  • Description: Media reports and research has pointed out problems in the way that Chinese mining organisations in Zimbabwe are managing stakeholder relationships. The problems ranging from disgruntled communities and allegations of labour violations. Taking into account the impact that China’s FDI has had on the ailing Zimbabwean economy research into the management of stakeholder relationships becomes imperative to understand how Chinese mining organisations build and manage stakeholder relationships. A review of stakeholder theory has revealed that there is not much emphasis by researchers on how organisations manage their stakeholder relationships, but rather on the identification and analysis of stakeholders. Research that has focused on stakeholder relationships has focused on different elements found in stakeholder relationship management and not necessarily on how stakeholder relationships should be managed. On the other hand, stakeholder theory does not seem to include social licence to operate which is important in stakeholder relationship management within the mining context. The purpose of this study is to develop a multidimensional stakeholder relationship management process for the Chinese mining organisation in Zimbabwe, showing dynamic interactions between multiple stakeholder networks with complementary, competitive and/or cooperative interests, while taking into account the possibility that interests may vary according to the underlying context. Thirteen semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with three stakeholder groups of a Chinese mining organisation as identified from the literature, namely employees, government and the community. The critical incident technique (CIT) was adopted in developing the interview questions and facilitated the data collection process. Participants described 36 critical incidents. According to multiple stakeholders, the findings suggest that, the Chinese managers built the relationship with multiple stakeholders through friendship, negotiation, pretend not to understand, referral, singing a contract, started with problems, they just arrived and through the government. With the same relationship being managed by the Chinese managers by being hard, rough and ruthless, authoritative, Chinese way of doing things, used avoidance, lack of competency, through a third party and resolving conflict when managing stakeholder relationships. Showing that the building and managing of stakeholder relationships is socially constructed and experienced differently by stakeholders. The positive and negative relationship characteristics influenced how stakeholder relationships are managed by the selected Chinese mining organisation. In the presence of positive relationship characteristics which included, friendship,there was flexibility, power dynamics, accountability depends on situations, commitment a show of investment, do cooperate to a certain extent, trust began with an open mind, shared values: hardwork and profit, shared values: culture was associated with the Chinese managing the relationship through being kind, supportive, motivating and understanding; complaint; through a third party; controlling; Chinese way of doing things; and performance and reward management of stakeholder relationships. Whilst negative relationship characteristics which included fear, their hearts were hardened, Chinese had power, intimidaton, not accountable, lack of commitment, communication understanding, connotations and intretations, communication done through a third party; no cooperation want to cut coners; trust are they conveying what is being said; deception and misrepresentation; trust depends on experience; being told lies and not transparent were associated with negative (being authoritative; hard, rough and ruthless; avoidance; blame shifting and pushy) stakeholder relationship management by the Chinese managers. Hence, a proposition that negative or positive relationship characteristics result in negative or positive stakeholder relationship management by the Chinese managers was propossed. The following challenges were experienced in the management of stakeholder relationships namely, communication, corruption, cheating, political environment, working conditions and broken promises. The dynamic multidimensional stakeholder relationship management process was subsequently revised to accommodate the new relationship characteristics and their positive and negative influence on how stakeholder relationships are managed. The main contribution of this study is the dynamic multidimensional stakeholder relationship management process which was developed within the context of a Chinese mining organisation in Africa. It is recommended that practitioners utilise the dynamic multidimensional stakeholder relationship management process to assist them in understanding and conducting research on stakeholder relationships. Further research is suggested on developing the research proposition made in the study and to empirically test the dynamic multidimension stakeholder relationship management process in other industries that posses different or similar contexts as this study.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

The role of the church in social development : the case of selected churches in Nairobi, Kenya

  • Authors: Mutunga, Daniel Kioko
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Perception Social action Community development
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/12599 , vital:39291
  • Description: The church as a unique society was founded by Jesus Christ who also set a pattern for its operations. Primary to the core responsibilities of the church, according to Scripture, is to reconcile creation to the Creator by transforming society to regain its lost nature. The Christian Church in Kenya was established by missionaries from different parts of the world about three centuries ago. It has since grown and spread to almost all the parts of the country, but all the major denominations have vibrant congregations in Nairobi. A quick categorisation of the church in Kenya would be into the Mainline and the Pentecostal churches. This study set out to investigate the perception the church in Nairobi holds on in its involvement in social action, whether the church thinks social action is part of its ministry, and what kind of engagements in social action the church in Nairobi is currently having. The study employed a qualitative approach and an exploratory design. Using the questionnaire and interview methods, data was collected from thirty two (32) church leaders (including pastors) sampled to be representative of the Mainline and the Pentecostal groups of churches. The data was transcribed, coded, categorised and interpreted following the themes which emerged in relation to the study objectives and the nature of the responses. The results of the study show that the church holds different perceptions on its responsibility and involvement with regard to social action. The findings show two extremes: those who see social action as core to the mission of the church and those who think social action is the responsibility of the government or of non-governmental agencies. Generally most churches do not plan or budget for social actions. The few that are engaged in in it the budgets are far too low compared to the other church activities and the plans are unstructured and sporadic Active engagement in social action by the church in Nairobi is therefore, by and large, unplanned and episodic. However, the few who are already engaged in social action have witnessed great success in community transformation. The study concludes that the church has not fully understood its ministry and this could be the reason why social action is not part of its agenda. This further explains the sporadic and truncated nature of social action in the church in Nairobi. The study recommends a review of the curriculum in seminaries and the retraining of practising pastors to embrace holistic ministry. This will address the current misconceptions, address the current dichotomy of sacred-secular in church ministry, and hence increase organised participation of the church in social action.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

The making of ‘loyals’ and ‘rebels’: the 1880 Transkei Rebellion and the Subversion of the chieftaincies of East Griqualand, 1874-1914

  • Authors: Snell, Milner Charles
  • Date: 2017
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/41860 , vital:25142
  • Description: In the mid-1870s, influenced by the mineral revolution in southern Africa, the Cape responsible government began to extend colonial rule over the chiefdoms that inhabited the Mthatha- Mzimkhulu region. Although white officials initially negotiated with the leadership of these chiefdoms to accept colonial rule and depended heavily on them to implement new laws, ultimately the Cape government aimed to side-line indigenous political systems and replace them with magistrates and headmen. Colonial officials mistakenly equated indigenous political structures with dictatorial chiefs whose followers were subject to their personal ambitions. In fact chiefs were part of a collective leadership and were very aware and influenced by the needs of their adherents. This work is concerned with how the chieftaincies, or indigenous political systems, of the Mthatha-Mzimkhulu region responded, survived and adapted in the face of colonialism. The chieftaincies were remarkably resilient despite the political and economic changes brought on by colonialism and capitalism and were able to retain some degree of authority amongst their followers and at times obtain recognition from the colonial state. Interactions between the chieftaincies and the colonial state were complex, fluid and ever evolving. Some leaders of chiefdoms co-operated with colonial authorities, either over particular issues at certain times or more generally over longer periods, and were considered by colonial officials to be ‘loyal’. Yet, at other times they resisted the demands and changes being brought on by colonialism and were labelled as ‘rebels’. Questions of how the chieftaincies responded to colonial rule were most critical during the Transkei Rebellion of 1880, which is a central focus of this work. Some chieftaincies co-operated with and served with the colonial military forces in order to spare themselves from the economic and social disruption brought on by war and the confiscation of land by the victors. Other chieftaincies took up arms against the colonial state in an attempt to stop the increasingly unacceptable demands being made of them and to resist the negative changes that colonialism was bringing. Despite their ability to adapt, by the early years of the twentieth century hereditary leaders found themselves increasingly caught between the expectations of their followers and demands made by the colonial administration. Faced with increasing popular criticism, many leaders adapted ambiguous and shifting stances on issues concerning their followers.
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  • Date Issued: 2017

Saving the Sowetan : the public interest and commercial imperatives in journalism practice

  • Authors: Cowling, Lesley
  • Date: 2015
  • Subjects: Sowetan (Johannesburg, South Africa) , Journalism -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Soweto , Journalism -- Political aspects -- South Africa -- Soweto , Black newspapers -- South Africa -- Soweto , Public interest -- South Africa -- Soweto , Corporate culture -- South Africa -- Soweto , Journalistic ethics -- South Africa -- Soweto , Journalism -- Objectivity -- South Africa -- Soweto
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
  • Identifier: vital:3540 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017781
  • Description: This thesis examines the complex ways in which notions of the public interest and commercial imperatives intertwine in journalism practice. It does this through a study of the 2004 takeover and relaunch of the Sowetan newspaper, the highest circulation daily in South Africa throughout the 1990s and an institution of black public life. The ‘public interest’ and ‘the commercial’ are recurring ideas in journalism scholarship and practice, and the relaunch appeared to be a challenge to reconcile the Sowetan’s commercial challenges with its historical responsibility to a ‘nation-building’ public. However, the research shows that the public/commercial aspects of journalism were inextricably entangled with Sowetan’s organisational culture, which was the matrix through which its journalism practice was expressed. Conflict in the organisation over the changes was not simply a contest between commercial realities and the public interest, with journalists defending a responsibility to the public and managers pushing commercial solutions, but a conflict between the culture of Sowetan “insiders”, steeped in the legacy of the newspaper, and “outsiders”, employed by the new owners to effect change. Another conclusion of the research is that commercial “realities” – often conceptualised as counter to the public interest – are highly mutable. Basic conditions, such as a dependence on advertising, exist. However, media managers must choose from a range of strategies to be commercially viable, which requires risk-taking, innovation and, often, guesswork. In such situations, the ‘wall’ between media managers and senior editors is porous, as all executives must manage the relationship between business and editorial imperatives. Executives tend to overlook culture as a factor in changing organisations, but I argue that journalism could benefit from engaging with management theory and organisational psychology, which offer ways to understand the specific dynamics of the organisation. Finally, I argue that the case of the Sowetan throws into question the idea that there may be a broadly universal journalism culture. The attachment of Sowetan journalists to their particular values and practice suggests that forms of journalism evolve in certain contexts to diverge from the ‘professional’ Anglo-American modes. These ‘journalisms’ use similar terms – such as the ‘public interest’ – but operationalise them quite differently. The responsibility to the public is imagined in very different ways, but remains a significant attachment for journalists.
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  • Date Issued: 2015

Vulnerability and adaptation of Zanzibar east coast communities to climate variability and change and other interacting stressors

  • Authors: Makame, Makame Omar
  • Date: 2014
  • Subjects: Climatic changes -- Tanzania -- Zanzibar Bioclimatology Global temperature changes Food security -- Tanzania -- Zanzibar Water-supply -- Tanzania -- Zanzibar Sustainable development -- Tanzania -- Zanzibar Climatic changes -- Social aspects -- Tanzania -- Zanzibar Human ecology -- Tanzania -- Zanzibar Zanzibar -- Economic conditions
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
  • Identifier: vital:4778 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011895
  • Description: Climate variability and change as well as sea level rise poses significant challenges to livelihoods, water and food security in small island developing states (SIDSs) including the Zanzibar Islands. Thus, without planned strategic adaptation, the future projected changes in climate and sea level will intensify the vulnerability of these sensitive areas. This thesis is based on research conducted in two sites located in the north eastern parts of each island, namely Kiuyu Mbuyuni, Pemba Island and Matemwe, Unguja Island. The research focused firstly on assessing the vulnerability of these two coastal communities to climate variability and change and other stressors. This included investigation of (1) the perceptions of fishers, farmers and seaweed farmers regarding climate stressors and shocks and associated risks and impacts, (2) existing and possible future water and food security issues, and (3) household's access to important livelihood assets. This was followed by an exploration of the coping and adaptive responses of farmers, fishers and seaweed farmers to perceived shocks and stresses and some of the barriers to these responses. Lastly, an analysis of the implications of the findings for achieving sustainable coastal livelihoods and a resilient coastal community was undertaken. The general picture that emerges is that local people along the east coasts of both islands are already vulnerable to a wide range of stressors. Although variability in rainfall is not a new phenomenon in these areas, increasing frequency of dry spells and coastal floods resulting from the influence of El Niño and La Niña events exert enormous pressures on local activities (fishing, farming and seaweed farming) which are the crux of the local economy. The main argument of the study is that the nature and characteristics of these activities are the main source of sensitivity amongst these communities and this creates high levels of vulnerability to climate shocks and trends. This vulnerability is evidenced by the reoccurrence of localised food shortages and the observed food and water insecurity. The study found that food insecurity is a result of unreliable rainfall, drought and seasonality changes. These interacted with other contextual factors such as poor soil, low purchasing power and the lack of livelihood diversification options. In addition to exposure to these almost unavoidable risks from climate variability, the vulnerability of the local communities along the east coasts is also influenced by the low level of capital stocks and limited access to the assets that are important for coping and adaptation. Despite this, some households managed to overcome barriers and adapt in various ways both within the three main livelihood sectors (fishing, farming and seaweed farming) as well as through adopting options outside these sectors resulting in diversification of the livelihood portfolio. However, the study found that most of the strategies opted for by fishers, farmers and seaweed farmers were mainly spontaneous. Few planned adaptation measures supported by state authorities were observed across the sites, with the exception of the provision of motorised boats which were specifically meant to increase physical assets amongst fishers, reduce pressure in the marine conservation areas and prevent overfishing in-shore. Furthermore, numerous strategies that people adopted were discontinued when further barriers were encountered. Interestingly, some of the barriers that prevented households adapting were the same ones that forced households that had responded to abandon their adaptations. To increase resilience amongst east coast communities to current and future predicted changes in climate and sea level, the study argues that traditional livelihood activities (fishing, farming and seaweed farming) need to be better supported, and access to a range of livelihood assets improved. This may be achieved through increased access to local sources of water and facilitation of rainwater harvesting, expanding the livelihood options available to people and increasing climate change awareness, and access to sources of credit.
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  • Date Issued: 2014

Post-feminism in Cosmopolitan and For Him magazine (FHM) : a critical analysis

  • Authors: Legge, Janet Helen
  • Date: 2013-07-02
  • Subjects: For Him Magazine (South Africa) Cosmopolitan (South Africa) Discourse analysis -- Social aspects Mass media and language Mass media criticism Women in mass media Sex role in mass media Women in popular culture Men in popular culture
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: vital:2375 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005956
  • Description: Cosmopolitan and For Him Magazine (FHM) are, at present, both the most widely read and, therefore, the most popular "white" consumer magazines in South Africa. They both appeal to young audiences of between 18 and 34 years of age, approximately, and target middle-class, educated groups of readers. My interest in Cosmopolitan and FHM lies in their ability to influence and shape their readers' actions, values, identities and relationships, in particular with the other gender. My analysis is focused on the cover pages and the Editor's letters of six copies of each magazine, ranging from April to September 2003, providing me with a corpus of 12 cover pages and 12 Editor's letters. I adopt a critical perspective through the use of Fairclough's (1989) Critical Discourse Analysis, supported by Mills (1995) Feminist Stylistics, McLoughlin's (2000) textual analysis of cover pages and Kress & van Leeuwen's (1996) visual analysis tools. By combining these different methodologies my research falls into what is newly termed Feminist Critical Discourse Analysis (Lazar 2005). The cover page analyses used primarily McLoughlin and Kress & van Leeuwen and provides an element of pure genre analysis, while the analysis of the Editor's letters were subject to Fairclough's three inter-related stages of analysis, namely: a Description of the formal textual elements of the letters, an Interpretation which analyses the processes of text production and interpretation, and lastly an Explanation of the socio-historical context. Through an analysis of these magazines, whose interests are being served and how the readers are shaped and positioned by the magazines can be identified. My analyses revealed conflicting discourses within each magazine, however it was Cosmopolitan that revealed more tension and conflict in terms of identifying and representing women, while FHM subscribed, for the most part, uniformly to the "new lad" ideology. However, while Cosmopolitan attempted to show a forward-thinking and emancipatory view of the roles of men and women in society, both magazines covertly sustain patriarchal dominance and hegemonic masculinity. In conclusion, I reveal the need for consumers of the mass media to become more critically aware of the ideologies that are promoted through the differing tools of the media and that only through this critical awareness can any further movement towards equal relations between men and women be made. , KMBT_363 , Adobe Acrobat 9.54 Paper Capture Plug-in
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The economics of converting a sheep farm into a springbuck (Antidorcas marsupialis) ranch in Graaff-Reinet: a simulation analysis

  • Authors: Dlamini, Thula Sizwe
  • Date: 2012
  • Subjects: Livestock projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Livestock productivity -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Livestock -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Sheep -- Breeding -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Springbok -- Breeding -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
  • Identifier: vital:1003 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002738
  • Description: In Graaff-Reinet, domestic livestock farming and springbuck ranching are similar in that they both rely on the rangeland for their sustainability. However, as a consequence of repeated monotonous domestic livestock farming, resulting in compromised biological productivity and diversity, the rangelands have disintegrated. This, unfortunately, has placed the future sustainability of these rangelands and the livelihoods of the local people in an indeterminate state. In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in springbuck ranching for meat production as an alternative to domestic livestock farming in the area following (a) fears of worsening environmental challenges; (b) declining profitability in commercial domestic livestock farming and; (c) growing calls for the sustainable use of these rangelands for the benefit of future generations. The springbuck has emerged as a credible alternative to utilising the rangelands - as opposed to sheep - because of its promise to addressing the above challenges. This is in an attempt to tap into the multitude of benefits that the springbuck possesses (by virtue of being part of the natural capital of the area) that have a potential towards restoring ecological integrity by extenuating some of the detrimental effects of sheep farming on the rangelands and presenting opportunities for diversifying incomes. Yet, despite the general increase in interest, a resistance towards the uptake of springbuck ranching for meat production exists. The main contention is that springbuck meat production cannot out-perform the economic returns of wool sheep farming. This study attempts to address these concerns by investigating the profitability and economic sustainability of converting a sheep farm into a springbuck ranch in Graaff-Reinet. The study uses stochastic simulation to estimate the probability distribution of some key output variables, namely: net cash income, ending cash balance, real net worth and the net present value (NPV) in evaluating the profitability of converting a 5 000ha sheep-dominated farm into a springbuck-dominated ranch under three alternative scenarios. The use of stochastic simulation allows for the incorporation of downside risk associated with the production and marketing of wool, mutton and springbuck meat. The study uses stochastic prices and yields to calculate net returns variability. Incorporating scenario analysis helped to evaluate how alternative wool sheep-dominated and springbuck-dominated combinations would perform based on the probable outcomes of different assumptions in the various scenarios. By applying stochastic efficiency with respect to a function (SERF) criterion to the simulated NPVs, this study compares the profitability of alternative scenarios based on various risk aversion coefficients. The study finds that converting a 5 000ha wool sheep dominated farm into a springbuck dominated ranch could potentially be a more profitable investment than wool sheep farming over a 15 year planning horizon, in Graaff-Reinet. The SERF results indicate that for all scenarios tested, the best strategy of converting a wool sheep dominated farm into a springbuck ranch would be one which comprise a combination of 70% springbuck, 20% mutton and 10% wool production as the likely profitable enterprise mix. Using economic sustainability analysis, the study reveals that because of low costs in springbuck ranching, springbuck meat production enterprises are most likely to be more financially sustainable than wool sheep-dominated enterprises. This suggests that rangeland owners may be better off converting their wool sheep-dominated farms into springbuck-dominated ranches. Thus, as the call for more environmentally benign rangeland utilising economic-ecological systems intensifies, rangeland owners in the Eastern Cape Karoo have a practicable option. At the very least, there exists an option to broaden their incomes whilst promoting ecological restoration with springbuck meat production.
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  • Date Issued: 2012

A bioinorganic study of some cobalt(II) Schiff base complexes of variously substituted hydroxybenzaldimines

  • Authors: Shaibu, Rafiu Olarewaju
  • Date: 2008
  • Subjects: Cobalt Schiff bases Artemia Spectrum analysis Ligands -- Analysis Bioinorganic chemistry Antineoplastic agents Cancer -- Chemotherapy Ligands -- Toxicity
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
  • Identifier: vital:4394 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006009
  • Description: Syntheses of Schiff bases were carried out by reacting salicylaldyhde, ortho-vanillin, para-vanillin or vanillin with aniline, 1-aminonaphthalene, 4- and 3-aminopyridine, and also with 2- and 3-aminomethylpyridine. The various Schiff bases obtained from the condensation reaction were reacted with CoCl₂.6H₂0, triethylamine stripped CoCl₂.6H₂0 or Co(CH₃COO)₂ to form cobalt(Il) complexes of ratio 2:1. The complexes obtained from cobalt chloride designated as the "A series" are of the general formulae ML₂X₂.nH₂0 , (L = Schiff base, X = chlorine) while those obtained from cobalt acetate or triethylamine stripped cobalt chloride denoted as "B" and C" are of the general formulae ML₂. nH₂0. The few complexes that do not follow the general formulae highlighted above are: IA [M(HL)₃.Cl₂], (L = N-phenylsalicylaldimine), 4A = (MLCl₂), (L = N-phenylvanaldiminato), 7 A and 21 A (ML₂), (L = N-naphthyl-o-vanaldiminato, and N-methy-2-pyridylsalicylaldiminato respectively), 8A = MLCI, (L = N-naphthylvanaldiminato), 12A = M₂L₃Cl₂, (L = N-4-pyridylvanaldiminato), 15A (MLCI), (L = N-3-pyridyl-o-vanaldiminato). The ligands and their complexes were characterized using elemental analyses and cobalt analysis using ICP, FT-IR spectroscopy (mid and far-IR), NIR-UV/vis (diffuse reflectance), UV/vis in an aprotic and a protic solvents, while mass spectrometry, ¹HNMR and ¹³CNMR, was used to further characterized the ligands. The tautomeric nature of the Schiff bases were determined by examining the behaviour of Schiff bases and their complexes in a protic (e.g. MeOH) and non-protic (e.g. DMF) polar solvents. The effects of solvents on the electronic behaviour of the compounds were also examined. Using CDCl₃, the NMR technique was further used to confirm the structures of the Schiff bases. The tentative geometry of the complexes was determined using the spectra information obtained from the far infrared and the diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. With few exceptions, most of the "A" series are tetrahedral or distorted tetrahedral, while the "B + C" are octahedral or pseudooctahedral. A small number of complexes are assigned square-planar geometry owing to the characteristic spectral behaviour shown. In order to determine their biological activity, two biological assay methods (antimicrobial testing and brine shrimp lethality assay) were used. Using disc method, the bacteriostatic and fungicidal activities of the various Schiff bases and their respective complexes to Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa as well as Aspergillus niger, were measured and the average inhibition zones are tabulated and analysed. Both the Schiff bases and their complexes showed varying bacteriostatic and fungicidal activity against the bacteria and fungus tested. The inhibition activity is concentration dependent and potential antibiotic and fungicides are identified. To determine the toxicity of the ligands and their corresponding cobalt(II) complexes, brine shrimp lethality assay was used. The LD₅₀ of the tested compounds were calculated and the results obtained were tabulated for comparison.
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  • Date Issued: 2008

Compensating employees who suffer work-related psychiatric harm in the course and scope of their employment

  • Authors: Du Plessis, Meryl Candice
  • Date: 2008
  • Subjects: Workers' compensation -- Law and legislation , Liability for emotional distress , Post-traumatic stress disorder , Occupational diseases
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
  • Identifier: vital:3671 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003186 , Workers' compensation -- Law and legislation , Liability for emotional distress , Post-traumatic stress disorder , Occupational diseases
  • Description: This study aims to ascertain the legal redress available to employees who suffer psychological harm as a result of workplace stress. On a general level, it identifies and assesses some of the available policy options, particularly as they relate to the interaction of statutory workers’ compensation schemes and the common law. On a more specific level, it examines and analyses various issues: the nature and extent of compensable psychiatric harm; the legal duty on employers to protect employees’ health and well being; the role of negligence; requirements specific to the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act 130 of 1993 (COIDA); and the causal nexus necessary to sustain a claim. The conclusion is reached that employees should utilise the workers’ compensation system as the primary vehicle to obtain redress if they suffer from occupational psychiatric harm. However, due to the law’s generally conservative approach to psychiatric harm and intimations that the Department of Labour intends setting strict requirements for claims for psychiatric harm in terms of COIDA, the common law of delict might continue to play an important role in claims for occupational psychiatric harm. The writer recommends that a hybrid system for compensation for stress-related psychiatric harm suffered in the course and scope of employment be adopted, with the statutory compensation scheme providing relatively limited benefits and the common law providing general damages if the claimant can prove negligence on the part of the employer; that the requirement of a recognised psychiatric illness be maintained for both statutory compensation and compensation in terms of the common law; that all parties’ interests are carefully balanced in delineating the employer’s legal duty to employers and that undue weight not be accorded to the terms of the contract of employment; that more attention be paid to factual causation and the development of lternatives/complements to the traditional conditio sine qua non test; that the validity of the circular instruction on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) be tested on administrative-law grounds; and that the stringent prescription requirements set by the circular instruction on PTSD be reviewed.
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  • Date Issued: 2008

Studies directed towards the synthesis of chromone carbaldehyde-derived HIV-1 protease inhibitors

  • Authors: Molefe, Duduzile Mabel
  • Date: 2008
  • Subjects: Protease Inhibitors , HIV infections , HIV (Viruses) , AIDS (Disease) , Proteolytic enzymes , Heterocyclic compounds -- Derivatives , Chemical kinetics , Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
  • Identifier: vital:4526 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1015542
  • Description: A series of chromone-3-carbaldehydes have been prepared using Vilsmeier-Haack methodology while a corresponding series of chromone-2-carbaldeydes have been synthesized via the Kostanecki-Robinson reaction. Baylis-Hillman reactions have been conducted on both series of chromone carbaldehydes using three different catalysts, viz., 1,4-diazabicyclo(2.2.2]octane (DABCO), 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec- 7-ene (DBU) and 3-hydroxyquinuclidine (3HQ), and acrylonitrile, methyl acrylate and methyl vinyl ketone as the activated alkenes. These reactions have typically (but not always!) afforded both normal Baylis-Hillman and dimeric products. Attention has also been given to the use of 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidine (1-NMP), an ionic liquid, to replace normal organic solvents, and it has been found that, in the presence of DABCO, chromone-3-carbaldehydes afford the dimeric products alone. Reactions of chromone-3-carbaldehydes with methyl vinyl ketone have yielded unexpected, novel adducts, which appear to arise from preferential attack at C(2) in the chromone nucleus. Research on chromone-2-carbaldeydes under Baylis-Hillman conditions has also resulted in the formation of some interesting products instead of the expected Baylis-Hillman adducts. The Baylis-Hillman products have been explored as substrates for aza-Michael reactions using various amino derivatives including protected amino acids in the presence of the tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) and the ionic liquid, 3-butyl-1- methylimidazoleboranetetrafluoride (BmimBF₄), as catalysts. The aza-Michael products have been targeted as truncated ritonavir analogues for investigation as potential HIV -1 protease inhibitors, and representative compounds have been subjected to enzyme inhibition assays to explore the extent and type of inhibition. Lineweaver-Burk and Dixon plots have indicated competitive inhibition in one case as well as non-competitive inhibition in another, and the inhibition constants (Ki) have been compared with that of the ritonavir. Computer modelling studies have also been conducted on selected chromonecontaining derivatives, using the ACCELRYS Cerius² platform. Interactive docking of the chromone-containing ligands into the HIV -1 protease receptor site, using the Ligandfit module, has indicated the importance of hydrogen-bonding interactions mediated by bridging water molecules situated in the receptor cavity. NMR spectroscopy has been used to elucidate complex and competing mechanistic pathways involved in the Baylis-Hillman reactions of selected 2-nitrobenzaldehydes with MVK in the presence of DABCO - reactions which afford the normal BaylisHillman product, the MVK dimer and syn- and anti-Baylis-Hillman type diadducts. The kinetic data confirm the concomitant operation of two pathways and reveal that, in the initial stage of the reaction, the product distribution is kinetically controlled, whereas in the latter stage, thermodynamic control results in the consumption of the normal Baylis-Hillman product and predominance of the anti-diadduct.
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  • Date Issued: 2008

An investigation of ICT project management techniques for sustainable ICT projects in rural development

  • Authors: Pade, Caroline Ileje
  • Date: 2007
  • Subjects: Educational technology -- South Africa , Information technology -- Study and teaching -- South Africa , Project management -- South Africa , Rural development projects -- South Africa , Rural development projects -- South Africa -- Case studies , Rhodes University Mathematics Education Project , Dwesa ICT Project
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
  • Identifier: vital:1140 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002769 , Educational technology -- South Africa , Information technology -- Study and teaching -- South Africa , Project management -- South Africa , Rural development projects -- South Africa , Rural development projects -- South Africa -- Case studies , Rhodes University Mathematics Education Project , Dwesa ICT Project
  • Description: Poverty alleviation by means of rural development has become a priority among developing countries. In turn, rural development may be significantly enhanced and supported by Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), the use of which is highlighted by the emerging importance of information and knowledge as key strategic resources for social and economic development. An analysis of rural case studies where ICTs have been introduced, suggests that there are a number of barriers and constraints that are faced when taking advantage of these technologies. These include access to infrastructure, limited formal education, insufficient training and capacity building, financial and political constraints, and social and cultural challenges. These challenges threaten the success and sustainability of rural ICT projects. Sustainability is key to the effectiveness of a rural ICT project; therefore it is important to understand the concept and categories associated with ICT project sustainability in rural areas. The categories of sustainability which include social and cultural, institutional, economic, political, and technological, reveal critical success factors that need to be considered in the implementation and management of rural ICT projects. The project management discipline acknowledges the importance of understanding the project’s environment, particularly environmental factors associated with rural communities. The complexity of the environment therefore implies the need for a project to be undertaken in phases comprising the project life cycle. Project management practice for rural ICT project sustainability can therefore be examined, adapting the traditional project life cycle to a rural ICT project. A Rural ICT Project Life Cycle (RICT-PLC) that is sensitive to the critical success factors of sustainability is therefore proposed. In order to further investigate the phases of the life cycle of a rural ICT project, two case study investigations are explored: the Dwesa ICT community project, and the Rhodes University Mathematics Education Project (RUMEP) (MathsNet). A multiple case study analysis confirms the practices associated with the RICT-PLC model, and identifies additional characteristics, phases and practices associated with rural ICT projects. Finally, an enhanced RICT-PLC model is developed, that sets sustainability guidelines for ICT project management in rural areas and identifies the people, environments, technologies, systems, and requirements for ICTs to support rural development activities.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2007

Geographical races of the honeybees (Apis Mellifera L.) of the Northern regions of Ethiopia

  • Authors: Mohammed, Nuru Adgaba
  • Date: 2003
  • Subjects: Honeybee -- Ethiopia Honeybee -- Behavior -- Ethiopia Honeybee -- Ethiopia -- Morphology Honeybee -- Ecology -- Ethiopia
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
  • Identifier: vital:5827 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007671
  • Description: The ideal climatic conditions and diversity of floral resources allow Ethiopia to sustain millions of honeybee colonies. Beekeeping is widely practiced and plays a significant role in the livelihood of the farming community of the country. Despite this, information on the types of geographical races of honeybees, their behavioural characters and the related ecological factors are not established. In this work an attempt was made to characterise the honeybee populations of the northern parts of Ethiopia based on the analyses of morphological, behavioural and ecological characteristics. For morphological analysis, 155 honeybee colony samples from 31 localities were collected. 20 worker honeybees per colony sample totalled 3100 individual worker honeybees and thirteen morphological characters per bee, a total of 40 300 measurements were recorded following Ruttner's (1988) protocols. The behavioural characters such as reproductive swarming, migration, temperament and colony seasonal cycles were assessed based on survey work of a pre-structured questionnaire. Various univariate and multivariate statistical methods were employed to analyse the data. The principal components and step-wise linear discriminant analyses revealed the existence of four discrete morphoclusters or geographical races: A. m. jemenitica from eastern, northwestern and northern arid and semi-arid lowlands, A. m. scutellata from the western humid midlands, A. m. bandasii from sub-moist central highlands and A. m. monticola from the northern mountainous parts of the study areas. These different geographical races were found to be distinctively distributed in the different ecological parts of the study area. High intercolonial and intracolonial variances were observed in all localities, however particularly high values were obtained in areas of transitions between ecological zones indicating a region of gene flow or zones of hybridisation among the statistically defined populations. Such high variances were observed mostly in areas where A. m. jemenitica borders the other geographical races. Moreover. distinct behavioural variations were also noted among these geographical races. Generally. the highland and mountainous honeybees A. m. bandasii and A. m. monticola are relatively larger in body size. have less tendency to swarm. less inclination to migrate and are relatively gentle while the converse traits were noted for the lowlands and midlands honeybees A. m. jemenitica and A. m. scutellata. Both morphological and behavioural variations were highly correlated with environmental factors and the variations seem to be the result of long adaptation to the interrelated ecological factors in their respective areas. Variations in reproductive swarming periods were also noted among these honeybee populations as a result of variations in rainfall pattern. altitude and temperature in their respective ecological areas which are believed to alter the honeybee colonies' seasonal cycles and leads to partial temporal reproductive isolation among these different honeybee populations.
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  • Date Issued: 2003

Plaatje's African romance: the translation of tragedy in Mhudi and other writings

  • Authors: Walter, Brian Ernest
  • Date: 2001
  • Subjects: Plaatje, Sol. T. (Solomon Tshekisho), 1876-1932. Mhudi Race in literature Politics in literature
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
  • Identifier: vital:2188 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002230
  • Description: This study brings together Plaatje’s politicaland literary visions, arguing that the one informs the other. Plaatje’s literary work is used as a starting point for the discussion, and the first chapter explores the relationship of his political and artistic visions. Mhudi is his definitive romance text, and it is argued that Plaatje’s romance visionin this text is reflected in his political thinking, and in turn reflected by it. His romance work was part of a literary romance tradition which Plaatje both drew upon and transformed, and thus the basic features of romance are explored in Chapter Two. Plaatje’s work is situated between two influential romance models, therefore Chapter Two also discusses the romances of Shakespeare, whomPlaatje read as reflectinga non-racial humanism that was translatable into the African context, in terms of political vision and of literary text. His other models were the colonial romances of Haggard. It is argued that, while Plaatje could glean many elements fromHaggardthat suited his purposes as an African, specifically a SouthAfrican, writer, he nevertheless—despite his own pro-British leanings, qualified though they might have been by the complexities of his colonial context—would not have represented Africa and Africans in terms of the exotic other in the way Haggard clearly did. Thus Plaatje, in terms of his romance vision, may have usedmanyofthe themesand techniques of Haggardianromance, but consistently qualified these colonial works by using the more classically shaped Shakespearean romance structure at the deep level of his work. The third chapter examines Haggard’s romance, but differentiates between two Haggardian types, the completed or resolved romance, whichis more classical in its form, and evokes an image of a completed quest, as well as the necessity of the quester entering the world again. Haggard’s “completed” African romance, it is argued, is resolved only in terms of a colonial vision. Chapter Four, by contrast, examines examples of his unresolved African romance, in which African ideals implode, and show themselves to be inneed of foreign intervention. It is argued that Haggard’s image of Africa was based on the unresolved or incomplete romance. His vision of Africa was such that it could not in itself provide the materialfor completed romance. This vision saw intervention as the only option for South Africa. While Plaatje uses elements of Haggard’s “incomplete” romance models when writing Mhudi, he handles both his narrative and politicalcommentaryin this text in terms of his own politicalthought. This non-racial politicalvisionis guided by his belief that virtue and vice are not the monopoly of any colour, a non-racialism he associates with Shakespeare. However, within the context of the South Africa of his fictionand of his life, this non-racial ideal is constantly under threat. It is partly threatened by political forces, but also challenged by moral changes within individuals and societies. In Chapter Five the examination of Plaatje’s work begins withhis Boer War Diary, inwhicha romance structure is sought beneath his diurnal observations and political optimismduring a time of warfare and siege. The discussion of this text is followed by a reading of Native Life in South Africa in which it is argued that Plaatje looks, in the midst of personal and social suffering, for that which can translate a tragic situation into romance resolution. “Translation” is used in a broad sense, echoing Plaatje’s view of the importance of translation for cross-cultural understanding and harmony. The arguments of Chapter Five are extended into Chapter Six, where a reading of Mhudi places emphasis on the possibilities of change implied in romance. Plaatje’s non-racial humanism recognizes the great potential for injustice and human suffering within the context of South African racism, but constantly seeks to translate such suffering into the triumph of romance. While the narrative of Mhudi concludes on a romance peak, tensions between the tragic and romance possibilities alert the reader to the sense that, despite its romance resolution, something has been lost in the translation of the potential tragedy into romance.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2001

In time of plague : the Basotho and the rinderpest, 1896-8

  • Authors: Phoofolo, Pule
  • Date: 2000
  • Subjects: Rinderpest -- Lesotho -- History Epidemics -- Africa -- History Livestock -- Diseases -- Africa Sotho (African people) -- Social life and customs Lesotho -- History
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
  • Identifier: vital:2553 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002405
  • Description: Rinderpest, the most dreaded bovine plague, struck the cattle of the BaSotho in British Basutoland early in 1897. By December the murrain had spent itself, having reduced the cattle population by half As it did so, the rinderpest claimed the primary historical significance of an epidemic. By sharpening behaviour and illuminating latent or developing tendencies, the rinderpest helped to reveal the nooks and crannies of contemporary historical processes that would have otherwise eluded historical visibility. This thesis brings out the complexities and ambiguities surrounding the epidemic. It uses the crisis occasioned by the panzootic in its multifaceted manifestations as a prism through which we might view the complex aspects of contemporary historical processes. It goes beyond the narrow limits of the crisis itself to discerning the broader and wider historical patterns that the rinderpest helped to highlight.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2000

Die sosio-ekonomiese opname as instrument vir die inisiëring van 'n ontwikkelingsproses in 'n landelike gemeenskap met spesifieke verwysing na Wartburg

  • Authors: Rossouw, Anthonie Michael Müller
  • Date: 1992
  • Subjects: Community development -- South Africa -- Wartburg Social service -- South Africa -- Wartburg Social service -- Research Rural poor -- South Africa
  • Language: Afrikaans
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
  • Identifier: vital:3280 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006475
  • Description: Aim of this study. The problem of poverty, especially in rural S.A ., formed the basis for the questions and hypotheses posed in this study. Poverty stricken communities, with the accompanying suffering, the immobilizing effect of poverty and the present climate of urgent changes in S.A., were also apparent in Wartburg (study area). The problem was to initiate development in such a way that the chances of failure and therefore the wasting of already scarce resources is minimized. The manner in which development is initiated and what are viewed as desirable elements of development should culminate into achieving self-sustaining development in the long term. It became clear therefore that a complete data base needs to be established in order to initiate such a development process. In this study the aim was to investigate the role which research plays in the process of development. Method. This study can be divided into two sections, viz an investigation into the theoretical basis for achieving a self-sustaining process of development and how research should be done within such a process. Secondly, the practical application of such a theoretical basis was tested and forms the empirical section of this study. The first section was completed by undertaking a literature study. The conditions set for the development process guided the researcher increasingly to a holistic perspective, Community Development and the state of the art of Social Work Practice. The second part of this study was done through empirical research. The questionnaire method was utilized where structured interviews were conducted by properly trained field workers who were of similar cultural background as the community involved in the survey. The data was processed by using the B.M.D.P. programme and recorded in section B of this report. From section A and B of this report conclusions were drawn regarding the development process, the role research has in this process and the task of the Social Work Profession in this regard. Findings. From the theory it seemed that the state of the art regarding social Work Practice upholds a holistic perspective and views community practice and development as an important function within this perspective. It seems that a unitary approach to Social Work is increasingly becoming a reality in the pursuit of a holistic perspective as well as by stressing the importance of community practice. The integrated approach to Social Work Practice seems to collaborate with these views. The role of research is equally important to social Work Practice as it is to Community Development and should be viewed as an integral part of the Social Work Process/Practice. The empirical section of this study is a clear example of what can be achieved by a properly planned and executed research project which forms an integral part of a development process. Together with the community valuable data were drawn from the data base. These conclusions were directly employed to identify priorities and in planning specific projects. Conclusions. This study concludes, firstly, that Social Work Practice has an obvious task in the field of community development. This profession can contribute to a large extent toward making development more human and to acknowledge the importance of both man and his environment when considering development. The study also showed that research is an integral part of a development process, especially where the aim is that of a perpetuating, self-sustaining development process. In short, it seems that the Socio-economic research meets the requirements set by the aforementioned development process, but that refining seems necessary in order to make it more effective and useful as an instrument for initiating such a process of development as discussed in the above paragraphs.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 1992

A phenomenological explication of a client's retrospective experience of psychotherapy

  • Authors: Eppel, Mark Dan
  • Date: 1980
  • Subjects: Psychotherapy -- Research , Insight in psychotherapy , Psychotherapy -- Case studies
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
  • Identifier: vital:3138 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006962 , Psychotherapy -- Research , Insight in psychotherapy , Psychotherapy -- Case studies
  • Description: From introduction: This study is an attempt to explore and describe phenomenologically a clients total retrospective experience of psychotherapy. The research consistently and radically approaches the phenomenon of the experience of psychotherapy from the clients own perspective and is conceived as a mutual project between researcher and subject. The phenomenological method is used to explicate the subjects qualitative experience of psychotherapy so as not to impose any presuppositions regarding the nature of this experience. At all times the research remains as faithful as possible to the subjects personal account of her therapy experience
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 1980

A contribution to the understanding of the ethology of the cichlids of Southern Africa

  • Authors: Ribbink, Anthony J
  • Date: 1975
  • Subjects: Cichlids -- Africa, Southern , Fishes -- Africa, Southern
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
  • Identifier: vital:5889 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013369
  • Description: Allopatric populations of Pseudocrenilabrus philander were found to differ in male breeding coloration. These colours are described and attention is drawn to the possibility that male coloration might prevent population hybridisation. Behaviour of the allopatric populations was studied in the laboratory. The execution of behaviour patterns of the various populations was found to be indistinguishable, and very similar to that of Haplochromis. Behaviour of P. philander was recorded in three morphologically different natural water bodies. Diurnal activities were found to follow a set rhythm. Though P. philander was shown to have adapted to a variety of habitats they retained their behavioural Components in an unchanged form. Field and laboratory observations are used to propose a behavioural mechanism for the natural regulation of population density. Although aggression between conspecific territorial Sarot herodon mossambicus habituated so that neighbours could live close to one another, it was found that P.philander are intolerant of their neighbours and are consequently forced apart. Though the execution of behaviour patterns was apparently identical for all populations of P. philander, field observations indicated that the frequency of performance differed. An experimental procedure was established to quantitatively compare the behaviour of various populations. As a result of comparative and choice chamber investigations, it is suggested that one of the four populations of P. philander would be unlikely to hybridise with the others if they were to become sympatric. These popUlations would be kept apart because of colour and behavioural differences. Differences of egg-size, fry-size, developmental and interbrood periods were also found, providing further evidence of incipient speciation. Evolutionary divergence of the allopatric populations of P. philander is discussed against a background of geological and geographical evidence. Consideration is given to the role of male coloration, ethological barriers and the importance of ethological differences to taxonomy. Behavioural evidence suggests that P. philander has closer affinities with the haplochromids than was initially realised. It is concluded that the clinal populations of P. philander should not be taxonomically separated, and it is argued that it would be premature to give the Kuruman population an elevated taxonomic status.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 1975

Human resources in the Cape midlands

  • Authors: Truu, Mihkel Lemmit
  • Date: 1972
  • Subjects: Human capital -- South Africa Personnel management -- South Africa -- Cape of Good Hope.
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
  • Identifier: vital:1056 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007288
  • Description: From Preface: Although Alfred Marshall's definition of economics has been criticised for its allegedly narrow conception of the subject, it is sometimes overlooked that he considered the study of wealth but one side of the matter. To Marshall, the other and "more important" side of economics was that it also forms "a part of the study of man". The basic thought which underlies the present study is a similar one, namely, that economics is not only concerned with goods and service, but also with men and human action. It is spatially confined to an analysis of the human resources in a region consisting of 21 magisterial districts in the Eastern Cape Province, which cover an area of 72, 462 square kilometres, collectively described here as the Cape Midlands.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 1972

Changes in carbohydrate concentration and amylolytic activity in germinating maize

  • Authors: Breen, C M
  • Date: 1969
  • Subjects: Corn -- Research Corn -- Analysis
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
  • Identifier: vital:4251 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007680
  • Description: Changes in the concentration of some carbohydrates and in amylolytic activity have been followed during germination of Zea. Mays L. var. Hickory King and var. Early Pearl. Assay techniques have been developed which permitted assay of individual grains. Thus during the investigation both groups and individual grains were used as samples. The use of groups permitted control of assay technique. Length of radicle, coleoptile and lateral roots were recorded in order to permit quantitative estimation of correlation between growth and the concentration of the various carbohydrates. Initially, during the study of changes in the carbohydrate concentration in Hickory King grains, total reducing sugar, sucrose and dextrin concentrations were estimated. However, the results obtained for changes in dextrin concentration, although reproduceable, thereby indicating reliable assay technique, presented a confusing picture and, in view of the apparent importance of sucrose and reducing sugar concentration, assay of dextrin concentration was discontinued in a subsequent study of Early Pearl. Instead changes in total reducing sugar, sucrose and glucose concentrations were followed. The results revealed that there is very considerable variability in physiological activity between grains subjected to the same germination conditions. However, all, irrespective of variety, follow the same basic metabolic pattern during germination. The trends observed were: (i) Reducing sugar accumulates slowly during the first 72-96 hours germination, but thereafter accumulation is very rapid, although concentration may decrease towards the end of the gestation period. (ii) Glucose follows a similar pattern to reducing sugar, accumulating slowly during the early stages of germination, followed by a period of rapid increase in concentration, which may decrease towards the end of the germination period. (iii) Sucrose concentration in dormant grains is fairly high, but it decreases markedly during the first 96 hours germination. This is followed by a phase of sucrose accumulation. (iv) Dextrin concentration shows two peaks. Initial level is low, but it accumulates rapidly during the first 72 hours. The level decreases between 72 and 120 hours but increases when the germination period is increased to 192 hours, after which there is a marked decrease. It was impossible, from the data relating to the study of individual grains, to discern a trend in dextrin concentration. With the exception of dextrin, about which there is little information, the results are in general agreement with the literature. Investigation of correlation between the various carbohydrates and between these and growth revealed that: (i) reducing sugar concentration and growth are positively correlated ; (ii) glucose concentration and growth are positively correlated; (iii) sucrose and reducing sugar concentrctions are negatively correlated during the initial stages of germination; (iv) sucrose and glucose concentrations are negatively correlated during early germination; (v) glucose and reducing sugar are positively correlated; (vi) in general, correlation between growth and concentration of the carbohydrates studied, decreases during the later periods of germination. These observations suggested that growth was, at least during the early stages of germination, dependent on the level of reducing sugar, and more particularly on the level of glucose, and that sucrose is the principal source of reducing sugar during this period. The relationship between amylase activity (total alpha- and beta-amylase activity) and reducing sugar concentration tends to be curvilinear, which suggests that amylolytic activity produces relatively little reducing sugar during early gennination, even though amylase activity and growth may be positively correlated. The results suggest, contrary to the observations of previous workers, that alpha-amylolytic activity may be present in dormant grains and that maize is not characterised by low levels of beta-amylase activity during germination. From the observations it is concluded that the initinl accumulati on of reducing sugar is the result of sucrose hydrolysis, and therefore sucrose is an importnnt metabolite durjng early germination. Amylolytic activity contributes little reducing sugar durlng the initia1 stages of germinatIon but that after approximately 72 hours it represents the major source of reducing sugar.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 1969
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