The implementation of a mobile application to decrease occupational sitting through goal setting and social comparison
- Authors: Tsaoane, Moipone Lipalesa
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/365544 , vital:65758
- Description: Background: Feedback proves to be a valuable tool in behaviour change as it is said to increase compliance and improve the effectiveness of interventions. Interventions that focus on decreasing sedentary behaviour as an independent factor from physical activity are necessary, especially for office workers who spend most of their day seated. There is insufficient knowledge regarding the effectiveness of feedback as a tool to decrease sedentary behaviour. This project implemented a tool that can be used to determine this. To take advantage of the cost-effectiveness and scalability of digital technologies, a mobile application was selected as the mode of delivery. Method: The application was designed as an intervention, using the Theoretical Domains Framework. It was then implemented into a fully functioning application through an agile development process, using Xam- arin.Forms framework. Due to challenges with this framework, a second application was developed using the React Native framework. Pilot studies were used for testing, with the final one consisting of Rhodes University employees. Results: The Xamarin.Forms application proved to be unfeasible; some users experienced fatal errors and crashes. The React Native application worked as desired and produced accurate and consistent step count readings, proving feasible from a functionality standpoint. The agile methodology enabled the developer to focus on implementing and testing one component at a time, which made the development process more manageable. Conclusion: Future work must conduct empirical studies to determine if feedback is an effective tool compared to a control group and which type of feedback (between goal-setting and social comparison) is most effective. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Computer Science, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
Exploring integration for the topic of stoichiometry in South African natural sciences and physical sciences school curricula
- Authors: Mgolozeli, Kwanele
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/405330 , vital:70162
- Description: Many developing countries, including South Africa, have identified the provision and implementation of strong science curricula as central to their developmental needs. Stoichiometry is a fundamental chemistry topic because the concepts involved form the basis of later topics such as chemical equilibrium, rates of reactions, redox reactions, and acid-base reactions. School students consistently demonstrate lack of understanding of stoichiometry-related concepts and skills such as the particulate nature of matter and related mathematical problem-solving. The poor performance of high school students in central science topics such as stoichiometry is problematic for their further study of chemistry and for the country meeting its need for science graduates. Successive examiner reports pointed to the lack of integration of stoichiometry concepts across the grades being the main problem. However, no study could be found which explores how stoichiometry is integrated in the South African Natural Sciences and Physical Sciences curriculum across the grades. This provided the rationale for the current study. The case study reported in this thesis thus aimed to explore integration of stoichiometry concepts in South African Natural Sciences and Physical Sciences school curricula. It involved document analysis as the method of collecting data. The research adopted the social realist paradigm, with its realist ontology and relativist epistemology. Legitimation Code Theory provided the theoretical framing. Chemistry concepts that are foundational to the understanding of stoichiometry according to literature, were chosen as root concepts for the concept mapping undertaken to identify types of integration. The concept maps revealed four stoichiometry integration themes: integration of stoichiometry concepts with symbols, integration of stoichiometry concepts with explanations, integration with applications in a chemistry context, and integration with an everyday context. These themes provided integration categories. A semantic gravity translation device was then developed for characterising the types of integration in terms of the degree of contextualisation. The results of this study show that stoichiometry integration of weaker semantic gravity is legitimated more strongly over other semantic gravity codes in the Natural Sciences and Physical Sciences curricula across all grade levels. While this has advantages in terms of knowledge-building potential, the consequence is that the integration occurs at very abstract levels that are far removed from learners’ everyday lives. The practical implication for curriculum developers involves increasing the instances of integration of stoichiometry concepts at stronger levels of semantic gravity, for a more even semantic gravity range of integration types. Natural Sciences and Physical Sciences teachers also need to source and include real-life examples for explanations and applications of stoichiometry concepts when teaching, in light of current curriculum documents focusing more on abstract forms of integration. Methodologically, this study contributes to the increased utility of semantic gravity through its exploration of integration in relation to knowledge-building potential of curriculum for hierarchical knowledge structures such as chemistry. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Education, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
The meanings of the social media practices of African women engaged in multi-level marketing in Makhanda
- Authors: Tembani, Khuselwa Anda
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/365588 , vital:65762
- Description: In their efforts for a place in the economy, many South African women have embraced opportunities in the informal sector such as selling products for big Multi-Level Marketers (MLMs), who generally operate on a pyramid structure of commissions. This qualitative study investigates the meanings African women engaged in MLMs in Makhanda make of such work and examines how they construct notions of progress and success through their social media practices. The study was conducted in the strictest lockdown period and pioneered a research method that used Zoom to facilitate screen sharing on mobile phones to create an online version of the scroll-back method for Facebook. As expected for women working in a society increasingly integrated in a global neoliberal order, many of the meanings the women construct are rooted in neoliberal discourses that celebrate hyper-individualism and competition. This firstly includes constructing success through personal stories of self-appreciation, through which these women embody the MLM’s brand, while simultaneously improving their position in the market as sellers. Secondly, the women invest considerable effort on social media in constructing MLM work as epitomising stability in the context of the growing precarity that characterises their everyday lives. However, other meanings draw on the local African context. Here the women make sense of the inequalities that characterise the MLM pyramid structures, by constructing top players in the upline as a symbolic vanguard trailblazing freedom from a racist past through showcasing paths out of poverty. More interestingly, success is constructed as both resulting from and serving collective ways of being rooted in the discourse of African humanism. Here success is recognised as emerging from dense place-based networks in the neighbourhood built on trust and obligation, now replicated on social media. In conclusion, the study speculates that the worlds of meaning facilitated by MLMs might provide ways for neoliberal and traditional discourses to find points of synergy, and so serve as entry points into a neoliberal order that interestingly nevertheless draws on communal cultures of obligation and patronage. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Journalism and Media Studies, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
Contextualising job satisfaction amongst lowest paid support staff in a Higher Education institution
- Authors: Madito, Gotlannamang Moloiesi Boipelo
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/405984 , vital:70225
- Description: Thesis embargoed. To be relased in 2024. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Psychology, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
An appraisal analysis of a selection of Zapiro’s political cartoons
- Authors: Hussey, Thomas Davey
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/406725 , vital:70302
- Description: Thesis embargoed. To be released in 2025. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Linguistics and Applied Language Studies, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
Larval assemblages in intertidal habitats: the use of artificial and natural microhabitats
- Authors: Reddy, Seshnee
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/364992 , vital:65668
- Description: Coastal habitats, and more specifically, intertidal habitats, host a unique range of biodiversity and are key areas for many fish and invertebrate species across one or more of their life stages. This is due to the provision of microhabitats which offer an escape from harsh environmental stressors and predation as well as increased food supply, hence increasing chances of survival. Due to the growing human population however, coastal habitats are being replaced by artificial structures (jetties, seawalls, piers, breakwaters) which partially or heavily fragment the natural environment through urbanisation-related expansion processes. These coastal infrastructures also have different physical properties from the natural environment and therefore tend to support different biological assemblages and can potentially alter the existing biodiversity and its functionality. The overall aim of this project was therefore to evaluate the use of artificial and natural intertidal microhabitats by fish and invertebrate larvae along the South African, Eastern Cape coastline. As independent case studies, fieldwork was conducted at an urban (Port Alfred Marina) and rocky shore (Kenton-on-Sea) site. Within each of these study sites, two replicated sheltered subsites were selected, which represented microhabitats. Samples were collected from these replicated microhabitats from September 2019 to February 2020 using light traps which targeted phototactic larval species, as well as a portable pump, for photo-neutral/negative taxa. All samples were preserved onsite in 99% ethanol and specimens were later counted and identified in the laboratory to the lowest possible taxonomic level using a stereomicroscope. Additionally, DNA barcoding was conducted on selected larval taxa for verification of morphological identification as well as contributing to the field of larval taxonomy through development of public database records. The barcoding technique was effective in positively identifying 96% and 58% of fish and invertebrate larvae sampled, respectively (overall identification success of 86%), to either family, genus or species level. Results of microhabitat use indicate higher larval abundances associated with artificial structures as compared to natural structures, with significant differences between the selected microhabitats within the rocky shores and the marina respectively, across months. High numbers of several early stage taxa were observed within the selected microhabitats in the marina, with Pinnotheres sp. (zoea) (Family: Pinnotheridae) being the most abundant invertebrate larval taxon collected at the artificial microhabitats of jetties and vertical walls. Fish larvae of Omobranchus woodi (preflexion) and Etrumeus whiteheadi (postflexion) were the most dominant at the selected artificial microhabitats within the marina. The DNA barcoding tool used in the current study to verify morphological identification proved to be instrumental in the accuracy of the reliable data collection of the early life stages present in these habitats. These results suggest that artificial structures may provide refugia for the vulnerable very early life stages of species and, in turn, play a potential facilitative role in reproductive and population connectivity which could result in replenishment of natural populations. It is therefore possible that these urban habitats could be considered as hubs for maintenance of coastal biodiversity. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Zoology and Entomology, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
Bioactivity evaluation of manno-oligosaccharides produced from spent coffee grounds using a Bacillus sp. derived endo-1,4-β-mannanase
- Authors: Magengelele, Mihle
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/365233 , vital:65719
- Description: Thesis embargoed. Possible release date set for early 2024. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Biochemistry and Microbiology, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
An Investigation into Speaker and Headphone-Based Immersive Audio for VR and Digital Gaming Applications
- Authors: Marais, Kyle Donald
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/365246 , vital:65720
- Description: Thesis embargoed. Possible release date set for early 2024. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Computer Science, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
Population dynamics, fire, and reproductive ecology of Oldenburgia grandis (Asteraceae), an unusual fynbos tree endemic to the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Mostert, Emma Charlotte
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/365268 , vital:65722
- Description: Thesis embargoed. Possible release date set for early 2024. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Botany, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
Investigating the roles of HOP isoforms in KSHV biology
- Authors: Matandirotya, Lorraine Tariro
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/365257 , vital:65721
- Description: Thesis embargoed. Possible release date set for early 2025. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Biochemistry and Microbiology, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
Evaluating the trophic ecology and feeding habits of three divergent lineages of Sandelia bainsii (Teleostei: Anabantidae), from the Eastern Cape Rivers using stable isotope analysis
- Authors: Nkomo, Thulisile
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/364984 , vital:65667
- Description: Despite supporting a disproportionately large fraction of the global biodiversity, freshwater ecosystems are ranked as the most highly threatened habitats on the planet, ahead of both terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Many regions are still characterised by limited knowledge regarding the taxonomy and ecology of freshwater fish taxa. The need for ecological information is increasingly becoming important due to the discovery of new species and unique lineages, which require conservation management. The aim of this study was thus to evaluate the trophic ecology and feeding habits of the three recently described and divergent Sandelia bainsii lineages, namely Sandelia sp. ‘bainsii Kowie’ from the Great Fish River, Sandelia sp. ‘bainsii Keiskamma’ found in the Keiskamma River, and Sandelia sp. ‘bainsii Buffalo’ confined to the Buffalo River system in the Amathole-Winterberg freshwater ecoregion in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Based on the allopatric distribution and the generalist feeding habits of these lineages, this thesis postulated that these three lineages were likely to show similar trophic ecology patterns, different dietary composition and as a result would have variable trophic positioning in the different river systems. Therefore, the primary objectives were to use stable isotope analysis to (1) evaluate the food web patterns of the river systems where the three S. bainsii lineages occurred, and (2) determine dietary source contributions for the three lineages using isotope mixing models. The results revealed general variability and significant differences in the δ13C and δ¹⁵N values for the different basal resources, macroinvertebrates and fish community across the different headwater streams. Within and across the different rivers, the S. bainsii lineages exhibited variable isotopic niche sizes, which appeared to coincide with the variation in the isotopic composition of the individual communities. Furthermore, these lineages did not exhibit any discernible patterns in their interspecific interactions in different habitats. This suggests that these lineages’ isotopic niche patterns were largely influenced by spatial differences in both trophic resources and probable interactions with contraspecifics. Assessment of trophic positions of S. bainsii lineages showed that the three lineages had higher trophic positions than other co-occurring species at most sites, except in the Buffalo River. This suggest that the different lineages were generally top predators in the different river systems. Although S. ‘bainsii Buffalo’ had a lower trophic position compared to other co-occurring species, its trophic position was generally characterised by high uncertainty, indicating that this lineage was likely influenced by the occurrence of diet sources that had highly variable stable isotope values. Findings from stable isotope mixing models revealed that the diet sources varied from the dominance of either single diet source in the Fairburn and Tyume 1 River to the importance of multiple prey sources from the Lushington and Kat River system. This suggests that despite being a top predator at most sites, the diet sources for the different lineages were highly variable. The patterns observed in this study did not appear to be attributed to species divergence possibly caused by allopatric speciation, but rather differences in food web characteristics of the river systems, as well as the lineages interspecific relationships and their generalized feeding strategies. Understanding the trophic dynamics of these lineages will assist in implementing effective conservation strategies and policies dealing with narrowly distributed species that are threatened by habitat fragmentation and invasion of piscivorous fish. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Ichthyology and Fisheries Science, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
Knowledge of and concern about global biodiversity loss vs local biodiversity loss in the Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany Hotspot (MPA)
- Authors: Toyisi, Zanele Jacqueline
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/365025 , vital:65671
- Description: Biodiversity forms the basis of the ecosystem services that society depends on. However, humanity has caused an increase in the extinction rates up to 100 times higher than that of evolutionary background levels. Recent studies found that biodiversity conservation becomes successful when it is grounded in local support. Support for conservation of biodiversity depends on peoples’ knowledge of biodiversity, their attitudes and awareness of the number of species that are present and that are threatened with extinction. However, some studies have shown that the public has little knowledge about the concept of biodiversity and have poor biodiversity identification skills. There is growing concern that people know and are more concerned about global biodiversity loss than what is happening around them locally. The notion that people know and are more concerned about global biodiversity loss rather than local, has not been deeply studied. Most studies have been in developed countries, with limited studies in developing countries and countries that have high diversity such as South Africa. Having accurate knowledge about biodiversity and the environment is said to be the key predictor of intention to change behaviour in relation to biodiversity. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to understand the knowledge and concern (if any) people have of biodiversity at global and local scales. More so, it set out to determine how familiar people are with the term biodiversity, what they consider as forces leading to biodiversity decline, the level of concern that they have for biodiversity loss and if knowledge and concern is influenced by demographic profiles. To achieve this aim, a total of 220 random interviews were conducted in three towns within the Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany Hotspot in South Africa. The results show that respondents are familiar with the term biodiversity. There was a strong relationship between having heard of the term and the ability to define it with 55 % of the respondents aware of it and able to define it. Respondents had moderate knowledge general knowledge related to biodiversity. Gender, education and childhood background did play a role in the knowledge of biodiversity. Women had more knowledge about biodiversity than men, highly educated respondents knew more and the youth knew more than older respondents. The results of this study found that there were no respondents who could not name any local species from South Africa. However, things changed at global level with 32 % of the participants unable to name species at global level. Endangered species are still relatively unknown, as the majority of respondents could not name any at district (84 %) or at global level (61 %). Charismatic species were known the most by respondents as 52 % mentioned them at national level and 59 % at global level. This study also assessed if there is concern for biodiversity loss. The results showed that there is concern for biodiversity with 71 % of the respondents in support for conservation and 60 % of the respondents willing to donate towards conservation. This study found that reasons for conservation related to the level of products consumed directly from the environment. Those that supported conservation for use values consumed more products from the environment than those who were in support for non-use values. Furtherly, this study found that women were more concerned about biodiversity loss than men. Highly educated respondents were more concerned and the youth was not. Furtherly, this study found that knowledge about biodiversity loss corelated with concern. For example, women had more knowledge and were more concerned about biodiversity loss. Overall, this study has shown that there is some knowledge and concern that people have about biodiversity and its loss. This can assist the relevant policy makers and researchers to know where intervention is needed to increase the knowledge that people have of biodiversity loss and which aspects of biodiversity people are most concerned about. This is so that new policies and conservation measures can include what is appealing to the local people so that support for conservation can be built and accepted by local people. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Environmental Science, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
In silico substrate binding profiling for SARS-COV-2 main protease (mpro) using hexapeptide substrates
- Authors: Zabo, Sophakama
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/365566 , vital:65760
- Description: COVID-19, as a disease resulting from SARS-CoV-2 infection, and a pandemic has had a devastating effect on the world. There are limited effective measures that control the spread and treatment of COVID-19 illness. The homodimeric cysteine main protease (Mpro) is crucial to the life cycle of the virus, as it cleaves the large polyproteins 1a and 1ab into matured, functional non-structural proteins. The Mpro exhibits high degrees of conservation in sequence, structure and specificity across coronavirus species, making it an ideal drug target. The Mpro substrate-binding profiles remain, despite the resolution of its recognition sequence and cleavage points (Leu-Gln↓(Ser/Ala/Gly)). In this study, a series of hexapeptide sequences containing the appropriate recognition sequence and cleavage points were generated and screened against the Mpro to study these binding profiles, and to further be the basis for efficiency-driven drug design. A multi-conformer hexapeptide substrate library comprising optimised 81000 models of 810 unique sequences was generated using RDKit within the context of python. Terminal capping with ACE and NMe was effected using SMILES and SMARTS matching. Multiple hexapeptides were complexed with chain B of crystallographic Mpro (PDS ID: 6XHM), following the validation of chain B for this purpose using AutoDock Vina at high levels of exhaustiveness (480). The resulting Vina scores ranged between -8.7 and -7.0 kcal.mol-1, and the reproducibility of best poses was validated through redocking. Ligand efficiency indices were calculated to identify substrate residues with high binding efficiency at their respective positions, revealing Val (P3), Ala (P1′); and Gly and Ala (P2′ and P3′) as leading efficient binders. Binding efficiencies were lowered by molecular weight. Substrate recognition was assessed by mapping of binding subsites, and Mpro specificity was evaluated through the resolution of intermolecular interaction at the binding interface. Molecular dynamics simulations for 20 ns were performed to assess the stability and behaviour of 132 Mpro systems complexed with KLQ*** substrates. Principal component analysis (PCA), was performed to assess II protein motions and conformational changes during the simulations. A strategy was formulated to classify and evaluate relations in the Mpro PCA motions, revealing four main clades of similarity. Similarity within a clade (Group 2) and dissimilarity between clades were confirmed. Trajectory visualisation revealed complex stability, substrate unbinding and dimer dissociation for various Mpro systems. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Biochemistry and Microbiology, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
Expression, partial characterisation and utilization of a GH11 xylanase (Xyn2A) from Trichoderma viride as an additive in monogastric animal feeds
- Authors: Mzimkulu-Ncoyi, Nosabatha Happyness
- Date: 2023-03-29
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/422409 , vital:71940
- Description: Endo-xylanases (shortly called xylanases) are a group of glycoside hydrolase enzymes that target β-D-1,4-linkages in the xylan backbone, leading to the production of xylooligosaccharides (XOS) of varying degree of polymerization (DP). Xylan is an indigestible non-starch polysaccharide present in monogastric animal feeds which in high amounts leads to increased digesta viscosity, slow movement of digesta in the intestines, malabsorption of nutrients among other challenges. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of xylanase 2A (Xyn2A) from Trichoderma viride on broiler chicken feeds, particularly the hydrolysis of the xylan content, reduction of feed viscosity and the effect of produced XOS on eliciting the growth of gut associated probiotic bacteria. Xyn2AE was successfully induced with 0.8 mM isopropyl β-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) and produced in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) and Xyn2AC was expressed in tobacco mosaic plants. For the purification of Xyn2AE, an immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC) column and diafiltration using a 3kDa cut-off Amicon filter membranes were used. Xyn2AE and Xyn2AC showed a xylanase active band at a relative weight of 21 kDa. Both enzymes showed high specificity towards soluble wheat arabinoxylan (WAX), with specific activities of 7.61 U/mg for Xyn2AE and 536.5 U/mg for Xyn2AC. Xyn2A kinetic parameters (Vmax and Km) were determined by Michaelis-Menten plots on soluble and insoluble WAX. The Vmax and Km values of Xyn2AC were 1003.01 U/mg and 9.25 mg/mL, 302.89 U/mg and 13.54 mg/mL, respectively. The Vmax and Km values of Xyn2AE for soluble and insoluble WAX were 20.45 U/mg and 12.95 mg/mL, and 8.31 U/mg and 13.15 mg/mL. Xyn2A enzymes displayed optimum activity at pH and temperature parameters of 5.0 and 50°C, respectively, and stability in temperatures ranging between 50 and 80°C and pH 4.0-9.0. Broiler chicken feeds were hydrolysed using Xyn2AE over a 24 h period and analysed using the dinitrosalicylic (DNS) assay, thin layer chromatography (TLC), viscometry and visualized using scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results showed a release of release of XOS xylotriose, xylopentose and xylohexose; enzyme’s ability to decrease the viscosity of the feeds and punched holes of feed surface, which was indicative of xylanase action. XOS produced during hydrolysis was used to study prebiotic effect on selected few bacteria and released short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were measured. Additionally, SCFAs formation was detected in the presence of XOS as a carbon source for S. thermophilus and L. bulgaricus, whereas B. subtilis formed fewer organic acids in the presence of XOS. The results obtained from this study demonstrated that the supplementation of Xyn2A on broiler feeds has ii a positive effect in decreasing feed viscosity. Furthermore, the results of this investigation will assist the South African poultry farming sector to increase profitability in poultry farming and gain stability in the global trade as far as poultry feed is concerned. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Biochemistry and Microbiology, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-03-29
Making the personal political: understanding the impacts of participation in an anti-rape protest for women who have experienced sexual violence
- Authors: Barker, Kim Elise
- Date: 2023-03-29
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/422590 , vital:71960 , DOI 10.21504/10962/422590
- Description: South Africa is recognised as a country with unusually high levels of rape and sexual violence. The majority of those who experience sexual violence do not acknowledge, disclose or report it, and do not access support. Many factors have been identified which can inhibit acknowledgement and disclosure. While silence is to be honoured as a chosen response, unwanted silencing is of concern. The annual Silent Protest at Rhodes University is a day-long anti-rape protest which draws attention to the attitudes and practices which silence victim-survivors, and enacts solidarity with victim-survivors of sexual violence. I conducted a three year “critically engaged, activist ethnography” with the community of Silent Protestors and organisers. My focus was on the stories that victim-survivors told about the impacts of participating in the protest. Changes in the research context allowed for a participatory action research cycle to be incorporated into the methodology. This offered an opportunity to implement and evaluate some changes suggested by my research contributors. My contributor’s narratives highlighted the ways in which as a society we position those who have been subjected to sexual violence in ways that are limited and limiting and which diminish victim-survivors’ sense of agency and value. This malignant positioning restricts the choices available to victim-survivors. The anticipation of being positioned in negative ways can inhibit victim-survivors from disclosing a violation and accessing care and justice. Participation in the Silent Protest seems to stand against some of the factors which inhibit acknowledgement and disclosure. Through their participation many women took up opportunities to share their story with at least one other person and to receive and offer care. Most described participation as having been beneficial and having helped them move towards living well again. The ways in which the Silent Protest positioned victim-survivors and the choices they were offered in relation to that positioning seemed to open up opportunities for thinking, feeling and acting in ways that they preferred. This suggests that interventions which mobilise both political resistance and mutual care hold promise for developing more accessible and effective services to those affected by sexual violence. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Humanities, Psychology, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-03-29
Socio-historical analysis of organisational change: a case study of Zimbabwe Posts (Zimpost), 2010–2020
- Authors: Kambarami-Zengeni, Faith Chipo
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/422518 , vital:71954 , DOI 10.21504/10962/422518
- Description: Postal organisations play an important role in the provision of basic communication services. In Zimbabwe, post offices have a large physical distribution network of over 240 post offices country-wide to make communication services accessible to the populace. However, e-substitution has threatened mail business significantly. Postal operators globally are experiencing declining mail volumes in the face of advanced information and communication technologies. The overall goal of this thesis was to undertake a socio-historical analysis of organisational change at ZimPost using Taylorism, Fordism and post-Fordism as broad ideal types to explain how industry evolves in different phases of capitalism. National politics and economics play an integral role in how Taylorism, Fordism and post-Fordism assumed at ZimPost. Studies on these broad organising types have mainly focused on private sector organisations. However, this thesis argues that these analytical paradigms are also valid in public sector organisations, but they will unfold differently given the context in which change is experienced. Using a qualitative approach, the study established that the 1980s and 1990s can best be described as the ‘golden years’ of postal services in Zimbabwe, characterised by mass production and mass consumption of postal products and services. At that time the Posts and Telecommunications Corporation enjoyed a monopoly of postal services in the country. The stable market share, competitive salaries for postal workers, increased unionisation and a fairly stable economy enabled a Fordist regime of accumulation to develop. The cycle broke down when the mode of regulation was weakened by national economic and political changes towards the late 1990s. PTC started to experience a decline in the consumption of postal products. The decline was also attributed to increased competition from smaller private courier operators that could provide specialised services to a market with changing needs. With increased competition, the advancement of information, and communication technologies, mail volumes dwindled. This period can best be described as the crisis of Fordism at ZimPost. In the year 2000, the government unbundled the posts and telecommunications corporation to create four companies including Zimbabwe Posts. This was perceived as one of the most radical organisational changes in the history of postal services in Zimbabwe. More organisational changes took place at ZimPost that can best be described as characteristics of post-Fordism. These changes were attempts by ZimPost to remain relevant in light of the economic, political and technological changes taking place in the country. The postal operator introduced customised products in the form of agency services, supported by increased use of information and communication technologies in the post office. Organisational changes at ZimPost were shaped mainly by the economic and political environment in which they took place. Organisational change is complex, changes do not follow a linear pattern, they are processual. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Humanities, Sociology, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
Implementing a sexual and reproductive citizenship intervention refinement instrument for youth sexuality education: a formative evaluation
- Authors: Mthethwa, Thobile
- Date: 2023-10-13
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/425008 , vital:72201
- Description: While Out of School sexuality education (SE) programmes in South Africa have attempted to bridge the gap in the number of young people who receive SE, there is still a large number of youth between the age groups of 15 to 24 years who lack adequate sexual knowledge. The manner in which sex education is taught and its accessibility is accompanied by challenges, in particular in relation to empowerment. To better understand the effectiveness of sexual education programmes, evaluations of their content is needed. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate whether and how an Out of school SE programme run by Partners in Sexual Health (PSH) promotes understandings of sexual and reproductive citizenship. A formative evaluation of their sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) facilitator’s manual was conducted (owing to COVID the actual programme was not run in the year data for this thesis were collected). To help perform the formative evaluation, the feminist sexual and reproductive citizenship (SRC) framework as conceptualized by Macleod and Vincent (2014) was used. The SRC framework consists of five key principles that, it is suggested, need to be adopted for SE programmes to be inclusive, namely, citizenship as status and practice, differentiated citizenship, private and public interstice, and politics of recognition, redistribution and reparation. An additional principle of inclusive and process-based educational practices was added into the five key principles. To analyse data, template analysis was used which enabled the researcher to create a priori of themes using the Masizixhobise toolkit which is informed by the SRC framework. Findings from this study reveal the interconnectedness between the different citizenship principles. Moreover, while the PSH SRHR programme promotes principles of the SRC framework, there are aspects of the SRC that are lacking from the programme. Therefore, the SRHR manual needs to take into account a spectrum of issues which include but are not limited to the incorporation of sexually diverse differently-abled individuals' sexual experiences and challenges when it comes to accessing SE. This means for SE programmes to achieve inclusivity and to be empowering, they need to encourage individuals to be agentic beings, engage in informed decision-making and encourage young people to take up their rights. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Psychology, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-10-13