Grade 3 teachers’ strategies for developing learners’ reading comprehension skills in bilingual classrooms in Idutywa Education District
- Authors: Mzendana, Tembela Rosemary
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Reading (Primary) , Reading comprehension
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/20119 , vital:45281
- Description: Learners’ low literacy achievements with regard to reading and writing in early schooling in South Africa remain a concern, particularly in the Foundation Phase. With regard to reading, amongst other things, Foundation Phase learners have been found to be “barking” at the text. That is an indication that they are struggling with achieving and grasping the main goal and purpose of reading, which is comprehension. In this dissertation, I explore the reading strategies teachers utilise in their grade 3 classrooms when teaching IsiXhosa and English. Participants for this study were grade 3 teachers from 2 different public schools in Idutywa District and grade 3 learners from 2 different public schools in Idutywa district. This qualitative study thus sought to investigate Grade 3 teachers’ strategies for developing learners’ reading comprehension skills in bilingual classrooms in two schools in the Idutywa Education District. Data was generated through semi-structured interviews. Amongst other issues, findings of the study revealed the following: participants reported valuing reading as an important skill that learners need to acquire academic success. Teachers demonstrated some understanding of how reading lessons are sequenced and paced. This study, thus, recommends that if learners are to acquire bilingual reading comprehension skills, both target languages should be valued and teachers be equipped on how to use these languages as resources in the classroom. , Thesis (MEd.) -- University of Fort Hare, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Mzendana, Tembela Rosemary
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Reading (Primary) , Reading comprehension
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/20119 , vital:45281
- Description: Learners’ low literacy achievements with regard to reading and writing in early schooling in South Africa remain a concern, particularly in the Foundation Phase. With regard to reading, amongst other things, Foundation Phase learners have been found to be “barking” at the text. That is an indication that they are struggling with achieving and grasping the main goal and purpose of reading, which is comprehension. In this dissertation, I explore the reading strategies teachers utilise in their grade 3 classrooms when teaching IsiXhosa and English. Participants for this study were grade 3 teachers from 2 different public schools in Idutywa District and grade 3 learners from 2 different public schools in Idutywa district. This qualitative study thus sought to investigate Grade 3 teachers’ strategies for developing learners’ reading comprehension skills in bilingual classrooms in two schools in the Idutywa Education District. Data was generated through semi-structured interviews. Amongst other issues, findings of the study revealed the following: participants reported valuing reading as an important skill that learners need to acquire academic success. Teachers demonstrated some understanding of how reading lessons are sequenced and paced. This study, thus, recommends that if learners are to acquire bilingual reading comprehension skills, both target languages should be valued and teachers be equipped on how to use these languages as resources in the classroom. , Thesis (MEd.) -- University of Fort Hare, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
Happiness in manufacturing
- Authors: Prinsloo, Christopher John
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Gqeberha (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/52992 , vital:44893
- Description: The study of happiness, originally with a basis in psychology and sociology, became more scientific when methods were found to measure the complex concept. Humanity believe that happiness is meaningful, important, and worth achieving because, it is one of the most significant dimensions of human experience and emotions. The rewards of being happy for individuals and society are many including health, positivity, and productivity. The debate rages on whether subjective wellbeing increases as gross domestic product increases in countries and cities. Research has affirmed that happy employees are more productive, thereby improving financial sustainable, financial results for organisations and society. The opposite perspective is that unhappy employees negatively affect the performance, moral of fellow employees leading to negative results for organisations and poor social conditions. The Steel Wire and Rope manufacturing plant serves many organisations worldwide, where large industries exist including mining, offshore, agriculture and general-purpose applications. The manufacturing industry in which the study is based is strategic to South African local manufacture with critical applications in mine winding, by hoisting materials and men to the surface from the deepest mines in the world. Achievements include the longest and heaviest rope in the world. Happiness in this industry has not yet been explored, making this study new in this particular industry. The Steel Wire and Rope factory are a manufacturing facility and manufacturing companies can benefit from improving employee happiness levels. This makes this study of a steel wire and rope manufacturing facility important, as it would provide insight into similar manufacturing industries. The purpose of the study is to understand the happiness levels of employees in the steel, wire and rope manufacturing facility. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, NMU Business School, 2021
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Prinsloo, Christopher John
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Gqeberha (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/52992 , vital:44893
- Description: The study of happiness, originally with a basis in psychology and sociology, became more scientific when methods were found to measure the complex concept. Humanity believe that happiness is meaningful, important, and worth achieving because, it is one of the most significant dimensions of human experience and emotions. The rewards of being happy for individuals and society are many including health, positivity, and productivity. The debate rages on whether subjective wellbeing increases as gross domestic product increases in countries and cities. Research has affirmed that happy employees are more productive, thereby improving financial sustainable, financial results for organisations and society. The opposite perspective is that unhappy employees negatively affect the performance, moral of fellow employees leading to negative results for organisations and poor social conditions. The Steel Wire and Rope manufacturing plant serves many organisations worldwide, where large industries exist including mining, offshore, agriculture and general-purpose applications. The manufacturing industry in which the study is based is strategic to South African local manufacture with critical applications in mine winding, by hoisting materials and men to the surface from the deepest mines in the world. Achievements include the longest and heaviest rope in the world. Happiness in this industry has not yet been explored, making this study new in this particular industry. The Steel Wire and Rope factory are a manufacturing facility and manufacturing companies can benefit from improving employee happiness levels. This makes this study of a steel wire and rope manufacturing facility important, as it would provide insight into similar manufacturing industries. The purpose of the study is to understand the happiness levels of employees in the steel, wire and rope manufacturing facility. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, NMU Business School, 2021
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2021-04
Happiness levels of South African pharmacists
- Authors: Hattingh, Marnus
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Happiness , Pharmacists -- Practice , Pharmaceutical services
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/51494 , vital:43284
- Description: Historically, the most important goal among people was to achieve happiness in life. The definition of happiness has taken on many forms over the years. However, the concept happiness (subjective well-being) presents an important factor that benefits not only the employee but the organisation as well. The need to measure the happiness of pharmacists lead to the investigation of two happiness theories identified from literature namely, the affective and cognitive theory and the link between the theories. While the happiness of employees in South Africa has been explored to a limited degree, the level of happiness of South African pharmacists has not been adequately investigated. This study aims to determine the factors that positively influence the happiness of pharmacists in South Africa and subsequently establish a conceptual model to be used in future studies. Factors determined from literature were used to establish an online survey, which was distributed to pharmacists in South Africa. A total of 216 respondents participated in this study. The analysis on the data was performed and included, descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), Cronbach Alpha, Pearson’s correlations and ANOVA. The results indicated that the independent factors of Professional Pride, Purpose, Optimism, Leisure and Societal Satisfaction were found to have a significant positive influence on happiness. While the factors of Influence in the workplace, Work and social relationships, Work-life balance, Work Satisfaction, Organisational Satisfaction and Self-satisfaction were found to have no influence on the happiness of pharmacists in South Africa. However, all the identified independent factors presented a positive correlation with the dependent factor of Happiness. The Revised model was formalised to represent the factors to be used to determine the happiness of pharmacists in South Africa. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Business Administration, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Hattingh, Marnus
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Happiness , Pharmacists -- Practice , Pharmaceutical services
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/51494 , vital:43284
- Description: Historically, the most important goal among people was to achieve happiness in life. The definition of happiness has taken on many forms over the years. However, the concept happiness (subjective well-being) presents an important factor that benefits not only the employee but the organisation as well. The need to measure the happiness of pharmacists lead to the investigation of two happiness theories identified from literature namely, the affective and cognitive theory and the link between the theories. While the happiness of employees in South Africa has been explored to a limited degree, the level of happiness of South African pharmacists has not been adequately investigated. This study aims to determine the factors that positively influence the happiness of pharmacists in South Africa and subsequently establish a conceptual model to be used in future studies. Factors determined from literature were used to establish an online survey, which was distributed to pharmacists in South Africa. A total of 216 respondents participated in this study. The analysis on the data was performed and included, descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), Cronbach Alpha, Pearson’s correlations and ANOVA. The results indicated that the independent factors of Professional Pride, Purpose, Optimism, Leisure and Societal Satisfaction were found to have a significant positive influence on happiness. While the factors of Influence in the workplace, Work and social relationships, Work-life balance, Work Satisfaction, Organisational Satisfaction and Self-satisfaction were found to have no influence on the happiness of pharmacists in South Africa. However, all the identified independent factors presented a positive correlation with the dependent factor of Happiness. The Revised model was formalised to represent the factors to be used to determine the happiness of pharmacists in South Africa. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Business Administration, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
Healthcare issues in disaster management : preparedness in the pharmacy profession
- Authors: Vhiriri, Eunice Paidamoyo
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: To be added
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/178591 , vital:42953
- Description: Access restricted until April 2023. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharmacy, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Vhiriri, Eunice Paidamoyo
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: To be added
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/178591 , vital:42953
- Description: Access restricted until April 2023. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharmacy, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
Hierdie keer gaan nie maklik wees nie
- Authors: Visser, Deon Claudius
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Creative writing (Higher education) -- South Africa , Diaries -- Authorship , Short stories, Afrikaans -- 21st century , Afrikaans fiction -- 21st century , Afrikaans fiction -- History and criticism
- Language: Afrikaans
- Type: thesis , text , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/178317 , vital:42929
- Description: My tesis bestaan uit twee versamelings van prosa wat verwant en in noue verband met mekaar tree. Die prosa is fragmentaries en kort maar verbind met ‟n oorkoepelende storie wat in beide Afrikaans en Engels voorgelê word. Die Afrikaanse deel van my tesis ondersoek die verlede, en die Engels die toekoms. My algemene bron van inspirasie vir die struktuur en voorlegging van die tesis word verkry vanaf die klassieke raamverteller konvensie soos gebruik in One Thousand and One Nights, hierdie konvensie maak gebruik van raamfragmente wat binne ‟n groter geheel gevind kan word. Dit is juis hierdie komplekse struktuur wat dit moontlik maak om tyd, hede en verlede asook die toekoms, te kan ondersoek en uit te beeld. Verder maak dit dit ook moontlik om gekoppelde herinneringe, gedagteneigings, en fantasieverhale te kan gebruik as die dryfkrag van die oorkoepelende storie. Met betrekking tot kontemporêre fiksie vind ek die meeste aanklank en invloed by Sandra Cisneros se boek House on Mango Street. Ek het by hierdie verhaal geleer hoe om vignette en kortverhale onafhanklik maar met ‟n motief-verbinding aan mekaar te koppel. Tematies gesproke handel my tesis oor herinneringe, nostalgie, familieverhoudings, die dood asook afsluiting en aanbeweging. In terme van hierdie temas vind ek dat Nathan Trantraal se Chokers en Survivors, en Noudat Slapende Honde deur Ronelda S. Kamfer my die meeste insae gee oor die verhouding tussen Afrikaans en Engels in die literatuur. Verder is Loftus Marais se taalgebruik en die vermenging van taal in Staan in die Algemeen Nader aan Vensters ook insiggewend. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Languages and Literatures, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Visser, Deon Claudius
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Creative writing (Higher education) -- South Africa , Diaries -- Authorship , Short stories, Afrikaans -- 21st century , Afrikaans fiction -- 21st century , Afrikaans fiction -- History and criticism
- Language: Afrikaans
- Type: thesis , text , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/178317 , vital:42929
- Description: My tesis bestaan uit twee versamelings van prosa wat verwant en in noue verband met mekaar tree. Die prosa is fragmentaries en kort maar verbind met ‟n oorkoepelende storie wat in beide Afrikaans en Engels voorgelê word. Die Afrikaanse deel van my tesis ondersoek die verlede, en die Engels die toekoms. My algemene bron van inspirasie vir die struktuur en voorlegging van die tesis word verkry vanaf die klassieke raamverteller konvensie soos gebruik in One Thousand and One Nights, hierdie konvensie maak gebruik van raamfragmente wat binne ‟n groter geheel gevind kan word. Dit is juis hierdie komplekse struktuur wat dit moontlik maak om tyd, hede en verlede asook die toekoms, te kan ondersoek en uit te beeld. Verder maak dit dit ook moontlik om gekoppelde herinneringe, gedagteneigings, en fantasieverhale te kan gebruik as die dryfkrag van die oorkoepelende storie. Met betrekking tot kontemporêre fiksie vind ek die meeste aanklank en invloed by Sandra Cisneros se boek House on Mango Street. Ek het by hierdie verhaal geleer hoe om vignette en kortverhale onafhanklik maar met ‟n motief-verbinding aan mekaar te koppel. Tematies gesproke handel my tesis oor herinneringe, nostalgie, familieverhoudings, die dood asook afsluiting en aanbeweging. In terme van hierdie temas vind ek dat Nathan Trantraal se Chokers en Survivors, en Noudat Slapende Honde deur Ronelda S. Kamfer my die meeste insae gee oor die verhouding tussen Afrikaans en Engels in die literatuur. Verder is Loftus Marais se taalgebruik en die vermenging van taal in Staan in die Algemeen Nader aan Vensters ook insiggewend. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Languages and Literatures, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
How selected Grade 7 participants develop conceptual understanding in solving algebraic problems as a result of participating in a screencast intervention
- Authors: Wienekus, George Renier
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Algebra -- Study and teaching -- South Africa , Mathematics -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- South Africa , Problem solving in children , Algebra -- Ability testing , Algebra -- Computer-assisted instruction
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/176833 , vital:42763
- Description: This research project is an interventionist case study, oriented in the interpretive paradigm, which aims to investigate how selected Grade 7 participants develop conceptual understanding in solving algebraic problems as a result of participating in screencast interventions. The aim of my screencast intervention programme, which lies at the heart of this study, is to develop practices, inter alia, of how such devices and software may be “used to develop conceptual rather than procedural or decorative knowledge” (Larkin & Calder, 2015:1) in solving linear equations. The planned intervention was delivered in the form of a series of screencasts: these take the form of audio-video lessons with an emphasis on the visual impact, and were recorded using an application called Explain Everything. The screencast interventions were delivered via Google Classroom and included animations supported by such conceptual explanations of early algebra as are relevant to Grade 7 students, and in line with the South African Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statements - Department of Education, 2011. The fundamental components of an early algebraic equation that would be relevant to a Grade 7 student were considered and used to develop an analytic framework. This was based on a taxonomy designed according to four identified “clusters” in order to analyse the workings of the purposefully selected Grade 7 participants who were video recorded and questioned in a talk-aloud interview while they completed a post-intervention pencil-and-paper test. What emerges from this research project is that there is a significant need for specific and concentrated technology-based techniques, such as the interventions undertaken here, and that exploration and development in the field could benefit the delivery of a pedagogy for algebra. The pedagogical methods implemented and studied in the form of screencasts proved to be successful and were well received by the learners particularly in relation to the conceptualisation of “symbol sense” and transformation in early algebra. The structure and design of the screencast interventions were important in supporting the acquisition of these concepts and were demonstrated to be worthwhile tools for an epistemological application in a classroom or teaching context. , Thesis (MEd) -- Rhodes University, Faculty of Education, Education, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Wienekus, George Renier
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Algebra -- Study and teaching -- South Africa , Mathematics -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- South Africa , Problem solving in children , Algebra -- Ability testing , Algebra -- Computer-assisted instruction
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/176833 , vital:42763
- Description: This research project is an interventionist case study, oriented in the interpretive paradigm, which aims to investigate how selected Grade 7 participants develop conceptual understanding in solving algebraic problems as a result of participating in screencast interventions. The aim of my screencast intervention programme, which lies at the heart of this study, is to develop practices, inter alia, of how such devices and software may be “used to develop conceptual rather than procedural or decorative knowledge” (Larkin & Calder, 2015:1) in solving linear equations. The planned intervention was delivered in the form of a series of screencasts: these take the form of audio-video lessons with an emphasis on the visual impact, and were recorded using an application called Explain Everything. The screencast interventions were delivered via Google Classroom and included animations supported by such conceptual explanations of early algebra as are relevant to Grade 7 students, and in line with the South African Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statements - Department of Education, 2011. The fundamental components of an early algebraic equation that would be relevant to a Grade 7 student were considered and used to develop an analytic framework. This was based on a taxonomy designed according to four identified “clusters” in order to analyse the workings of the purposefully selected Grade 7 participants who were video recorded and questioned in a talk-aloud interview while they completed a post-intervention pencil-and-paper test. What emerges from this research project is that there is a significant need for specific and concentrated technology-based techniques, such as the interventions undertaken here, and that exploration and development in the field could benefit the delivery of a pedagogy for algebra. The pedagogical methods implemented and studied in the form of screencasts proved to be successful and were well received by the learners particularly in relation to the conceptualisation of “symbol sense” and transformation in early algebra. The structure and design of the screencast interventions were important in supporting the acquisition of these concepts and were demonstrated to be worthwhile tools for an epistemological application in a classroom or teaching context. , Thesis (MEd) -- Rhodes University, Faculty of Education, Education, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
Ilmenite megacryst-hosted melt inclusions from the Monastery kimberlite: implications for kimberlite origins
- Authors: Van Huyssteen, Aiden
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: To be added
- Language: English
- Type: Masters theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/178387 , vital:42935
- Description: Polymineralic inclusions encapsulating a daughter assemblage of crystalline phases (including silicates, oxides, and carbonates) and an amorphous glass phase, hosted in ilmenite megacrysts from the Monastery kimberlite, were investigated texturally and geochemically in order to constrain their melt origin, modeof formation, and evolution prior to quenching. The isolated nature of the melt inclusions within the ilmenite megacrysts provides an opportunity to study components of primary kimberlitic magma captured within the SCLM (4.5–6 GPa) that has been isolated from pervasive modifying processes that are common in kimberlites. The common daughter phase assemblage within the melt inclusions comprises serpentine, phlogopite, calcite, spinel, kassite, perovskite, ilmenite, and glass. The glass is Si-Mg-Fe-rich, with low Al2O3 contents. It is also K2O- and TiO2-free, with variably depleted REE. In composition, serpentine forms a crystalline equivalent to the glass. However, these phases are optically distinct. Serpentine represents two modes of formation: (i) discrete euhedral grains set within a glass matrix that represent a primary phase, crystallising directly from the entrapped melts, and (ii) as patches of partially crystallised glass that represent a secondary phase formed by the devitrification of the glass. Spinel and phlogopite form along early kimberlitic evolutionary trends and record the depletion of the melt in TiO2, Al2O3, and K2O, which typically decreases from the core to the rim of the crystals. Volatile and alkali-bearing minerals (calcite, apatite, phlogopite) crystallised within the melt inclusions from the captured alkali-rich carbonated-silicate kimberlite melt. The daughter mineral assemblage initially crystallised as euhedral and subhedral grains with a uniform composition under equilibrium conditions. Subsequent crystallisation formed grains that exhibit magmatic zoning due to their crystallisation in a progressively depleted melt. Lastly, the crystallisation of skeletal oxide grains occurred under disequilibrium conditions, at a stage of magma ascent with rapidly changing variables including temperature, melt viscosity, and diffusivity. Prior to complete crystallisation, the residual Si-Mg-Fe melt of this crystallisation process was quenched to form the observed glass. The phases that constitute the common daughter assemblage show large variations in modal proportions, forming a continuum from silicate-rich to carbonate-rich endmember inclusions, with certain daughter phases absent in some inclusions. This suggests that the melt was heterogenous at the time of capture and comprised immiscible silicic/oxidic and carbonate melts. Phase separation, therefore, may have started prior to capturing of magma batches as inclusions in ilmenite, but further segregation and crystallisation continued after these batches had become isolated from the megacryst matrix as melt inclusions. The immiscibility and co-existence of the silicic/oxidic and carbonate melts is preserved by textural features between calcite and glass, such as rounded globules of calcite grains set within a silicate glass matrix, calcite forming the matrix for euhedral silicate and oxide minerals, and calcite occupying the interior void of skeletal oxide grains set within a silicate glass matrix. Furthermore, spherulitic globular domains of Ca- and Ti-rich glasses set within a matrix of the Si-Mg-Fe glass suggest that the silicic/oxidic melt underwent further segregation into oxide-rich (Ca-Ti) and silicate-rich (Si-Mg-Fe-Al-K-Ti) melts, potentially crystallising the oxide and silicate minerals of the daughter assemblage, respectively. The abundance of incompatible trace elements and the Cr-poor composition of secondary low-Mg ilmenite as a daughter mineral within the melt inclusions (~1400 ppm Nb; <0.1 wt% Cr2O3; <0.1 wt% MgO), in addition to the Cr-poor composition of the other daughter phases within the inclusions (i.e. <0.1 wt% Cr2O3 for phlogopite and spinel), indicate that they crystallised from a similar melt as the Cr-poor, but high Mg-ilmenite megacrysts (~1400 ppm Nb; <0.1 wt% Cr2O3; ~10 wt% MgO). Furthermore, the melt inclusions are randomly distributed and no textural and/or geochemical evidence for melt infiltration of the ilmenite megacrysts was associated with the melt inclusions. These features are consistent with a primary origin for the melt inclusions which implies a cognate relationship between the megacrysts and the captured kimberlite melt. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Geology, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Van Huyssteen, Aiden
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: To be added
- Language: English
- Type: Masters theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/178387 , vital:42935
- Description: Polymineralic inclusions encapsulating a daughter assemblage of crystalline phases (including silicates, oxides, and carbonates) and an amorphous glass phase, hosted in ilmenite megacrysts from the Monastery kimberlite, were investigated texturally and geochemically in order to constrain their melt origin, modeof formation, and evolution prior to quenching. The isolated nature of the melt inclusions within the ilmenite megacrysts provides an opportunity to study components of primary kimberlitic magma captured within the SCLM (4.5–6 GPa) that has been isolated from pervasive modifying processes that are common in kimberlites. The common daughter phase assemblage within the melt inclusions comprises serpentine, phlogopite, calcite, spinel, kassite, perovskite, ilmenite, and glass. The glass is Si-Mg-Fe-rich, with low Al2O3 contents. It is also K2O- and TiO2-free, with variably depleted REE. In composition, serpentine forms a crystalline equivalent to the glass. However, these phases are optically distinct. Serpentine represents two modes of formation: (i) discrete euhedral grains set within a glass matrix that represent a primary phase, crystallising directly from the entrapped melts, and (ii) as patches of partially crystallised glass that represent a secondary phase formed by the devitrification of the glass. Spinel and phlogopite form along early kimberlitic evolutionary trends and record the depletion of the melt in TiO2, Al2O3, and K2O, which typically decreases from the core to the rim of the crystals. Volatile and alkali-bearing minerals (calcite, apatite, phlogopite) crystallised within the melt inclusions from the captured alkali-rich carbonated-silicate kimberlite melt. The daughter mineral assemblage initially crystallised as euhedral and subhedral grains with a uniform composition under equilibrium conditions. Subsequent crystallisation formed grains that exhibit magmatic zoning due to their crystallisation in a progressively depleted melt. Lastly, the crystallisation of skeletal oxide grains occurred under disequilibrium conditions, at a stage of magma ascent with rapidly changing variables including temperature, melt viscosity, and diffusivity. Prior to complete crystallisation, the residual Si-Mg-Fe melt of this crystallisation process was quenched to form the observed glass. The phases that constitute the common daughter assemblage show large variations in modal proportions, forming a continuum from silicate-rich to carbonate-rich endmember inclusions, with certain daughter phases absent in some inclusions. This suggests that the melt was heterogenous at the time of capture and comprised immiscible silicic/oxidic and carbonate melts. Phase separation, therefore, may have started prior to capturing of magma batches as inclusions in ilmenite, but further segregation and crystallisation continued after these batches had become isolated from the megacryst matrix as melt inclusions. The immiscibility and co-existence of the silicic/oxidic and carbonate melts is preserved by textural features between calcite and glass, such as rounded globules of calcite grains set within a silicate glass matrix, calcite forming the matrix for euhedral silicate and oxide minerals, and calcite occupying the interior void of skeletal oxide grains set within a silicate glass matrix. Furthermore, spherulitic globular domains of Ca- and Ti-rich glasses set within a matrix of the Si-Mg-Fe glass suggest that the silicic/oxidic melt underwent further segregation into oxide-rich (Ca-Ti) and silicate-rich (Si-Mg-Fe-Al-K-Ti) melts, potentially crystallising the oxide and silicate minerals of the daughter assemblage, respectively. The abundance of incompatible trace elements and the Cr-poor composition of secondary low-Mg ilmenite as a daughter mineral within the melt inclusions (~1400 ppm Nb; <0.1 wt% Cr2O3; <0.1 wt% MgO), in addition to the Cr-poor composition of the other daughter phases within the inclusions (i.e. <0.1 wt% Cr2O3 for phlogopite and spinel), indicate that they crystallised from a similar melt as the Cr-poor, but high Mg-ilmenite megacrysts (~1400 ppm Nb; <0.1 wt% Cr2O3; ~10 wt% MgO). Furthermore, the melt inclusions are randomly distributed and no textural and/or geochemical evidence for melt infiltration of the ilmenite megacrysts was associated with the melt inclusions. These features are consistent with a primary origin for the melt inclusions which implies a cognate relationship between the megacrysts and the captured kimberlite melt. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Geology, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
Impact of a manufacturing execution system on production lead-times at a pharmaceutical company
- Authors: Kemp, Lizet
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Pharmaceutical industry , Computer integrated manufacturing systems
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/51253 , vital:43238
- Description: Despite the development in computerised systems and in planning and manufacturing programmes since 1950, Pharma-X* still record their manufacturing processes manually, using a paper batch record, (Manufacturing Batch Records (MBR) or Batch Manufacturing Records (MBR)) and equipment logbooks. There can be up to five logbooks and an equipment control label for each type of equipment used at each process step, which must be completed manually before manufacturing can commence. This paper-based system is a laborious practice, as excessive time is spent completing manual entries into the MBRs and logbooks. Lean thinking, a popular manufacturing improvement philosophy, would describe any such activity as non-value adding and therefore waste (Melton, 2005). Pharma-X started implementing a manufacturing execution system (MES) in June 2018 to automate the manual entries of the manufacturing process. Once the MES is completely implemented, it will allow pharmacists the opportunity to review the manufacturing batch in real-time and to conduct investigations when an error occurs. MES will also allow the operators to complete logbooks with a single scan of equipment, as well as decrease manual entries into the MBR. This study was a quantitative research study comparing data of the past state (Pharma-X pre-MES) with data of a current state (Pharma-X post-MES implementation) to assess the impact of the implementation of a manufacturing execution system and lean manufacturing on a pharmaceutical company. A meaningful reduction in manufacturing lead time and reduction in time wastage were proven but further study and data documentation are recommended. , Thesis (M Pharm) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Kemp, Lizet
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Pharmaceutical industry , Computer integrated manufacturing systems
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/51253 , vital:43238
- Description: Despite the development in computerised systems and in planning and manufacturing programmes since 1950, Pharma-X* still record their manufacturing processes manually, using a paper batch record, (Manufacturing Batch Records (MBR) or Batch Manufacturing Records (MBR)) and equipment logbooks. There can be up to five logbooks and an equipment control label for each type of equipment used at each process step, which must be completed manually before manufacturing can commence. This paper-based system is a laborious practice, as excessive time is spent completing manual entries into the MBRs and logbooks. Lean thinking, a popular manufacturing improvement philosophy, would describe any such activity as non-value adding and therefore waste (Melton, 2005). Pharma-X started implementing a manufacturing execution system (MES) in June 2018 to automate the manual entries of the manufacturing process. Once the MES is completely implemented, it will allow pharmacists the opportunity to review the manufacturing batch in real-time and to conduct investigations when an error occurs. MES will also allow the operators to complete logbooks with a single scan of equipment, as well as decrease manual entries into the MBR. This study was a quantitative research study comparing data of the past state (Pharma-X pre-MES) with data of a current state (Pharma-X post-MES implementation) to assess the impact of the implementation of a manufacturing execution system and lean manufacturing on a pharmaceutical company. A meaningful reduction in manufacturing lead time and reduction in time wastage were proven but further study and data documentation are recommended. , Thesis (M Pharm) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
Impact of automation technologies on employment
- Authors: Dukashe, Loyiso
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Automation , Automation -- Economic aspects , Employees -- Technological innovations
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/51335 , vital:43265
- Description: Throughout history, the introduction of automated technologies has an impact on on human labour. The current wave of technological advancement has expanded the scope of automation raising a concern about the future relevance of human labour. Hence, this study investigated possible futures on the effect of automation technologies on employment. The study adopted a desktop research approach using secondary sources employing future studies methodologies. The study identified a need to transform employment, educational systems and social policy to proactively respond to future effects of automation technologies towards employment. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Business Administration, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Dukashe, Loyiso
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Automation , Automation -- Economic aspects , Employees -- Technological innovations
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/51335 , vital:43265
- Description: Throughout history, the introduction of automated technologies has an impact on on human labour. The current wave of technological advancement has expanded the scope of automation raising a concern about the future relevance of human labour. Hence, this study investigated possible futures on the effect of automation technologies on employment. The study adopted a desktop research approach using secondary sources employing future studies methodologies. The study identified a need to transform employment, educational systems and social policy to proactively respond to future effects of automation technologies towards employment. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Business Administration, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
Impact of feeding milk once-a-day on growth and development of jersey calves
- Authors: Myburgh, Albertus Petrus
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Gqeberha (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , Calves -- Feeding and feeds
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/52095 , vital:43438
- Description: In conventional calf rearing systems calves are fed milk twice a day. Calves are normally housed in a calf shed, kept in individual pens or in groups. The goal should be to limit mor-talities to less than 5% from birth to 30 days. This can be achieved by reducing animal stress, controlling diseases and feeding the animals properly. The immune function can be de-pressed by inadequate nutrition which will increase susceptibility to diseases. Key objective on a dairy farm should be to rear a healthy calf until the calf reaches the optimum mating weight. Digestive disorders and respiratory diseases are the main causes of mortalities of young calves. Jersey calves at Outeniqua Research Farm are kept in movable hutches out-side, for 8 weeks and whole milk is fed only once a day. Although it is common practice to feed milk to calves twice-a-day, Jersey calves are raised with great success by feeding whole milk once-a-day, but proven data was never collected to indicate that feeding whole milk to Jersey calves does not compromise growth or development of calves. Much research was done on feeding of milk to Holstein calves, but little was done on Jersey calves. Research also shows results on feeding of milk replacer rather than whole milk. This raised the question of can whole milk be fed once-a-day successfully to Jersey calves with-out compromising growth and development and what are the advantages of feeding whole milk once-a-day to Jersey calves? , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Environmental Sciences, 2021
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Myburgh, Albertus Petrus
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Gqeberha (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , Calves -- Feeding and feeds
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/52095 , vital:43438
- Description: In conventional calf rearing systems calves are fed milk twice a day. Calves are normally housed in a calf shed, kept in individual pens or in groups. The goal should be to limit mor-talities to less than 5% from birth to 30 days. This can be achieved by reducing animal stress, controlling diseases and feeding the animals properly. The immune function can be de-pressed by inadequate nutrition which will increase susceptibility to diseases. Key objective on a dairy farm should be to rear a healthy calf until the calf reaches the optimum mating weight. Digestive disorders and respiratory diseases are the main causes of mortalities of young calves. Jersey calves at Outeniqua Research Farm are kept in movable hutches out-side, for 8 weeks and whole milk is fed only once a day. Although it is common practice to feed milk to calves twice-a-day, Jersey calves are raised with great success by feeding whole milk once-a-day, but proven data was never collected to indicate that feeding whole milk to Jersey calves does not compromise growth or development of calves. Much research was done on feeding of milk to Holstein calves, but little was done on Jersey calves. Research also shows results on feeding of milk replacer rather than whole milk. This raised the question of can whole milk be fed once-a-day successfully to Jersey calves with-out compromising growth and development and what are the advantages of feeding whole milk once-a-day to Jersey calves? , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Environmental Sciences, 2021
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2021-04
Impact of sovereign credit ratings on emerging bond and stock market returns
- Authors: Mkhonto, Zoyisile
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Rating agencies (Finance) , Credit ratings , Bond market
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/177170 , vital:42796
- Description: The primary role of credit rating agencies is to reduce asymmetric information between the parties in a lending relationship. The three major rating agencies have received extensive criticism over the years. These rating agencies have been accused of providing inaccurate ratings which ultimately led to various financial calamities. Late rating action has also been blamed for exacerbating financial and economic cycles. Moreover, there is an argument that emerging markets are unfairly rated in comparison to developed economies. Hence, the reliability and informational value of the assessments provided by credit rating agencies is met with scepticism. Despite these criticisms, rating agencies are characterised as gatekeepers to capital and credit ratings remain essential financial market indicators. Albeit, the literature regarding the impact of sovereign credit ratings on bond and stock markets is inconclusive. This study aims to add to the body of literature and provide insights into the informational value of sovereign credit ratings in emerging markets. More specifically to estimate the relationship between various sovereign credit rating announcements, and bond and stock market returns. Also, to examine whether sovereign credit ratings have a differential impact between bond and stock markets. As well as address the question does it matter who provides the rating? Using an event study, abnormal returns surrounding rating announcements from 2009 to 2019 for 24 emerging markets were analyzed. Firstly, this study concluded that sovereign credit ratings are informative. Secondly, the degree of informativeness differs between the bond and stock markets. Thirdly, an asymmetrical impact was observed between the types of rating announcements. Lastly, that it does matter which rating agency provides the rating because each agency has a unique reputation. The findings of this research have implications on how investors and portfolio managers decide on asset allocation. Furthermore, policymakers may find our investment grade analysis of value when evaluating regulatory reform. It’s recommended that future research refines the event methodology and examines country specific characteristics within each of the emerging markets. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Commerce, Economics and Economic History, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Mkhonto, Zoyisile
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Rating agencies (Finance) , Credit ratings , Bond market
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/177170 , vital:42796
- Description: The primary role of credit rating agencies is to reduce asymmetric information between the parties in a lending relationship. The three major rating agencies have received extensive criticism over the years. These rating agencies have been accused of providing inaccurate ratings which ultimately led to various financial calamities. Late rating action has also been blamed for exacerbating financial and economic cycles. Moreover, there is an argument that emerging markets are unfairly rated in comparison to developed economies. Hence, the reliability and informational value of the assessments provided by credit rating agencies is met with scepticism. Despite these criticisms, rating agencies are characterised as gatekeepers to capital and credit ratings remain essential financial market indicators. Albeit, the literature regarding the impact of sovereign credit ratings on bond and stock markets is inconclusive. This study aims to add to the body of literature and provide insights into the informational value of sovereign credit ratings in emerging markets. More specifically to estimate the relationship between various sovereign credit rating announcements, and bond and stock market returns. Also, to examine whether sovereign credit ratings have a differential impact between bond and stock markets. As well as address the question does it matter who provides the rating? Using an event study, abnormal returns surrounding rating announcements from 2009 to 2019 for 24 emerging markets were analyzed. Firstly, this study concluded that sovereign credit ratings are informative. Secondly, the degree of informativeness differs between the bond and stock markets. Thirdly, an asymmetrical impact was observed between the types of rating announcements. Lastly, that it does matter which rating agency provides the rating because each agency has a unique reputation. The findings of this research have implications on how investors and portfolio managers decide on asset allocation. Furthermore, policymakers may find our investment grade analysis of value when evaluating regulatory reform. It’s recommended that future research refines the event methodology and examines country specific characteristics within each of the emerging markets. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Commerce, Economics and Economic History, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
Impacts of food security programmes at Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Ngxeba, Zola
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Gqeberha (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Masters theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53030 , vital:44875
- Description: Poverty is recognised as one of the greatest challenges faced by developing and the least developed countries. South Africa has been no different with increased levels of poverty which are also inherit from the substantial inequality in the country. Thus, food security programmes have become an innovative way to tackle the issue of poverty across municipalities. Taking a qualitative and quantitative root within the Buffallo City Municipality located in the Eastern Cape, this study evaluated the impact these programmes have on household food security. Through surveys and interviews with participants in the Siyazondla and Siyakhula food programme instituted by department of rural development and agrarian reform (DRDAR) the findings show that beneficiaries benefited heavily from the programmes. Several households reported increased scale of food supply due to programmes such as the gardening projects and inputs within the agricultural process particularly; seeds, fertilizer and equipment neccesary for planting. Thus, conclusively, the outcome of these food security programmes has been positive and it is adviced that the department of rural development and agrarian reform (DRDAR) increase the population of households in the projects offered by the department. Moreover, these projects should be implimented to provide means which could enable communities to continue the projects without need for dependence. This would entail providing individuals with the neccesary skills and education to continue these projects within their households at limited costs. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, School of Economics, Development and Tourism, 2021
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Ngxeba, Zola
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Gqeberha (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Masters theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53030 , vital:44875
- Description: Poverty is recognised as one of the greatest challenges faced by developing and the least developed countries. South Africa has been no different with increased levels of poverty which are also inherit from the substantial inequality in the country. Thus, food security programmes have become an innovative way to tackle the issue of poverty across municipalities. Taking a qualitative and quantitative root within the Buffallo City Municipality located in the Eastern Cape, this study evaluated the impact these programmes have on household food security. Through surveys and interviews with participants in the Siyazondla and Siyakhula food programme instituted by department of rural development and agrarian reform (DRDAR) the findings show that beneficiaries benefited heavily from the programmes. Several households reported increased scale of food supply due to programmes such as the gardening projects and inputs within the agricultural process particularly; seeds, fertilizer and equipment neccesary for planting. Thus, conclusively, the outcome of these food security programmes has been positive and it is adviced that the department of rural development and agrarian reform (DRDAR) increase the population of households in the projects offered by the department. Moreover, these projects should be implimented to provide means which could enable communities to continue the projects without need for dependence. This would entail providing individuals with the neccesary skills and education to continue these projects within their households at limited costs. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, School of Economics, Development and Tourism, 2021
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2021-04
Improving customer service through the marketing-logistic interface for automotive suppliers in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Mkumatela, Yolisa
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Gqeberha (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/52955 , vital:44865
- Description: The primary purpose of this study was to investigate if the marketing-log-istics interface can improve customer service for automotive suppliers in the Eastern Cape. The rationale was that the poor service delivery by automotive suppliers can negatively affect the customer service levels, which can lead to dissatisfied customers and thus decrease the firm's profits while improved customer service levels may benefit the supplier, as customers may seek the best service from the supplier in terms of the right price, good quality, on time delivery, correct order quantities, and the correct delivery location for orders. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, School of Management Sciences, 2021
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Mkumatela, Yolisa
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Gqeberha (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/52955 , vital:44865
- Description: The primary purpose of this study was to investigate if the marketing-log-istics interface can improve customer service for automotive suppliers in the Eastern Cape. The rationale was that the poor service delivery by automotive suppliers can negatively affect the customer service levels, which can lead to dissatisfied customers and thus decrease the firm's profits while improved customer service levels may benefit the supplier, as customers may seek the best service from the supplier in terms of the right price, good quality, on time delivery, correct order quantities, and the correct delivery location for orders. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, School of Management Sciences, 2021
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2021-04
In My Flesh : Fabricating the Bulimic Body
- Authors: Hodgson, Ashley
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Bulimia , Human body -- Social aspects , Human figure in art , Diseases in art , Art therapy
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Masters , MFA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/177317 , vital:42809
- Description: My MFA exhibition In My Flesh, explores my own personal experience of an eating disorder: bulimia nervosa, through the medium of sculpture and installation. Situated in the Fine Art Sculpture and Painting building on Rhodes University campus, this practical submission takes the form of a multi-sensory installation depicting the fleshy interior of a bulimic body. The sculptural works that make up the installation resemble enlarged bodily forms and cavities, namely the mouth; the oesophagus, the stomach; the intestines; and the flesh. These anatomical forms are made from fabric which has been melted, manipulated, and stained using food and other synthetic dyes. The arrangement of the sculptural components (parts of the body affected by bulimia) does not mirror the human body exactly, and their intentionally disordered placement creates a feeling of dis-ease and disturbance for the participant experiencing the installation. This mini-thesis, In My Flesh: Fabricating the Bulimic Body, unpacks the visual, tactile and audio elements of this practice as research submission as they relate to my interest in bodily boundaries, corporeal traces and material extensions. I look at these themes as they translate into installation, and discuss the way in which bulimia is experienced, theorised and represented. I position my work in relation to the concept of the abject as proposed by Julia Kristeva, and visually analyse artworks by Mona Hatoum, Heidi Bucher and Ernesto Neto who make use of immersive installation strategies that resonate with my own practice. This supporting document considers the three conceptual elements informing my installation: embodiment, space, and materiality. In the first chapter of this document: Embodying the Bulimic Body, I address bulimia as less open to visual interpretations than other eating disorders because of its secretive and hidden nature. I go on to frame the illness in relation to theories around bodily boundaries and abjection and argue that bulimia epitomises abjection. In Chapter Two: Architecture of the Bulimic Body I engage with the idea of architectural structures as having anatomic features. I interrogate how the body moves through space, leaving traces of itself behind. Chapter Three: Fabricating the Bulimic Body concentrates on the main medium used in In My Flesh: fabric. In my discussion of this material, I unpack its metaphoric and symbolic qualities, as well as its personal resonance with my own lived experience. , Thesis (MFA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Fine Art, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Hodgson, Ashley
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Bulimia , Human body -- Social aspects , Human figure in art , Diseases in art , Art therapy
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Masters , MFA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/177317 , vital:42809
- Description: My MFA exhibition In My Flesh, explores my own personal experience of an eating disorder: bulimia nervosa, through the medium of sculpture and installation. Situated in the Fine Art Sculpture and Painting building on Rhodes University campus, this practical submission takes the form of a multi-sensory installation depicting the fleshy interior of a bulimic body. The sculptural works that make up the installation resemble enlarged bodily forms and cavities, namely the mouth; the oesophagus, the stomach; the intestines; and the flesh. These anatomical forms are made from fabric which has been melted, manipulated, and stained using food and other synthetic dyes. The arrangement of the sculptural components (parts of the body affected by bulimia) does not mirror the human body exactly, and their intentionally disordered placement creates a feeling of dis-ease and disturbance for the participant experiencing the installation. This mini-thesis, In My Flesh: Fabricating the Bulimic Body, unpacks the visual, tactile and audio elements of this practice as research submission as they relate to my interest in bodily boundaries, corporeal traces and material extensions. I look at these themes as they translate into installation, and discuss the way in which bulimia is experienced, theorised and represented. I position my work in relation to the concept of the abject as proposed by Julia Kristeva, and visually analyse artworks by Mona Hatoum, Heidi Bucher and Ernesto Neto who make use of immersive installation strategies that resonate with my own practice. This supporting document considers the three conceptual elements informing my installation: embodiment, space, and materiality. In the first chapter of this document: Embodying the Bulimic Body, I address bulimia as less open to visual interpretations than other eating disorders because of its secretive and hidden nature. I go on to frame the illness in relation to theories around bodily boundaries and abjection and argue that bulimia epitomises abjection. In Chapter Two: Architecture of the Bulimic Body I engage with the idea of architectural structures as having anatomic features. I interrogate how the body moves through space, leaving traces of itself behind. Chapter Three: Fabricating the Bulimic Body concentrates on the main medium used in In My Flesh: fabric. In my discussion of this material, I unpack its metaphoric and symbolic qualities, as well as its personal resonance with my own lived experience. , Thesis (MFA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Fine Art, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
In silico identification of selective novel hits against the active site of wild type mycobacterium tuberculosis pyrazinamidase and its mutants
- Authors: Gowo, Prudence
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Mycobacterium tuberculosis , Pyrazinamide , Multidrug resistance , Antitubercular agents , Molecular dynamics , Hydrogen bonding , Ligand binding (Biochemistry) , Dynamic Residue Network
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/178007 , vital:42898
- Description: The World Health Organization declared Tuberculosis a global health emergency and has set a goal to eradicate it by 2035. However, effective treatment and control of the disease is being hindered by the emerging Multi-Drug Resistant and Extensively Drug Resistant strains on the most effective first line prodrug, Pyrazinamide (PZA). Studies have shown that the main cause of PZA resistance is due to mutations in the pncA gene that codes for the target protein Pyrazinamidase (PZase). Therefore, this study aimed to identify novel drug compounds that bind to the active site of wild type PZase and study the dynamics of these potential anti-TB drugs in the mutant systems of PZase. This approach will aid in identifying drugs that may be repurposed for TB therapy and/or designed to counteract PZA resistance. This was achieved by screening 2089 DrugBank compounds against the whole wild type (WT) PZase protein in molecular docking using AutoDOCK4.2. Compound screening based on docking binding energy, hydrogen bonds, molecular weight and active site proximity identified 47 compounds meeting all the set selection criteria. The stability of these compounds were analysed in Molecular Dynamic (MD) simulations and were further studied in PZase mutant systems of A3P, A134V, A146V, D8G, D49A, D49G, D63G, H51P, H137R, L85R, L116R, Q10P, R140S, T61P, V139M and Y103S. Generally, mutant-ligand systems displayed little deviation from the WT systems. The compound systems remained compact, with less fluctuations and more hydrogen bond interactions throughout the simulation (DB00255, DB00655, DB00672, DB00782, DB00977, DB01196, DB04573, DB06414, DB08981, DB11181, DB11760, DB13867, DB13952). From this research study, potential drugs that may be repurposed for TB therapy were identified. Majority of these drugs are currently used in the treatment of hypertension, menopause disorders and inflammation. To further understand the mutant-ligand dynamic systems, calculations such as Dynamic Residue Network (DRN) may be done. Also, the bioactivity of these drugs on Mycobacterium tuberculosis may be studied in wet laboratory, to understand their clinical impart in vivo experiments. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Biochemistry and Microbiology, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Gowo, Prudence
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Mycobacterium tuberculosis , Pyrazinamide , Multidrug resistance , Antitubercular agents , Molecular dynamics , Hydrogen bonding , Ligand binding (Biochemistry) , Dynamic Residue Network
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/178007 , vital:42898
- Description: The World Health Organization declared Tuberculosis a global health emergency and has set a goal to eradicate it by 2035. However, effective treatment and control of the disease is being hindered by the emerging Multi-Drug Resistant and Extensively Drug Resistant strains on the most effective first line prodrug, Pyrazinamide (PZA). Studies have shown that the main cause of PZA resistance is due to mutations in the pncA gene that codes for the target protein Pyrazinamidase (PZase). Therefore, this study aimed to identify novel drug compounds that bind to the active site of wild type PZase and study the dynamics of these potential anti-TB drugs in the mutant systems of PZase. This approach will aid in identifying drugs that may be repurposed for TB therapy and/or designed to counteract PZA resistance. This was achieved by screening 2089 DrugBank compounds against the whole wild type (WT) PZase protein in molecular docking using AutoDOCK4.2. Compound screening based on docking binding energy, hydrogen bonds, molecular weight and active site proximity identified 47 compounds meeting all the set selection criteria. The stability of these compounds were analysed in Molecular Dynamic (MD) simulations and were further studied in PZase mutant systems of A3P, A134V, A146V, D8G, D49A, D49G, D63G, H51P, H137R, L85R, L116R, Q10P, R140S, T61P, V139M and Y103S. Generally, mutant-ligand systems displayed little deviation from the WT systems. The compound systems remained compact, with less fluctuations and more hydrogen bond interactions throughout the simulation (DB00255, DB00655, DB00672, DB00782, DB00977, DB01196, DB04573, DB06414, DB08981, DB11181, DB11760, DB13867, DB13952). From this research study, potential drugs that may be repurposed for TB therapy were identified. Majority of these drugs are currently used in the treatment of hypertension, menopause disorders and inflammation. To further understand the mutant-ligand dynamic systems, calculations such as Dynamic Residue Network (DRN) may be done. Also, the bioactivity of these drugs on Mycobacterium tuberculosis may be studied in wet laboratory, to understand their clinical impart in vivo experiments. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Biochemistry and Microbiology, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
Incidence of parasitic trematodes effects on the energetics and behaviour of Coryogalops sordidus (Family: Gobiidae) resident in microbialite pools, warm temperate South Africa
- Authors: Du Toit, Hendrik Daniël
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Gqeberha (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , Gobiidae -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/52458 , vital:43666
- Description: Coryogalops sordidus(Epaulette goby), is a cryptobenthic species of the Family Gobiidae that iscommonly foundoccupying turbulent surf zones, calm rock pools, and sand and mud flats, where they are generally carnivorous predators. The distribution of C. sordidushas been recorded for Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, and South Africa. The species is also resident in the microbialite pools on the temperate south east coast of South Africa. Recent reports indicated these gobies to be covered in numerous dark lesions, possibly suggesting that the microbialite pools are a sub-optimal habitat. Preliminary analyses have indicated that the dark lesions are a result of encysted metacercaria of a digenetic trematode (fluke). There werehowever,no current recorded parasiticspecies occurring within microbialite pool nor any records of any parasitic species utilizingC. sordidus as a host in South Africa. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate parasite-host interactions and parasite presence in and around themicrobialite pool systems of Algoa Bay using C. sordidusas a study species. Coryogalops sordiduswas identified to be parasitised by digenetic trematode metacercaria of the Family Diplostomidae Poirier, 1886, localised primarily to the host musculature, fins, eyes, and integument with no settlement on any of the visceral organs. Furthermore, C. sordidus was found additionally parasitised by a green leech (Class: Hirundinea) of the Family Piscicolidae Johnston, 1865, localised exclusively to the ventral body surface, underneath the pelvic fin of the host. Further investigation into the life cycle of the trematode, suggested that the most probable final hosts wereherons,namely Ardea cinereaand Egretta garzetta garzetta, and intermediate host likely being the freshwater gastropod Assimineacf.capensis, present inthe upper microbialite pools. In both the microbialite and neighbouring rock pools trematode prevalence was found to oscillate in response to seasonal chemical and climatic conditions, whereas the secondary piscicolid leech parasite was influencedmoreby host presence than environmental conditions. Greater prevalence and intensity were measured in the microbialite pools suggesting that these systems likely contained a suit of favourable conditions that allowed for greater trematode loads to be maintained as compared to neighbouring rock pools. As parasites often have deleterious effects on their hosts, the response can manifest as an altered host behaviour or an increased energetic debt due to elevated immune response activity and the associated cost of tissue repair at sites of parasite aggregation.This study further investigatedifgobies (C. sordidus) infected with metacercarial cysts display higher metabolic ratesordifferent swimming behaviour compared to non-infected individuals. The results indicated that the metacercarial load carried by infected hosts had on average no significant impact on energetics, swimming ability, or swimming behaviour, concluding that the average metacercarial intensity present on the gobies is therefore below the threshold of an altered host response. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Environmental Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Du Toit, Hendrik Daniël
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Gqeberha (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , Gobiidae -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/52458 , vital:43666
- Description: Coryogalops sordidus(Epaulette goby), is a cryptobenthic species of the Family Gobiidae that iscommonly foundoccupying turbulent surf zones, calm rock pools, and sand and mud flats, where they are generally carnivorous predators. The distribution of C. sordidushas been recorded for Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, and South Africa. The species is also resident in the microbialite pools on the temperate south east coast of South Africa. Recent reports indicated these gobies to be covered in numerous dark lesions, possibly suggesting that the microbialite pools are a sub-optimal habitat. Preliminary analyses have indicated that the dark lesions are a result of encysted metacercaria of a digenetic trematode (fluke). There werehowever,no current recorded parasiticspecies occurring within microbialite pool nor any records of any parasitic species utilizingC. sordidus as a host in South Africa. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate parasite-host interactions and parasite presence in and around themicrobialite pool systems of Algoa Bay using C. sordidusas a study species. Coryogalops sordiduswas identified to be parasitised by digenetic trematode metacercaria of the Family Diplostomidae Poirier, 1886, localised primarily to the host musculature, fins, eyes, and integument with no settlement on any of the visceral organs. Furthermore, C. sordidus was found additionally parasitised by a green leech (Class: Hirundinea) of the Family Piscicolidae Johnston, 1865, localised exclusively to the ventral body surface, underneath the pelvic fin of the host. Further investigation into the life cycle of the trematode, suggested that the most probable final hosts wereherons,namely Ardea cinereaand Egretta garzetta garzetta, and intermediate host likely being the freshwater gastropod Assimineacf.capensis, present inthe upper microbialite pools. In both the microbialite and neighbouring rock pools trematode prevalence was found to oscillate in response to seasonal chemical and climatic conditions, whereas the secondary piscicolid leech parasite was influencedmoreby host presence than environmental conditions. Greater prevalence and intensity were measured in the microbialite pools suggesting that these systems likely contained a suit of favourable conditions that allowed for greater trematode loads to be maintained as compared to neighbouring rock pools. As parasites often have deleterious effects on their hosts, the response can manifest as an altered host behaviour or an increased energetic debt due to elevated immune response activity and the associated cost of tissue repair at sites of parasite aggregation.This study further investigatedifgobies (C. sordidus) infected with metacercarial cysts display higher metabolic ratesordifferent swimming behaviour compared to non-infected individuals. The results indicated that the metacercarial load carried by infected hosts had on average no significant impact on energetics, swimming ability, or swimming behaviour, concluding that the average metacercarial intensity present on the gobies is therefore below the threshold of an altered host response. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Environmental Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
Indigenous knowledge of ecosystem services in rural communities of the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Murata, Chenai
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Ethnoscience -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Ecosystem management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Nature -- Effect of human beings on -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Human ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Human beings -- Effect of environment on -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Rural conditions
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/177929 , vital:42891 , 10.21504/10962/177929
- Description: This thesis is on indigenous knowledge of ecosystem services. The ecosystem service framework and its associated concepts are fairly young, having been introduced in the ecological discipline in the 1980s. The ecosystem service framework posits that the wellbeing of humans and their communities is dependent on services supplied by ecosystems. It emphasises that for the ecosystems to be able to supply the services, they need to be in a well-functioning state. This idea of well-functioning is predicated on the argument that the ecosystem service framework enjoins resource users to exercise responsible stewardship to prevent degradation and overharvesting. Moreover, the concept of dependence suggests that ecosystem services are of value to humans. The dominant means of measuring the value of ecosystem services has been the economic valuation method in which the contribution that each service makes to human wellbeing is quantified into monetary units. The framework disaggregates the services into four groups, namely provisioning, cultural, supporting and regulatory and seeks to all the pillars of human wellbeing including health, subsistence and spirituality into each of these groups. In doing all this, the framework significantly reconfigures the way we look at and present human-nature relations. This change has the potential to influence significant shifts in how ecological research and intervention programmes are conducted in the foreseeable future. However, the reality that the ecosystem service framework was formulated within, and is informed by the scientific epistemology begs the question: what do traditional rural communities who depend mainly on indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) for shaping and interoperating their relations with nature know of the ecosystem service concept? Rural communities are the ones who interact directly with nature on a day-to-day basis. This makes them a very critical component in the ecosystem service framework. Although South Africa has had studies in the ecosystem service theme, little has been done to attempt to investigate and document indigenous knowledge of ecosystem services that rural communities possess. By focusing only on scientific knowledge of ecosystem services, the South African literature does not do justice to the plural epistemologies of the ecosystem service users in the country. More importantly, the continued dearth of public information on indigenous knowledge of ecosystem services can potentially obstruct implementation of locally sensitive intervention programmes because nothing is known about how the local communities conceptualise the ecosystem service framework. All this presents a crucial gap in the South African research; one that unless effort is made to contribute towards filling it, our knowledge of how communities experience the ecosystem service framework in South Africa will remain skewed. This study set out to investigate and document indigenous knowledge of ecosystem services in order to contribute towards filling this gap. Indigenous knowledge system is an umbrella epistemic system that includes lay ecological knowledge (LEK), traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) and many other related organized systems of knowing. Although the thesis has a chapter on LEK, its primary focus was TEK because the thesis was interested in unravelling how aspects of tradition including taboos, customs, traditional rules and belief in ancestral forces influence local communities’ knowledge of some key aspects of the ecosystem service framework including knowledge of various ecosystem services, valuation of ecosystem services, management of ecosystem services and perceptions of the management practices. The decision to focus on TEK was based on the reasoning that rural communities of the Eastern Cape boast a strong reputation of being traditional, recognizing ancestral spirits, legends and taboos as critical tools of knowledge generation and transmission. Using both mixed methods in some chapters and the qualitative approach alone in others, the study collected data in five villages of Mgwalana, Mahlungulu, Colana, Gogela and Nozitshena located in the north eastern part of Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, a region formerly called Transkei. The data were collected not on ecosystem services; but on the local people’s knowledge of ecosystem services. Although literature was consulted, the study regarded respondents as the primary source of data, hence the findings and conclusions presented in this thesis are about what local people know about ecosystem services. The study uses critical realist theoretical lenses to interpret respondents’ reports. The lenses included the principle of the separation between ontology and epistemology, the iceberg metaphor of ontology, epistemological pluralism and the hermeneutic dimension. These lenses were used to make sense of both the knowledge system of local people and the things about which their knowledge was. As part of discussing the local people’s knowledge, the study sometimes refers to science. This is not because I expected them to demonstrate knowledge similar to science. Instead, it was a critical realist dialectical way of explaining what something is by demonstrating what it is not. The study made a couple of key findings that can potentially enhance the growth of the South African ecosystem service discipline. First, respondents demonstrated knowledge of ecosystem services by mentioning a range of them such as drinking water, medicinal plants, cultural plants and fuelwood and how they affect the wellbeing of humans. However, what they did not have good knowledge of is that nature services can be classified into the four groups of supporting, regulatory, cultural and provisioning. Among the four ecosystem services groups, respondents could identify two only; provisional and cultural. Second, local communities depend heavily on ecosystem services for their well-being. The services include fuelwood, construction timber, medicinal plants, wild fruits, wild fish, cultural services and thatch grass. Although they appreciate that ecosystem services have value to their wellbeing, local people found it difficult to represent the value in monetary units. The conditions that make it difficult for local people to perceive ecosystem services as commodities include the absence of well-defined property system, lack of a quantitative consumer tradition and absence of an economic conception of nature. Third, local people understand the need to keep ecosystems in a well-functioning state hence they implement several traditional practices to manage ecosystem services. These practices include taboos, designating certain resources as sacred, legends, customary law, as well as some secular practices including gelesha and stone terracing. However, it is not easy to understand how traditional management practices work because they are not empirically observable. Fourth, local people possess knowledge of the reality that if not well managed, ecosystems can undergo degradation and hence fail to supply the services needed for human wellbeing. However, they explain the causes of degradation in terms of changes observable at the empirical level and the invisible causal power of supernatural forces. The inclusion of natural forces in degradation explanations marks a departure from the scientific explanations that revolve around biophysical processes. Fifth, the use of traditional management practices such as taboos to management ecosystems is under threat at the local communities. The threat can be attributed to three groups of causes, namely changes in worldviews due to adoption of formal education and Christianity, institutional disharmony playing out between the state and local traditional leadership, and lifestyle changes. These challenges constrain the opportunity for local people to apply traditional management practices to prevent the degradation of ecosystems. The net implication of this is that it renders it difficult for researchers and policy makers to assess the effectiveness of traditional management practices because they are not being implemented in full. In light of all these findings, the thesis concludes that TEK is underlabouring for the ecosystem service framework in the sense that it is used by local communities to generate knowledge of ecological concepts and phenomena. This means that TEK does not exist for the sake of its own self. Drawing from this finding, the study proposes a framework of analysing TEK as an underlabourer for social-ecological triggers or issues. Nonetheless, there are few factors that can be sources of limitation to the study. These include the reality that it was difficult to access pure traditional knowledge because over the years the local communities have received many state-sponsored ecological intervention programmes and a possible personal bias given the reality that I grew up in a traditional household and my father was a key holder or TEK. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Environmental Science, 2021 , Thesis chapter to be published in 'Green and Low-Carbon Economy'. Journal available: https://ojs.bonviewpress.com/index.php/GLCE/index
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Murata, Chenai
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Ethnoscience -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Ecosystem management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Nature -- Effect of human beings on -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Human ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Human beings -- Effect of environment on -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Rural conditions
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/177929 , vital:42891 , 10.21504/10962/177929
- Description: This thesis is on indigenous knowledge of ecosystem services. The ecosystem service framework and its associated concepts are fairly young, having been introduced in the ecological discipline in the 1980s. The ecosystem service framework posits that the wellbeing of humans and their communities is dependent on services supplied by ecosystems. It emphasises that for the ecosystems to be able to supply the services, they need to be in a well-functioning state. This idea of well-functioning is predicated on the argument that the ecosystem service framework enjoins resource users to exercise responsible stewardship to prevent degradation and overharvesting. Moreover, the concept of dependence suggests that ecosystem services are of value to humans. The dominant means of measuring the value of ecosystem services has been the economic valuation method in which the contribution that each service makes to human wellbeing is quantified into monetary units. The framework disaggregates the services into four groups, namely provisioning, cultural, supporting and regulatory and seeks to all the pillars of human wellbeing including health, subsistence and spirituality into each of these groups. In doing all this, the framework significantly reconfigures the way we look at and present human-nature relations. This change has the potential to influence significant shifts in how ecological research and intervention programmes are conducted in the foreseeable future. However, the reality that the ecosystem service framework was formulated within, and is informed by the scientific epistemology begs the question: what do traditional rural communities who depend mainly on indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) for shaping and interoperating their relations with nature know of the ecosystem service concept? Rural communities are the ones who interact directly with nature on a day-to-day basis. This makes them a very critical component in the ecosystem service framework. Although South Africa has had studies in the ecosystem service theme, little has been done to attempt to investigate and document indigenous knowledge of ecosystem services that rural communities possess. By focusing only on scientific knowledge of ecosystem services, the South African literature does not do justice to the plural epistemologies of the ecosystem service users in the country. More importantly, the continued dearth of public information on indigenous knowledge of ecosystem services can potentially obstruct implementation of locally sensitive intervention programmes because nothing is known about how the local communities conceptualise the ecosystem service framework. All this presents a crucial gap in the South African research; one that unless effort is made to contribute towards filling it, our knowledge of how communities experience the ecosystem service framework in South Africa will remain skewed. This study set out to investigate and document indigenous knowledge of ecosystem services in order to contribute towards filling this gap. Indigenous knowledge system is an umbrella epistemic system that includes lay ecological knowledge (LEK), traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) and many other related organized systems of knowing. Although the thesis has a chapter on LEK, its primary focus was TEK because the thesis was interested in unravelling how aspects of tradition including taboos, customs, traditional rules and belief in ancestral forces influence local communities’ knowledge of some key aspects of the ecosystem service framework including knowledge of various ecosystem services, valuation of ecosystem services, management of ecosystem services and perceptions of the management practices. The decision to focus on TEK was based on the reasoning that rural communities of the Eastern Cape boast a strong reputation of being traditional, recognizing ancestral spirits, legends and taboos as critical tools of knowledge generation and transmission. Using both mixed methods in some chapters and the qualitative approach alone in others, the study collected data in five villages of Mgwalana, Mahlungulu, Colana, Gogela and Nozitshena located in the north eastern part of Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, a region formerly called Transkei. The data were collected not on ecosystem services; but on the local people’s knowledge of ecosystem services. Although literature was consulted, the study regarded respondents as the primary source of data, hence the findings and conclusions presented in this thesis are about what local people know about ecosystem services. The study uses critical realist theoretical lenses to interpret respondents’ reports. The lenses included the principle of the separation between ontology and epistemology, the iceberg metaphor of ontology, epistemological pluralism and the hermeneutic dimension. These lenses were used to make sense of both the knowledge system of local people and the things about which their knowledge was. As part of discussing the local people’s knowledge, the study sometimes refers to science. This is not because I expected them to demonstrate knowledge similar to science. Instead, it was a critical realist dialectical way of explaining what something is by demonstrating what it is not. The study made a couple of key findings that can potentially enhance the growth of the South African ecosystem service discipline. First, respondents demonstrated knowledge of ecosystem services by mentioning a range of them such as drinking water, medicinal plants, cultural plants and fuelwood and how they affect the wellbeing of humans. However, what they did not have good knowledge of is that nature services can be classified into the four groups of supporting, regulatory, cultural and provisioning. Among the four ecosystem services groups, respondents could identify two only; provisional and cultural. Second, local communities depend heavily on ecosystem services for their well-being. The services include fuelwood, construction timber, medicinal plants, wild fruits, wild fish, cultural services and thatch grass. Although they appreciate that ecosystem services have value to their wellbeing, local people found it difficult to represent the value in monetary units. The conditions that make it difficult for local people to perceive ecosystem services as commodities include the absence of well-defined property system, lack of a quantitative consumer tradition and absence of an economic conception of nature. Third, local people understand the need to keep ecosystems in a well-functioning state hence they implement several traditional practices to manage ecosystem services. These practices include taboos, designating certain resources as sacred, legends, customary law, as well as some secular practices including gelesha and stone terracing. However, it is not easy to understand how traditional management practices work because they are not empirically observable. Fourth, local people possess knowledge of the reality that if not well managed, ecosystems can undergo degradation and hence fail to supply the services needed for human wellbeing. However, they explain the causes of degradation in terms of changes observable at the empirical level and the invisible causal power of supernatural forces. The inclusion of natural forces in degradation explanations marks a departure from the scientific explanations that revolve around biophysical processes. Fifth, the use of traditional management practices such as taboos to management ecosystems is under threat at the local communities. The threat can be attributed to three groups of causes, namely changes in worldviews due to adoption of formal education and Christianity, institutional disharmony playing out between the state and local traditional leadership, and lifestyle changes. These challenges constrain the opportunity for local people to apply traditional management practices to prevent the degradation of ecosystems. The net implication of this is that it renders it difficult for researchers and policy makers to assess the effectiveness of traditional management practices because they are not being implemented in full. In light of all these findings, the thesis concludes that TEK is underlabouring for the ecosystem service framework in the sense that it is used by local communities to generate knowledge of ecological concepts and phenomena. This means that TEK does not exist for the sake of its own self. Drawing from this finding, the study proposes a framework of analysing TEK as an underlabourer for social-ecological triggers or issues. Nonetheless, there are few factors that can be sources of limitation to the study. These include the reality that it was difficult to access pure traditional knowledge because over the years the local communities have received many state-sponsored ecological intervention programmes and a possible personal bias given the reality that I grew up in a traditional household and my father was a key holder or TEK. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Environmental Science, 2021 , Thesis chapter to be published in 'Green and Low-Carbon Economy'. Journal available: https://ojs.bonviewpress.com/index.php/GLCE/index
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
Influence of a saline test environment on the Fatigue properties of laser metal deposition Ti-6al-4v specimens
- Authors: Botha, Sheldyn Jaye
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Metal organic chemical vapor deposition , Salines
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/59203 , vital:60304
- Description: This study investigated the effects of the position of extraction and a corrosive environment on the fatigue properties of Ti-6Al-4V Laser Metal Deposition (LMD) specimens. Additive manufacturing (AM) processes allow for a reduction in manufacturing time, whilst constructing complex geometries. AM induces a complex thermal history which influences the microstructure in the material (1). The microstructure affects the fatigue properties where a finer microstructure is more favourable for increasing the fatigue life (2). Fatigue failure is one of the main modes of failure during a material’s service life (3). Thus, it is imperative to investigate the material’s fatigue behaviour. Major parameters of the LMD process were investigated, allowing bulk LMD coupons to be manufactured, from which fatigue specimens were extracted at three different heights. Static properties were attained through tensile testing and a Vickers Micro-Hardness evaluation. These properties allowed for calculating benchmark stresses that were utilised for fatigue testing. The biocompatibility of Ti-6Al-4V makes it desirable for medical implants – the core influence of this study. An implant is constantly subjected to a corrosive saline environment, introducing a corrosive mechanism of failure, known to decrease the life of a material. A rotary bending fatigue platform was utilised as it allowed for modifications to introduce a corrosive saline environment through means of a saline dosing system. Literature reports a higher possibility of corrosion fatigue occurring under rotary bending fatigue conditions for Ti alloy specimens (4,5). The fatigue data indicated no significant effect on the fatigue properties was evident when comparing the position of extraction, attributed to the interrupted build strategy utilised for manufacturing the bulk coupons. The specimens displayed a shift in fatigue life when subjected to a corrosive saline environment. Upon analysis, there was little variation in the microstructures at each position of extraction, attributed to the interrupted build strategy. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment, and Technology, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Botha, Sheldyn Jaye
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Metal organic chemical vapor deposition , Salines
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/59203 , vital:60304
- Description: This study investigated the effects of the position of extraction and a corrosive environment on the fatigue properties of Ti-6Al-4V Laser Metal Deposition (LMD) specimens. Additive manufacturing (AM) processes allow for a reduction in manufacturing time, whilst constructing complex geometries. AM induces a complex thermal history which influences the microstructure in the material (1). The microstructure affects the fatigue properties where a finer microstructure is more favourable for increasing the fatigue life (2). Fatigue failure is one of the main modes of failure during a material’s service life (3). Thus, it is imperative to investigate the material’s fatigue behaviour. Major parameters of the LMD process were investigated, allowing bulk LMD coupons to be manufactured, from which fatigue specimens were extracted at three different heights. Static properties were attained through tensile testing and a Vickers Micro-Hardness evaluation. These properties allowed for calculating benchmark stresses that were utilised for fatigue testing. The biocompatibility of Ti-6Al-4V makes it desirable for medical implants – the core influence of this study. An implant is constantly subjected to a corrosive saline environment, introducing a corrosive mechanism of failure, known to decrease the life of a material. A rotary bending fatigue platform was utilised as it allowed for modifications to introduce a corrosive saline environment through means of a saline dosing system. Literature reports a higher possibility of corrosion fatigue occurring under rotary bending fatigue conditions for Ti alloy specimens (4,5). The fatigue data indicated no significant effect on the fatigue properties was evident when comparing the position of extraction, attributed to the interrupted build strategy utilised for manufacturing the bulk coupons. The specimens displayed a shift in fatigue life when subjected to a corrosive saline environment. Upon analysis, there was little variation in the microstructures at each position of extraction, attributed to the interrupted build strategy. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment, and Technology, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
Inhibitor search and variant analysis of Acetylcholinesterase
- Authors: Ras, Harnaud
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Acetylcholinesterase , Alzheimer's disease , Acetylcholinesterase -- Inhibitors , Alzheimer's disease -- Chemotherapy , Cerebrovascular disease -- Treatment , Molecular mechanics Poisson–Boltzmann surface area (MM-PBSA)
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/178191 , vital:42919
- Description: Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition is used to treat Alzheimer's disease by increasing the availability of acetylcholine to carry nerve signals in the brain. The response to this treatment varies widely, which may be due to altered affnity to the current drugs caused by genetic variation. Various negative side-effects limit their use. As this is one of the only available therapeutic drug targets to treat Alzheimer's disease, decreasing the negative effects is of great importance. AChE is involved in biological processes that occur after acute ischemic stroke. Stroke is the third leading cause of death worldwide, and 87% of all stroke cases belong to ischemic stroke. AchEI (cholinesterase inhibitors) have been suggested to have properties that lower the risk of stroke. AChE is one of 15 verified drug targets under study for treatment of stroke. In addition to Alzheimer's disease and stroke, Lewy body disease (LBD) may be treated using cholinesterase inhibitors. The goals of this study are to find inhibitors that can potentially be used to treat Alzheimer's disease and/or stroke and to investigate variants which may affect protein dynamics and function. Two variants were analyzed, P247L and T229S. Molecular simulation of the P247L variant resulted in a disruption in protein dynamics in comparison to the wildtype. A total of 5728 molecules were screened and 10 nanosecond simulations were used to narrow down the set of compounds. The four best performing molecules were simulated for 10 nanoseconds. MM-PBSA was performed to identify molecules with high binding free energies. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Biochemistry and Microbiology, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Ras, Harnaud
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Acetylcholinesterase , Alzheimer's disease , Acetylcholinesterase -- Inhibitors , Alzheimer's disease -- Chemotherapy , Cerebrovascular disease -- Treatment , Molecular mechanics Poisson–Boltzmann surface area (MM-PBSA)
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/178191 , vital:42919
- Description: Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition is used to treat Alzheimer's disease by increasing the availability of acetylcholine to carry nerve signals in the brain. The response to this treatment varies widely, which may be due to altered affnity to the current drugs caused by genetic variation. Various negative side-effects limit their use. As this is one of the only available therapeutic drug targets to treat Alzheimer's disease, decreasing the negative effects is of great importance. AChE is involved in biological processes that occur after acute ischemic stroke. Stroke is the third leading cause of death worldwide, and 87% of all stroke cases belong to ischemic stroke. AchEI (cholinesterase inhibitors) have been suggested to have properties that lower the risk of stroke. AChE is one of 15 verified drug targets under study for treatment of stroke. In addition to Alzheimer's disease and stroke, Lewy body disease (LBD) may be treated using cholinesterase inhibitors. The goals of this study are to find inhibitors that can potentially be used to treat Alzheimer's disease and/or stroke and to investigate variants which may affect protein dynamics and function. Two variants were analyzed, P247L and T229S. Molecular simulation of the P247L variant resulted in a disruption in protein dynamics in comparison to the wildtype. A total of 5728 molecules were screened and 10 nanosecond simulations were used to narrow down the set of compounds. The four best performing molecules were simulated for 10 nanoseconds. MM-PBSA was performed to identify molecules with high binding free energies. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Biochemistry and Microbiology, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
Innovation in family and non-family small and medium-sized businesses in South Africa
- Authors: Hayidakis, Haydn Demetri
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Family-owned business enterprises , Creative ability in business , Business enterprises -- Technological innovations.
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/51640 , vital:43325
- Description: This study makes a practical contribution by providing several practical recommendations as how South African family and non family SMEs could improve innovation in their business to enhance their financial performance. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Business Management, 2021
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Hayidakis, Haydn Demetri
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Family-owned business enterprises , Creative ability in business , Business enterprises -- Technological innovations.
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/51640 , vital:43325
- Description: This study makes a practical contribution by providing several practical recommendations as how South African family and non family SMEs could improve innovation in their business to enhance their financial performance. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Business Management, 2021
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2021-04