Fungal remediation of winery and distillery wastewaters using Trametes pubescens MB 89 and the enhanced production of a high-value enzyme therein
- Authors: Strong, Peter James
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Fungal remediation Distilleries -- Waste disposal Wine and wine making -- Waste disposal Bioremediation Laccase Enzymes -- Biotechnology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:3932 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003991
- Description: In this study white-rot fungi were investigated for their efficiency at distillery wastewater remediation and the production of laccase as a valuable by-product. Distillery wastewaters are high in organic load and low in pH. The presence of phenolic compounds can lead to extremely colour-rich wastewaters and can be toxic to microorganisms. The presence of the inorganic ions may also affect biological treatment. White-rot fungi are unique among eukaryotic or prokaryotic microbes in possessing powerful oxidative enzyme systems that can degrade lignin to carbon dioxide. These ligninolytic enzymes, such as lignin peroxidase, manganese peroxidase and laccase, are capable of degrading a vast range of toxic, recalcitrant environmental pollutants and this makes the white-rot fungi strong candidates for the bioremediation of polluted soils and waters. The laccase enzyme alone has shown remediation potential in wastewaters such as beer production effluent, olive mill wastewater, alcohol distillery wastes, dye-containing wastewaters from the textile industry as well as wastewaters from the paper and pulp industry. It has been shown to be capable of remediating soils and waters polluted with chlorinated phenolic compounds, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, nitrosubstituted compounds and fungicides, herbicides and insecticides.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
Environmental factors influencing ecotonal changes in an indigenous forest in the Keiskammahoek Forest Estate, Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Kiva, Luthando
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Forest ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Forests and forestry -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Forest conservation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/2743 , vital:28071
- Description: This study investigates environmental factors influencing ecotonal changes in the Dontsa Forest Management Unit (FMU) of the Keiskammahoek Estate Forest which is located in the Amatole Mountains of the Eastern Cape in the Republic of South Africa. The patterns of forest edge movement were analysed to show trends of forest edge movement from 1975 to 1985, 1975 to 1992, 1975 to 2002, 1975 to 2014, 1985 to 1992, 1985 to 2002, 1985 to 2014, 1992 to 2002, 1992 to 2014 and 2002 to 2014 by digitizing and assessing the scale of forest edge movement using georeferenced aerial photographs. Belt transects were established in six sites that were selected on the basis of physiographic elements for determination of the driving forces of forest ecotonal changes. The results of the study show that the forest edge moved positive towards the grassland biome while in other sites there was contraction of the forest edge from 1975 to 2014. The findings of the study show that some forest patches moved with few individual pioneer species towards the grassland while indigenous species dominated in the ecotone area of the forest in other research sites. D whyteana, A latifolius, R melanophloes, A facultus, R prenoides, C aurea, C bispinosa, C inerme, and S martina are the plant species with high density in the forest ecotone while A latifolius, R prenoides, R melanophloes were highly distributed along the grassland area. The results also show that harvesting of Pinus patula and illegal harvesting of understory species are major factors that result in ecotonal changes of Dontsa FMU. The research sites adjacent to residential areas have experienced reduction of ecotone area as compared to the research sites in high altitude areas of the Amathole Mountains where there is less disturbance. The eastern facing aspect of the forest exhibited a high density of plants in the forest ecotone as compared to the west facing slope.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Learners' perceptions of creating a collaborative hypermedia product: an exploratory case study at Mount Pleasant Primary School
- Authors: du Plessis, André
- Date: 2004
- Subjects: Computer-assisted instruction -- South Africa Computers -- Study and teaching -- South Africa Education, Elementary -- Activity programs Competency-based education -- South Africa Educational technology -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1663 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003546
- Description: The Ministry of Education (SICTE, 2002) states that the widespread introduction of computers in schools should support Curriculum 2005 and that computer technology is part and parcel of making schools the center of community life. The vision is to establish Smart Schools: schools that are reinvented in terms of teaching-learning practices to prepare learners for the information era (SICTE, 2002). Kafai (1996:71) has found that conventional school assignments rarely give learners the opportunity to spend a great deal of time on complex projects. As a result, many learners have little experience in design: planning, problem solving, researching, dealing with time constraints, modifying expectations and synthesizing everything in a project. Research by Carver, Lehrer, Connell and Erickson (1992); Lehrer, (1993); Lehrer, Erickson and Connell (1994); Kafai (1996); Liu and Hsiao (2002) and Liu (2002) indicates that the design of hypermedia artefacts can assist in providing experience in design. To date, no equivalent research has been conducted in South Africa to ascertain the perceptions of learners regarding the creation of a hypermedia artefact over an extended period of time and whether some of the critical outcomes specified in Curriculum 2005 can be addressed in such a learning-by-design hypermedia project. This study shows that design skills and aspects related to the critical outcomes of Curriculum 2005 can be achieved. Furthermore, it indicates that this kind of project encourages interest, motivation and collaboration. In addition, it suggests that learners experience the role of the teacher as different and prefer such a learning environment. In spite of the positive results, some aspects that need attention for future implementation are suggested.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2004
Utilising value stream mapping to improve operations at Transwerk Uitenhage
- Authors: Silo, Andile Elliot
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Production engineering , Production planning
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8760 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/604 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1011684 , Production engineering , Production planning
- Description: Transwerk is a business uint of Transnet. It was established in 1940. Since 1940 unti 1994, Transwerk operated as the engineering section of Spoornet and was known as South African Railways. Transwerk emancipated in 1994 and had plants in all nine provinces of South Africa. In the past, trains were hauled by steam locomatives, which were manually operated. With the improvement of technology, steam locomotives were replaced by diesel locomotives. The recent technology improvement brought about electric locomotives which are more reliable than diesel locomotives.Trnaswerk has a plant in the Eastern Cape Province which is situated in Uitenhage. This plant focuses on refurbishing wagins for Spoornet. This research is about improving the refurbishing processes of Transwerk Uitenhage.
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- Date Issued: 2006
The development of biological tools to aid in the genetic investigation of the black (Diceros bicornis) and white (Ceratotherium simum) rhinoceros mitochondrial genomes
- Authors: Parsons, Michelle
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/56059 , vital:26769
- Description: The black (Diceros bicornis) and white (Ceratotherium simum) rhinoceros are found in South Africa. A decline in the populations of these species has resulted due to human activities such as habitat fragmentation and poaching. This has contributed to the loss of genetic diversity amongst the black and white rhinoceros. Conservation and anti-poaching efforts are needed to help maintain genetic diversity. These efforts could be improved through the development of non-invasive techniques to examine DNA from threatened animals. The aim of this research was to develop a molecular technique which would allow for the identification of the black and white rhinoceros and to develop a molecular technique which would allow for intraspecies genetic variation to be examined. DNA extractions were performed on matched faecal and tissue samples that were collected from two regions in South Africa. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primer sets were designed to investigate several regions of the rhinoceros mitochondrial genome. PCR optimisation was completed for the target regions. Sequencing was conducted on all final PCR products. The cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COIi) gene allowed for the rhinoceros family to be identified. This region was digested with the HindIII restriction enzyme, which allowed for the specific identification of either the black or white rhinoceros. A subsequent region of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COIii) as well as the D-loop, hypervariable regions (HV1 and HV2), cytochrome b (cytb) and 16s rRNA regions were investigated. These regions displayed potential for establishing geographic origin for black rhinoceros samples, whereas the D-loop and HV2 show potential for the white rhinoceros. The white rhinoceros displayed sequence variation in the HV2 and cytb region, while variation was observed in the COIi and HV1 for the black rhinoceros. All investigated target regions allowed for the rhinoceros family to be identified. The COI (COIi and COIii), HV2 and cytb regions allowed for the subspecies of rhinoceros to be identified, however the D-loop was not able to identify the white rhinoceros species. The 16s rRNA and HV1 regions allowed for the correct subspecies of rhinoceros to be identified, however as the primers were only compatible for the black rhinoceros therefore a subsequent investigation is required for the white rhinoceros. The establishment of this novel PCR based technique to identify white and black rhinoceros will allow for efficient species identification in wildlife forensic cases. A biological method was established to study intraspecies variation for the white and black rhinoceros; however the investigated target regions did not yield sufficient genetic variation. The core techniques developed in this study will be valuable for future studies that wish to investigate genetic variation in mammal species.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Screening of technologies for the recovery of rhodium (III) metal ions from a precious metal refinery wastewater
- Authors: Mack, Cherie-Lynn
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Rhodium , Metal ions , Sewage -- Purification -- Metals removal , Platinum group
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:3987 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004046 , Rhodium , Metal ions , Sewage -- Purification -- Metals removal , Platinum group
- Description: The selective recovery of rhodium from wastewaters, in which the metal would be otherwise lost, would be highly profitable if the process were suitably low-cost. Current recovery processes are generally high maintenance and high-cost, whereas biological processes can be engineered to run with little external input in terms of cost and maintenance. Three emerging technologies were chosen based on their reported efficiency when removing base metals from wastewaters. The first technology screened, the sulphide-extraction membrane bioreactor (SEMB), consists of a sulphate-reducing prokaryote (SRP) anaerobic digester, in which a silicone membrane is submerged. Wastewater is passed through the membrane and metal ions are precipitated as metal sulphides by the hydrogen sulphide gas, which is capable of permeating the membrane. The second technology screened was a fluidized sand bed reactor in which metal ions are removed from solution via induction of nucleated precipitation by sodium carbonate onto the sand grains. The third, and most well established removal technology screened was a biosorption system using immobilized Saccharomyces cerevisiae biomass as the biosorbent. Experimental trials with each technology highlighted drawbacks with each; the SEMB system proved to be largely ineffective when challenged with the removal of rhodium from the wastewater as the rhodium precipitate fouled the membrane within hours, the fluidized bed system seemed unable to overcome the acidity of the wastewater and thus could not precipitate out the rhodium metal, and the efficiency of the biosorption process was hampered by the diversity of rhodium species present in the wastewater, which reduced the amount recovered. The outcomes of the trials with each technology indicated that further optimization of the technology or pretreatment of the wastewater is necessary before any of these options can be implemented. It could be concluded, however, that despite further optimization, both the SEMB and the fluidized bed system were not applicable in this case as precipitation would be non-specific, resulting in the necessity for further steps in order to purify the rhodium ions. Hence, the biosorption system was shown to be most applicable, and further optimization of the system could yield a highly efficient rhodium recovery process.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
Networking: enabling professional development and institutionalisation of environmental education courses in Southern Africa
- Authors: Lupele, Justin Kalaba
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: SADC Regional Environmental Education Programme Education -- Africa, Southern Environmental education -- Africa, Southern Environmental education -- Study and teaching -- Africa, Southern
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:1678 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003561
- Description: This study was aimed at understanding how networking can enable or constrain professional development and institutionalisation of environmental education courses in southern Africa in the context of the Course Development Network (CDN), a project of the Southern Africa Development Community Regional Environmental Education Programme (SADC REEP). The study involved 12 institutions (each institution was represented in the CDN by a staff member) in eight SADC member states. It was contextualized through a review of social, political, environmental and educational developments in southern Africa, with specific reference to regionalization processes, as the SADC REEF is constituted under this post-colonial political framework. Relational philosophy informed the research process and methodology. The philosophy underpinned three distinct, yet related theoretical perspectives namely: critical realism, which provided the ontological perspectives of the study; Actor Network Theory; and Community of Practice, which provided the epistemological perspectives. Data was generated during a 33-month period in southern Africa and 12 months in the United Kingdom (and on a one week visit to Italy). During a 12 month Split Site Commonwealth Scholarship award, tenable at Manchester Metropolitan University in the United Kingdom, I studied the Environment and School Initiative (ENSI) and the Sustainability Education for European Primary Schools (SEEPS), to examine whether the same mechanisms that made them successful would apply to the CDN in the context of southern Africa. While these two case studies provided useful insight into the relationship between networking, professional development and institutionalization of environmental education programmes, they were not the main focus of the research. Data analysis was mainly through inductive, abductive and retroductive modes of inference. Inductive data analysis was done by means of Nvivo – a computer software package used for qualitative data analysis. The software aided in revealing features and relationships in the data in more depth as it allowed flexibility in working with data. Abduction is the interpretation of a phenomenon by means of a conceptual framework. In this study, I used Actor Network Theory (ANT) (Latour & Woolgar, 1979; Callon, 1986) and Community of Practice (COP) (Lave, 1988; Lave & Wenger, 1991; Fullan, 2003) as analytical conceptual frameworks to probe networking and professional development respectively. Data on institutionalisation of environmental education courses was analysed by means of retroductive mode of inference, which is a thought operation that enables the understanding of social reality beyond what is empirically observable or experienced. This study reveals that there were a number of necessary (internal) and contingent (external) factors that enabled or constrained networking, professional development and institutionalisation of environmental education courses in the context of the CDN. The key factors included existing cultural capital, donor political economy, power relations, poverty related factors and social transformation trends. The study found that relational approaches and the use of three relational theoretical lenses provided a broader lens which enabled this study to identify different dynamics, greater ontological depth and understanding of the relational dynamics and relations at play in the CDN beyond the participants' experience and observable events. The study also contends that networking can provide a support structure for social transformation and change in environmental education.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
The development of the emerging technologies sustainability assessment (ETSA) and its application in the design of a bioprocess for the treatment of wine distillery effluent
- Authors: Khan, Nuraan
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Technology assessment , Wine and wine making -- Waste disposal , Distilleries -- Waste disposal
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:3953 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004012 , Technology assessment , Wine and wine making -- Waste disposal , Distilleries -- Waste disposal
- Description: Emerging Technologies Sustainability Assessment (ETSA) is a new technology assessment tool that was developed in order to compare emerging processes or technologies to existing alternatives. It utilizes infoIDlation modules, with the minimum use of resources such as time and money, in order to deteIDline if the process under development is comparatively favourable and should be developed beyond the early conceptual phase. The preliminary ETSA is vital in order to identify the gaps in the existing information and the specific methodologies to be used for data capture and analysis. The use of experimental design tools, such as Design-Expert, can facilitate rapid and efficient collection of necessary data and fits in well with the rationale for the ETSA. Wine distillery effluent (vinasse) is the residue left after alcohol has been distilled from fennented grape juice. It is an acidic, darkly coloured effluent, with a high COD and polyphenol content. The most popular method of disposal of this effluent, land application, is no longer viable due to stricter legislation and pressure on the industry to better manage its wastes. Although the ability of whiterot fungi to degrade a number of pollutants is well-known, fungal treatment of wine distillery effluent is still in the conceptual phase. The perfoIDlance of the fungal remediation system was assessed experimentally in terms of COD removal and laccase production using Design-Expert. Although Pycnoporus sanguine us was found to be most efficient at COD removal (85%) from 30% vinasse, laccase production was low (0.021 U/I). The optimum design for economically viable fungal treatment used Trametespubescens. This fungus was able to remove over 50% of the COD from undiluted vinasse while producing almost 800U/l of the valuable laccase enzyme within three days. Since the effluent from the fungal system did not meet the legal limits for wastewater disposal, a two-stage aerobicanaerobic system is suggested to improve the quality of the effluent prior to disposal. The ETSA was used to assess the fungal technology in relation to the two current methods of vinasse treatment and disposal, namely land application and anaerobic digestion. Based on the ETSA, which considered environmental, social and economic impacts, the fungal system proved to be potentially competitive and further development of the technology is suggested.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
The use of Landsat ETM imagery as a suitable data capture source for alien acacia species for the WFW programme
- Authors: Cobbing, Benedict Louis
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Geographic information systems , Global Positioning System , Landsat satellites , Agriculture -- Remote sensing , Geography -- Remote sensing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4856 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005532 , Geographic information systems , Global Positioning System , Landsat satellites , Agriculture -- Remote sensing , Geography -- Remote sensing
- Description: Geographic Information System technology today allows for the rapid analysis of vast amounts of spatial and non-spatial data. The power of a GIS can only be effected with the rapid collection of accurate input data. This is particularly true in the case of the South African National Working for Water (WFW) Programme where large volumes of spatial data on alien vegetation infestations are captured throughout the country. Alien vegetation clearing contracts cannot be generated, for WFW, without this data, so that the accurate capture of such data is crucial to the success of the programme. Mapping Invasive Alien Plant (IAP) data within WFW is a perennial problem (Coetzee, pers com, 2002), because not enough mapping is being done to meet the annual requirements of the programme in the various provinces. This is re-iterated by Richardson, 2004, who states that there is a shortage of accurate data on IAP abundance in South Africa. Therefore there is a need to investigate alternate methods of data capture; such as remote sensing, whilst working within the existing WFW data capture standards. The aim of this research was to investigate the use of Landsat ETM imagery as a data capture source for mapping alien vegetation for the WFW Programme in terms of their approved mapping methods, for both automated and manual classification techniques. The automated and manual classification results were compared to control data captured by differential Global Positioning Systems (DGPS). The research tested the various methods of data capture using Landsat ETM images over a range of study sites of varying complexity: a simple grassland area, a medium complexity grassy fynbos site and a complicated indigenous forest site. An important component of the research was to develop a mapping (classification) Ranking System based upon variables identified by WFW as fundamental in data capture decision making: spatial and positional accuracy, time constraints and cost constraints for three typical alien invaded areas. The mapping Ranking System compared the results of the various mapping methods for each factor for the study sites against each other. This provided an indication of which mapping method is the most efficient or suitable for a particular area.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Novel, soluble, FluXoro functional substituted zinc phthalocyanines; synthesis, characterization and photophysicochemical properties
- Authors: Erdoğmuş, Ali , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/261258 , vital:53378 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dyepig.2010.01.001"
- Description: Three novel phthalonitriles and the respective, peripheral tetrakis zinc phthalocyanines were synthesized and characterized using elemental analysis, IR, 1H NMR, mass spectra and electronic spectroscopy. The phthalocyanines displayed good solubility in organic solvents such as CHCl3, DCM, DMSO, DMF, THF and toluene. The presence of a long chain fluorine substitituent was found to result in reduced aggregation. The singlet oxygen, photodegradation, fluorescence quantum yield, triplet quantum yield and triplet life time of the complexes in toluene were determined. The effect of fluoro-functional groups on the photophysical and photochemical parameters of the zinc(II) phthalocyanines are also reported. Fluorescence quantum yields for the complexes ranged from 0.021 to 0.041.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Investigation into the biological removal of sulphate from ethanol distillery wastewater using sulphate-reducing prokaryotes
- Authors: Smuts, Lizl
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Sewage -- Purification -- Biological treatment , Prokaryotes , Sulfates , Distilleries -- Waste disposal
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:3941 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004000 , Sewage -- Purification -- Biological treatment , Prokaryotes , Sulfates , Distilleries -- Waste disposal
- Description: Ethanol production wastewater is known to be toxic, and is not easily biodegradable. It also consists of a variety of coloured components adding to the complex composition of this wastewater. Disposal of this wastewater into water courses is not recommended and yet is performed all over the world. Investigation of this wastewater found that there was a high concentration of sulphate which, in the presence of sulphate-reducing prokaryotes can cause sulphide corrosion of cement. The concentration of sulphate in the wastewater was approximately 2770 mg/L. It was also found that the wastewater pH was very low and discharge of the wastewater into the wastewater treatment works caused a negative impact on the overall quality of the final wastewater discharged to sea. It was found using FISH techniques that there were no sulphate-reducing prokaryotes present in the wastewaters but that a sulphate-reducing population existed on the sewer wall. An anaerobic contact process was designed to treat this wastewater targeting sulphate reduction to sulphide, to be converted into elemental sulphur and to increase the wastewater pH. The process did not achieve this aim and only approximately 20-30 % reduction in sulphate from the wastewater was achieved with little to no change in the pH. A 95 % reduction in sulphate concentration was needed in order to reach acceptable discharge limits. Sulphate reduction could not be carried out, even under ideal laboratory conditions. It was found that the barrier causing the digester failure was the high concentration of phenols present in the wastewater (3.3 g/L) together with the production of high concentrations of volatile fatty acids (on average 13 g acetic/L). These two components are known to cause digester failure, especially phenols, and phenols are usually only degraded by fungal species. It was concluded that the wastewater itself was not amenable to this method of biological treatment.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
The ibali of Nongqawuse: translating the oral tradition into visual expression
- Authors: Nhlangwini, Andrew Pandheni
- Date: 2003
- Subjects: Nongqawuse, 1841-1898 , Xhosa (African people) -- History , Oral tradition -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Oral history -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Art -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech (Fine Art)
- Identifier: vital:10761 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/237 , Nongqawuse, 1841-1898 , Xhosa (African people) -- History , Oral tradition -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Oral history -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Art -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The tribal life and the oral traditions of black South Africans have been marginalized. The consequence of the western civilization and the apartheid regime forced people to do away from their traditional heritage and culture; they adopted the western way of life. They buried their oral tradition and only a little has survived. To save the dying culture of the art of the oral tradition we need to go out and record and document the surviving oral tradition as soon as possible. Since the art of the oral tradition is an art form conducted by an artist, it may be possible to tell the ibali likaNongqawuse by means of visual imagery. Visual images can be read and be understood easily by the public because visual forms, sings, images can make up a language for both the literate as well as the illiterate.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2003
Where the global meets the local : South African youth and their experience of global media
- Authors: Strelitz, Larry Nathan
- Date: 2003
- Subjects: Mass media and youth -- South Africa Mass media -- Sociological aspects Mass media and culture -- South Africa Youth -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:3290 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003078
- Description: Within the context of debates concerning the impact of global media on local youth, this study explores how a sample of South African youth responds to texts which were produced internationally, but distributed locally. Recognising the profound rootedness of media consumption in everyday life, the research examines the way these youth, differentially embedded in the South African economic and ideological formation, use these texts as part of their ongoing attempts to make sense of their lives. The study rejects the 'either/or' formulations that often accompany competing structuralist and culturalist approaches to text/audience relationships. Instead, using a combination of quantitative and qualitative research methods, it seeks to highlight the interplay between agency and structure, between individual choice and the structuring of experience by wider social and historical factors. The findings of the study point to the complex individual and social reasons that lie behind media consumption choices, and the diverse (and socially patterned) reasons why local audiences are either attracted to, or reject, global media. These and other findings, the study argues, highlight the deficiencies of the media imperialism thesis with its definitive claims for cultural homogenisation, seen as the primary, or most politically significant, effect of the globalisation of media. As such, this study should be read as a dialogue with those schools of thought that take a more unequivocal point of view on the impact of globalised media culture.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2003
The extent to which review for unreasonableness is meaningfully incorporated in the promotion of Administrative Justice Act no. 3 of 2000
- Authors: Bednar, Jeannine
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Administrative law Administrative law -- South Africa Judicial review of administrative acts -- South Africa Law reform -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: vital:3707 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006515
- Description: Prior to the current constitutional dispensation, the development of South African administrative law was restricted by the doctrine of Parliamentary Sovereignty. Even in that comparatively 'hostile' environment, review for unreasonableness developed as an aspect of judicial review, and was applied as a check on the exercise of administrative power in certain circumstances. The principle of proportionality as an aspect of review for unreasonableness also developed during this period. With the advent of the new Constitutional dispensation, the framework within which administrative law in South Africa operates became one governed by Constitutional Supremacy. The Rights to Just Administrative Action, including a right to reasonable administrative action, were entrenched in the Constitution. Review for unreasonableness is an important aspect of administrative law in the present Constitutional dispensation as the mechanism for protecting the Constitutional right to reasonable administrative action. Proportionality is an important principle underlying the Bill of Rights as a whole, and it is an important aspect of the right to reasonable administrative action, and of review for unreasonableness. In early 2000, the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act No. 3 of 2000 ("the PAJA"), was passed by Parliament in fulfillment of the Constitutional requirement to pass legislation to give effect to the constitutional rights to Just Administrative Action. This thesis examines whether or not review for unreasonableness, and proportionality as an aspect of review for unreasonableness, have been meaningfully incorporated in the PAJA, and if they have not been, what potential remedies there might be. This is done by examining the basis of judicial review both before and under the current constitutional dispensation; defining unreasonableness, and proportionality; examining the content of the right to administrative action which is "justifiable in relation to the reasons given" in section 24(d) of the Interim Constitution and the right to reasonable administrative action in terms of section 33(1) of the Final Constitution; examining the application of review for unreasonableness and proportionality by the Courts both before and under the current constitutional dispensation; examining the content of judicial review incorporated in the PAJA and the drafting history of section 6(2) of the PAJA which relates to review for unreasonableness; drawing conclusions regarding whether or not review for unreasonableness and proportionality were meaningfully incorporated in the PAJA; and finally making recommendations with regard to review for unreasonableness and proportionality in light of the provisions of the PAJA.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
The impact of total productive maintenance (TPM) on manufacturing performance at the Colt Section of DaimlerChrysler in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Ncube, Mfowabo
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Total productive maintenance , Plant maintenance -- Management , Automobile industry and trade -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8560 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/579 , Total productive maintenance , Plant maintenance -- Management , Automobile industry and trade -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Today's successful manufacturing organisations require a significant competitive advantage, hence the need to implement and develop a Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) strategy. This research paper addresses the impact of TPM on manufacturing performance at the Colt production facility (DCSA). A literature survey was undertaken into the elements and benefits of TPM. Questionaires were also sent to all levels of people at the Colt production facility for their views on TPM and the impact, they believe, it has had on manufacturing performance. In conclusion, this research paper has also led to the development of recommendations to improve TPM activities at the Colt production facility. From the research, it was shown that top management support for TPM activities is needed and that training is an essential factor for TPM's success in improving manufacturing performance.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
3-Methyl-1-phenyl-4-[(phenyl)(2-phenylhydrazin-1-yl)methylidene]-1H-pyrazol-5(4H)-one
- Identifier: http://vital.seals.ac.za8080/10353/7489 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/5328 , vital:29192
- Full Text:
Vergelyking van Tilapia (Oreochromis Mossambicus)en Koi (Ciprinus Carpio) in verskillende produksiestelsels
- Authors: Van der Merwe, Johan Philip
- Date: 2002
- Subjects: Fish culture
- Language: Afrikaans
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech (Agricultural Management)
- Identifier: vital:10967 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/114 , Fish culture
- Description: Die studie was uitgevoer om te bepaal of warmwaterspesies soos tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) en koi (Ciprinus carpio) gebruik kan word as deel van 'n roterende akwakultuur produksie sisteem in die Wes-Kaap. Drie produksiestelsels (drywende hokstelsel; gronddamme en hersirkuleringseenheid) was ge-evalueer vir beide tilapia en koi produksie. Twee verskillende diëte (tilapia, 32% proteien, 'n lae waarde dieet en koi, 32% proteien, 'n hoë waarde dieet) was ook ge-evalueer vir die effek op koi produksie. Tilapia- en koi vingerlinge was teen dieselfde lading (250/hok) in elke produksiestelsel geplaas. By die begin van die proewe het die tilapia vingerlinge 'n gemiddelde gewig van 60-80g en die koi vingerlinge 'n gemiddelde lengte van 30-40 mm gehad. Die visse is twee keer per dag gevoer en data is op 'n maandelikse basis oor 'n periode van 84 dae versamel. Produksie data vir die tilapia versamel was: 1) die gemiddelde daaglikse toename, 2) die totale voer verbruik, 3) water temperature en 4) mortaliteite is daagliks aangeteken. Die produksie data versamel vir koi wat twee verskillende diëte ontvang het in drie verskillende produksiestelsels was: 1) die gemiddelde daaglikse toename in lengte, 2) die totale voer verbruik, 3) water temperature en 4) mortaliteite is daagliks aangeteken. Die resultate van die tilapia studie het aangedui dat tilapia in die hersirkuleeringseenheid het deurgaans 'n swaarder gewig gehad (p<0.05) as die van die drywende hokstelsel en gronddam stelsel. Terwyl die gronddam stelsel weer 'n swaarder gewig gehad het as die drywende hokstelsel behalwe vir April (171,67 / 39,49 vs 159,33 / 22,15). Nieteenstaande die verskil in begin gewig en eind gewig in die guns van die tilapia in die hersirkuleringseenheid teenoor die ander twee stelsels het die GDT tussen die drywende hokstelsel en die hersirkuleringseenheid nie noemenswaardig verskil nie (1,20 / 0,15 vs 1,40 / 0,24). Die tilapia in die gronddamme het egter swakker (p<0,05) gewigstoename van 0,72 / 0,32 g gehad teenoor die tilapia in die drywende hokstesel 1,40 / 0,24 g en 1,20 / 0,15 g van die tilapia in die hersirkuleringseenheid. Tilapia in die gronddamme het dus ongeveer 45% swakker gemiddelde gewigstoename getoon as die van die drywende hokstelsel en hersirkuleringseenheid. Die produksiestelsel het 'n hoogs betekenisvolle invloed (p<0,001) op die groeipotensiaal van tilapia gehad in hierdie studie. Die gemiddelde totale hoeveelheid voer verbruik was nie statisties verskillend tussen die drywende hokstelsel en gronddam stelsel nie (29,83 / 2,66 vs 30,83 / 5,42), maar wel (p<0,05) vir die hersirkuleringseenheid (29,94 / 0,88). Die VOV het nie verskil tussen die drywende hokstelsel en hersirkuleringeenheid, maar daar was wel 'n verskil (p<0,05) tussen hierdie twee stelsels en die van die gronddamme. Die totale gemiddelde mortaliteite van tilapia was die hoogste (p<0,05) vir die drywende hokstelsel in vergelyking met die gronddamme en hersirkuleringseenheid. Die drywende hokstelsel het 14,67 / 14,61% meer mortaliteite gehad as die gronddamme en hersirkuleringeenheid. Die koi studie se resultate dui aan dat die tipe stelsel het 'n hoogs betekenisvolle (p<0,001) invloed gehad op die gemiddelde toename in lengte van die koi vis vir die somerseisoen. Die tipe dieet het geen invloed op die toename in lengte van koi vis vir al drie die stelsels ge-evalueer, maar die interaksie tussen dieet en die tipe stelsel was wel betekenisvol (p<0.05). Die interaksie tussen die tipe dieet en die tipe stelsel was die hoogste vir die groddamme 136,41 / 32,46 mm en 136,25 / 33,08 mm vir beide tilapia en die koi diëte gevoer. Die gemiddelde totale voer wat deur koi visse in die drie stelsels verbruik is, het wel statisties van mekaar verskil (p<0,05). Koi visse in die gronddam stelsel het meer voer verbruik vir beide die tilapia- en koi dieet (31,03 / 2,01 en 29,67 / 3,57) in vergelyking met die (26,35 / 2,44 ; 26,98 / 0,49 en 5,50 # 0,52 en 6,13 / 0,22) vir die drywende hokke en hersirkuleringseenheid stelsels onderskiedelik. Die % mortaliteite was betekenisvol (p<0,05) vir die verskillende stelsels. Koi visse in die hersirkuleringseenheid het die hoogste mortaliteite gehad vir beide die tilapia en die koi diëte (65,50 / 18,07% en 79,50 / 38,27%) terwyl koi visse in die gronddamme die laagste mortaliteite ondervind het (1,20 / 1,20% en 2,33 / 4,89%) vir beide die tilapia en koi diëte. Die koi in die gronddam stelsel het die beste resultate gelewer en dit is ook moontlik om koi 'n lae waarde dieet te voer sonder nadelige effekte op produksie.
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- Date Issued: 2002
Curcumin analogues as ligands for Re (I) and (V)
- Authors: Schmitt, Bonell
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Rhenium , Ligands , Chemistry, Inorganic
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10443 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020975
- Description: Coordination properties of 4-bromo-N-(diethylcarbamothioyl)benzamide (Hbeb) and 4-bromo-N-(diphenylcarbamothioyl)benzamide (Hbpb) with oxorhenium(V) and rhenium(I) are reported and discussed. Transition metal complexes of these ligands were studied due to the wide range of applications of thiourea derivatives in biological fields. N-[Di(alkyl/aryl)carbamothioyl]benzamide derivatives readily coordinate to metal ions as O,S-donors and the catalytic property of the complexes can be altered by these ligands, due to steric and electronic properties provided by various substituents. The coordination possibilities of curcumin with rhenium(V) are discussed, as well as the difficulties encountered. Analogues of curcumin have been made, which also contains a seven-spacer unit between the phenyl rings, which would be more reactive and more effective in bonding to rhenium and which have greater or a similar biological activity to curcumin. This was done by assessing the coordination properties of 1,5-bis(salicylidene)thiocarbohydrazide (H4salt) and 2,4-bis(vanilidene)thiocarbohydrazide (H4vant) with oxorhenium(V) and rhenium(I) starting materials. Two rhenium(V) complex salts of the core [ReX(PPh3)2]4+ (X = Br, I), containing a coordinated imido nitrogen, are reported. One is a ‘2+1’ complex, coordinating bi- and monodentately, with the other a similar ‘3+0’ complex containing a tridentate imido-coordinated Schiff base. Selected compounds were tested against oesophageal cancer cell lines in order to evaluate and compare their effectiveness in eliminating or reducing the cancer cells in the test medium during biological testing.
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- Date Issued: 2012
Isolation, expression and purification of the hydantoin hydrolysing enzymes of agrobacterium tumefaciens
- Authors: Clark, Sally-Ann
- Date: 2003
- Subjects: Agrobacterium tumefaciens , Amino acids Hydantoin Enzymes
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4140 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1016233
- Description: The production of enantiomerically pure amino acids is of industrial importance as they are used in the synthesis of a number of pharmaceuticals, insecticides and herbicides and biologically active peptides and hormones. A number of microorganisms have been identified which possess hydantoin hydrolysing enzymes that stereoselectively convert racemic hydantoins into anantiomerically pure amino acids. Consequently these microorganisms and their enzymes are sought after as biocatalysts for the production of amino acids. The isolation of novel hydantoin hydrolising enzymes with unique or improved biocatalytic characteristics is of importance for the development of potential biocatalysts to be used in the production of enantiomerically pure amino acids. The genes encoding an N-carbamoyl-amino acid amidohydrolase, an enzyme involved in the hydrolysis of hydantoin, was isolated by screening a genomic DNA library of Agrobacterium tumefacience RU-AE01. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the region upstream of this gene revealed a fragment of a gene encoding the hydantoinase enzyme. I this study, a DNA probe consisting of the gene encoding the N-carbamoyl amino acid amidohydrolase, on a large enough fragment of the genomic DNA library which would allow for the simultaneous isolation the hydantoinase gene located upstream. Recombinant expression of the genes encoding hydantoin hydrolysing enzymes has been used to facilitate the production and purification of these enzymes for their use as biocatalysts. Two genes (ncaR1 and ncaR2) encoding different N-carbamoyl-amino acid amidohydrolases with distinct nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences were isolated from the genome of A, tumefaciens RU-OR. In this study, the heterologous expression of ncaR1 and ncaR2 was explored. Investigation into the optimisation of the heterologous expression of ncaR1 showed that reducing the growth temperature of the recombinant E. coli producing NcaR1 resulted in a two-fold increase in N-carbamoyl-amino acid amidohydrolase activity and solubility. Furthermore, NcaR1 was produced with a C-terminal 6xHis tag, but NcaR1-6xHis did not possess N-carbamoyl amino acid amidohydrolase activity. Furthermore, purification of NcaR-6xHis under native conditions using affinity chromatography performed, and used for the production of antibodies.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2003
Synthesis, characterization, and biological studies of pyrazolone Schiff bases and their transition metal complexes
- Authors: Idemudia, Omoruyi Gold
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Chemistry)
- Identifier: vital:11340 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1016068
- Description: Some new acylpyrazolone Schiff bases have been synthesized from the condensation reaction of two acylpyrazolone diketone precursors with phenylhydrazine, 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine and sulfanilamide. They have been fully characterized by elemental analysis and spectroscopic techniques (IR,1H and 13C NMR, and mass-spectra). The single crystal structure of the benzoyl derivative acylpyrazolone Schiff bases have been obtained and analyzed by X-ray crystallography technique. Solid state X-ray diffraction revealed a keto tautomer Schiff base in solid state. Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes with the Schiff bases have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR and UV-VIS spectroscopy, magnetic susceptibility measurements, and thermal studies (TGA and DTG). An octahedral geometry around the transition metal ion, consisting of two bidentate Schiff base ligands bonding through the azometine nitrogen and ketonic oxygen have been proposed based on careful interpretation of available analytical and spectroscopic characterization results. Two water molecules as ligands complete the octahedral geometry in all cases. Using the invitro disc diffusion method for screening synthesized compounds against selected gram positive and gram negative bacterial at 40 mg/mL, and the DPPH free radical scavenging methods at 0.50, 0.25 and 0.13 mg/mL, the synthesized Schiff base and metal complexes showed varying biological activities. 4-benzoyl-3-methyl-1-phenyl-2-pyrazolin-5-one sul29 fanilamide showed more activity generally, exhibiting a broad spectrum activity against all selected bacterial in some cases. Mn(II), Co(II) and Ni(II) complexes of sulfanilamide Schiff base with the acetylpyrazolone derivative 4-acetyl-3-methyl-1-phenyl-2-pyrazolin-5-one sulfanilamide, exhibited a stronger and very good DPPH radical scavenging activity as good as ascorbic acid on comparing, but not with Cu(II). As such they could be important antitumour candidates.
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- Date Issued: 2014