Monitoring changes in vegetation distribution to ascertain the extent of degradation in the savannas of Nkonkobe Local Municipality, Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Masiza, Wonga
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Savanna ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Land degradation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Vegetation management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/2027 , vital:27598
- Description: Savanna degradation is an environmental problem occurring in most countries around the world and it poses threats to biodiversity conservation, the food industry, and other economic sectors. According to FAO, South Africa’s rangelands exhibit the highest rate of fragmentation in comparison to range ecosystems in neighbouring countries including Lesotho and Swaziland, and consensus among researchers is that communal rangelands are more degraded than commercial rangelands. Although researchers and communities have identified the occurrence of land degradation in communal savannas at a local scale, land degradation has been poorly estimated because little has been done to quantify the extent and dynamics of perceived and observed changes associated with land degradation. The main goal of this study is to provide empirical insights on the direction of changes in the communal savannas of Nkonkobe Local Municipality in order to inform policy formulation and implementation. Additional to the communal sites is a private farm included for comparative analysis of trends in communal and commercial savannas. Landsat imagery was used to map, assess, and quantify the extent of land degradation in Nkonkobe Local Municipality, over a period of 30 years between 1984 and 2014. Field investigations were undertaken in June 2015 to acquire reference data to guide supervised classification of Landsat images. Three algorithms (Mahalanobis-distance, Minimum-distance, and Maximum likelihood classification) were compared to identify a classifier that produced the best results. The maximum likelihood classifier produced the best results with classification accuracy levels of 95.24 percent, 89.66 percent, and 95.65 percent for Honeydale Farm, Thyume, and Sheshegu respectively. Regression analysis revealed that both communal and private lands have experienced statistically significant increases in bush encroachment and decreases in surface water. Communal savannas have been confronted more by expansion of built-up area, decrease in open grassland, abandonment of arable land, soil erosion, and a steady invasion by Acacia Karroo compared to the privately owned commercial farm. The land cover changes measured through this investigation suggest an environmental shift that threatens biodiversity and agricultural activity. The study provides empirically informed insights about the direction to which these savannas are changing with the hope that the findings will prompt formulation and implementation of effective policies.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Masiza, Wonga
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Savanna ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Land degradation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Vegetation management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/2027 , vital:27598
- Description: Savanna degradation is an environmental problem occurring in most countries around the world and it poses threats to biodiversity conservation, the food industry, and other economic sectors. According to FAO, South Africa’s rangelands exhibit the highest rate of fragmentation in comparison to range ecosystems in neighbouring countries including Lesotho and Swaziland, and consensus among researchers is that communal rangelands are more degraded than commercial rangelands. Although researchers and communities have identified the occurrence of land degradation in communal savannas at a local scale, land degradation has been poorly estimated because little has been done to quantify the extent and dynamics of perceived and observed changes associated with land degradation. The main goal of this study is to provide empirical insights on the direction of changes in the communal savannas of Nkonkobe Local Municipality in order to inform policy formulation and implementation. Additional to the communal sites is a private farm included for comparative analysis of trends in communal and commercial savannas. Landsat imagery was used to map, assess, and quantify the extent of land degradation in Nkonkobe Local Municipality, over a period of 30 years between 1984 and 2014. Field investigations were undertaken in June 2015 to acquire reference data to guide supervised classification of Landsat images. Three algorithms (Mahalanobis-distance, Minimum-distance, and Maximum likelihood classification) were compared to identify a classifier that produced the best results. The maximum likelihood classifier produced the best results with classification accuracy levels of 95.24 percent, 89.66 percent, and 95.65 percent for Honeydale Farm, Thyume, and Sheshegu respectively. Regression analysis revealed that both communal and private lands have experienced statistically significant increases in bush encroachment and decreases in surface water. Communal savannas have been confronted more by expansion of built-up area, decrease in open grassland, abandonment of arable land, soil erosion, and a steady invasion by Acacia Karroo compared to the privately owned commercial farm. The land cover changes measured through this investigation suggest an environmental shift that threatens biodiversity and agricultural activity. The study provides empirically informed insights about the direction to which these savannas are changing with the hope that the findings will prompt formulation and implementation of effective policies.
- Full Text:
Relevance of the family assessment for least developed countries (FALDC) assessment tool rendering child protection services in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Mgidi, Siphelele
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Child abuse -- South Africa -- Prevention Family social work -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/6335 , vital:29578
- Description: Assessment tools have been used for various purposes, including for protecting children from maltreatment. The main aim of this study was to to evaluate and determine the relevance of the Family Assessment for Leased Developed Countries (FALDC) assessment tool for child protection services in the Eastern Cape Province. The research was conducted using the social developmental welfare approach (Patel, 2005) and ecological systems theory (Healy, 2005). The study made use of the qualitative research method; in doing so the study made use of the case study design. In using the qualitative research method, focus group discussions were conducted with 29 social workers involved in child protection services. The findings of the study indicated that the FALDC assessment tool provides information useful for child protection services even though it contains sections that are regarded as less relevant to child protection. The study also founded that the FALDC assessment tool is relevant to child protection in the South African context, yet it needs to be aligned so that it provides much of the information desired by those involved in child protection. A conclusion drawn from this study is that the FALDC assessment tool appears to be relevant for child protection services. The FALDC assessment tool needs to be adjusted taking into consideration other aspects important to child protection in the South African child protection context.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Mgidi, Siphelele
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Child abuse -- South Africa -- Prevention Family social work -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/6335 , vital:29578
- Description: Assessment tools have been used for various purposes, including for protecting children from maltreatment. The main aim of this study was to to evaluate and determine the relevance of the Family Assessment for Leased Developed Countries (FALDC) assessment tool for child protection services in the Eastern Cape Province. The research was conducted using the social developmental welfare approach (Patel, 2005) and ecological systems theory (Healy, 2005). The study made use of the qualitative research method; in doing so the study made use of the case study design. In using the qualitative research method, focus group discussions were conducted with 29 social workers involved in child protection services. The findings of the study indicated that the FALDC assessment tool provides information useful for child protection services even though it contains sections that are regarded as less relevant to child protection. The study also founded that the FALDC assessment tool is relevant to child protection in the South African context, yet it needs to be aligned so that it provides much of the information desired by those involved in child protection. A conclusion drawn from this study is that the FALDC assessment tool appears to be relevant for child protection services. The FALDC assessment tool needs to be adjusted taking into consideration other aspects important to child protection in the South African child protection context.
- Full Text:
Seasonal variations of essential oil composition and some biological evaluation of Pelargonium inquinans (L.) Ait. South Africa
- Authors: Tembeni, Babalwa
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Pelargoniums Essences and essential oils Medicinal plants
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/6281 , vital:29537
- Description: Pelargonium inquinans which belongs to the family Geraniaceae, is an essential oil yielding plant. P. inquinans was collected from two different sites in Grahamstown (wild) and Alice, at the University of Fort Hare botanical garden. Authentication of the plant was done by Dr. T. Dold at Schonland herbarium, and the voucher specimen being T01. This study is focused at determining the chemical constituents and biological properties of the essential oils of wild and cultivated P. inquinans across different seasons, as the plant grows throughout the year. Seasonal collection of wild and cultivated P. inquinans was achieved in a duration of 12 months. 32 essential oil samples of P. inquinans were obtained by extraction using hydro-distillation technique for 3-4 hours. The chemical composition of the essential oils was determined using GC/MS and GC/FID. Amongst the 32 essential oils only 4 samples wild ( fresh stem and leaf) and cultivated ( fresh stem and leaf) from summer season were evaluated for analgesic activity using acetic acid induced writhings and hot plate nociception models in mice, anti-inflammatory activity was determined on the egg albumin- induced rat paw oedema in rats. The results obtained from GC-MS revealed a total of 169 components obtained from the leafstem, fresh/dry wild and cultivated P. inquinans. These essential oils showed a great deal of chemotaxonomic variation and similarity in the major and minor components along the season. In spring season the essential oils of wild and cultivated P. inquinans had abundance of hydrogenated sesquiterpenes (20.6percent-66.7percent). The major components were found to be α-caryophyllene (9.1percent-26.8percent), p-xylene (23.3percent-27.5percent), β-caryophyllene (11.4percent-30.9percent), o-xylene (6.3percent-39.4percent), β-thujene (8.7percent), isocaryophyllene (13.9percent), isoborneol (14.2percent), β-myrcene (5.7percent), geranyl acetate (13.8percent), toluene (7.9percent), β-gurjunene (18.5percent), α-cadinene (15.8percent), β-farnesene (14.2percent), 3-carene (12.1percent) and camphene (9.0percent). In summer season the essential oils of wild and cultivated P. inquinans were found to have abundance of hydrogenated sesquiterpenes (50.3percent- 63.0percent), oxygenated monoterpenes (30.4percent) and hydrogenated monoterpenes (20.8percent- 61.0percent). The major components were found to be α-caryophyllene (12.3percent-25.8percent), β-caryophyllene (15.1percent- 31.7percent), trans-caryophyllene (10.3percent- 17.8percent), phytol (14.2percent- 20.2percent), camphor (46.5percent), sabinene (27.8percent), elemol (18.1percent), z3-hexenyl isobutyrate (16.3percent), limonene (12.1percent), menthone (12.1percent)< E.E-β-farnesene (14.7percent), palmitic acid (9.6percent), eugenol (9.4percent), cis- β-ocimene (8.7percent), α-terpineol (8.7percent), geranyl acetone (7.8percent), β- humulene (7.5percent). linoleic acid (7.4percent), trans-linalool oxide (7.4percent), β-bisabolene (7.1percent), cis- linalool oxide (7.1percent), ionone (6.9percent), caryophyllene oxide (6.9percent) and germacrene d (6.3percent). In autumn season the essential oils of wild and cultivated P. inquinans were found to be rich in hydrogenated sesquiterpenes (29.3percent- 65.2percent) and oxygenated sesquiterpenes (22.8percent- 31.4percent). The major components were found to be α-caryophyllene (15.5percent- 23.4percent), β-caryophyllene (15.2percent- 17.2percent), β-myrcene (7.7percent-13.8percent), β-humulene (8.7percent- 15.2percent), caryophyllene oxide (9.8- 16.2percent), trans- caryophyllene (16.7percent- 23.3percent), α-humulene (11.8percent- 18.6percent), linoleic acid (11.2percent), palmitic acid (10.4percent), phytol acetate (8.5percent), -longipinene (8.3percent) and citronellol (7.8percent). In winter season the essential oils of wild and cultivated P. inquinans were found to have abundance of hydrogenated sesquiterpenes (25.1percent- 48.6percent), oxygenated monoterpenes (47.6percent), oxygenated sesquiterpenes (22.2percent- 28.0percent). The major components were found to be β-caryophyllene (14.6percent- 23.0percent), α-caryophyllene (9.4percent- 18.0percent), trans- caryophyllene (12.2percent- 14.6percent), α-cedrene (26.2percent), germacrene –d-4-ol (16.8percent), 2,6-dihydroxyacetophenone (15.6percent), (+) epibicyclosesquiphellandrene (15.3percent), E-β- farnesene (13.0percent), β-phellandrene (11.7percent), 2-nitrophenol (9.5percent), palatinol (8.4percent), geranyl acetate (7.7percent) and linoleic acid (7.4percent). The oils from the wild and cultivated sources showed significant (p<0.05-0.001) decrease in number of writhes induced by the acetic acid compared to vehicle; caused significant (p<0.05-0.001) delay in reaction time on the hot plate at 60 and 90 min post-treatment and significantly (p<0.05-0.001) reduced oedema size caused by the egg albumin injection compared to the vehicle. The oils from the wild plant showed more potency compared to the cultivated. The essential oils of wild and cultivated P. inquinans showed qualitative, quantitative and chemotaxonomic variation with analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity. These essential oils need to be explored for further biological analysis because of the major components they contain.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Tembeni, Babalwa
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Pelargoniums Essences and essential oils Medicinal plants
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/6281 , vital:29537
- Description: Pelargonium inquinans which belongs to the family Geraniaceae, is an essential oil yielding plant. P. inquinans was collected from two different sites in Grahamstown (wild) and Alice, at the University of Fort Hare botanical garden. Authentication of the plant was done by Dr. T. Dold at Schonland herbarium, and the voucher specimen being T01. This study is focused at determining the chemical constituents and biological properties of the essential oils of wild and cultivated P. inquinans across different seasons, as the plant grows throughout the year. Seasonal collection of wild and cultivated P. inquinans was achieved in a duration of 12 months. 32 essential oil samples of P. inquinans were obtained by extraction using hydro-distillation technique for 3-4 hours. The chemical composition of the essential oils was determined using GC/MS and GC/FID. Amongst the 32 essential oils only 4 samples wild ( fresh stem and leaf) and cultivated ( fresh stem and leaf) from summer season were evaluated for analgesic activity using acetic acid induced writhings and hot plate nociception models in mice, anti-inflammatory activity was determined on the egg albumin- induced rat paw oedema in rats. The results obtained from GC-MS revealed a total of 169 components obtained from the leafstem, fresh/dry wild and cultivated P. inquinans. These essential oils showed a great deal of chemotaxonomic variation and similarity in the major and minor components along the season. In spring season the essential oils of wild and cultivated P. inquinans had abundance of hydrogenated sesquiterpenes (20.6percent-66.7percent). The major components were found to be α-caryophyllene (9.1percent-26.8percent), p-xylene (23.3percent-27.5percent), β-caryophyllene (11.4percent-30.9percent), o-xylene (6.3percent-39.4percent), β-thujene (8.7percent), isocaryophyllene (13.9percent), isoborneol (14.2percent), β-myrcene (5.7percent), geranyl acetate (13.8percent), toluene (7.9percent), β-gurjunene (18.5percent), α-cadinene (15.8percent), β-farnesene (14.2percent), 3-carene (12.1percent) and camphene (9.0percent). In summer season the essential oils of wild and cultivated P. inquinans were found to have abundance of hydrogenated sesquiterpenes (50.3percent- 63.0percent), oxygenated monoterpenes (30.4percent) and hydrogenated monoterpenes (20.8percent- 61.0percent). The major components were found to be α-caryophyllene (12.3percent-25.8percent), β-caryophyllene (15.1percent- 31.7percent), trans-caryophyllene (10.3percent- 17.8percent), phytol (14.2percent- 20.2percent), camphor (46.5percent), sabinene (27.8percent), elemol (18.1percent), z3-hexenyl isobutyrate (16.3percent), limonene (12.1percent), menthone (12.1percent)< E.E-β-farnesene (14.7percent), palmitic acid (9.6percent), eugenol (9.4percent), cis- β-ocimene (8.7percent), α-terpineol (8.7percent), geranyl acetone (7.8percent), β- humulene (7.5percent). linoleic acid (7.4percent), trans-linalool oxide (7.4percent), β-bisabolene (7.1percent), cis- linalool oxide (7.1percent), ionone (6.9percent), caryophyllene oxide (6.9percent) and germacrene d (6.3percent). In autumn season the essential oils of wild and cultivated P. inquinans were found to be rich in hydrogenated sesquiterpenes (29.3percent- 65.2percent) and oxygenated sesquiterpenes (22.8percent- 31.4percent). The major components were found to be α-caryophyllene (15.5percent- 23.4percent), β-caryophyllene (15.2percent- 17.2percent), β-myrcene (7.7percent-13.8percent), β-humulene (8.7percent- 15.2percent), caryophyllene oxide (9.8- 16.2percent), trans- caryophyllene (16.7percent- 23.3percent), α-humulene (11.8percent- 18.6percent), linoleic acid (11.2percent), palmitic acid (10.4percent), phytol acetate (8.5percent), -longipinene (8.3percent) and citronellol (7.8percent). In winter season the essential oils of wild and cultivated P. inquinans were found to have abundance of hydrogenated sesquiterpenes (25.1percent- 48.6percent), oxygenated monoterpenes (47.6percent), oxygenated sesquiterpenes (22.2percent- 28.0percent). The major components were found to be β-caryophyllene (14.6percent- 23.0percent), α-caryophyllene (9.4percent- 18.0percent), trans- caryophyllene (12.2percent- 14.6percent), α-cedrene (26.2percent), germacrene –d-4-ol (16.8percent), 2,6-dihydroxyacetophenone (15.6percent), (+) epibicyclosesquiphellandrene (15.3percent), E-β- farnesene (13.0percent), β-phellandrene (11.7percent), 2-nitrophenol (9.5percent), palatinol (8.4percent), geranyl acetate (7.7percent) and linoleic acid (7.4percent). The oils from the wild and cultivated sources showed significant (p<0.05-0.001) decrease in number of writhes induced by the acetic acid compared to vehicle; caused significant (p<0.05-0.001) delay in reaction time on the hot plate at 60 and 90 min post-treatment and significantly (p<0.05-0.001) reduced oedema size caused by the egg albumin injection compared to the vehicle. The oils from the wild plant showed more potency compared to the cultivated. The essential oils of wild and cultivated P. inquinans showed qualitative, quantitative and chemotaxonomic variation with analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity. These essential oils need to be explored for further biological analysis because of the major components they contain.
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Solid waste management and its implications on livestock health in selected abattoirs of the Eastern Cape province, South Africa
- Authors: Nongcula, Vikhaya Vincent
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Refuse and refuse disposal -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Recycling (Waste, etc.) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Livestock -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/12293 , vital:39250
- Description: An investigation was carried out on the implications of solid waste management on livestock health in selected abattoirs of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The main objective of the study was to determine the effects of solid waste management on livestock health as well as to assess the perceptions of solid waste management among livestock owners. In this study, a questionnaire was designed to obtain information regarding farmer’s perceptions on solid waste and how it affects animal health, and active abattoir inspection were conducted to assess how solid waste affects the animal. The results revealed that most farmers practiced poor solid waste management as a result animals were exposed to ingestion of indigestible materials. This was confirmed on the basis that most farmers (99.2 percent) had no municipal dustbins in their areas, no recycling programmes (94.2 percent) and 51.7percent of the farmers disposed their litter in open land as a result most farmers (75.9percent) agreed that solid waste management was a problem in their areas. Due to poor solid waste management, 53.8 percent of the farmers confirmed that they have seen livestock ingesting indigestible materials such as plastics and 69.0 percent of the farmers suspected that ingestion of such materials caused some of the health issue experienced by animals on their farm. The active abattoir inspection revealed that plastics, wires, nails, ropes, stones, bones, cloths, hairs and polybezoars were frequently occurring in slaughter cattle stomachs particularly in the rumen and reticulum and in female and older cattle. As a result most affected cattle were in thin and average condition. The effect of indigestible objects on body condition score (BCS) and organ condemnation was determined using linear regression analysis test; where BCS and condemnation were the dependent variables and indigestible objects were the independent variables. The results revealed that some organs were condemned in affected cattle and the statistical analysis showed that there was no significant difference (p< 0.05) between the prevalence of indigestible materials and organ condemnation. However, there was a significant difference between the prevalence of indigestible materials and body condition score of affected cattle although they were coming from different farming systems. It was concluded that livestock health was affected by solid waste and recommended that practice of good animal husbandry and proper solid waste management be practiced to overcome the implications (poor body condition score) of solid waste in livestock. Furthermore, close cooperation between government extension officers, commercial and communal farmers in knowledge-sharing regarding health issues of livestock is recommended.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Nongcula, Vikhaya Vincent
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Refuse and refuse disposal -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Recycling (Waste, etc.) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Livestock -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/12293 , vital:39250
- Description: An investigation was carried out on the implications of solid waste management on livestock health in selected abattoirs of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The main objective of the study was to determine the effects of solid waste management on livestock health as well as to assess the perceptions of solid waste management among livestock owners. In this study, a questionnaire was designed to obtain information regarding farmer’s perceptions on solid waste and how it affects animal health, and active abattoir inspection were conducted to assess how solid waste affects the animal. The results revealed that most farmers practiced poor solid waste management as a result animals were exposed to ingestion of indigestible materials. This was confirmed on the basis that most farmers (99.2 percent) had no municipal dustbins in their areas, no recycling programmes (94.2 percent) and 51.7percent of the farmers disposed their litter in open land as a result most farmers (75.9percent) agreed that solid waste management was a problem in their areas. Due to poor solid waste management, 53.8 percent of the farmers confirmed that they have seen livestock ingesting indigestible materials such as plastics and 69.0 percent of the farmers suspected that ingestion of such materials caused some of the health issue experienced by animals on their farm. The active abattoir inspection revealed that plastics, wires, nails, ropes, stones, bones, cloths, hairs and polybezoars were frequently occurring in slaughter cattle stomachs particularly in the rumen and reticulum and in female and older cattle. As a result most affected cattle were in thin and average condition. The effect of indigestible objects on body condition score (BCS) and organ condemnation was determined using linear regression analysis test; where BCS and condemnation were the dependent variables and indigestible objects were the independent variables. The results revealed that some organs were condemned in affected cattle and the statistical analysis showed that there was no significant difference (p< 0.05) between the prevalence of indigestible materials and organ condemnation. However, there was a significant difference between the prevalence of indigestible materials and body condition score of affected cattle although they were coming from different farming systems. It was concluded that livestock health was affected by solid waste and recommended that practice of good animal husbandry and proper solid waste management be practiced to overcome the implications (poor body condition score) of solid waste in livestock. Furthermore, close cooperation between government extension officers, commercial and communal farmers in knowledge-sharing regarding health issues of livestock is recommended.
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Spatio-temporal analyses of woody vegetation cover using remote sensing techniques: the case of Alice - King Williams Town route, Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Fundisi, Emmanuel
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Woody plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Vegetation classification -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/1830 , vital:27564
- Description: Expansion of woody vegetation results in the transformation of a grass-dominated ecosystem to a tree-dominated ecosystem causing land degradation in most semi-arid areas. The imbalance in the natural ecosystem between herbaceous plants and woody vegetation poses a threat to the natural environment. Such changes alter the flow, availability and quality of nutrient resources in the biogeochemical cycle. Most of the dominating woody plants are often unpalatable to domestic livestock. Therefore, the objective is to assess the spatial extent of woody vegetation over time. Knowledge of the spatial and temporal characteristics of woody vegetation dynamics will enable the development of management plans. These characteristics can be derived using remote sensing techniques which have become efficient in such studies. This study aimed to characterize woody vegetation dynamics along the route between Alice and King Williams’s town in Eastern Cape Province South Africa using Landsat data. This aim was achieved by focussing on three specific objectives. The first objective was to compare the performance of multispectral data and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data of Landsat imagery in mapping woody vegetation cover. The second objective was to investigate the effect of the spatial resolution of remotely-sensed data on discrimination of woody vegetation from other land cover types. The third objective characterised woody vegetation dynamics between 1986 and 2013/2014 using the results from the first objective. The study used Landsat imagery acquired in November or February of 1986, 1994/1995, 2002/2003 and 2013/2014. Due to lack of data which covered the study area two separate dates (November and February) where used for the study resulting in naming the study area western and eastern parts. Unsupervised classification was performed on the multispectral, NDVI and pan-sharpened images to generate four generic land cover classes, namely water, bare land, grassland and woodland. Accuracy assessments of the classified images was done using error matrix. The results showed that the classification based on NDVI images yielded a better overall accuracy than the classification based on multispectral images for the western (83 percent and 75 percent, respectively) and eastern (82 percent and 76 percent, respectively) parts of the study area. Similarly, pan-sharpening resulted in better overall classification accuracy than multispectral, but comparable to the classification of the NDVI images for both the western (82 percent) and eastern (83 percent) parts of the study area. Remote sensing is an effective tool in assessing changes in the physical environment. Landsat imagery is suitable in assessing land cover dynamics given the long-term and free availability of the image. In addition, the large spatial coverage it provides, enables Landsat data to be used on studies that have wide spatial coverage. Classification for the purpose of time-series analysis was then performed on the NDVI images of each date (1986, 1994/1995, 2002/2003 and 2013/2014). Both woody vegetation and grassland experienced changes from 1986 to 2013/2014 with grassland occupying (75 percent) compared to woodland (17 percent) in 1986. In the year 2013/14 grassland occupied 32 percent and woodland occupied 51 percent of the study area. The increase in woody vegetation in the study area can be attributed to livestock rearing and migration of people from the rural to urban areas post-Apartheid. The study output will aid in the development of a database on land cover distribution of the area between King William’s town and Alice town, providing useful information to decision-making and further studies on woody vegetation.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Fundisi, Emmanuel
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Woody plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Vegetation classification -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/1830 , vital:27564
- Description: Expansion of woody vegetation results in the transformation of a grass-dominated ecosystem to a tree-dominated ecosystem causing land degradation in most semi-arid areas. The imbalance in the natural ecosystem between herbaceous plants and woody vegetation poses a threat to the natural environment. Such changes alter the flow, availability and quality of nutrient resources in the biogeochemical cycle. Most of the dominating woody plants are often unpalatable to domestic livestock. Therefore, the objective is to assess the spatial extent of woody vegetation over time. Knowledge of the spatial and temporal characteristics of woody vegetation dynamics will enable the development of management plans. These characteristics can be derived using remote sensing techniques which have become efficient in such studies. This study aimed to characterize woody vegetation dynamics along the route between Alice and King Williams’s town in Eastern Cape Province South Africa using Landsat data. This aim was achieved by focussing on three specific objectives. The first objective was to compare the performance of multispectral data and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data of Landsat imagery in mapping woody vegetation cover. The second objective was to investigate the effect of the spatial resolution of remotely-sensed data on discrimination of woody vegetation from other land cover types. The third objective characterised woody vegetation dynamics between 1986 and 2013/2014 using the results from the first objective. The study used Landsat imagery acquired in November or February of 1986, 1994/1995, 2002/2003 and 2013/2014. Due to lack of data which covered the study area two separate dates (November and February) where used for the study resulting in naming the study area western and eastern parts. Unsupervised classification was performed on the multispectral, NDVI and pan-sharpened images to generate four generic land cover classes, namely water, bare land, grassland and woodland. Accuracy assessments of the classified images was done using error matrix. The results showed that the classification based on NDVI images yielded a better overall accuracy than the classification based on multispectral images for the western (83 percent and 75 percent, respectively) and eastern (82 percent and 76 percent, respectively) parts of the study area. Similarly, pan-sharpening resulted in better overall classification accuracy than multispectral, but comparable to the classification of the NDVI images for both the western (82 percent) and eastern (83 percent) parts of the study area. Remote sensing is an effective tool in assessing changes in the physical environment. Landsat imagery is suitable in assessing land cover dynamics given the long-term and free availability of the image. In addition, the large spatial coverage it provides, enables Landsat data to be used on studies that have wide spatial coverage. Classification for the purpose of time-series analysis was then performed on the NDVI images of each date (1986, 1994/1995, 2002/2003 and 2013/2014). Both woody vegetation and grassland experienced changes from 1986 to 2013/2014 with grassland occupying (75 percent) compared to woodland (17 percent) in 1986. In the year 2013/14 grassland occupied 32 percent and woodland occupied 51 percent of the study area. The increase in woody vegetation in the study area can be attributed to livestock rearing and migration of people from the rural to urban areas post-Apartheid. The study output will aid in the development of a database on land cover distribution of the area between King William’s town and Alice town, providing useful information to decision-making and further studies on woody vegetation.
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Stratigraphic interrelationships, sedimentology and post Karoo intrusions in the Katberg and Burgersdorp formations around the town of Whittlesea, Eastern Cape province, South Africa
- Authors: Mzana, Siphokazi Kwamnandi
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Formations (Geology) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Sedimentology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Geology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15046 , vital:40157
- Description: Concentrating on the Katberg and Burgersdorp Formations, this research examined the sedimentary environments inter alia by conducting heavy mineral analysis, interpreting provenance and determining stratigraphic interrelationships of the two formations in the Tarkastad Subgroup (Beaufort Group, Karoo Supergroup) around the town of Whittlesea in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. It has been observed that the strata of the Katberg Formation are dominated by sandstones of a braided river system. On the other hand, the Burgersdorp Formation comprises mainly dark greyish-red mudstone, red shale with subordinate siltstone and red sandstone deposited on floodplains and channels of meandering rivers. The Katberg Formation becomes progressively less arenaceous to the north of the study area until it is virtually indistinguishable from the overlying Burgersdorp Formation. Dolerite dykes and sills that intruded the Karoo Supergroup disturbed and baked the sedimentary strata of the Tarkastad Subgroup as well as other Karoo successions. The Katberg formation is mostly found in elevated areas, commonly metamorphosed and capped by dolerite sills while the Burgersdorp is found in low lying areas and is less metamorphosed or not metamorphosed at all. Lithologies of the two formations and the Karoo dolerites have been geologically mapped and the interfingering relationship between the Burgersdorp and Katberg Formation is also shown on the map. Horizontal laminae, planar bedding and planar and trough cross-bedding characterise lithofacies in the two formations. The fossil hunt done during the course of the study did not yield any positive results in both formations. Initially, the pebbles from outcrops of the Katberg Formation in the East London area were described in hand specimen by Mountain (1939). This study took it further with petrographic- and modal analysis as well as grain size analysis for the sedimentary pebbles. Microscopic studies done on the rock samples collected in the study area revealed quartz and feldspar as the dominant constituents. Most of the feldspar is hazy as a result of dissolution and alteration to clays. Sparse sedimentary rock fragments and quartz overgrowths in some of the rocks and grains respectively, indicate phases of recycling from older sedimentary sources. Furthermore, the samples have a wide range of grain sizes, sorting, grain shapes and classification categories. Textural attributes of sediments such as mean grain size, sorting, skewness and kurtosis were used to characterise the nature of the transport processes and to reconstruct the depositional environment of the sediments. The sandstones of both the Katberg and Burgersdorp Formations are medium-grained and moderately sorted to moderately well sorted but the pebbles are very coarse- to coarse-grained. Deducing sediment provenance from the final product of a basin fill is anything but straight-forward because rocks break down and unstable minerals change during transportation along the pathways from source to basin and afterwards during diagenesis. Heavy mineral studies coupled with geochemical sandstone analysis were used to unravel the sources of sediments. Among the heavies found were opaque and non-opaque minerals which are highly resistant to weathering with zircon being the most dominant. The heavy mineral grains vary in shape from subround to angular-subround in shape. The integrated results of petrography, XRD, XRF and SEM/EDX were used to identify the source rock character and to evaluate the relative role of tectonics and climate in determining the geochemical composition of the Katberg and Burgersdorp sandstones. Sandstone composition was used to decipher the provenance and tectonic setting of source areas by standard triangular QtFL and QmFLt diagrams, tectonic setting discrimination diagrams and source rock composition diagrams to characterise the source rocks.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Mzana, Siphokazi Kwamnandi
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Formations (Geology) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Sedimentology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Geology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15046 , vital:40157
- Description: Concentrating on the Katberg and Burgersdorp Formations, this research examined the sedimentary environments inter alia by conducting heavy mineral analysis, interpreting provenance and determining stratigraphic interrelationships of the two formations in the Tarkastad Subgroup (Beaufort Group, Karoo Supergroup) around the town of Whittlesea in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. It has been observed that the strata of the Katberg Formation are dominated by sandstones of a braided river system. On the other hand, the Burgersdorp Formation comprises mainly dark greyish-red mudstone, red shale with subordinate siltstone and red sandstone deposited on floodplains and channels of meandering rivers. The Katberg Formation becomes progressively less arenaceous to the north of the study area until it is virtually indistinguishable from the overlying Burgersdorp Formation. Dolerite dykes and sills that intruded the Karoo Supergroup disturbed and baked the sedimentary strata of the Tarkastad Subgroup as well as other Karoo successions. The Katberg formation is mostly found in elevated areas, commonly metamorphosed and capped by dolerite sills while the Burgersdorp is found in low lying areas and is less metamorphosed or not metamorphosed at all. Lithologies of the two formations and the Karoo dolerites have been geologically mapped and the interfingering relationship between the Burgersdorp and Katberg Formation is also shown on the map. Horizontal laminae, planar bedding and planar and trough cross-bedding characterise lithofacies in the two formations. The fossil hunt done during the course of the study did not yield any positive results in both formations. Initially, the pebbles from outcrops of the Katberg Formation in the East London area were described in hand specimen by Mountain (1939). This study took it further with petrographic- and modal analysis as well as grain size analysis for the sedimentary pebbles. Microscopic studies done on the rock samples collected in the study area revealed quartz and feldspar as the dominant constituents. Most of the feldspar is hazy as a result of dissolution and alteration to clays. Sparse sedimentary rock fragments and quartz overgrowths in some of the rocks and grains respectively, indicate phases of recycling from older sedimentary sources. Furthermore, the samples have a wide range of grain sizes, sorting, grain shapes and classification categories. Textural attributes of sediments such as mean grain size, sorting, skewness and kurtosis were used to characterise the nature of the transport processes and to reconstruct the depositional environment of the sediments. The sandstones of both the Katberg and Burgersdorp Formations are medium-grained and moderately sorted to moderately well sorted but the pebbles are very coarse- to coarse-grained. Deducing sediment provenance from the final product of a basin fill is anything but straight-forward because rocks break down and unstable minerals change during transportation along the pathways from source to basin and afterwards during diagenesis. Heavy mineral studies coupled with geochemical sandstone analysis were used to unravel the sources of sediments. Among the heavies found were opaque and non-opaque minerals which are highly resistant to weathering with zircon being the most dominant. The heavy mineral grains vary in shape from subround to angular-subround in shape. The integrated results of petrography, XRD, XRF and SEM/EDX were used to identify the source rock character and to evaluate the relative role of tectonics and climate in determining the geochemical composition of the Katberg and Burgersdorp sandstones. Sandstone composition was used to decipher the provenance and tectonic setting of source areas by standard triangular QtFL and QmFLt diagrams, tectonic setting discrimination diagrams and source rock composition diagrams to characterise the source rocks.
- Full Text:
Studies on comparison of aluminium-pillared montmorillonite clay with silica gel on adsorption of methylene blue in waste water
- Authors: Mselana, Sinazo
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Clay Silica gel Montmorillonite
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/8011 , vital:31462
- Description: Adsorption equilibrium and kinetics of methylene blue (MB) onto silica gel and aluminum pillared montmorillonite was studied in a batch system. Variables of the system include contact time, salt concentration and initial methylene blue concentration. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models were applied to experimental equilibrium data of methylene blue adsorption. Both models were suitable for the parameters. The advantage of silica gel as applied to water treatment is its high porosity when compared to aluminum pillared montmorillonite clay. Water molecules adhere to the silica gels surface because it exhibits a lower vapour pressure than the surrounding air. When equilibrium of equal pressure is reached, no more adsorption occurs. Thus the higher the humidity of the surrounding air, the greater the amount of water that is adsorbed before equilibrium is reached. The increase in pressure loss on the silica gel filters is 1.5 - 2.0 times smaller than in the case of sand filters, Lorenc (2007).
- Full Text:
- Authors: Mselana, Sinazo
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Clay Silica gel Montmorillonite
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/8011 , vital:31462
- Description: Adsorption equilibrium and kinetics of methylene blue (MB) onto silica gel and aluminum pillared montmorillonite was studied in a batch system. Variables of the system include contact time, salt concentration and initial methylene blue concentration. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models were applied to experimental equilibrium data of methylene blue adsorption. Both models were suitable for the parameters. The advantage of silica gel as applied to water treatment is its high porosity when compared to aluminum pillared montmorillonite clay. Water molecules adhere to the silica gels surface because it exhibits a lower vapour pressure than the surrounding air. When equilibrium of equal pressure is reached, no more adsorption occurs. Thus the higher the humidity of the surrounding air, the greater the amount of water that is adsorbed before equilibrium is reached. The increase in pressure loss on the silica gel filters is 1.5 - 2.0 times smaller than in the case of sand filters, Lorenc (2007).
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Technical and institutional constraints faced by vegetable co-operatives in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
- Authors: Madlodlo, Sinazo
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Agriculture, Cooperative -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Vegetable trade -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Cooperative marketing of farm produce -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/1497 , vital:27396
- Description: This study focused on the technical and institutional constraints faced by the vegetable co-operatives with regard to the impact on productivity. Vegetable co-operatives have no access to markets due to their poor performance on productivity and poor quality produce resulting to low prices for the produce such that they cannot compete in a market economy. In this study, the data was drawn from a sample of thirty vegetable co-operatives in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM) of the Eastern Cape; obtained through focus group discussions and interviews from each cooperative. The objectives of the study are to measure the productivity of vegetable co-operatives using Total factor productivity analysis (TFP) and profitability of vegetable co-operative using Gross Margin (GM). Followed by the descriptive statistics in identifying and assessing the socio-economic characteristics as well as coping strategies adopted by vegetable co-operatives in BCMM where percentages, means and tables are used looking at the highest frequency. The results show that the vegetable co-operatives in the BCMM are not productive and profitable due to major constraints experienced by co-operatives such as lack of market, information, trainings and business skills, capital, infrastructural facilities, effective extension services that all leads to poor produce quality. Co-operative is said to be profitable and viable if total revenue is greater than the total variable cost which makes the gross margin positive. In this case, the total gross margin is negative. The results showed that the production costs, maintenance (tractor hire, generator hire and servicing) and electricity costs were the major costs incurred in the production of vegetable by the co-operatives.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Madlodlo, Sinazo
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Agriculture, Cooperative -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Vegetable trade -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Cooperative marketing of farm produce -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/1497 , vital:27396
- Description: This study focused on the technical and institutional constraints faced by the vegetable co-operatives with regard to the impact on productivity. Vegetable co-operatives have no access to markets due to their poor performance on productivity and poor quality produce resulting to low prices for the produce such that they cannot compete in a market economy. In this study, the data was drawn from a sample of thirty vegetable co-operatives in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM) of the Eastern Cape; obtained through focus group discussions and interviews from each cooperative. The objectives of the study are to measure the productivity of vegetable co-operatives using Total factor productivity analysis (TFP) and profitability of vegetable co-operative using Gross Margin (GM). Followed by the descriptive statistics in identifying and assessing the socio-economic characteristics as well as coping strategies adopted by vegetable co-operatives in BCMM where percentages, means and tables are used looking at the highest frequency. The results show that the vegetable co-operatives in the BCMM are not productive and profitable due to major constraints experienced by co-operatives such as lack of market, information, trainings and business skills, capital, infrastructural facilities, effective extension services that all leads to poor produce quality. Co-operative is said to be profitable and viable if total revenue is greater than the total variable cost which makes the gross margin positive. In this case, the total gross margin is negative. The results showed that the production costs, maintenance (tractor hire, generator hire and servicing) and electricity costs were the major costs incurred in the production of vegetable by the co-operatives.
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The biomass production, nutrient content and silage quality of Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne (L)) Cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata (L)) and Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea (Schreb)) varieties grown under irrigation in Alice, South Africa
- Authors: Tikwayo, Sizwe Edward
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Ryegrasses -- Varieties -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Ryegrasses -- Irrigation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Biomass energy -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/1796 , vital:27560
- Description: The study aims to evaluate the biomass production and nutrient content and silage quality of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne (L)), cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata (L)) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea (Schreb)). Six varieties were used, two for each species. A completely randomized block designed replicated three times was conducted at University of Fort Hare Research Farm during 2014-2015 growing season. The plots were harvested at four-week interval (post emergency) for one year. Biomass yields were measured for fresh forage and dry matter yield. Duplicated samples were then dried, milled and analyzed for chemical and mineral composition (CP, NDF, ADF, and ash, Ca, P, K, Na, Mn, Cu, Zn and Fe) for only winter season. In addition the grasses were ensiled and the silage was analyzed for its fermentation parameters and nutrient content (lactic acid, pH, DM, CP, NDF, ADF, and ash, Ca, P, K, Na, Mn, Cu, Zn and Fe). Biomass results showed significant differences (P < 0.05) between season and varieties. On average Tall fescue varieties Jessup (13741.67 FM kg/ha), Alix (12007.78 FM kg/ ha) and Ryegrass varieties Samson (11597.22 FM kg/ha) and Nui (10591.67 FM kg/ha) had the highest fresh biomass yield. Similarly, Tall fescue varieties Jessup (2833.06 DM kg/ha) and Alix (2708.3 DM kg/ ha) and Ryegrass varieties Samson (2169.44 DM kg/ha) and Nui (2169.67 kg/ha) had the highest dry biomass yield. Throughout the year the average biomass yield was significantly different among species (P< 0.05). During summer and autumn Tall fescue varieties Jessup and Alix gave the highest dry matter yields of 3855.5 to 1977.8 DM kg/ha, and 3877.8 to 1900 DM kg/ha, respectively, and followed by Cocksfoot 2400 DM kg/ha. Ryegrass had the highest dry matter biomass yield in winter (2975 DM kg/ha) and the least in summer (977.75 DM kg/ha). There were no significant (P>0.05) differences on the chemical composition (CP, NDF, ADF, and ash) and mineral composition (Ca, P, K, Na, Mn, Cu, Zn and Fe) of the six varieties. The grass silage results showed significant differences (P< 0.05) among the six varieties for moisture content. Perennial ryegrass variety Nui (66.76 percent) had low moisture content than the other grass silages. The different varieties had no significant effects (P>0.05) on chemical composition (CP, NDF, ADF, and ash) and mineral composition (Ca, P, K, Na, Mn, Cu, Zn and Fe). It is concluded that the biomass production of the six varieties of three grass species was different throughout the year under irrigation hence Ryegrass and Tall fescue are recommended for dairy farmers in the region for all seasons. It can be concluded that there is no difference with respect to fermentation characteristics and nutrient content among the varieties of the grass species.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Tikwayo, Sizwe Edward
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Ryegrasses -- Varieties -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Ryegrasses -- Irrigation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Biomass energy -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/1796 , vital:27560
- Description: The study aims to evaluate the biomass production and nutrient content and silage quality of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne (L)), cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata (L)) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea (Schreb)). Six varieties were used, two for each species. A completely randomized block designed replicated three times was conducted at University of Fort Hare Research Farm during 2014-2015 growing season. The plots were harvested at four-week interval (post emergency) for one year. Biomass yields were measured for fresh forage and dry matter yield. Duplicated samples were then dried, milled and analyzed for chemical and mineral composition (CP, NDF, ADF, and ash, Ca, P, K, Na, Mn, Cu, Zn and Fe) for only winter season. In addition the grasses were ensiled and the silage was analyzed for its fermentation parameters and nutrient content (lactic acid, pH, DM, CP, NDF, ADF, and ash, Ca, P, K, Na, Mn, Cu, Zn and Fe). Biomass results showed significant differences (P < 0.05) between season and varieties. On average Tall fescue varieties Jessup (13741.67 FM kg/ha), Alix (12007.78 FM kg/ ha) and Ryegrass varieties Samson (11597.22 FM kg/ha) and Nui (10591.67 FM kg/ha) had the highest fresh biomass yield. Similarly, Tall fescue varieties Jessup (2833.06 DM kg/ha) and Alix (2708.3 DM kg/ ha) and Ryegrass varieties Samson (2169.44 DM kg/ha) and Nui (2169.67 kg/ha) had the highest dry biomass yield. Throughout the year the average biomass yield was significantly different among species (P< 0.05). During summer and autumn Tall fescue varieties Jessup and Alix gave the highest dry matter yields of 3855.5 to 1977.8 DM kg/ha, and 3877.8 to 1900 DM kg/ha, respectively, and followed by Cocksfoot 2400 DM kg/ha. Ryegrass had the highest dry matter biomass yield in winter (2975 DM kg/ha) and the least in summer (977.75 DM kg/ha). There were no significant (P>0.05) differences on the chemical composition (CP, NDF, ADF, and ash) and mineral composition (Ca, P, K, Na, Mn, Cu, Zn and Fe) of the six varieties. The grass silage results showed significant differences (P< 0.05) among the six varieties for moisture content. Perennial ryegrass variety Nui (66.76 percent) had low moisture content than the other grass silages. The different varieties had no significant effects (P>0.05) on chemical composition (CP, NDF, ADF, and ash) and mineral composition (Ca, P, K, Na, Mn, Cu, Zn and Fe). It is concluded that the biomass production of the six varieties of three grass species was different throughout the year under irrigation hence Ryegrass and Tall fescue are recommended for dairy farmers in the region for all seasons. It can be concluded that there is no difference with respect to fermentation characteristics and nutrient content among the varieties of the grass species.
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The classsification of fuzzy subgroups of some finite Abelian p-groups of rank 3
- Authors: Appiah, Isaac Kwadwo
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Fuzzy sets Abelian groups Finite groups
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/2468 , vital:27845
- Description: An important trend in fuzzy group theory in recent years has been the notion of classification of fuzzy subgroups using a suitable equivalence relation. In this dissertation, we have successfully used the natural equivalence relation defined by Murali and Makamba in [81] and a natural fuzzy isomorphism to classify fuzzy subgroups of some finite abelian p-groups of rank three of the form Zpn + Zp + Zp for any fixed prime integer p and any positive integer n. This was achieved through the usage of a suitable technique of enumerating distinct fuzzy subgroups and non-isomorphic fuzzy subgroups of G. We commence by giving a brief discussion on the theory of fuzzy sets and fuzzy subgroups from the perspective of group theory through to the theory of sets, leading us to establish a linkage among these theories. We have also shown in this dissertation that the converse of theorem 3.1 proposed by Das in [24] is incorrect by giving a counter example and restate the theorem. We have then reviewed and enriched the study conducted by Ngcibi in [94] by characterising the non-isomorphic fuzzy subgroups in that study. We have also developed a formula to compute the crisp subgroups of the under-studied group and provide its proof. Furthermore, we have compared the equivalence relation under which the classification problem is based with various versions of equivalence studied in the literature. We managed to use this counting technique to obtain explicit formulae for the number of maximal chains, distinct fuzzy subgroups, non-isomorphic maximal chains and non-isomorphic fuzzy subgroups of these groups and their proofs are provided.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Appiah, Isaac Kwadwo
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Fuzzy sets Abelian groups Finite groups
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/2468 , vital:27845
- Description: An important trend in fuzzy group theory in recent years has been the notion of classification of fuzzy subgroups using a suitable equivalence relation. In this dissertation, we have successfully used the natural equivalence relation defined by Murali and Makamba in [81] and a natural fuzzy isomorphism to classify fuzzy subgroups of some finite abelian p-groups of rank three of the form Zpn + Zp + Zp for any fixed prime integer p and any positive integer n. This was achieved through the usage of a suitable technique of enumerating distinct fuzzy subgroups and non-isomorphic fuzzy subgroups of G. We commence by giving a brief discussion on the theory of fuzzy sets and fuzzy subgroups from the perspective of group theory through to the theory of sets, leading us to establish a linkage among these theories. We have also shown in this dissertation that the converse of theorem 3.1 proposed by Das in [24] is incorrect by giving a counter example and restate the theorem. We have then reviewed and enriched the study conducted by Ngcibi in [94] by characterising the non-isomorphic fuzzy subgroups in that study. We have also developed a formula to compute the crisp subgroups of the under-studied group and provide its proof. Furthermore, we have compared the equivalence relation under which the classification problem is based with various versions of equivalence studied in the literature. We managed to use this counting technique to obtain explicit formulae for the number of maximal chains, distinct fuzzy subgroups, non-isomorphic maximal chains and non-isomorphic fuzzy subgroups of these groups and their proofs are provided.
- Full Text:
The contribution of smallholder agriculture production to food security in rural Zimbabwe : a case study of Masvingo Province
- Authors: Toringepi, Godfrey
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Farms, Small -- Zimbabwe Agricultural productivity -- Zimbabwe Sustainable agriculture -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/5598 , vital:29350
- Description: Agricultural development is back on the development agenda. Even though the smallholder farmers are in the majority and at the forefront in terms of food production and agriculture being the backbone of the economy of Zimbabwe, there is no clearly defined policy on smallholder agriculture in Zimbabwe. The food insecurity has remained a continuous challenge for the rural poor in Zimbabwe. This study investigated the contribution of smallholder agriculture to food security with particular reference to the Masvingo province. The study employed qualitative method of research entailing extensive review of literature as a method of data collection. The study utilized the modernisation theory and sustainable livelihoods framework to illustrate smallholder agriculture and food security nexus. The study revealed that smallholder agriculture is the best option for addressing food security since agriculture is considered the main livelihood strategy for small scale farmers in Zimbabwe. There is general scholarly consensus that the main cause of food insecurity in Zimbabwe is a decrease in smallholder agriculture productivity. The study revealed that poor infrastructure , limited access to credit, limited access to inputs, poor investment in human development, limited access to markets and harsh climatic conditions weaken the capacity of small scale farmers to improve food security. Key recommendations are that supportive institutions need to be put in place to strengthen the smallholder farmer’s capacity to improve food security in Zimbabwe.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Toringepi, Godfrey
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Farms, Small -- Zimbabwe Agricultural productivity -- Zimbabwe Sustainable agriculture -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/5598 , vital:29350
- Description: Agricultural development is back on the development agenda. Even though the smallholder farmers are in the majority and at the forefront in terms of food production and agriculture being the backbone of the economy of Zimbabwe, there is no clearly defined policy on smallholder agriculture in Zimbabwe. The food insecurity has remained a continuous challenge for the rural poor in Zimbabwe. This study investigated the contribution of smallholder agriculture to food security with particular reference to the Masvingo province. The study employed qualitative method of research entailing extensive review of literature as a method of data collection. The study utilized the modernisation theory and sustainable livelihoods framework to illustrate smallholder agriculture and food security nexus. The study revealed that smallholder agriculture is the best option for addressing food security since agriculture is considered the main livelihood strategy for small scale farmers in Zimbabwe. There is general scholarly consensus that the main cause of food insecurity in Zimbabwe is a decrease in smallholder agriculture productivity. The study revealed that poor infrastructure , limited access to credit, limited access to inputs, poor investment in human development, limited access to markets and harsh climatic conditions weaken the capacity of small scale farmers to improve food security. Key recommendations are that supportive institutions need to be put in place to strengthen the smallholder farmer’s capacity to improve food security in Zimbabwe.
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The importance of habitat use in the foraging behaviour of village chacma baboons (Papio ursinus, Cercopithecidae: Primates) in Hogsback, Eastern Cape
- Authors: Pamla, Lwandiso
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Chacma baboon -- Behavior -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Cercopithecidae Primates -- Behavior
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/8055 , vital:31494
- Description: Baboons are among the most widespread primates in Africa because they are able to adapt their foraging behaviour and omnivorous diet under challenging and changing conditions. They are attracted by food, shelter and water on human-owned properties, which brings them into conflict with the residents in Hogsback, Eastern Cape, South Africa, and results in them being shot, trapped or poisoned. To quantify the proportion of food baboons obtain from raiding human properties and to assess the quality of this food, I recorded activity budgets for foraging and movement in two free-ranging troops (Evie’s and Nola’s troops) using direct field observation. I determined home range sizes using GIS methods. I hypothesised that a troop that frequents more human-modified areas should have smaller home ranges, higher densities and forage less than a troop that spends more time in natural habitats, irrespective of troop size, because of more readily accessible food sources. The three methods I used (100 percent minimum convex method, 95 percent fixed kernel method and quadrat method) revealed that Evie’s troop used more human-modified habitat, but had a larger home range than Nola’s troop. The troop sizes have been stable for the past four years: at last count, Evie’s troop had 47 individuals and Nola’s, 38 individuals. During my field study I also recorded diverse vocalisations made by the animals, as an aid to detecting and identifying the troops and understanding individual interactions. Responses to the presence of baboons of many of the local residents – whether affluent and living on semi-urban estates, or impoverished and hunting for food – do not augur well for the future of Hogsback’s baboons. Affluent residents with horticultural gardens occasionally shoot baboons that venture on to their properties, while rural occupants hunt baboons in their natural environment. Both of these responses cause troop disruption and decreased troop size, possibly leading to local troop extinctions.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Pamla, Lwandiso
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Chacma baboon -- Behavior -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Cercopithecidae Primates -- Behavior
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/8055 , vital:31494
- Description: Baboons are among the most widespread primates in Africa because they are able to adapt their foraging behaviour and omnivorous diet under challenging and changing conditions. They are attracted by food, shelter and water on human-owned properties, which brings them into conflict with the residents in Hogsback, Eastern Cape, South Africa, and results in them being shot, trapped or poisoned. To quantify the proportion of food baboons obtain from raiding human properties and to assess the quality of this food, I recorded activity budgets for foraging and movement in two free-ranging troops (Evie’s and Nola’s troops) using direct field observation. I determined home range sizes using GIS methods. I hypothesised that a troop that frequents more human-modified areas should have smaller home ranges, higher densities and forage less than a troop that spends more time in natural habitats, irrespective of troop size, because of more readily accessible food sources. The three methods I used (100 percent minimum convex method, 95 percent fixed kernel method and quadrat method) revealed that Evie’s troop used more human-modified habitat, but had a larger home range than Nola’s troop. The troop sizes have been stable for the past four years: at last count, Evie’s troop had 47 individuals and Nola’s, 38 individuals. During my field study I also recorded diverse vocalisations made by the animals, as an aid to detecting and identifying the troops and understanding individual interactions. Responses to the presence of baboons of many of the local residents – whether affluent and living on semi-urban estates, or impoverished and hunting for food – do not augur well for the future of Hogsback’s baboons. Affluent residents with horticultural gardens occasionally shoot baboons that venture on to their properties, while rural occupants hunt baboons in their natural environment. Both of these responses cause troop disruption and decreased troop size, possibly leading to local troop extinctions.
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The influence of aspirations on changing livelihood strategies in rural households of Ndabakazi villages in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Zantsi, Siphe
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Households -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Rural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/5653 , vital:29357
- Description: The objective of this study is to explore the role of aspirations on changing livelihood strategies of rural households of Ndabakazi villages in the Eastern Cape. A sample of 80 respondents was chosen randomly for the household survey and semi-structured questionnaires were used to collect the data. Focus group discussions were also used to supplement the household survey. The data was descriptively analysed using a triangulation method. The findings show that social grants, mainly pensions and non-farm employment, and child support grants are the major sources of income. The majority of the households own five hectares of land and more, in which they grow crops only in gardens adjacent to their homes. However, 29 percent do not produce any crops at all. Farming contributes a small portion to the household income. The choice of farming is more powerful than the external factors. Interest in farming is minimal and can be related to the declining farming activities; therefore, household aspirations have an influence on changing livelihood aspirations. In the case of the rural areas of Ndabakazi – as indeed in many other parts of South Africa - policies of rural development mostly take a top-down approach; as a result most of these policies do not become effective in achieving the intended outcome. Development practitioners should incorporate beneficiaries when planning so as to tailor the development initiatives with the aspirations of local people for them to be effect and achieve intended goals thus a bottom-up approach. The notion that rural household farming activities have declined because they lack inputs, farming implements other necessary support is not always true. Some households are not interested in farming and they cannot be forced.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Zantsi, Siphe
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Households -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Rural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/5653 , vital:29357
- Description: The objective of this study is to explore the role of aspirations on changing livelihood strategies of rural households of Ndabakazi villages in the Eastern Cape. A sample of 80 respondents was chosen randomly for the household survey and semi-structured questionnaires were used to collect the data. Focus group discussions were also used to supplement the household survey. The data was descriptively analysed using a triangulation method. The findings show that social grants, mainly pensions and non-farm employment, and child support grants are the major sources of income. The majority of the households own five hectares of land and more, in which they grow crops only in gardens adjacent to their homes. However, 29 percent do not produce any crops at all. Farming contributes a small portion to the household income. The choice of farming is more powerful than the external factors. Interest in farming is minimal and can be related to the declining farming activities; therefore, household aspirations have an influence on changing livelihood aspirations. In the case of the rural areas of Ndabakazi – as indeed in many other parts of South Africa - policies of rural development mostly take a top-down approach; as a result most of these policies do not become effective in achieving the intended outcome. Development practitioners should incorporate beneficiaries when planning so as to tailor the development initiatives with the aspirations of local people for them to be effect and achieve intended goals thus a bottom-up approach. The notion that rural household farming activities have declined because they lack inputs, farming implements other necessary support is not always true. Some households are not interested in farming and they cannot be forced.
- Full Text:
The potential use of baobab (Adansonia digitata) seedcake as a commercial diet replacement and in feed formulation for broiler chickens
- Authors: Nxele, Sibusiso Kabelo
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Broilers (Chickens) Adansonia digitata Chickens -- Feeding and feeds
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/12259 , vital:39224
- Description: This dissertation is composed of two trials that were aimed at evaluating the effects of partially supplementing Baobab seed cake in broiler diets. In the first trail, performance and cost analysis of feeding birds a commercial starter diet from day-old to 21-days of age; then feeding a blend of the commercial finisher diet diluted by a mixture of baobab seedcake and ground maize from day 22nd to 35th were evaluated. The trial was conducted in an environmentally controlled deep litter housing system using 160 Ross 308 chicks of mixed sex that were randomly allocated into 4 treatments consisting of 16 pens of 1X2m2 area per pen, within similar environmental conditions. The trial diets were formulated as follows: T1 was 100 percent standard commercial starter diet, as a control; T2 had 95 percent (112g) commercial starter diet and 5 percent BSC-maize blend (2g BSC: 4g Maize); T3 had 85 percent (102g) of the commercial starter diet and 18percent BSC-maize blend (6g BSC + 12g Maize); and T4 had 75 percent commercial starter diet and 25 percent BSC-maize blend (10g BSC + 20g Maize). All diets (T1, T2, T3 and T4) percentages were calculated based on 120g being 100 percent of the diet. Each treatment consisted of 40 birds and 4 replicates, each replicate consisting of 10 birds per pen. Feed and clean water were provided ad libitum. Feed allocation and body weights were measured at placement, then weekly. Feed intakes (FI), body weight gain (BWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were calculated; then the cost analysis of feeding each diet was conducted. No significant differences (P>0.05) were found amongst all growth performance parameters. The cost efficient treatment to feed, which accumulated the cheapest cost of feed per weight gain (R33.62/kg gain) was T2 (5percent BSC+MM). The second trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of feeding diets containing graded levels of baoabab (A. digitata) seedcake on performance, apparent digestibility and digestive organ weights of broilers chickens. A total of 200 Ross 308 day-old chicks of mixed sex were randomly allocated into 4 treatment groups (T1, T2, T3 and T4). The trial diets were as follows: T1 (control), was a commercial starter diet; while T2, T3 and T4 diets contained baobab seedcake meal at 0, 5, 10, and 15percent; respectively. Inclusion of BSC in diets only affected FI during the first and third weeks. In the first week, FI had significant differences (P < 0.05) during the first and third week of the trial, respectively. Birds in T4 had the least FI, while those in T3 had the highest (P<0.05). In the third week, T3 birds had the highest FI (P<0.05), while T1 birds had the lowest. Significant differences for changes in bodyweight were only evident in the second and forth weeks of the study. During week 2, birds in T had the highest BWG, whereas T4 birds had the lowest (P<0.05); however, in week 4, there were no statistical differences (P>0.05) amongst birds in T1, T2 and T4; respectively, while T4 had the lowest BWG (P<0.05). The FCR was not statistically different among treatment groups, except in week 3, where it was highest in T4birds with T3 birds having the lowest (P<0.05). No significant differences (P>0.05) were observed among treatment groups for all parameters that were considered for digestibility and digestive organ weights. Due to the fact that two different trials were conducted, it was concluded that blend of baobab seedcake and maize from the first trial can be supplemented up to 5 percent replacement level for optimum production; while up to 10 percent baobab seedcake graded level can be used on the second trial without resulting in any negative consequences on growth performance, nutrient utilization and digestive organ weights.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Nxele, Sibusiso Kabelo
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Broilers (Chickens) Adansonia digitata Chickens -- Feeding and feeds
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/12259 , vital:39224
- Description: This dissertation is composed of two trials that were aimed at evaluating the effects of partially supplementing Baobab seed cake in broiler diets. In the first trail, performance and cost analysis of feeding birds a commercial starter diet from day-old to 21-days of age; then feeding a blend of the commercial finisher diet diluted by a mixture of baobab seedcake and ground maize from day 22nd to 35th were evaluated. The trial was conducted in an environmentally controlled deep litter housing system using 160 Ross 308 chicks of mixed sex that were randomly allocated into 4 treatments consisting of 16 pens of 1X2m2 area per pen, within similar environmental conditions. The trial diets were formulated as follows: T1 was 100 percent standard commercial starter diet, as a control; T2 had 95 percent (112g) commercial starter diet and 5 percent BSC-maize blend (2g BSC: 4g Maize); T3 had 85 percent (102g) of the commercial starter diet and 18percent BSC-maize blend (6g BSC + 12g Maize); and T4 had 75 percent commercial starter diet and 25 percent BSC-maize blend (10g BSC + 20g Maize). All diets (T1, T2, T3 and T4) percentages were calculated based on 120g being 100 percent of the diet. Each treatment consisted of 40 birds and 4 replicates, each replicate consisting of 10 birds per pen. Feed and clean water were provided ad libitum. Feed allocation and body weights were measured at placement, then weekly. Feed intakes (FI), body weight gain (BWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were calculated; then the cost analysis of feeding each diet was conducted. No significant differences (P>0.05) were found amongst all growth performance parameters. The cost efficient treatment to feed, which accumulated the cheapest cost of feed per weight gain (R33.62/kg gain) was T2 (5percent BSC+MM). The second trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of feeding diets containing graded levels of baoabab (A. digitata) seedcake on performance, apparent digestibility and digestive organ weights of broilers chickens. A total of 200 Ross 308 day-old chicks of mixed sex were randomly allocated into 4 treatment groups (T1, T2, T3 and T4). The trial diets were as follows: T1 (control), was a commercial starter diet; while T2, T3 and T4 diets contained baobab seedcake meal at 0, 5, 10, and 15percent; respectively. Inclusion of BSC in diets only affected FI during the first and third weeks. In the first week, FI had significant differences (P < 0.05) during the first and third week of the trial, respectively. Birds in T4 had the least FI, while those in T3 had the highest (P<0.05). In the third week, T3 birds had the highest FI (P<0.05), while T1 birds had the lowest. Significant differences for changes in bodyweight were only evident in the second and forth weeks of the study. During week 2, birds in T had the highest BWG, whereas T4 birds had the lowest (P<0.05); however, in week 4, there were no statistical differences (P>0.05) amongst birds in T1, T2 and T4; respectively, while T4 had the lowest BWG (P<0.05). The FCR was not statistically different among treatment groups, except in week 3, where it was highest in T4birds with T3 birds having the lowest (P<0.05). No significant differences (P>0.05) were observed among treatment groups for all parameters that were considered for digestibility and digestive organ weights. Due to the fact that two different trials were conducted, it was concluded that blend of baobab seedcake and maize from the first trial can be supplemented up to 5 percent replacement level for optimum production; while up to 10 percent baobab seedcake graded level can be used on the second trial without resulting in any negative consequences on growth performance, nutrient utilization and digestive organ weights.
- Full Text:
Two uses of DNA sequence variation in tracing evolutionary processes in Old World primates (Primates: Catarrhini)
- Authors: Dosi, Banele
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Primates -- Evolution Monkeys Cercopithecidae
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/8022 , vital:31464
- Description: Primate evolution is particularly interesting to humans, because it includes our own history. Molecular genetics is by far the most dynamic field in contemporary biology, and offers a host of new techniques for investigating evolutionary processes and patterns. In the mid-twentieth century molecular genetics evolved from being a means of visualising hidden variation (e.g. allozymes) to tracing phylogenetic relationships between and among species (evolutionary histories of populations), and now has a wide variety of applications in medicine, species identification and relationships, and even wildlife forensics. For my Master’s project I investigated two applications of molecular genetic analysis to questions regarding the evolution of Old World monkeys (Catarrhini). First, I participated in a study designed to test the hypothesis that different primate social structures – particularly mating systems – may be reflected in the structure of a species genome. We investigated whether increased sperm production as a result of sexual selection increases the number of copy number variations (CNVs) that can be detected by comparing the male specific region Y (MSY) located on the Y chromosome in a sample of primate species. We did not find a clear differentiation between the primate species as hypothesised, which thus requires a more complex explanation, e.g. in terms of the type of environment rather than the mating system of the species, or possibly the active/inactive status of the genes. The second part of my study was phylogeographic in approach. I collaborated with researchers studying the distribution of Afromontane samango monkeys (Cercopithecus albogularis labiatus) in the Eastern Cape. I sequenced tissues from 5 samango monkey specimens found opportunistically in the Hogsback and coastal forests and analysed their genetic variation relative to the data published by Dalton et al. 2015. The Hogsback sample was not monophyletic relative to the sample from the coastal forests, indicating that, on the basis of this very small sample size, these populations have not been separated historically. In order to validate this conclusion, I will need to investigate a larger sample size. From this study I developed valuable skills in the areas of the laboratory techniques involved in molecular sequence analysis, and an appreciation for the importance of large sample sizes in deriving reliable results. I intend to continue in the future with a phylogeographic study of samango monkeys.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Dosi, Banele
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Primates -- Evolution Monkeys Cercopithecidae
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/8022 , vital:31464
- Description: Primate evolution is particularly interesting to humans, because it includes our own history. Molecular genetics is by far the most dynamic field in contemporary biology, and offers a host of new techniques for investigating evolutionary processes and patterns. In the mid-twentieth century molecular genetics evolved from being a means of visualising hidden variation (e.g. allozymes) to tracing phylogenetic relationships between and among species (evolutionary histories of populations), and now has a wide variety of applications in medicine, species identification and relationships, and even wildlife forensics. For my Master’s project I investigated two applications of molecular genetic analysis to questions regarding the evolution of Old World monkeys (Catarrhini). First, I participated in a study designed to test the hypothesis that different primate social structures – particularly mating systems – may be reflected in the structure of a species genome. We investigated whether increased sperm production as a result of sexual selection increases the number of copy number variations (CNVs) that can be detected by comparing the male specific region Y (MSY) located on the Y chromosome in a sample of primate species. We did not find a clear differentiation between the primate species as hypothesised, which thus requires a more complex explanation, e.g. in terms of the type of environment rather than the mating system of the species, or possibly the active/inactive status of the genes. The second part of my study was phylogeographic in approach. I collaborated with researchers studying the distribution of Afromontane samango monkeys (Cercopithecus albogularis labiatus) in the Eastern Cape. I sequenced tissues from 5 samango monkey specimens found opportunistically in the Hogsback and coastal forests and analysed their genetic variation relative to the data published by Dalton et al. 2015. The Hogsback sample was not monophyletic relative to the sample from the coastal forests, indicating that, on the basis of this very small sample size, these populations have not been separated historically. In order to validate this conclusion, I will need to investigate a larger sample size. From this study I developed valuable skills in the areas of the laboratory techniques involved in molecular sequence analysis, and an appreciation for the importance of large sample sizes in deriving reliable results. I intend to continue in the future with a phylogeographic study of samango monkeys.
- Full Text:
Using data mining techniques for the prediction of student dropouts from university science programs
- Authors: Vambe, William Tichaona
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Data mining Dropout behavior, Prediction of
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/12314 , vital:39252
- Description: Data Mining has taken a center stage in education for addressing student dropout challenges as it has become one of the major threat affecting Higher Educational Institutes (HEIs). Being able to predict students who are likely to dropout helps the university to assist those facing challenges early. This will results in producing more graduates with the intellectual capital who will provide skills in the industries, hence addressing the major challenge of skill shortage being faced in South Africa. Studies and researches as purported in literature have been done to address this major threat of dropout challenge by using the theoretical approach which banked on Tinto’s model, followed by the traditional and statistical approach. However, the two lacked accuracy and the automation aspect which makes them difficult and time-consuming to use as they require to be tested periodically for them to be validated. Recently data mining has become a vital tool for predicting non-linear phenomenon including where there is missing data and bringing about accuracy and automation aspect. Data mining usefulness and reliability assessment in education made it possible to be used for prediction by different researchers. As such this research used data mining approach that integrates classification and prediction techniques to analyze student academic data at the University of Fort Hare to create a model for student dropout using preentry data and university academic performance of each student. Following Knowledge Discovery from Database (KDD) framework, data for the students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science programs between 2003 and 2014 was selected. It went through preprocessing and transformation as to deal with the missing data and noise data. Classification algorithms were then used for student characterization. Decision trees (J48) which are found in Weka software were used to build the model for data mining and prediction. The reason for choosing decision trees was it’s ability to deal with textual, nominal and numeric data as was the case with our input data and because they have good precision.The model was then trained using a train data set, validated and evaluated with another data set. Experimental results demonstrations that data mining is useful in predicting students who have chances to drop out. A critical analysis of correctly classifying instances, the confusion matrix and ROC area shows that the model can correctly classify and predict those who are likely to dropout. The model accuracy was 66percent which is a good percentage as supported in literature which means the results produced can be reliably used for assessment and make strategic decisions. Furthermore, the model took a matter of seconds to compute the results when supplied with 400 instances which prove that it is effective and efficient. Grounding our conclusion from these experimental results, this research proved that Data Mining is useful for bringing about automation, accuracy in prediction of student dropouts and the results can be reliably depended on for decision making by faculty managers who are the decision makers.
- Full Text:
Using data mining techniques for the prediction of student dropouts from university science programs
- Authors: Vambe, William Tichaona
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Data mining Dropout behavior, Prediction of
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/12314 , vital:39252
- Description: Data Mining has taken a center stage in education for addressing student dropout challenges as it has become one of the major threat affecting Higher Educational Institutes (HEIs). Being able to predict students who are likely to dropout helps the university to assist those facing challenges early. This will results in producing more graduates with the intellectual capital who will provide skills in the industries, hence addressing the major challenge of skill shortage being faced in South Africa. Studies and researches as purported in literature have been done to address this major threat of dropout challenge by using the theoretical approach which banked on Tinto’s model, followed by the traditional and statistical approach. However, the two lacked accuracy and the automation aspect which makes them difficult and time-consuming to use as they require to be tested periodically for them to be validated. Recently data mining has become a vital tool for predicting non-linear phenomenon including where there is missing data and bringing about accuracy and automation aspect. Data mining usefulness and reliability assessment in education made it possible to be used for prediction by different researchers. As such this research used data mining approach that integrates classification and prediction techniques to analyze student academic data at the University of Fort Hare to create a model for student dropout using preentry data and university academic performance of each student. Following Knowledge Discovery from Database (KDD) framework, data for the students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science programs between 2003 and 2014 was selected. It went through preprocessing and transformation as to deal with the missing data and noise data. Classification algorithms were then used for student characterization. Decision trees (J48) which are found in Weka software were used to build the model for data mining and prediction. The reason for choosing decision trees was it’s ability to deal with textual, nominal and numeric data as was the case with our input data and because they have good precision.The model was then trained using a train data set, validated and evaluated with another data set. Experimental results demonstrations that data mining is useful in predicting students who have chances to drop out. A critical analysis of correctly classifying instances, the confusion matrix and ROC area shows that the model can correctly classify and predict those who are likely to dropout. The model accuracy was 66percent which is a good percentage as supported in literature which means the results produced can be reliably used for assessment and make strategic decisions. Furthermore, the model took a matter of seconds to compute the results when supplied with 400 instances which prove that it is effective and efficient. Grounding our conclusion from these experimental results, this research proved that Data Mining is useful for bringing about automation, accuracy in prediction of student dropouts and the results can be reliably depended on for decision making by faculty managers who are the decision makers.
- Full Text:
A comparative economic analysis of small scale tobacco production under contract and non-contract farming : the case of Marondera rural district, Mashonaland East province, Zimbabwe
- Authors: Ruzhani, Freddy
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Farms, Small -- Zimbabwe Tobacco industry -- Zimbabwe Farmers -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/12653 , vital:39296
- Description: Constitutionalism and separation of powers is the most dynamic topic worldwide. Montesquieu, the French philosopher is credited with the doctrine of separation of powers. Various countries adopted the doctrine and modified it, in order to fit their systems of governments. The reason behind is that there is no universally recognized model of separation of powers or one size fit all. Countries apply this doctrine differently in a fashion that fits their domestic laws and constitutional requirements. Montesquieu gave a classic exposition and the rationale for separation of powers in one of his well-celebrated work “The Spirit of Laws”. The concept of separation of powers emerged premised on the theory that the arms of state namely, the judiciary, the legislature and the executive, should operate within their providence without one interfering with the other. From the South African perspective, the Constitution of South Africa of 1996 requires separation of powers even though it is not explicitly so stated in the text. This research examines the unique South African model of separation of powers and how the courts have navigated through it from the time the Constitution was promulgated. It seeks to establish whether or not a South African model of separation of powers has come to the fore. The research further examines the problem of interference amongst the arms of state and mechanism of checks and balances which can be applied to prevent or minimise such interference. In doing so, the study pursued a desktop survey of primary and secondary materials, including scientific literature, legislation, courts’ jurisprudence, and official documents. A comparative perspective was also made in order to learn from the experiences of other jurisdictions where the doctrine is applied. The findings reveal that South Africa has a unique model of separation of powers. The model was learned and enriched from various foreign jurisdictions. The courts have contributed enormously to this model, which contrive to be fluid and living.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Ruzhani, Freddy
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Farms, Small -- Zimbabwe Tobacco industry -- Zimbabwe Farmers -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/12653 , vital:39296
- Description: Constitutionalism and separation of powers is the most dynamic topic worldwide. Montesquieu, the French philosopher is credited with the doctrine of separation of powers. Various countries adopted the doctrine and modified it, in order to fit their systems of governments. The reason behind is that there is no universally recognized model of separation of powers or one size fit all. Countries apply this doctrine differently in a fashion that fits their domestic laws and constitutional requirements. Montesquieu gave a classic exposition and the rationale for separation of powers in one of his well-celebrated work “The Spirit of Laws”. The concept of separation of powers emerged premised on the theory that the arms of state namely, the judiciary, the legislature and the executive, should operate within their providence without one interfering with the other. From the South African perspective, the Constitution of South Africa of 1996 requires separation of powers even though it is not explicitly so stated in the text. This research examines the unique South African model of separation of powers and how the courts have navigated through it from the time the Constitution was promulgated. It seeks to establish whether or not a South African model of separation of powers has come to the fore. The research further examines the problem of interference amongst the arms of state and mechanism of checks and balances which can be applied to prevent or minimise such interference. In doing so, the study pursued a desktop survey of primary and secondary materials, including scientific literature, legislation, courts’ jurisprudence, and official documents. A comparative perspective was also made in order to learn from the experiences of other jurisdictions where the doctrine is applied. The findings reveal that South Africa has a unique model of separation of powers. The model was learned and enriched from various foreign jurisdictions. The courts have contributed enormously to this model, which contrive to be fluid and living.
- Full Text:
An evaluation of security issues in cloud-based file sharing technologies
- Authors: Fana, Akhona
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Cloud computing -- Security measures Computer networks -- Security measures Computer security
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/1841 , vital:27565
- Description: Cloud computing is one of the most promising technologies for backup and data storage that provides flexible access to data. Cloud computing plays a vital role in remote backup. It is so unfortunate that this computing technique has flaws that thrilled and edgy end users in implementing it effectively. These flaws include factors like lack of integrity, confidentiality and privacy to information. A secure cloud is impossible unless the computer-generated environment is appropriately secured. In any form of technology it is always advisable that security challenges must be prior identified and fixed before the implementation of that particular technology. Primarily, this study will focus on finding security issues in cloud computing with the objective of finding concerns like credential theft and session management in the ―Cloud‖. Main arguments like HTTP banner disclosure, Bash ―ShellShock‖ Injection and password issues were discovered during the stages of study implementation. These challenges may provide information that will permit hackers in manipulating and exploiting cloud environment. Identifying credential theft and session management in cloud-based file sharing technologies a mixed method approach was implemented throughout the course of the study due to the nature of study and unity of analysis. Penetration tests were performed as security testing technique. Prevention and guideline of security threats leads to a friendly and authentic world of technology.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Fana, Akhona
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Cloud computing -- Security measures Computer networks -- Security measures Computer security
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/1841 , vital:27565
- Description: Cloud computing is one of the most promising technologies for backup and data storage that provides flexible access to data. Cloud computing plays a vital role in remote backup. It is so unfortunate that this computing technique has flaws that thrilled and edgy end users in implementing it effectively. These flaws include factors like lack of integrity, confidentiality and privacy to information. A secure cloud is impossible unless the computer-generated environment is appropriately secured. In any form of technology it is always advisable that security challenges must be prior identified and fixed before the implementation of that particular technology. Primarily, this study will focus on finding security issues in cloud computing with the objective of finding concerns like credential theft and session management in the ―Cloud‖. Main arguments like HTTP banner disclosure, Bash ―ShellShock‖ Injection and password issues were discovered during the stages of study implementation. These challenges may provide information that will permit hackers in manipulating and exploiting cloud environment. Identifying credential theft and session management in cloud-based file sharing technologies a mixed method approach was implemented throughout the course of the study due to the nature of study and unity of analysis. Penetration tests were performed as security testing technique. Prevention and guideline of security threats leads to a friendly and authentic world of technology.
- Full Text:
Determination and validation of medicinal plants used by farmers to control internal and external parasites in goats in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
- Authors: Sanhokwe, Marcia
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Medicinal plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Goats -- Parasites -- Control
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/2249 , vital:27718
- Description: The broad objective of the study was to determine and validate medicinal plants used by resource-limited farmers to control internal and external parasites in goats in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. A survey was conducted among 50 farmers and three herbalists to determine medicinal plants used to control parasites in goats. The survey revealed nine plant species belonging to eight families that were used. Among the identified plant species, Aloe ferox, Acokanthera oppositifolia and Elephantorrhiza elephantina were the plants having the highest Fidelity Level for their use, each scored 100.00 percent, followed by Albuca setosa (83.33 percent). These plants were then selected for validation studies. Gas-Chromatography-Mass-Spectrometry (GC-MS) revealed 7, 33, 26 and 32 bioactive phytochemicals in A. ferox, E. elephantina, A. oppositifolia and A. setosa, respectively. Terpenes and fatty acids were present, oxygenated terpenes being the most abundant hydrocarbons present in all the four plant species. The effect of acetone, methanol and ethanol extracts of leaves of Aloe ferox and Acokanthera oppositifolia on tick repellency and acaricidal activity were investigated on blood engorged Ambylomma hebraeum and Rhipicephalus decoloratus ticks at concentration 15, 30 and 50 percent. The 30 and 50 percent acetone extract of A. ferox and Dazzel dip had the highest acaricidal properties of 100 percent. The 50 percent methanol extract of A. oppositifolia and 50 percent acetone extract of A. ferox had the highest repellency activity of 89 percent and 85.33 percent, respectively. Results from this study revealed that the efficacy of medicinal plants used by farmers to control ticks vary with the type of solvent used for extracting the bioactive compounds. Furthermore, it revealed that Aloe ferox and A. opppositifolia plant extracts possess repellent and acaricidal activities. In a study to investigate the anthelminthic effect of crude extracts of Elephantorrhiza elephantina and Albuca setosa plants, significant anthelminthic effect on nematodes was observed in both plants. In this study, all E. elephantina and A. setosa extracts caused paralysis and mortality. Methanol was the most effective solvent in extracting bioactive compounds and methanol extract showed the best anthelminthic effects among the crude extracts investigated in both plants. The least time taken for the worms to be paralysed was 8.33 mins and 14.33mins in 100mg/ml methanol extracts of E. elephantina and A. setosa, resepectively. Methanol extract of E. elephantina and A. setosa (100mg/ml) had the highest anthelminthic activity and mortality was recorded after 18mins and 20mins, respectively. Results from this study revealed that these two plants possess anthelminthic activities. The study revealed that resource-limited farmers use medicinal plants to control internal and external parasites in goats. Gas-Chromatography-Mass-Spectrometry analysis showed that these plants contain bioactive compounds that have a potential in controlling parasites. Validation studies showed that A. ferox and A. oppositifolia possess repellent and acaricidal activities whereas A. setosa and E. elephantina possess anthelminthic activities.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Sanhokwe, Marcia
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Medicinal plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Goats -- Parasites -- Control
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/2249 , vital:27718
- Description: The broad objective of the study was to determine and validate medicinal plants used by resource-limited farmers to control internal and external parasites in goats in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. A survey was conducted among 50 farmers and three herbalists to determine medicinal plants used to control parasites in goats. The survey revealed nine plant species belonging to eight families that were used. Among the identified plant species, Aloe ferox, Acokanthera oppositifolia and Elephantorrhiza elephantina were the plants having the highest Fidelity Level for their use, each scored 100.00 percent, followed by Albuca setosa (83.33 percent). These plants were then selected for validation studies. Gas-Chromatography-Mass-Spectrometry (GC-MS) revealed 7, 33, 26 and 32 bioactive phytochemicals in A. ferox, E. elephantina, A. oppositifolia and A. setosa, respectively. Terpenes and fatty acids were present, oxygenated terpenes being the most abundant hydrocarbons present in all the four plant species. The effect of acetone, methanol and ethanol extracts of leaves of Aloe ferox and Acokanthera oppositifolia on tick repellency and acaricidal activity were investigated on blood engorged Ambylomma hebraeum and Rhipicephalus decoloratus ticks at concentration 15, 30 and 50 percent. The 30 and 50 percent acetone extract of A. ferox and Dazzel dip had the highest acaricidal properties of 100 percent. The 50 percent methanol extract of A. oppositifolia and 50 percent acetone extract of A. ferox had the highest repellency activity of 89 percent and 85.33 percent, respectively. Results from this study revealed that the efficacy of medicinal plants used by farmers to control ticks vary with the type of solvent used for extracting the bioactive compounds. Furthermore, it revealed that Aloe ferox and A. opppositifolia plant extracts possess repellent and acaricidal activities. In a study to investigate the anthelminthic effect of crude extracts of Elephantorrhiza elephantina and Albuca setosa plants, significant anthelminthic effect on nematodes was observed in both plants. In this study, all E. elephantina and A. setosa extracts caused paralysis and mortality. Methanol was the most effective solvent in extracting bioactive compounds and methanol extract showed the best anthelminthic effects among the crude extracts investigated in both plants. The least time taken for the worms to be paralysed was 8.33 mins and 14.33mins in 100mg/ml methanol extracts of E. elephantina and A. setosa, resepectively. Methanol extract of E. elephantina and A. setosa (100mg/ml) had the highest anthelminthic activity and mortality was recorded after 18mins and 20mins, respectively. Results from this study revealed that these two plants possess anthelminthic activities. The study revealed that resource-limited farmers use medicinal plants to control internal and external parasites in goats. Gas-Chromatography-Mass-Spectrometry analysis showed that these plants contain bioactive compounds that have a potential in controlling parasites. Validation studies showed that A. ferox and A. oppositifolia possess repellent and acaricidal activities whereas A. setosa and E. elephantina possess anthelminthic activities.
- Full Text:
Effect of Tenebrio molitor larvae as a protein source on growth performance, carcass yield and meat quality of broiler chickens
- Authors: Mngqi, Sinethemba Census
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Broilers (Chickens) Chickens -- Feeding and feeds Meat -- Quality
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/2622 , vital:27944
- Description: This study was conducted to assess the effect of including Tenebrio molitor larvae (T. molitor L) as a protein source in different diets on broiler performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality. A total of 144 day-old Cobb-500 chicks were randomly allocated into three treatment groups, each was allocated 16 birds and reared in 9 identical pens. Experimental diets used were as follows: T1 Control (no T. molitor L inclusion); T2 and T3 contained levels of T. molitor L at 5 percent and 10 percent of dry matter (DM) intake, respectively. Body weights (BW), average daily gain (ADG), feed intake (FI), and Feed conversion ratio (FCR) were measured for the 1st experimental chapter. For the second experimental chapter; live weights (LW) of broilers were recorded before slaughter and thereafter carcass weights (CW), meat yield (weights of breast, thigh, drumstick and wing) were recorded. The dressing percentage (DP percent) was also calculated. Breast muscles were sampled for meat pH and colour measurements. The LW of birds from T1 (0 percent T. molitor L) were significantly different (P<0.05) from both T2 (5 percent T. molitor L) and T3 (10 percent T. molitor L) which were similar to each other, with T2 exhibiting the highest live weights (2166g) and the control treatment exhibiting the lowest live weights (2018.3g). In CW, T1 was significantly different (P<0.05) from T2 while it was similar (P>0.05) to T3. The dressing percent of T1 was significantly different (P<0.05) from T2 and T3 which were similar to each other, with T2 having the highest dressing percentage (78, 2 percent) and T1 having the lowest DP percent (66 percent). The breasts in T2 were significantly higher and different (P<0.05) from both T1 and T3 which were similar to each other. The drumsticks in T3 were significantly different (P<0.05) from T1 while they were similar to T2 with values with T2 having highest values. After 45 minutes of slaughter, a significant difference (P<0.05) was observed in L⃰ among all treatments. In redness (a⃰), T3 was significantly different from T1 but was similar to T2 and all treatments in this study exhibited a darker red meat, with T3 muscles exhibiting darker red colour than the other treatments. Similar results were observed in yellowness (b⃰), where the breast muscles from T3 were more yellow than the other treatments. After 24 hours of slaughter, T2 L⃰ values were significantly different (P<0.05) from both T1 and T3 which were similar to each other. It was also found that the broiler chickens given diet with no T. molitor L inclusion (T1) had lower values of BW, FI, ADG and FCR throughout the experiment than those that were in T2 and T3 with 5 percent and 10 percent T. molitor L inclusion levels, respectively. However, it was also found that although broilers with 5 percent T. molitor L inclusion (T2) in their diet had high ABW and ADG than the broilers with 10 percent T. molitor L inclusion (T3), the T3 birds compared favourably to T2 birds as they required low feed intake to reach the same slaughter weight due to high FCR. It was, therefore, concluded that T. molitor L meal can be incorporated into the diets of broilers to produce heavy birds either at 5 or 10 percent. However, although 5 percent T. molitor L inclusion yields heavier carcasses, the 10 percent T. molitor L inclusion compared favourably to 5 percent inclusion since it required low feed intake to reach the same slaughter weights and there were slight differences on meat quality attributes between the two treatments.Thus T. molitor L at 10 percent inclusion levels was the best inclusion level to enhance broiler growth performance, carcass yield, meat yield and meat quality.
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- Authors: Mngqi, Sinethemba Census
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Broilers (Chickens) Chickens -- Feeding and feeds Meat -- Quality
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/2622 , vital:27944
- Description: This study was conducted to assess the effect of including Tenebrio molitor larvae (T. molitor L) as a protein source in different diets on broiler performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality. A total of 144 day-old Cobb-500 chicks were randomly allocated into three treatment groups, each was allocated 16 birds and reared in 9 identical pens. Experimental diets used were as follows: T1 Control (no T. molitor L inclusion); T2 and T3 contained levels of T. molitor L at 5 percent and 10 percent of dry matter (DM) intake, respectively. Body weights (BW), average daily gain (ADG), feed intake (FI), and Feed conversion ratio (FCR) were measured for the 1st experimental chapter. For the second experimental chapter; live weights (LW) of broilers were recorded before slaughter and thereafter carcass weights (CW), meat yield (weights of breast, thigh, drumstick and wing) were recorded. The dressing percentage (DP percent) was also calculated. Breast muscles were sampled for meat pH and colour measurements. The LW of birds from T1 (0 percent T. molitor L) were significantly different (P<0.05) from both T2 (5 percent T. molitor L) and T3 (10 percent T. molitor L) which were similar to each other, with T2 exhibiting the highest live weights (2166g) and the control treatment exhibiting the lowest live weights (2018.3g). In CW, T1 was significantly different (P<0.05) from T2 while it was similar (P>0.05) to T3. The dressing percent of T1 was significantly different (P<0.05) from T2 and T3 which were similar to each other, with T2 having the highest dressing percentage (78, 2 percent) and T1 having the lowest DP percent (66 percent). The breasts in T2 were significantly higher and different (P<0.05) from both T1 and T3 which were similar to each other. The drumsticks in T3 were significantly different (P<0.05) from T1 while they were similar to T2 with values with T2 having highest values. After 45 minutes of slaughter, a significant difference (P<0.05) was observed in L⃰ among all treatments. In redness (a⃰), T3 was significantly different from T1 but was similar to T2 and all treatments in this study exhibited a darker red meat, with T3 muscles exhibiting darker red colour than the other treatments. Similar results were observed in yellowness (b⃰), where the breast muscles from T3 were more yellow than the other treatments. After 24 hours of slaughter, T2 L⃰ values were significantly different (P<0.05) from both T1 and T3 which were similar to each other. It was also found that the broiler chickens given diet with no T. molitor L inclusion (T1) had lower values of BW, FI, ADG and FCR throughout the experiment than those that were in T2 and T3 with 5 percent and 10 percent T. molitor L inclusion levels, respectively. However, it was also found that although broilers with 5 percent T. molitor L inclusion (T2) in their diet had high ABW and ADG than the broilers with 10 percent T. molitor L inclusion (T3), the T3 birds compared favourably to T2 birds as they required low feed intake to reach the same slaughter weight due to high FCR. It was, therefore, concluded that T. molitor L meal can be incorporated into the diets of broilers to produce heavy birds either at 5 or 10 percent. However, although 5 percent T. molitor L inclusion yields heavier carcasses, the 10 percent T. molitor L inclusion compared favourably to 5 percent inclusion since it required low feed intake to reach the same slaughter weights and there were slight differences on meat quality attributes between the two treatments.Thus T. molitor L at 10 percent inclusion levels was the best inclusion level to enhance broiler growth performance, carcass yield, meat yield and meat quality.
- Full Text: