The Effects of Monaural Beat Technology on Learners' Experiences of Music Performance Anxiety (MPA)
- Authors: Flanagan, Jayson Edward
- Date: 2021-10-29
- Subjects: Performance anxiety Alternative treatment , School music South Africa Makhanda , Music students South Africa Makhanda Examinations , Beats (Acoustics) Psychological aspects , Monaural Beat Technology
- Language: English
- Type: Masters theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/188419 , vital:44752
- Description: Music performance anxiety (MPA) is related to the experience of persisting, distressful, apprehensions about and/or actual impairment of performance skills in a public context, to a degree unwarranted given the individual’s musical aptitude, training and level of preparation (Salmon 1990). This research project set out to investigate learners’ subjective experiences of the effects of monaural beat (MB) vibrational frequencies on their experiences of MPA. The research project was a qualitative study based on a phenomenological research paradigm, which fundamentally aims to explore an experience in its own terms (Smith et al. 2009). The research participants consisted of four subject music pupils at St Andrew’s College and The Diocesan School for Girls and were interviewed through in-depth, semi-structured interviews over two practical examinations. The results suggested that various factors contribute to the experience of music performance anxiety, such as the performers’ perceptions of audience reactions, as well as the context of the performance. Self-esteem and the performer’s fragile sense of self-worth and self-confidence also play an important role in influencing their music performance anxiety. However, listening to monaural beats during a performance has the ability to lower levels of music performance anxiety by eliciting the following effects: an improved sense of confidence within the listeners; a sense of calm; the monaural beats working on a passive awareness level that allows the beat to operate at a sub-conscious level; the ability to focus better on the task at hand as well as benefit the listener in non-musical contexts such as studying; general concentration or ordinary tasks such as gardening or going for a run. The research suggests that listening to monaural beats during a musical performance can benefit the performer by lowering levels of MPA. As a result, the performer will experience an improved sense of confidence, calmness and the ability to focus better on the task at hand. Monaural beats have also shown to be a useful method of dealing with MPA instead of resorting to pharmaceutical drugs or other methods of coping such as playing games for distraction. , Thesis (MMus) -- Faculty of Humanities, Music and Musicology, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-10-29
The use of African languages in traditional courts: a Luyengweni case study
- Authors: Nyakambi, Ntombizethu
- Date: 2021-10-29
- Subjects: African languages South Africa Eastern Cape , Forensic linguistics South Africa Eastern Cape , Linguistic rights South Africa Eastern Cape , Communication in law South Africa Eastern Cape , Language planning South Africa Eastern Cape , Language policy South Africa Eastern Cape , Court interpreting and translating South Africa Eastern Cape , Customary law South Africa Eastern Cape , Customary law courts South Africa Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Masters theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/188810 , vital:44788
- Description: Forensic linguistics is a relatively new field in South Africa. This field which forms part of the applied linguistic discipline seeks to look at the application of linguistic knowledge, methods and insights to the forensic context of the law. This is a forensic linguistic study that seeks to look at the use of African languages in the traditional courts. The researcher explored the traditional courts of Luyengweni, a rural area situated in KwaBhaca at Mount Frere in the Eastern Cape. The concept of African languages usage is explored within the boundaries of customary laws as outlined in Section 6 of the South African Constitution of 1996. To fully elicit the use of African languages in the traditional courts of Luyengweni this study employed an exploratory qualitative research design method. This research method allows for data to be collected from the participants using semi-structured interviews, observation and other qualitative methods of data instrumentation. Relevant community members of Luyengweni such as Chiefs and their councillors, ordinary members of the community and the court secretary were interviewed by the researcher and the data was translated, transcribed and analysed. The thesis made use of a thematic analysis. These themes showed that the use of African languages in traditional courts is still relevant, however, the imbalances of language use in both common and customary law need to be addressed. The study revealed that the traditional courts still serve as law institutions that people trust to bring about justice, therefore language use as one of the pivotal tools in the justice system needs to be considered for effective justice to be carried out. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Languages and Literatures, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-10-29
Working and Living Conditions of Seasonal Workers in the Agro-processing sector: a Case study of Carara Agro-Processing Services (Pty) Ltd
- Authors: Ngidi, Buyisiwe Sime
- Date: 2021-10-29
- Subjects: Seasonal labor South Africa , Labor market South Africa , Agricultural processing industries South Africa , Agricultural processing industry workers Employment South Africa , Employee rights South Africa , Unfair labor practices South Africa , South Africa. Labour Relations Act, 1995 , Carara Agro-Processing Services (Firm)
- Language: English
- Type: Masters theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/188799 , vital:44786
- Description: This thesis analyses the working and living conditions of seasonal workers. In the context of increased demand for processed and higher-value food products, the agro-processing industry has been identified as a main contributor in the South African labour market (Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, 2012: 17). In an effort to achieve high production outputs while saving on operational costs, employers have been seen incorporating more non-standard labour. In the agro-processing industry, non-standard labour has been in the form of seasonal workers which has been a matter of concern to state structures tasked with ensuring company compliance with labour regulations, especially as it relates to the protection of workers within the industry. Many of these workers are offered little protection, sub-standard working conditions, irregular working hours, having little or no benefits, lacking skills and often facing a lack of trade union representation (Fourie, 2008:111). The introduction of section 198B of Labour Relations Act (LRA) has been designed to address the rights of non-standard workers and to provide protection against exploitative practices within various industries (Griessel, 2015:1). The thesis focuses its attention on the role of social reproduction and the labour process in perpetuating domination and inequalities within the workplace. Further, the thesis examines the challenges of non-standard labour and the difficulties of regulating it in practice. It also discusses the livelihood strategies adopted by seasonal workers when not employed, in this case, by Carara Agro Processing Services. The research adopted qualitative research techniques in the form of semi-structured interviews and used purposive and snowball sampling in accessing relevant data for analysis purposes. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Sociology, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-10-29
Echogenic liposomes for ultrasound-triggered drug delivery
- Authors: Izuchukwu, Ezekiel Charles
- Date: 2021-10
- Subjects: Liposomes , Drug delivery systems , Colon (Anatomy) Cancer Treatment , Transmission electron microscopy , Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , Liquid chromatography , Echogenic liposomes , Ultrasound-triggered drug delivery
- Language: English
- Type: Masters theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/188997 , vital:44805
- Description: Colorectal cancer is one of common cancers worldwide. It is the third most diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of death. The use of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) alone or in a chemotherapy regime has been the effective treatment of colorectal cancer patients. The efficacy of 5-FU in colorectal cancer treatment is significantly limited by drug resistance, gastrointestinal, and bone marrow toxicity through high-level expression of thymidylate synthase, justifying a need to improve its therapeutic index. Liposomes are colloidal membranes comprising of one or more lipid bilayers enclosing an aqueous core. They have been used to improve the therapeutic index of many anti-cancer drugs by changing drug absorption, elongating biological half-life, reducing metabolism, and reducing toxicity to healthy tissues. Echogenic liposomes are specifically designed to respond to external triggering like ultrasound stimulation by entrapping a gas or an emulsion that can vaporize. A liposome's unique property is that it can entrap both hydrophobic and hydrophilic substances simultaneously in the lipid bilayer and the aqueous core, respectively. These stimuli-responsive liposomes can be triggered externally with ultrasound, to release the chemotherapeutic cargo only at the required site. This research aims to formulate echogenic liposomes encapsulating 5-FU for potential ultrasound triggered release (echogenic). Liposome formulations wereprepared with lipid composition of crude soybean lecithin and cholesterol by thin-filmhydration method and the drug was passively loaded in the formulation. The 5-FU loadedliposomes were evaluated by dynamic light scattering (DLS) for particle size, polydispersityindex, and zeta potential and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for morphology.Encapsulated liposomal formulations were also evaluated using physicochemical techniquesincluding thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC),Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Theencapsulation efficiency and release kinetics were studied using a validated high-performanceliquid chromatography (HPLC) method. Echogenic properties were explored by entrapping abiocompatible gas (argon) at the same time as the drug (5-FU) using a pressure/freezemethodology. The liposomal formulations were typically spherical with a size of about 150 nmand encapsulation efficiency of 62%. Low-frequency ultrasound (20 kHz) was used to triggerthe drug release from the complete formulation at 10%, 15%, and 20% amplitude and exposuretime of 5 min and 10 min. The rate of drug release from the nano-carrier was a function of theultrasound amplitude and exposure time and reached a maximum of 65% release under theconditions investigated. The cumulative release was investigated, with and without theapplication of ultrasound. It was demonstrated that the application of ultrasound resulted in complete release (99%) after 12 h while this dropped to 70% without ultrasound. These results are encouraging for optimizing ultrasound parameters for triggered and controlled release of the 5-FU, for conditions such as the management of cancer where low-power ultrasound can be applied. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Chemistry, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-10
Knowledge, Attitudes and Perceptions Towards HIV Testing Among IsiXhosa-Speaking Men in The Zithulele Catchment Area of The Rural Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
- Authors: Scotcher, Philippa Claire
- Date: 2021-10
- Subjects: HIV infections
- Language: English
- Type: Masters theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/6842 , vital:51017
- Description: BACKGROUND South Africa carries the largest burden of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in the world, with over 7.9 million people infected and over 70 000 HIV-related deaths in 2019. Men are 25% more likely to die from Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) compared to women, even though women are more likely to be infected. Despite these numbers, only 24.1% of HIV-positive men compared to 64.8% of HIV-positive women were aware of their status. Statistics indicate that men in South Africa are not testing for HIV until it is too late. In order to focus efforts on the prevention of HIV transmission, there is a need to understand why men are not accessing HIV testing and treatment services earlier. This study aims to explore the knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions towards HIV testing of isiXhosa-speaking men in the Zithulele catchment area of the rural Eastern Cape. METHODS This was a qualitative study using the phenomenological approach. It was conducted among a purposive sample of isiXhosa-speaking men from the Zithulele catchment area, in the OR Tambo district of the Eastern Cape Province. Ten semi-structured interviews and one focus group were conducted in isiXhosa. Interviews were audiorecorded, transcribed, and translated into English. The interviews were thematically analysed using an inductive approach. RESULTS Participants from the study had a good understanding of HIV and HIV transmission. They perceived HIV infection as a death sentence, a consequence of immoral behaviour and an indication of failure as man. Reluctance to test for HIV was due to the perception that testing hastens the onset of symptoms and death, whereas disclosure of an HIV-positive status was described as difficult due to the fear of stigmatization. Some of the barriers to accessing HIV testing services included masculine norms, the belief that sickness is equated with weakness, a perceived lack of confidentiality at health facilities and how female-dominated clinics were not male-friendly spaces. Suggestions to improve HIV testing among men included improving targeted education, home-based testing services and utilizing traditional meetings to address men. CONCLUSION The findings of this study may suggest that healthy men in the Zithulele catchment area of the rural Eastern Cape are not accessing HIV testing and treatment services. The reasons behind this reluctance include false beliefs around HIV and testing, the fear of discrimination, disruption of masculine norms and reluctance to access care at female-dominated health facilities. Further research is needed to explore ways to reach, educate and encourage men to test earlier for HIV. , Thesis (Masters) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-10
Nurturing an identity of land custodianship of young people through a biodiversity learning programme: The Moletele Youth Learning Programme
- Authors: Mponwana, William Oupa
- Date: 2021-10
- Subjects: Sustainable biodiversity South Africa Mopani District Municipality , Association for Water and Rural Development (South Africa) , Land reform beneficiaries South Africa Mopani District Municipality , Agricultural development projects South Africa Mopani District Municipality , Land use Study and teaching South Africa Mopani District Municipality , Identity (Psychology) Social aspects South Africa Mopani District Municipality , Identity (Psychology) in youth South Africa Mopani District Municipality , Moletele Youth Learning Programme , Moletele Communal Property Association (CPA) , RESILIM-O
- Language: English
- Type: Masters theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/188820 , vital:44789
- Description: This study was an exploration of value creation through scaffolding in a context specific learning programme with young people within the Moletele Communal Property Association (CPA) who own land through the land reform programme in South Africa. The study aimed to support the development the identity of land custodianship amongst young people by developing their skills and competencies in a situated learning context. The study also informed ongoing support work through the RESILIM-O resilience building project implemented by the Association for Water and Rural Development (AWARD) to help the Moletele Community Property Association to better understand the implications of biodiversity and land use for developing sustainable beneficiation projects and planning. A case study approach was adopted through a learning programme with young people as an in-depth exploration of the complexities of land and biodiversity. Data were collected during sessions in the learning programme where we used a spiral framework to facilitate learning focusing on four themes for primary data: knowledge competence, technical skills, self-organization and collective agency which are linked to building an identity of custodianship. Semi structured interviews were conducted at the end of the learning programme as a secondary data source. The study found that scaffolding remained an important process throughout the learning programme, and different types of scaffolding was needed to support the learning processes and themes. Furthermore, different types of value were created over time through the interactions and activities of the learning programme. The study also found that young people have a desire to participate in their communal property association. Lastly the study revealed that building custodianship as an identity is a continuous, long term process that needs commitment of time, resources and supportive learning processes, for an identity of custodianship to emerge. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Education, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-10
Physiological winners and losers in an ocean warming hotspot: a Case study on argyrosomus off the Namibian coast, with implications for their future management
- Authors: Pringle, Brett Andrew
- Date: 2021-10
- Subjects: Argyrosomus Benguela Current , Ocean temperature Benguela Current , Sciaenidae Benguela Current , Argyrosomus Physiology Benguela Current , Argyrosomus Geographical distribution Climatic factors Benguela Current , Argyrosomus Effect of temperature on Benguela Current , Sciaenidae fisheries Namibia , Fishery management Namibia , Sustainable fisheries Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Masters theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/188987 , vital:44804
- Description: Anthropogenic-induced climate change is having a profound impact on aquatic ecosystems, and the resilience of fish populations will be determined by how they respond to these impacts. Changes in ocean water temperature is regarded as the most pervasive change, and affects the biological, physiological and distribution response of species, particularly ectotherms. The increasingly variable biological responses to a changing environment suggest that some species and populations will likely prove to be more tolerant than others. The northern Namibian coast is an ocean warming hotspot, with temperatures rising at approximately ten times the global average. These rapid changes are predicted to have a considerable impact on the marine fauna. One recently documented change in distribution is a southern extension of the sciaenid, Argyrosomus coronus, from southern Angola into northern Namibian waters, where it now overlaps with the closely related Namibian species, Argyrosomus inodorus. Understanding how these species perform at current and future temperatures and where they overlap is vital to optimise any adaptive management for the Argyrosomus species, which forms a large component of Namibia’s coastal commercial, recreational and subsistence fisheries. The aim of this study was to quantify the aerobic scope of both species (A. coronus and A. inodorus), to determine which Argyrosomus species will be a winner at the current and future climate predictions and to provide recommendations for the sustainable management of the Namibian Argyrosomus fishery. Intermittent flow-through respirometry was used to quantify standard and maximum metabolic rates for both species across a range of temperatures. Results showed that metabolic rates scaled positively with temperature. It appears that the aerobic scope of A. inodorus was notably higher at most temperatures (12, 15, 18 and 21˚C), while that of A. coronus was only higher at the warmest test temperature of 24˚C. This corresponded with the contemporary biogeographic patterns of each species. Based on these findings, it is likely that the warming ocean conditions in northern Namibia and the cold Lüdertiz upwelling cell south of Walvis Bay will constrain these fish to central Namibia. While both species demonstrated signs of resilience to high temperatures, it is likely that the warming conditions will increasingly favour A. coronus, and that the leading edge of their distribution will shift southward in Namibia. The distribution of A. inodorus is likely to contract, as the energy budget of those on the northern trailing edge will be compromised. To promote the sustainable utilisation of the complex Argyrosomus fishery, adaptive management strategies need to be implemented. This will only be possible with a comprehensive monitoring program, including the collection of genetic data to inform the changing proportions of the two species. To maintain the A. coronus population, the current regulations need to be re-assessed, and harvest slots should be introduced to protect juvenile A. coronus and the fecund large females of both species. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Ichthyology and Fisheries, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-10
Potential Synergism between Entomopathogenic Fungi and Entomopathogenic Nematodes for the control of false codling moth (Thaumatotibia leucotreta)
- Authors: Prinsloo, Samantha Lee
- Date: 2021-10
- Subjects: Cryptophlebia leucotreta , Entomopathogenic fungi , Insect nematodes , Citrus Diseases and pests , Cryptophlebia leucotreta Biological control , Pests Integrated control , Biological pest control agents
- Language: English
- Type: Masters theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/188832 , vital:44790
- Description: False codling moth, Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) (FCM), is a major phytosanitary pest of citrus in South Africa. Sufficient control measures for the soil-dwelling life stages of FCM have yet to be identified and owing to restrictions on the use of insecticides, non-chemical control options have been investigated including the use of entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) and entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN). Laboratory and field trials on an indigenous EPF, Metarhizium anisopliae FCM Ar 23 B3, have shown that this isolate is capable of inducing mortality in FCM soil-dwelling life stages. Other agents that have been highlighted as potential controls for soil-dwelling FCM life stages are the EPN species Steinernema yirgalemense 157-C, S. jeffreyense J194 and H. noenieputensis 158-C. This study conducted laboratory bioassays to assess the virulence of these four control agents on fifth instar FCM, in 24-well plates. These results reaffirmed the virulence of the four microbial control agents at their recommended doses of 50 IJs (EPN) and 1×107 conidia/ml (EPF) against fifth instar FCM with 80 to 96% larval mortality recorded. The EPF isolate exhibited the lowest mortality whilst S. yirgalemense induced the greatest mortality. In addition, the lethal concentration (LC) values for each isolate were determined using dose response bioassays. These values were previously unknown for all EPN species and for the EPF isolate based on the methodology used in this study. The LC50 results in order from lowest to highest EPN IJ concentration requirements were 4.38 IJs (S. yirgalemense), 4.47 IJs (S. jeffreyense) and 7.11 IJs (H. noenieputensis). The EPF isolate exhibited an LC50 of 3.42×105 conidia/ml. Lastly, research has shown that the combination of two control agents may increase control of late instar lepidopteran and coleopteran larvae, through synergistic interactions. Thus, the interactions that occurred between the combination of these EPN species with the EPF isolate were determined. This study found that when all three EPN species were combined simultaneously and sequentially with the EPF isolate M. anisopliae FCM AR 23 B3, additive interactions took place with exception of the simultaneous application of S. yirgalemense and H. noenieputensis, with the EPF and S. jeffreyense applied 24 h post EPF application. For the former, a synergistic interaction was found, whilst for the latter two, an antagonistic interaction. Although no strongly synergistic interactions were observed, additive interactions have been shown to reach a synergistic level when certain parameters are changed. Moving forward, a uniform methodology for conducting EPF/EPN interaction experiments has been suggested. It has also been recommended that due to the additive interactions observed in this study, laboratory soil-bioassays and field trials should be carried out for all three EPN species in combination with the EPF isolate. This research will inevitably facilitate the constant knowledge into management strategies for the phytosanitary pest, FCM in South African citrus. , Thesis (MSc) -- Science, Zoology and Entomology, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-10
Quantifying the ecological and socioeconomic implications of a recovery/collapse of South Africa’s West Coast rock lobster fishery
- Authors: Eggers, Jessica Marguerite
- Date: 2021-10
- Subjects: Jasus lalandii South Africa , Lobster fisheries South Africa , Lobster fisheries Catch effort South Africa , Fishery management South Africa , Small-scale fisheries South Africa , Economics Sociological aspects , Value chain analysis
- Language: English
- Type: Masters theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/188854 , vital:44792
- Description: The West Coast rock lobster (WCRL) Jasus lalandii fishery is South Africa’s third most valuable fishery, but the stock is currently at less than 2% of its pristine biomass. Scientists are warning that if no measures are taken, the WCRL could face commercial extinction. The necessary reductions in the global Total allowable Catch (TAC) seen in past years have had large economic implications for the WCRL value chain, but research into the socio-economic aspects of this fishery is limited. This study, therefore, aims to establish an overview of the economic revenue over the seasons 2016/17 – 2018/19 by exploring changes and trends in the net seasonal income (NSI) for the fishery, sectors within the fishery and different stakeholders. It also investigates the prospects for the sectors and different actors in this fishery over the seasons 2019/2020 - 2030/31 through analysis of the net present value (NPV) under three proposed global TAC management scenarios (global TAC of 640 tonnes, 1084 tonnes and 1280 tonnes). Data concerning costs and incomes as well as dynamics, mechanisms and concerns surrounding the fishery were collected from stakeholders in the different sectors through interviews and surveys. Further, official records from DEFF (catches, actors, vessels and quotas) and projections made by the Marine Resource Assessment (MARAM) team at the University of Cape Town (rates of recovery of the resource and future catches under the different TAC scenarios) were obtained and analysed. Cost and income data were summarised and models characterising the economic flows within the fishery were created. Calculations regarding the NSI and NPV were made using Monte Carlo simulations to account for the uncertainty surrounding many of the input variables. Results show that while the fishery as a whole made economic profits for the three seasons, the decreasing quotas in 2018/19 had a disproportionately negative impact on some of the representative individuals examined within the different sectors. The projections indicate that while each of the sectors as a whole would continue to make profits largely proportional to their allocation under the different TAC scenarios, many vessel owners in the fishery are likely to face economic losses or very marginal gains under the lower quota options, while the NPV for quota holders who outsource the catching of their quota are likely to be proportionally less affected by the changes in global TAC. This dynamic is important to consider for the future of this fishery. If the resource is to recover, and fishing activity is to continue equitably under the decreased quotas that the recovery of the biomass necessitates, the socio-economic context and the dynamics within which the fishers operate must be considered and studied more extensively and socio-economic consequences of a lower global TAC mitigated while improving the ecological status of the resource. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Ichthyology and Fisheries Science, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-10
The factors to be considered by the competition authorities when a fine may cause the firm to exit
- Authors: Quilliam, Layne Edwin
- Date: 2021-10
- Subjects: South Africa. Competition Act, 1998 , Competition Tribunal (South Africa) , Business enterprises Law and legislation South Africa , Debt-to-equity ratio South Africa , Bankruptcy Prevention , Causation , Competition
- Language: English
- Type: Masters theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/188408 , vital:44751
- Description: The Competition Act empowers the Competition Tribunal to levy fines against a firm for certain contraventions of the Act. Such fines are statutorily capped to prevent the fine from causing the firm’s exit. This maximum is based on the overarching principle of fairness which precludes a fine, on its own, from destroying a firm’s business. However, the Competition Appeal Court acknowledged in 2013 that fines below this cap may still cause a firm to exit. The purpose of this paper is to propose the factors that should be considered when determining a firm’s ability to pay such a below-cap fine. These factors are the calculation of the fine, probable exit, causation of exit and the competitive effect of the firm’s exit. The fining provisions of the Act are initially explored to provide context for the discussion and are then compared to equivalent provisions in Europe. Liquidation and business rescue proceedings are then described as the most common forms of a firm’s exit from the market. Methods for determining the causal relationship between the fine and the firm’s exit are explored through delictual law’s factual and legal causation. The competitive effects of the firm’s exit are premised on the purpose of the Competition Act and are evaluated through the Competition Act’s merger provisions, specifically, the failing firm factor. These proposed factors are then tested through hypothetical facts to analyse their possible interactions and efficacy. , Thesis (LLM) -- Faculty of Law, Law, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-10
The synthesis and characterisation of Sn(IV) porphyrin derivatives and their potential application in anti-cancer and antimicrobial photodynamic therapy
- Authors: Dingiswayo, Somila
- Date: 2021-10
- Subjects: Porphyrins , Photochemotherapy , Cancer Photochemotherapy , Active oxygen Physiological effect , Aromaticity (Chemistry) , Tetrapyrroles , Magnetic circular dichroism , Corroles , Chlorins , Photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy (PACT)
- Language: English
- Type: Masters theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/188843 , vital:44791
- Description: In photodynamic therapy (PDT), the activation of light-sensitive drugs in tumour cells produces reactive singlet oxygen species, which cause tumour destruction through a cascade of biochemical reactions. Over the years, the wavelength of activation has been shown to be a critical factor in the penetration of light. Hence the properties of photosensitiser dyes in this context shape their ability to treat deep-seated tumours. In this study, the synthesis, structural characterisation and photophysicochemical properties of a series of Sn(IV) porphyrins with meso-methylthiophenyl rings that have been prepared to study their PDT and photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy (PACT) activity properties are reported. The series of Sn(IV) complexes is comprised of a porphyrin (1-Sn), a corrole (2-Sn), a chlorin (3-Sn) and an N-confused porphyrin (4-Sn). Herein, the low symmetry Sn(IV) porphyrin derivatives are shown to have excellent singlet oxygen generation capabilities, and lifetimes of the triplet excited states were in the microsecond range. For example, 4-Sn had a singlet oxygen quantum yield (ФΔ) and an excited triplet state lifetime (τT) of 0.88 and 27 μs, respectively. The complexes were studied using UV-visible and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopies. Interestingly, the positive-to-negative sign sequences of the Faraday B0 terms of 2-Sn and 3-Sn reveal that the structural modifications involved break the degeneracy of the MOs derived from the 1eg* LUMO of the porphyrin 1-Sn. In contrast, a conventional negative-to-positive sign sequence is observed for 4-Sn, since the confusion of a pyrrole moiety also results in a large separation of the 1a1u and 1a2u MOs of the porphyrin 1-Sn that are derived from the HOMO of a C16H162−parent hydrocarbon perimeter. The trends in the electronic structures of the Sn(IV) complexes were further investigated through a series of time-dependent density functional theory calculations, so that the suitability of the different types of complex for use in singlet oxygen applications could be further explored. During in vitro photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy (PACT) studies, chlorin derivative 3-Sn had the highest activity towards S. aureus and E. coli with log10 reductions of 10.5 and 8.74, respectively. The unusually high activity of 3-Sn against E.coli suggests that the interaction of neutral photosensitisers with gram-negativebacteria is more complex than previously understood. Anti-cancer PDT studies demonstrated that the photosensitisers had negligible dark cytotoxicity. Upon photoirradiation, the Sn(IV) complexes consistently exhibited IC50 values lower than 15 μM against MCF-7 adenocarcinoma cells. An IC50 value of 1.4 μM for 4-Sn after activation at the deep-red region of the spectrum demonstrates that complexes of this type merit further in-depth investigation. The results provide evidence that the low-symmetry Sn(IV) chlorins and N-confused porphyrins merit further in-depth study for use in singlet oxygen applications. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Chemistry, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-10
Towards Reconfiguring the Agricultural Expert System (AES) for Black Small to Medium Farmer Development for Commercialization: A progressively focused policy literature review and social learning dialogue in the Eastern Cape Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality
- Authors: Maqwelane, Lwanda
- Date: 2021-10
- Subjects: Farms, Small South Africa Amathole District Municipality , Minority farmers , Public-private sector cooperation South Africa Amathole District Municipality , Social learning South Africa Amathole District Municipality , Agricultural expert system (AES) , Black small to medium farmers (BSMF)
- Language: English
- Type: Masters theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/188876 , vital:44794
- Description: This study focuses on the agricultural expert system (AES), its inherited and potential reframing capabilities for the development, growth and transition of black small to medium farmers (BSMF) into the commercial sector. The study was conducted as a critical analytical policy review of implemented policies pre-and post 1994 that subsequently highlighted the thematic continuities and discontinuities of policy reform and the subsequent impact on BSMFs using the AES as a conceptual lens. The study aimed working with stakeholders in the AES in the Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality as a case study to critically engage and question the AES and its contemporary framing and potential reframing and continued impact on the BSMFs development. This was conducted through a dialogical social learning process in partnership with diverse voices that cut across the contemporary agrarian landscape that included “universities, think tanks, vocational training providers, standards-setting agencies, trade associations that provide specialized training, education, information, research and technical support” (Porter, 2000, p.17). The data for the social learning dialogue process was generated through an iterative analysis of dialogical social learning workshops, focus groups and semi-structured interviews. The analysis focused on the framing (Chapters 2, 3, and 5) and reframing of the AES (Chapter 6). Through dynamic engagement within the knowledge hub (contextual social learning and literature), the study surfaces a potential alternative discourse that actively includes the BSMFs as a crucial component of the commercial sector AES as the analysis shows these are largely excluded. This alternative discourse occurred through dialogical interactions with all participants via a pro-actively constituted social learning process, enriched and deepened by literature as indicated above. Main recommendations of the study are: 1. The AES must be framed to address the holistic value chain of BSMFs to help address underlying policy dualism, 2. Public Private Partnerships are needed to support BSMFs development and these should adopt a social learning approach that is reflective of complex realities 3. There is need for better understanding of roles and contributions of stakeholders in the AES to avoid duplications. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Education, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-10
Ilmenite megacryst-hosted melt inclusions from the Monastery kimberlite: implications for kimberlite origins
- Authors: Van Huyssteen, Aiden
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: To be added
- Language: English
- Type: Masters theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/178387 , vital:42935
- Description: Polymineralic inclusions encapsulating a daughter assemblage of crystalline phases (including silicates, oxides, and carbonates) and an amorphous glass phase, hosted in ilmenite megacrysts from the Monastery kimberlite, were investigated texturally and geochemically in order to constrain their melt origin, modeof formation, and evolution prior to quenching. The isolated nature of the melt inclusions within the ilmenite megacrysts provides an opportunity to study components of primary kimberlitic magma captured within the SCLM (4.5–6 GPa) that has been isolated from pervasive modifying processes that are common in kimberlites. The common daughter phase assemblage within the melt inclusions comprises serpentine, phlogopite, calcite, spinel, kassite, perovskite, ilmenite, and glass. The glass is Si-Mg-Fe-rich, with low Al2O3 contents. It is also K2O- and TiO2-free, with variably depleted REE. In composition, serpentine forms a crystalline equivalent to the glass. However, these phases are optically distinct. Serpentine represents two modes of formation: (i) discrete euhedral grains set within a glass matrix that represent a primary phase, crystallising directly from the entrapped melts, and (ii) as patches of partially crystallised glass that represent a secondary phase formed by the devitrification of the glass. Spinel and phlogopite form along early kimberlitic evolutionary trends and record the depletion of the melt in TiO2, Al2O3, and K2O, which typically decreases from the core to the rim of the crystals. Volatile and alkali-bearing minerals (calcite, apatite, phlogopite) crystallised within the melt inclusions from the captured alkali-rich carbonated-silicate kimberlite melt. The daughter mineral assemblage initially crystallised as euhedral and subhedral grains with a uniform composition under equilibrium conditions. Subsequent crystallisation formed grains that exhibit magmatic zoning due to their crystallisation in a progressively depleted melt. Lastly, the crystallisation of skeletal oxide grains occurred under disequilibrium conditions, at a stage of magma ascent with rapidly changing variables including temperature, melt viscosity, and diffusivity. Prior to complete crystallisation, the residual Si-Mg-Fe melt of this crystallisation process was quenched to form the observed glass. The phases that constitute the common daughter assemblage show large variations in modal proportions, forming a continuum from silicate-rich to carbonate-rich endmember inclusions, with certain daughter phases absent in some inclusions. This suggests that the melt was heterogenous at the time of capture and comprised immiscible silicic/oxidic and carbonate melts. Phase separation, therefore, may have started prior to capturing of magma batches as inclusions in ilmenite, but further segregation and crystallisation continued after these batches had become isolated from the megacryst matrix as melt inclusions. The immiscibility and co-existence of the silicic/oxidic and carbonate melts is preserved by textural features between calcite and glass, such as rounded globules of calcite grains set within a silicate glass matrix, calcite forming the matrix for euhedral silicate and oxide minerals, and calcite occupying the interior void of skeletal oxide grains set within a silicate glass matrix. Furthermore, spherulitic globular domains of Ca- and Ti-rich glasses set within a matrix of the Si-Mg-Fe glass suggest that the silicic/oxidic melt underwent further segregation into oxide-rich (Ca-Ti) and silicate-rich (Si-Mg-Fe-Al-K-Ti) melts, potentially crystallising the oxide and silicate minerals of the daughter assemblage, respectively. The abundance of incompatible trace elements and the Cr-poor composition of secondary low-Mg ilmenite as a daughter mineral within the melt inclusions (~1400 ppm Nb; <0.1 wt% Cr2O3; <0.1 wt% MgO), in addition to the Cr-poor composition of the other daughter phases within the inclusions (i.e. <0.1 wt% Cr2O3 for phlogopite and spinel), indicate that they crystallised from a similar melt as the Cr-poor, but high Mg-ilmenite megacrysts (~1400 ppm Nb; <0.1 wt% Cr2O3; ~10 wt% MgO). Furthermore, the melt inclusions are randomly distributed and no textural and/or geochemical evidence for melt infiltration of the ilmenite megacrysts was associated with the melt inclusions. These features are consistent with a primary origin for the melt inclusions which implies a cognate relationship between the megacrysts and the captured kimberlite melt. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Geology, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-04
Impacts of food security programmes at Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Ngxeba, Zola
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Gqeberha (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Masters theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53030 , vital:44875
- Description: Poverty is recognised as one of the greatest challenges faced by developing and the least developed countries. South Africa has been no different with increased levels of poverty which are also inherit from the substantial inequality in the country. Thus, food security programmes have become an innovative way to tackle the issue of poverty across municipalities. Taking a qualitative and quantitative root within the Buffallo City Municipality located in the Eastern Cape, this study evaluated the impact these programmes have on household food security. Through surveys and interviews with participants in the Siyazondla and Siyakhula food programme instituted by department of rural development and agrarian reform (DRDAR) the findings show that beneficiaries benefited heavily from the programmes. Several households reported increased scale of food supply due to programmes such as the gardening projects and inputs within the agricultural process particularly; seeds, fertilizer and equipment neccesary for planting. Thus, conclusively, the outcome of these food security programmes has been positive and it is adviced that the department of rural development and agrarian reform (DRDAR) increase the population of households in the projects offered by the department. Moreover, these projects should be implimented to provide means which could enable communities to continue the projects without need for dependence. This would entail providing individuals with the neccesary skills and education to continue these projects within their households at limited costs. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, School of Economics, Development and Tourism, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-04
Pedagogic videos as a foreign language learning resource in textbooks used in the German studies section of a South African university: A digital multimodal discourse perspective
- Authors: Schafli, Sasha-Lee
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Language and languages Study and teaching Audio-visual aids , Educational technology , Media programs (Education) , German language Study and teaching Foreign speakers Audio-visual aids , Visual learning , Rhodes University , German language Discourse analysis , Digital multimodal discourse analysis
- Language: English
- Type: Masters theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/177087 , vital:42789 , http://doi.org/10.21504/10962/113934
- Description: Video is a prominent teaching and learning tool within foreign language (FL) textbook media packages in the 21st century. While studies undertaken in the Global North highlight that video materials in the FL classroom have the potential to influence learning and cultural knowledge acquisition, there is a lack of research on the manner in which pedagogically designed videos influence adult FL learning and cultural knowledge acquisition in a South African context. In this study, I explore the opportunities and challenges in terms of language learning and cultural knowledge acquisition that arise from three pedagogic videos in the Menschen A1 textbook which is used in teaching students registered for the German Studies 1 course at Rhodes University. I compare and contrast two sets of data to examine the relationship between pedagogic video and student knowledge acquisition: the results of a digital multimodal discourse analysis (DMDA) of these videos, and questionnaires and transcriptions collected from semi-structured group interviews with German Studies 1 students. These questionnaires and transcriptions were analysed thematically. Findings in terms of the language learning experience indicate that actor over-exaggeration and visual aids assist students when learning German at this level with this type of video. However, these visual aids can be distracting and confusing without balanced representation and contextual information. Differences between videos in terms of speech rate seem to affect students’ perceptions of their ability to comprehend the videos. Students reported forming only positive impressions of German culture(s) on the basis of the videos. In general, students find Germans portrayed as friendly and helpful in the videos. The results of this investigation provide recommendations for the optimal use of this type of teaching and learning resource, for example, teachers/ lecturers/ facilitators should allow for focus group discussions on cultural discourse to occur in order to balance stereotype formation and should consider the speech rate of videos for language learning. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Linguistics and Applied Language Studies, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-04
Assessing South African Medical Interns’ Experience and Confidence in Managing Obstetric Emergencies
- Authors: Miller, Andrew
- Date: 2021-02
- Subjects: Obstetrical emergencies
- Language: English
- Type: Masters theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/6882 , vital:52352
- Description: Background: Medical doctors in South Africa are required to complete a two-year internship at training hospitals, including a four-month rotation in obstetrics and gynaecology. Following this, doctors are allocated to community service posts; many of which are at district and primary level facilities where supervision is limited. The latest triennial Saving Mothers Report identified district hospitals as the second leading site for maternal deaths of all causes. District hospital were also the leading site for maternal deaths secondary to obstetric haemorrhage and the most likely site for the lack of a skilled doctor to be identified as a factor in deaths associated with caesarean delivery. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study aimed to describe the self-perceived readiness of medical interns completing their training to independently manage obstetric emergencies, based on the ESMOE modules in the HPCSA internship logbook. The research assessed medical interns in the last three months of their training, using a self-administered online questionnaire, with data collection between October and December 2019. Cluster sampling of interns at training facilities throughout the country resulted in a total of 182 respondents from 17 hospitals in seven provinces in the country, with an overall response rate of 34.1%. Results: Most interns had experience with, and confidence in, the management of miscarriage and hypertension in pregnancy. However, gaps in labour ward management, pregnancy related sepsis and surgical skills were identified. Only 42.3% of respondents were confident in their ability to diagnose obstructed labour, 26.3% had performed an assisted delivery, 39.0% were confident in their knowledge of the indications and contraindications of assisted deliveries and 35.7% had been involved in the delivery of a baby with shoulder dystocia. Regarding pregnancy related sepsis, 54.4% had experience with managing a wound abscess and 29.7% were confident managing puerperal endometritis. While 78.0% felt confident to perform a caesarean section, only 28.6% had performed uterine compression sutures for uterine atony at caesarean section. Additionally, there was a statistically significant variation in scores between training hospitals. Conclusion: A gap exists between the shortcomings in district hospital obstetric services, the prioritisation of placement of community service doctors at primary care and district hospitals, and the self-perceived readiness of medical interns completing their training to safely manage obstetric emergencies. This highlights the importance of clinical support for junior doctors at district hospitals and standardisation of intern training at accredited facilities across the country. , Thesis (Masters) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-02
Outcomes of Drug Resistant Tuberculosis in Two Rural District Hospitals, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
- Authors: Lotz, John-D Knipe
- Date: 2021-02
- Subjects: Medicinal plants
- Language: English
- Type: Masters theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/6834 , vital:51018
- Description: Tuberculosis (TB) is still rampant in South Africa, and drug resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) forms a significant part of this burden on both the health care system and economy. A number of interventions have recently been introduced to help curb the growing epidemic of DR-TB, including increasing access to novel and repurposed drugs, decentralisation of care, and a new shorter (9-11 month) treatment regimen recently endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO). Significantly, this new regimen has now also become injectable-free (also known as an all-oral regimen). However, at the time of implementation in 2017, the shorter regimen was yet to be proven effective in a programmatic setting in South Africa. This is a retrospective cohort study to describe the outcomes in patients on short and long DR-TB treatment regimens, over five years, at two treatment sites in a rural setting in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is the hope that elucidation of factors involved in affecting outcomes in DR-TB may direct future interventions in these two facilities, and the wider DR-TB program in South Africa , Thesis (Masters) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-02
Prevalence and Implications of Telecommunication Counselling
- Authors: Lusiba, Sinazo.
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: Counseling
- Language: English
- Type: Masters theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/7554 , vital:54349
- Description: ABSTRACT The purpose of the present study was to explore prevalence and implications of telecommunication counselling. Available literature suggests that telecommunication counselling may have far-reaching implications in the mental health practice in general, and particularly in psychology. This study was guided by the social information processing theoretical framework. A total number of 26 mental health practitioners aged from 22 to 45 were selected using purposive sampling. In this study questionnaires were distributed to respondents through email, email was also used to collect the research data. Research ethics, such as confidentiality, anonymity, and voluntary participation, were strictly observed. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 23 was used to analyse the data. The analysed data are presented in frequency tables and graphs. This study found that there are effectiveness and efficiency factors associated with the use telecommunication counselling. Furthermore, the findings imply that the popularity of this type of counselling has been growing steadily in the past few years, especially in urban areas. Furthermore, despite the increase and growing popularity in the use of telecommunication counselling, the results suggest the presence of ethical dilemmas that confront the practitioners. , Thesis (Masters) -- Faculy of Humanities, Social Sciences and Law, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021
Re-thinking freedom: selected Life-Writings of South African Born-frees
- Authors: Mpendulo, Mashumi
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: Born-Frees , Freedom of expression , Post-apartheid era -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Masters theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/3400 , vital:43339
- Description: Ideas of freedom in post-apartheid South Africa cannot be understood in isolation from the lived experiences of the people we often consider as the future of South Africa. Freedom is a time-bound value whose meaning keeps changing as time goes by, and our understanding of freedom before 1994 cannot be the same as today. With close reference to the selected life writings of South African born-frees, this study examines ideas of freedom as expressed in these texts written from the perspectives of ordinary young black people in post-apartheid South Africa. It unpacks the youth’s rejection of the tag ‘born-free’ by bringing out the difficulties of their upbringing in poverty and inequality. This work argues that poverty, inequality, unemployment, and dilapidated infrastructure in public schools are still very much a feature of post-apartheid South Africa, and that the government is yet to fully transform the lives of ordinary black people who much as they try to do so themselves, are still faced with structural inequalities, physical and symbolic violence. Through decolonial theory, the selected texts are analysed to trace the legacies of colonialism and apartheid and how notions of freedom have changed over time. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Law, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021
An Investigation on the Clinical Experiences of Newly Qualified Professional Nurses in Hospital Facilities of the Alfred Nzo District Municipality in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Hloba, Siyathemba Prince
- Date: 2021-00
- Subjects: Nurse practitioners
- Language: English
- Type: Masters theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/7942 , vital:55856
- Description: The study aimed to explore and describe the clinical experiences of newly qualified professional nurses in hospital facilities of the Alfred Nzo District Municipality in the Eastern Cape. The newly qualified professional nurses may face difficulties in the hospital facilities when it comes to the execution of duties. The newly qualified professional nurses are expected to display knowledge, skills and to have a positive effect on patients, the relatives of patients and their colleagues to alleviate diseases. This challenge may create emotional distress if newly qualified professional nurses receive inadequate guidance from the senior staff members of the hospital facility. The objectives of this study were to explore and describe the clinical experiences of newly qualified professional nurses, to explore how the newly qualified professional nurses were affected emotionally by clinical experiences and to explore the support system to enhance the performance of the newly qualified professional nurses. A qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual design was used to explore and describe the experiences of the newly qualified professional nurses in hospital facilities of the Alfred Nzo District Municipality in the Eastern Cape. A purposive sampling of newly qualified professional nurses, with less than two years of experience after completing the community service in the clinical practice, was used. The data were collected through face-to-face and semi-structured interviews. The interviews were conducted until the data were saturated. A pilot study was done before the main study to prove the adequacy and suitability of the methods to conduct the main study. The participants‟ interviews and results of the pilot study were incorporated into the interviews and results of the main study. Tesch‟s method of thematic analysis and an independent coder were used to analyse the data and to draw meaning from the content. The study used Guba and Lincoln‟s criteria of measures to ensure trustworthiness, which included credibility, confirmability, dependability and transferability. Ethical standards were maintained throughout the study as the researcher complied with ethical principles, namely, respect for persons, beneficence, justice and autonomy. The key considerations to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, as stipulated by the World Health Organisation, were followed during the data collection. On data interpretation, three themes were developed with eight subthemes on the first theme, two subthemes on the second theme and three subthemes on the third theme. The research findings revealed that the participants experienced negative attitudes from colleagues and multidisciplinary team members. The shortage of staff and resources made participants feel ineffective in their work environment. Clinical exposure to different units and procedures in various units added value to the development of the participants. The recommendations were made with regards to three divisions. They were the hospital facilities‟ personnel, future nursing research personnel and nursing schools personnel. In hospital facilities, the recommendations included that all novice professional nurses should be made aware of the emotional impact at work. An annual plan for workshops and in-service training should be implemented. Professional counselling is required for the novice professionals who were exposed to Covid-19 isolation units. A need to increase staff coverage in the clinical units was identified as the workload is too big. Management is encouraged to be more sensitive about the newly employed nurses‟ challenges in their facilities and the most experienced nurses are encouraged to mentor and coach the novice nurses. In the future nursing research, recommendations included that more studies need to be conducted in South Africa and the Eastern Cape province to verify the findings of this research. A specific research study that will focus on the supportive needs of nurses in clinical facilities should be done institutionally to provide evidence-based practice. The research culture on the nurses‟ experiences in clinical facilities needs to become a norm. In nursing schools, the recommendations motivated that the nursing students should be exposed to all clinical units before completing the training xiv course. Further studies need to be conducted to evaluate the balance between theory and clinical learning on duly performance. The nursing education institutions should use quality improvement suggestion boxes for students to consider their experiences and opinions about their learning. Key words : clinical experiences, newly qualified professional nurses, Alfred Nzo district municipalities , Thesis (Masters) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-00