Cape Fold Ecoregion fish community ecology and responses to stressors
- Authors: Broom, Casey Jay
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Cyprinidae South Africa Western Cape , Freshwater fishes South Africa Western Cape , Cyprinidae Habitat South Africa Western Cape , Food chains (Ecology) , Restoration ecology South Africa Western Cape , Riparian restoration South Africa Western Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/365644 , vital:65772 , DOI https://doi.org/10.21504/10962/365644
- Description: Freshwater fishes are in global decline and fish as a group are the most imperilled of all vertebrates. Freshwater systems are among the most threatened globally, largely owing to their comparatively high species and habitat diversity while occupying a minute fraction of the Earth’s surface. In South Africa, invasion by non-native fishes has had a devastating effect on freshwater systems across the country. Numerous other stressors and anthropogenic impacts continue to impact these systems, including habitat degradation, water abstraction and global change effects. In general, South African freshwater systems are under-studied and there is a lack of baseline biological and ecological studies on many freshwater fish species. The Cape Fold Ecoregion (CFE) of South Africa is a particularly vulnerable region, with many range-restricted species and highly fragmented native fish ranges following high invasion rates. Within the CFE, the Olifants-Doring River System (ODRS) is of primary concern owing to the high endemism and imperilled status of its freshwater fish species. The Rondegat River in the ODRS is of notable conservation value, as it hosts populations of important endemic CFE species. This river is unique, being the site of the first alien fish eradication programme of its kind in South Africa. Thus the Rondegat River, and in particular its imperilled cyprinid assemblage, is used here as a case study of the responses and community dynamics of recovering freshwater fish species. The members of this cyprinid assemblage are Sedercypris calidus, Pseudobarbus phlegethon and Labeobarbus seeberi. Sedercypris calidus and L. seeberi are listed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as “Near-Threatened”, while P. phlegethon is listed as “Endangered”. Understanding the dynamics and responses to understudied vulnerable fish communities in the wake of restoration efforts was the overarching goal of this thesis. The first chapter served as a review of current knowledge of the CFE, the Rondegat River, the myriad stressors that have impacted on or are projected to affect this region, and the freshwater fish species on which those stressors act. My first investigations served as an extension of the existing Rondegat River monitoring programme, making use of remote underwater video (RUV) data to assess relative abundance and habitat associations of the focal species (Chapter 2). A relatively limited spatial range of P. phlegethon was established, which was suggested to be a result of relatively highly specialised habitat requirements and sensitivity to disturbance. Sedercypris calidus was confirmed as a relatively more abundant and ubiquitous species across the length of the Rondegat River, sharing much of the lower and middle reaches with L. seeberi. I sought to use experimental trials of functional response, as a proxy for feeding performance, across representative temperatures and relevant prey types, in the spatially overlapping S. calidus and L. seeberi (Chapter 3). Labeobarbus seeberi generally outcompeted S. calidus across temperature treatments and prey types. The ecomorphology and diet of all three species were used to construct trophic profiles, which suggested that there was a high degree of feeding capacity overlap between L. seeberi and S. calidus, while P. phlegethon diverged from the other two species (Chapter 4). Gut content suggested that all three species overlapped broadly in diet. This indicated that the realised trophic niche of these species is similar, despite some morphological specialisation. I then used RUV data to investigate in-situ feeding behaviours, with the aim to disentangle the nuances of community dynamics and mechanisms of coexistence in the cyprinid assemblage (Chapter 5). I found that, despite the higher feeding performance of L. seeberi (Chapter 3) and its overlaps in diet and feeding capacity with S. calidus (Chapter 4), S. calidus is able to mitigate competitive pressures through foraging mode switching and exploitation of allochthonous food inputs. Evidence for further habitat and prey selectivity in Pseudobarbus phlegethon was gathered based on dependence on complex habitats and pool refugia for the majority of its feeding, supporting this species as a headwater specialist; alongside signals of its spatial and habitat use patterns (Chapter 2). While S. calidus and L. seeberi were found to be less habitat-specific than P. phlegethon, caution was noted in the potential for ongoing stressors, such as habitat destruction, loss of river connectivity and global change effects, to impact on the reproductive success of these two species. Stressors affecting the habitats and sensitive invertebrate taxa upon which all three species depend continue to threaten the Rondegat system, highlighting the need to maintain ecosystem integrity through conservation interventions. There remains significant scope to maintain restoration efforts in the Rondegat River and other river systems of the CFE, through direct conservation actions, enhanced community awareness, indigenous riparian vegetation restoration and involvement of local stakeholders in various conservation-centred activities. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Ichthyology and Fisheries Science, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
Constraints and enablements on quality improvement in higher education
- Authors: Browning, Leanne Elizabeth
- Date: 2021-10-29
- Subjects: Education, Higher Aims and objectives South Africa , Education, Higher Evaluation , Quality assurance South Africa , Educational evaluation South Africa , Self-evaluation , Critical realism
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/294956 , vital:57273 , DOI 10.21504/10962/294956
- Description: This study contributes to the literature on quality improvement in higher education by examining the structural, cultural and agential constraints and enablements on a quality process at a university in South Africa. It examined four cases and developed an understanding of the complex interaction of structure, culture and agency and the mechanisms that enable or constrain quality improvement in higher education. The study drew on the literature on higher education quality for the theoretical basis for what is known contributes to the way in which quality assurance and improvement is implemented and its impact on the higher education context. Critical Realism provided the ontological framework and conceptual tools to understand and explore the complex social world within which the quality process took place. The literature on the morphogenetic approach provided the analytical framework for the data analysis and findings. The data consisted of a set of documents from a quality process that took place over a five-year period. The data analysis revealed that different departmental contexts impact on how mechanisms are activated. Each school context shapes the way in which people engage with the review process and consequently, processes and procedures are mediated in each context. This research therefore adds to the understanding of the way in which quality processes take place at a micro-level within an institutional context and informs the approach to quality improvement more broadly, nationally and internationally. The research contributes to the knowledge that will inform planning, policies and practices in quality improvement processes in higher education and the findings identify a number of factors (mechanisms) that should inform the way in which a quality process is facilitated, will enable effective self-evaluation and review processes, and consequently are more likely to lead to quality improvement. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Education, Centre for Higher Education Research, Teaching and Learning, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-10-29
Regulation of Oct4 expression during cell stress
- Authors: Samson, William John
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/365712 , vital:65778
- Description: Thesis embargoed. Expected release date early 2025. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Biochemistry and Microbiology, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
Integrating music and mathematics for connecting across multiple constructs of fractional understanding: an RME task design journey
- Authors: Lovemore, Tarryn Shirley
- Date: 2023-03-29
- Subjects: Communities of practice , Interdisciplinary approach in education , Fractions , Mathematics Study and teaching , Music in mathematics education , Number line
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/366200 , vital:65842 , DOI https://doi.org/10.21504/10962/366200
- Description: Two South African curricular aims: appreciating creativity in mathematics and developing conceptual understanding, motivated this study. Negative views towards mathematics and challenges in teaching and learning fractions at primary school level are reported in literature, with the part-whole construct of fractions often the sole teaching focus. Despite challenges in curriculum integration (high demands on teachers and diluting disciplines), benefits, such as motivation and creative thinking, are noted. I recognised music-mathematics integration as an opportune context for designing tasks to support learners in moving flexibly between the fraction as ratio, fraction as measure and part-whole constructs. Guided by Realistic Mathematics Education principles, I embarked on a participatory dual-design experiment in task design, grappling within three micro-Communities of Practice (micro-CoPs) and across two planes: the Design-Theorising Plane and the Grounded-Practice Plane. In the Design-Theorising Plane, I worked with my two doctoral supervisors, grappling with design obstacles and finding resolutions. COVID-19 restrictions shifted our meetings to online platforms, allowing documentation and analysis of the task design process through recording functions. In the Grounded-Practice Plane, I worked within two separate micro-CoPs, both at independent schools (eight and two participating teachers respectively). Data on the teachers’ interrogation and implementation of the designed tasks were obtained via formal and informal interviews. Their reflections informed ongoing adaptations to the task design. Data were analysed in a matrix I designed and via NVivo coding. Findings include both the product of the task design journey (eight music-mathematics lessons, resources, and representations) and the process (ten groupings of Obstacle-Resolution Cycles). Three key questions (relating to music-mathematics fidelity; to task simplification for implementation; and to appropriate music-mathematics representation) were used in addressing each Obstacle-Resolution Cycle. Designing tasks to teach the part-whole construct of fractions was relatively straightforward, but designing tasks to teach the fraction as ratio and fraction as measure constructs was more challenging. These constructs could not be conflated by superimposing the music and mathematical linear representations. Aligning them, however, allowed for moving flexibly between the constructs. The teachers reported that the integrated music-mathematics tasks and supporting resources enhanced their learners’ fractional problem-solving abilities, simultaneously promoting more positive learner dispositions towards mathematics. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Education, Education, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-03-29
Mentoring as social learning value creation in two South African environmental organisations: a social realist analysis
- Authors: Hiestermann, Michelle
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Social realism , Social learning , Mentoring , Environmental education South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/366248 , vital:65846 , https://doi.org/10.21504/10962/366248
- Description: South Africa is facing overwhelming crises of educational quality, record rates of unemployment (especially amongst youth) and environmental issues and risks, further exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. Environmental education research that addresses these challenges is critical to ensuring that future generations thrive in a warming climate. South Africa needs environmental leaders; we therefore need to understand and explore the possibilities of mentoring young professionals in environmental organisations in South Africa. Several initiatives have been developed to contribute to the mentoring of young professionals in South African environmental organisations. This study drew on a critical realist ontology, social realist meta-theory and domain specific theory on mentoring and evaluation to explore mentoring as a value creating proposition in two environmental organisations in South Africa that were part of the national Groen Sebenza youth employment creation programme which had a strong focus on mentoring. To strengthen conceptual analytical tools on mentoring, I undertook an immanent critique of domain specific mentoring theory to develop a more appropriate foundation for mentoring theory in the environmental sector that was not subject to the historical influence of human capital theory only (which has tended to dominate the field’s literature). I then developed in-depth understanding of mentoring in two case study contexts, namely a non-profit environmental organisation and an environmental consulting company, using qualitative research approaches that included contextual profiling, case study research and mirror data workshops. Analytically, I considered the case data drawing on the value creation evaluation framework of Wenger-Trayner and Wenger-Trayner (2014) which itself was developing as an analytical framework as the study developed. I strengthened the analytical framework with social realist interpretations drawing on Archer (1995). This offered me a way of developing an in-depth understanding of the factors which constrain or enable the value creation possibilities of mentoring, with a view to inform human capacity development initiatives that support mentoring in the environment sector. It was possible to explain the value creation possibilities of mentoring within two case study environmental organisations through considering mentoring as a social learning process of value creation and this overcame some of the shortfalls identified in other early learning theories as well as theories of mentoring. The research revealed how mentoring can provide a value creation social learning trajectory for unemployed youth. A social realist perspective explained how young professionals expanded their primary agency, through full participation in workplace communities of practice, to find their identity as corporate agents in the workplace with their mentors. In this research, Social Realist ontology, theory and methodology was able to achieve what Human Capital Theory could not and provided an account of the interplay of structure, culture and agency over time, through emergent properties and the separation of structure and agency. Thus, it was possible to avoid conflation and the limitation of theory of the present tense, with a deeper, ontologically robust explanation of mentoring as social learning and social change and a social realist orientation to human capacity development. South Africa has a history of oppression, inequality and injustice and requires social processes that are reflexive, critical, emancipatory and transformative. Therefore, this research required theory and approaches that could explain mentoring of unemployed youth, as a common good initiative for a more just and sustainable society. As shown in this study, a Social Realist approach can uncover the underlying generative mechanisms and make the implicit more explicit in research, policy and strategy, offering a robust alternative to the tenets of Human Capital Theory that have driven much mentoring research in South Africa and elsewhere to date. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Education, Education, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
Exploring pre-service teachers’ reflective practice in the context of video-based lesson analysis
- Authors: Chikiwa, Samukeliso
- Date: 2020-04-30
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/355357 , vital:64492
- Description: This study explored the development of reflective practice in foundation phase pre-service teachers in the context of video-based lesson analysis at a university in South Africa. The study was conducted in the field of mathematics education, responding to the urgent need to equip pre-service South African teachers with the knowledge and skills for effective mathematics teaching. The research is foregrounded by the continuing poor performance of South African learners in mathematics at all levels of education in the country, which has been linked to the inadequate knowledge and skills of mathematics teachers. Pre-service teacher education is putting considerable effort into improving the preparation of mathematics teachers and developing their ability to reflect on their teaching practice is one of the strategies being employed for this purpose. Research has demonstrated the importance of reflective practice (RP) in both developing and extending teachers’ mathematical knowledge for teaching. This study therefore contributes to current research that supports the development of RP as a professional skill for promoting the acquisition of knowledge for teaching in pre-service teacher education. The study adopted a qualitative case study approach with two phases of data collection. In Phase 1 I collected and analysed three sets of 19 pre-service teachers’ written reflections to establish the nature of the reflections that they developed when analysing video-recorded mathematics lessons of experienced teachers’ practice. Phase 2 was conducted with four PSTs who reflected on video-recorded mathematics lessons of their own practice, and similarly sought to investigate the nature of the reflections they developed when reflecting on practice. The four PSTs wrote one set of reflections on their own lessons, went through three sessions of facilitator-guided reflections, then wrote another set of reflections to establish if the support provided in small group facilitator-guided sessions improved their reflections. Iterative content analysis was employed to analyse the PSTs’ written reflections, using an analytic tool that I developed for this purpose through merging Lee’s (2007) and Muir and Beswick’s (2007) levels of reflection frameworks. My model had four levels of reflection: description, explanation, suggestion and reflectivity. The names of each of the levels connect to the key indicator for that level. PSTs’ written reflections were coded and analysed according to these levels. The study found that PSTs’ initial reflections were mostly description of general classroom events with little reflection at the levels of explanation and suggestion, and an absence of reflectivity. Most reflections focused on general events in the lesson rather than mathematical events, even though the six lens framework they were given to guide their reflections prompted them to steer their attention towards mathematical events. The second and third sets of reflections, although mostly still at level 1, showed some shifts towards explanation and suggestion, although an increased focus on mathematical events though reflectivity was still largely absent. No PST reached the fourth level of reflectivity in Phase 1. However, in Phase 2, the PSTs’ reflections after the three small group facilitator-guided sessions included some evidence of reflectivity. The findings suggest the need for pre-service teacher educators to make a concerted effort to teach PSTs what reflection is and how to reflect on their practice. The findings also showed the need for small group facilitator-guided support in the development of PSTs’ reflective practice. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Education, Education, 2020
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- Date Issued: 2020-04-30
Stock structure of Patagonian toothfish Dissostichus eleginoides (Smitt 1898, family Nototheniidae) in the Southwest Atlantic
- Authors: Lee, Brendon
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Otoliths , Patagonian toothfish Geographical distribution , Fish tagging , Biogeography , Microstructure , Microchemistry
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/365599 , vital:65763 , DOI https://doi.org/10.21504/10962/365599
- Description: The identification of discrete self-sustaining productive units in marine populations is essential for achieving sustainable fisheries objectives. Marine fish populations frequently exhibit dynamic characteristics across their life-histories, displaying variability in spatial structure and mixing patterns, both within and among populations. The incoherent application of management boundaries on biological populations can bias stock assessment results and have important implications on sustainable fisheries management. Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) is a long-lived, slow-growing, late-maturing, deep-sea, benthopelagic species. It forms the basis of important and highly lucrative industrial and artisanal fisheries across its distribution. Patagonian toothfish have complex life-histories characterised by high dispersal potential during the egg and larval phase, a wide depth range because of their ontogenetic migratory behaviour, and large adult size that is capable of undertaking long-distance active movements (>200 km). These characteristics provide opportunities for high levels of connectivity, and as such, the stock structure is not well understood. We applied an integrated, multidisciplinary approach to provide an improved understanding of the complex stock structure dynamics for Patagonian toothfish on the Patagonian Shelf, specifically in relation to the shelf, slope, and deep-sea plains around the Falkland Islands. Research results were focused on aspects pertaining to (1) geographic variation in phenotypic characters (otolith shape); (2) a description of the spatial-temporal distribution patterns; (3) the active movements of deep-sea adults (tag-recapture study); and (4) the identification of early life-history dispersal through otolith microstructure and microchemical chronologies. Results from the study indicate high regional connectivity during the early life-history stages derived from at least two spawning contingents into spatially discrete nursery areas (cohort groups) on the Falklands Shelf. Fish followed distinct ontogenetic pathways into deeper waters adjacent to the areas wherein juvenile settlement into a demersal habitat occurred. There is little to no evidence of mixing among cohort groups during their ontogenetic migration into deep-sea adult habitats, reflecting a mixed population based on oceanographically defined egg and larval dispersal. The majority of the adult component of the population continue to display high site fidelity. However, between 9 and 25% of the population, consisting predominantly of larger reproductively capable adults undertake long-distance dispersal behaviour, identified as home-range relocations from the adult deep-sea habitats towards three of the known southern spawning grounds in the region. Results are suggestive of a requirement for improved collaborative efforts for regionally-based management approaches with careful consideration of local stock contingents. Future monitoring and research priorities should focus on the identification of reproductive potential, dispersal pathways and settlement patterns of stock contingents to inform the dynamics of mixed stock origins across the Patagonian region. While many aspects regarding the stock structure remain unresolved, results derived from the current studies can be used to inform the development of management measures to ensure the continued recovery and sustainable management of Patagonian toothfish within the region. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Ichthyology and Fisheries Science, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
Synthesis, In-Silico molecular modelling and biological studies of 1,4-Dihydroxyanthraquinone and its derivatives
- Authors: Kisula, Lydia Mboje
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Computer simulation , Molecules Models , Dihydroxyanthraquinone , Trypanosomiasis , Leishmaniasis , Docking
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/365828 , vital:65793 , DOI https://doi.org/10.21504/10962/365828
- Description: This current study of investigation reports on the synthesis of 1,4-dihydroxyanthraquinone and its derivatives on explorations of their medicinal potential. The study initially aimed to synthesize an analogue of a natural anthraquinone, 1,3,6-trihydroxy-7-((S)-1- hydroxyethyl)anthracene-9,10-dione 5 using Friedel-Crafts acylation of phthalic anhydride and a benzene derivative. Synthetic transformation of anacardic acid 63, obtained as a by- product of the cashew industry successfully afforded 4-ethoxyisobenzofuran-1,3-dione 89. However, when attempted to couple 4-ethoxyisobenzofuran-1,3-dione 89 with 2- hydroxyacetophenone 91 in a Friedel-Crafts acylation manner to form 2-acetyl-1,8- dihydroxyanthracene-9,10-dione 87 the reaction did not work efficiently. A simple derivative of benzene which is; benzene-1,4-diol 102 was reacted instead with 3-ethoxyphthalic acid 71 and isobenzofuran-1,3-dione 96 to form 1,4,5-trihydroxy anthraquinone 72 and 1,4- dihydroxyanthraquinone 42, respectively. A modified Marschalk reaction was then used to introduce the hydroxyl alkyl group to 1,4-dihydroxy anthraquinone 42, which allowed further elaboration of the hydroxyl-substituent in moderate to good yields (22-80%). A molecular docking study was performed using Schrödinger software to predict the binding affinity of the test compounds to the target protein trypanothione reductase (PDB ID: 6BU7). An in-vitro screening of 1,4-dihydroxyanthraquinone derivatives and some selected precursors for antitrypanosomal, antiplasmodial, antibacterial, and cytotoxicity activities produced encouraging results. Derivatives of anacardic acid and cardanol from CNSL were found to have moderate activity against trypanosomes with no activity against Plasmodium falciparum. Almost 63% of synthesized 1,4-dihydroxyanthraquinone derivatives displayed activity against trypanosomes. The in-vitro evaluation and the in silico molecular docking studies revealed that 1,4-dihydroxyanthraquinone derivatives can be potential drug-like candidates active against T.brucei parasites (IC50 = 0.70-1.20 μM). Only four 1,4- iv dihydroxyanthraquinone derivatives with thiosemicarbazone, chloride, pyrrole, and diethanolamine functionality displayed activity against Plasmodium falciparum (IC50 = 3.17- 14.36 μM). In-vitro evaluated of test compounds against antibacterial screen and cytotoxicity effects significantly showed that 2-hydroxy-6-pentadecylbenzoic acid 63a and 2-((2- chlorophenyl)(piperazin-1-yl) methyl)-1,4-dihydroxyanthracene-9,10-dione 78 have potency against Staphylococcus aureus and reduced the viability of the cells below 20% at an initial concentration of 50 μg/mL. Only 1,4-dihydroxyanthraquinone derivatives with thiosemicarbazone 76, piperazine 78, and diethanolamine 80 motifs were active against HeLa cells and reduced the viability of cells below 20% at a concentration of 50 μg/mL. In conclusion, this current reported study has generated useful knowlege on the applicability of the agro-waste CNSL as an agent active against trypanosomiasis but also as a low-cost starting material to synthesize hydroxy anthraquinones. The study has further given an overview to the understanding of the medicinal value 1,4-dihydroxyanthraquinone derivatives as promising candidates towards developing drugs suitable for treating neglected tropical diseases particularly trypanosomiasis. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Chemistry, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
Country risk and stock market volatility in Africa: Measuring the contribution of political and economic risk factors
- Authors: Hoveni, Jamela Basani
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/405445 , vital:70172
- Description: Thesis embargoed. To be released in 2025. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Commerce, Economics and economic History, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
A framework for the economic valuation of wetland rehabilitation: case studies from South Africa
- Authors: Browne, Michelle
- Date: 2022-04-06
- Subjects: Wetland restoration South Africa , Wetland management South Africa , Ecosystem management South Africa , Ecosystem services South Africa , Ecosystem management Economic aspects South Africa , Wetland restoration Cost effectiveness South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/263560 , vital:53638 , DOI 10.21504/10962/263561
- Description: Wetlands are recognised as having the potential to contribute long-term benefits to society; wetland rehabilitation is undertaken to recover these benefits in response to widespread wetland degradation. Increasingly, there have been calls to value the benefits of wetland rehabilitation to justify further investment. Such is the case in South Africa. Furthermore, recent global agendas and targets for ecosystem restoration, such as the declaration of the Decade of Restoration 2021-2030, suggest increasing pressure on governments to implement rehabilitation and imply a concomitant increase in decision-making regarding where and how to rehabilitate. In response to these information needs, this thesis explores the economic valuation of wetland rehabilitation through a narrative review of the foundational theory of values and valuation, a quantitative review of applied wetland rehabilitation economic valuation studies, and the evaluation of five wetland rehabilitation projects from South Africa. Projects were selected as case studies to represent various rehabilitation goals and explore different contexts (urban-rural; beneficiary groups), the timing of the evaluation (ex ante, ex post) and value types and valuation methods. The final chapter of the thesis integrates the case study experiences with the findings of the theoretical research components to propose a framework for the valuation of wetland rehabilitation, which can be applied in South Africa, and more generally, to further demonstrate the values of wetland rehabilitation, and as a tool to guide wetland rehabilitation decision-making. While initially grounded in mainstream economics, the research led into a number of fields including philosophy, social-ecological systems and social-ecological relations thinking, several environmental science areas and livelihood and human well-being frameworks. A deeper look into economic theory and history revealed an evolution of thinking on the meaning of ‘value’ and view of ‘nature’ and numerous critiques of standard neoclassical economics. From the insights gained and the case study experiences, this thesis argues that the neoclassical economic perspective, especially combined with a monetary metric, is too restrictive, and arguably too abstract in its assumptions of human behaviour and reliance on mathematical models, as an overarching framework for the valuation of wetland rehabilition. This is not to suggest that standard economic valuation concepts and methods cannot be useful, as the research case studies illustrated, but rather that wetland valuation must be approached from a value pluralism perspective. To this end, the proposed framework offers a way to think beyond, or in addition to, standard economic approaches in articulating the values of wetland rehabilitation. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Commerce, Economics and Economic History, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-04-06
Characterisation of two novel ferrocenyl benzoxazines as in vitro triple-negative breast cancer inhibitors
- Authors: Mhlanga, Richwell
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/365689 , vital:65776
- Description: Thesis access embargoed. Expected released date early 2025. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Biochemistry and Microbiology, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
The adoption of international financial reporting standards and foreign direct investment inflows: the moderating effect of the institutional environment in Africa
- Authors: Simbi, Chipo
- Date: 2023-10-13
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/419230 , vital:71627 , DOI 10.21504/10962/419230
- Description: Globalisation has created a need for an international accounting language to facilitate the smooth flow of trade across countries. In 2003, in an effort to establish a global financial reporting language, the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) developed a single set of high-quality accounting principles known as the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Over the last decade, several African countries have adopted IFRS, and Africa has become the second-largest adopting continent after Europe. IFRS promotes improved quality of disclosure of accounting transactions, reduces information asymmetry between preparers and users of financial information, lowers the cost of investing, and breaks down information barriers to cross-border investment. Researchers suggest many benefits of IFRS adoption for macroeconomic indicators such as Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). The reduction in information acquisition and processing costs which translates into the reduction in investment costs, has been cited by most researchers. Researchers have argued, however, that the economic benefits of IFRS in Africa depend on the strength of the institutional environment. They also argue that the Western environment in which the IFRS was developed differs from the African environment. Thus, the universal approach of the IASB may not be appropriate due to the historical, social, economic and political context of African countries. The impact of the adoption of IFRS by African countries requires further examination, particularly as a weak institutional environment confronts many African countries. Three research questions are designed for this study; (1) Is there a significant change in FDI inflows for IFRS adopters in selected African countries after the adoption? (2) Is there a significant change in FDI inflows due to the institutional environment? (3) Does the institutional environment in IFRS-adopting countries moderate the effect of IFRS on FDI in selected African countries? The present study is underpinned by the new institutional theory, the information asymmetry theory, the eclectic theory and the signalling theory, each of which provide reasons why African countries have adopted IFRS. Nine hypotheses are developed, based on the research questions, and tested using the Systems General Method of Moments and the Difference-in-Difference method. The study uses data from 26 African countries, 15 adopting and 11 non-adopting countries, over the period 1996 - 2018. First, the study establishes that the adoption of IFRS positively and significantly affects FDI inflows into the selected sample of African countries. Second, the study concludes that legal enforcement, accounting and auditing standards enforcement, and language origin positively and significantly impact FDI inflows into these countries. Legal origin, however, has a positive but insignificant association with FDI inflows. Third, legal enforcement, historical ties, accounting and auditing enforcement and the quality of the institutional environment are found to moderate the effect of IFRS adoption on FDI inflows. These results indicate that IFRS is a crucial determinant of FDI inflows into African countries, but a supportive institutional environment is needed for African countries to attract FDI inflows after adoption. The results contribute to the accounting and finance literature on FDI into African countries, and may assist the investment community to assess the institutional risk associated with investing in IFRS adopting African countries. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Commerce, Accounting, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-10-13
A comprehensive review of the taxonomic diversity within the freshwater catfish genus Parauchenoglanis (Siluriformes, Auchenoglanididae)
- Authors: Sithole, Yonela
- Date: 2023-10-13
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/402992 , vital:69912
- Description: Thesis embargoed. To be released early 2026. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Ichthyology & Fisheries Science, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-10-13
The uptake of educational technology in South African Higher Education: a study of the context that conditioned emergency remote teaching in the pandemic
- Authors: Ngcobo, Nomathemba Faustinah
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Educational technology South Africa , Education, Higher South Africa , Academic development , COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020- South Africa , Distance education Computer-assisted instruction , Web-based instruction South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/405495 , vital:70176 , DOI 10.21504/10962/405495
- Description: The study explores the enablements and constraints in the uptake of educational technologies in the South African higher education system. This is a multiple institutional study which considers the differentiated nature of higher education institutions in South Africa and reflects on the implications of this for the use of educational technology (EdTech). EdTech is seen as an important aspect of 21st century education. As an established practice in many universities it has made a significant impact on teaching and learning practices. However, EdTech is often presented as a panacea to educational problems and implemented without consideration of the contexts in which it is used. Data was collected from the educational technology units of 22 of the 26 public higher education institutions and the main sources of this data were an online survey questionnaire related to the uptake of educational technologies and semi-structured interviews. For the research analysis, Archer’s analytical dualism and morphogenetic cycle provided a framework with the understanding that a social phenomenon such as EdTech emerges from a complex interplay of multiple mechanisms rather than through simple unidirectional causality. The framework directed me to analyse structure, culture and agency as separate entities allowing an understanding of the complex and rapidly growing phenomenon of EdTech. Analytical dualism provides guiding principles on how agential actions, structural resources, and cultural practices emerge and allows an understanding of how agents experience and respond to structures and cultures in social fields, for example, the uptake of EdTech for teaching and learning. The morphogenetic cycle reveals the historical nature the EdTech uptake with events happening over a period of time so that past events, which possess structural and cultural mechanisms, condition agency in socio-cultural interaction. The study identified several mechanisms enabling and constraining the uptake of EdTech, and while the findings are not exhaustive, they do indicate important enablements and constraints which the sector would do well to consider as it enters a post-pandemic phase. The data was collected prior to the pandemic and thus provides an understanding of what allowed for the uptake of EdTech when face-to-face teaching and learning was the norm. While the pandemic resulted in a rapid pivot to Emergency Remote Teaching (ERT), and fundamentally changed the face of EdTech in the South African higher education sector and around the world, the findings of this study remain pertinent. Archer argues that when a new person or structure is introduced, it occurs within a pre-existing context and so what emerges should not be seen to be simply caused by that new person or structure. Rather, its emergent properties are exercised within the conditioning effects of the pre-existing structures, cultures and agents. The Covid-19 virus brought about significant effects around the world, but it would be a mistake for us to assume that the effects were the same across different national higher education systems or even across different universities within a country. For us to understand both what occurred during the pivot to ERT and to consider the implications of this for the future of EdTech, it is imperative that we understand the pre-existing conditions in which ERT was implemented. This thesis offers a rich picture of these pre-existing conditions. Key findings include the extreme extent to which universities differed in their resourcing and uptake of EdTech prior to the pandemic. In some universities, there were well-resourced EdTech centres while in others, the implementation of EdTech was seen to be the responsibility of the IT department. Even where EdTech staff were employed, the nature of this employment varied greatly. In some cases, such staff were seen as educational experts who were hired as academics and often worked within academic development centres. In other cases, such staff were employed as administrative support staff. Another difference pertained to whether they were employed on contract (often funded through project funding) or on a permanent basis. These differences in employment and the positioning of the EdTech staff were seen to greatly condition the levels of credibility they enjoyed and the kinds of work they could undertake. If they were employed as support staff, they were more likely to be seen to be responsible for providing academics with end-user technical assistance. If they were employed as academics, they were more likely to be seen to be responsible for providing pedagogical and curriculum development support in using EdTech for teaching and learning. Another set of findings related to the extent to which EdTech was seen to be valued within each university, such as by being included in promotions criteria, mentioned in institutional strategies, and supported by university management. Where this was not the case, this constrained the uptake of EdTech. In all cases, the EdTech staff reported working almost exclusively with academics who sought to develop their EdTech capability on a voluntary basis because it aligned to what Archer terms their ‘personal projects’. At times a departmental champion, especially in the form of the Head of Department as a social actor, led to EdTech uptake spreading across the academic body. There was evidence of some resistance to the use of EdTech and a great deal of anxiety among some academics. This was seen to be implicated in concerns that at times EdTech was seen to be a ‘dumping ground’ and the Learning Management System positioned simply as a repository of materials. Many academics reported being pushed by their students to integrate more technology in their teaching. Many students seem to be adept at using technology and can see its potential pedagogical benefits and so placed pressure for this to be increased. There were however concerns that the notion of ‘Digital Natives’, that is millennial students who were born into a technological era, was only a partial picture of the student body. The ‘Digital Divide’ meant that there was highly uneven access to hardware, data, bandwidth, and technological literacies among the student body. For many students, their only access to technology was while they were physically on campus, a finding that was to have extreme implications for the pivot to ERT. This research will be valuable to the field of educational technology and enhance the understanding of what is needed to enable the uptake of educational technologies in higher education teaching and learning in pedagogically sound ways. As the sector responds to the pandemic and reflects on lessons learned during this time, it will be important to look to the conditions outlined in this study as they continue to enable and constrain the uptake of educational technology. , Ucwaningo olwethulwe yindlela elandela imigomo ka-Bhaskar kanye no-Archer yesayensi yezenhlalo ehlola ukuze inikeze incazelo yokuvumeleka nezithiyo ekuthathweni kwezifundo ezisekwe ubuchwepheshe besimanje. Lolu ucwaningo lwezikhungo eziningi zemfundo ephakeme, futhi inhloso yalo enkulu bekuwukuhlonza ukuthi kwavela kanjani izindlela ezehlukene ukuze kuvunyelwe futhi kuvinjwe ukusetshenziswa kobuchwepheshe bezemfundo ezikhungweni zemfundo ephakeme ezehlukene eNingizimu Afrika. Izifundo ezisekwe ubuchwepheshe besimanje (EdTechs) ibonwa njengezici ezibalulekile zemfundo yekhulu lamashumi amabili nanye (21st century), futhi njengomkhuba osunguliwe emanyuvesi ibe nomthelela omkhulu ekufundiseni nasekufundeni. Kodwa-ke, i-EdTechs ivame ukwethulwa njengekhambi ezinkingeni zemfundo futhi yacwaningwa ngaphandle kokucabangela izimo lapho isetshenziswa khona. Ngenxa yalokho, kwaba nesidingo sokuqonda kangcono ukuthi ukutholwa kwayo kwehlukaniswa kanjani phakathi nohlelo lwemfundo ephakeme olungalingani emaNyuvesi ahlukene. Ubufakazi buqoqwe ezingxenyeni zobuchwepheshe bezemfundo zezikhungo zemfundo ephakeme zikahulumeni ezingamashumi amabili nambili (22) kwezingamashumi amabili nesithupha (26) futhi imithombo eyinhloko yalobufakazi kwakuwuhlu lwemibuzo lwenhlolovo oluku-inthanethi oluhlobene nokusetshenziswa kobuchwepheshe bezemfundo kwase kulandela kanye nezingxoxiswano ezihlelwe kancane. Ukuze kuhlaziywe ucwaningo, i-analytical dualism ngokuka-Archer kanye nomjikelezo we-morphogenetic (uzalo kabusha) unikeze uhlaka lokuhlaziywa kokutholwa kobuchwepheshe bezemfundo njengokusebenzelana okuqhubekayo phakathi kwezifundiswa nabasebenzi bomnyango bobuchwepheshe besimanje (EdTech staff). Ekuhlaziyeni, ngixoxa ngokuthi uhlaka lungiqondise kanjani ukuba ngihlaziye isakhiwo, isiko kanye nokwenza kwabantu njengezinhlangano ezihlukene nokuthi kungani lolu hlaka lufaneleka ukuze siqonde lesi simo esiyinkimbinkimbi nesikhula ngokushesha sezemfundo zobuchwepheshe besimanje. Ubumbaxambili bokuhlaziya buhlinzeka ngohlaka oluvumela abacwaningi ezimweni zomphakathi ukuthi babone futhi bahlaziye izindlela ezikhiqizayo neziyisisekelo, okuhlanganisa izindlela zokwenza ngokusebenzisa ukuxhumana komphakathi. Iphinde inikeze izimiso eziqondisayo zokuthi ezinye izenzo zokwenza komuntu kanye nemikhuba yamasiko zivela kanjani kanye nokuqonda ukuthi abenzi nabasebenzi bezemfundo, nokuthi abhekana kanjani futhi asabela kanjani ezakhiweni namasiko emikhakheni yezenhlalo, isibonelo, ukutholwa kwe-EdTechs ekufundiseni nokufunda. Ngaphezu kwalokho, umjikelezo we-morphogenetic wembula ubunjalo bomlando ukuthathwa kwe-EdTechs nezenzakalo ezenzeka esikhathini esithile ukuze izehlakalo ezidlule ezinezindlela zesakhiwo nezamasiko zibekezelele izenzo zezifundiswa njenge-ejensi ezovela ekusebenzelaneni kwezenhlalo namasiko. Izakhiwo ezivelayo zesakhiwo, isiko kanye nezabenzi zibonwa njengezindlela ezibalulekile ezivumela futhi zibambe iqhaza ekuthathweni kobuchwepheshe bezemfundo ekufundiseni nokufunda yizifundiswa. Ngakho-ke, ucwaningo luveza ukuthi kungani ukuthathwa kunezindlela ezivumelayo neziphoqayo futhi ukuxhumana phakathi kwesakhiwo, isiko kanye nomenzi kudala ukucabangela kwesimo okungaba okuncomayo noma okuphikisanayo ngokwemvelo. Imvume yokulandelana kwesimo yencazelo yokuthi kungani kunokuhlangenwe nakho okuhlukile ekuthathweni kwalawa ma-EdTech avela ezikhungweni ezehlukene esimweni semfundo ephakeme yaseNingizimu Afrika. Lolu cwaningo luzobaluleka emkhakheni wezobuchwepheshe bezemfundo futhi luthuthukise ukuqonda kwalokho okudingekayo ukuze kusetshenziswe ubuchwepheshe bezemfundo ekufundiseni nasekufundeni imfundo ephakeme. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Education, Centre for Higher Education Research, Teaching and Learning, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
Human Development, the Capability Approach and the Mediating of Sustainable Rural Livelihoods: a case study of women’s empowerment through expansive learning in the Mzimvubu Catchment of the Eastern Cape province, South Africa
- Authors: Conde Aller, Laura
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Expansive learning , Social learning , Transformative learning , Capabilities approach (Social sciences) , Women's rights South Africa Mzimvubu River Watershed , Women Economic conditions , Women Social conditions , Sustainable agriculture South Africa Mzimvubu River Watershed
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/366236 , vital:65845 , DOI https://doi.org/10.21504/10962/366236
- Description: This study makes a contribution to the field of sustainable agricultural development and women empowerment in rural South Africa by examining the transformations derived from an expansive learning process with a women farmers group in terms of their food production capability expansion and empowerment as well as the well-being of their local catchment or landscape where their activity was situated. The study took place in the Lutengele villages along the upper reaches of the lower Mzimvubu Catchment near Port St Johns in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Women in southern Africa are significant contributors to household livelihoods through their household food production practices and at the same time they are also one of the primary natural resource users in rural landscapes. In this case study, historical and contemporary ethnographic and situational data revealed disjuncture between existing practice and the fulfilment of women aspirations with regard to food security and social and ecological well-being at large. As a result, central to this study were the concepts of aspirations and capabilities and the role that these played in transformative learning processes via formative intervention research (after Engeström’s concept of expansive learning). Expansive learning emerges from Vygotsky’s early work on mediation of learning through language and culture, which gave raise to Cultural Historical Activity Theory (CHAT). Whereas the Capability Approach (CA) recognises that development interventions or initiatives should focus on “expanding the freedom that deprive people from enjoying their valued beings and doings” (Sen, 1999, p. 3), in other words, what people value or have reason to value. The Capability Approach coupled with CHAT deepens the contextual understanding of the agricultural activity system in light of the engendered power dynamics associated with women having access to productive resources, their culturally expected roles and responsibilities in the institution of their households, their families and the community at large, and most importantly, aspects of gerontocracy defined by their age and status in society. In addition, drawing on the Capability Approach as a lens to view agricultural development, social transformation and empowerment, provided the tools to conceptualise participants’ aspirations, their true value and the capabilities necessary for such aspirations to be realised in a context filled with socio-cultural and political power relations and dynamics faced especially by women. The first phase of the study set out to map the context in which the participants’ small-scale food production activity was situated, their aspirations relevant to sustainable agricultural livelihoods, food security, well-being and lastly, the main factors or contradictions inhibiting participants from attaining the aspired food production goals. During the initial phase of the expansive learning cycle I was able to address the first research question: What tensions and contradictions in aspiration-practice relationships shape household food security in the context of catchment management of the women farmers’ group or river forum in the Lutengele area? Twelve contradictions were identified from the historical and contemporary socio-cultural analysis of the home-based food production practices and agricultural activity in relation to the research participants’ envisaged aspirations, which under further scrutiny were thereafter considered by the participants as critical capabilities to pursue during the collective and transformative learning process in the second phase of the study. In the second phase of the study, a series of second stimuli were introduced in the form of conceptual and material tools and tasks with the aim to move participants along the expansive learning process. This led to the unfolding of the collectively defined Capability Learning Pathways for sustainable food production or expansion of their agricultural capability in the context of sustainability of the local micro-catchment or landscape. Through the various Change Laboratory workshops and supporting mini-cycles in the last stages of the formative interventionist research, participants’ learning and development was supported in a way that not only brought individuals together to co-design relevant solutions, strategies and working groups or committees, but also catalysed and amplified transformative agency and the expansion of food production capability, sustainable land use practices and ultimately empowerment. This answered the second and most important research question: Can, and if so, how can expansive social learning processes shape conversion factors for turning available resources into functionings that enhance household food security capabilities and ecological well-being? The methodology of expansive learning and formative interventionist research design intervention, with supporting mediating tools, has proven a positive intervention in the attainment of capabilities (or functionings) in relation to the participant’s aspired livelihoods and consequently improving their well-being as well as their ability to navigate through the various gendered power dynamics, especially for the young women participating in this study. The study proposes expansive learning as a suitable critical and transformative learning theory and methodology for the mediation of collective deliberations and the pursuit of capability development as charted by the learners’ collective and individual aspirations. This is a learning process that not only pursues the learners’ attainment of material and cognitive changes but also opens up new opportunities and most importantly, the freedom to exercise their agency no matter the circumstances they find themselves in – in other words, the freedom to aspire and to be, do and become what one values as instrumentally and intrinsically critical to live a life that they have reason to value. In sum, the unfolding of the expansive learning process happened at three levels: at the value clarification level in terms of human and non-human relationships and social relationality, the institutional level and the practices level. The study recommends further research on the suitability of expansive learning and Change Laboratories as a Capability Expansion Methodology involving human development and Capability Approach practitioners, particularly those with an interest in informal learning and community-based empowering initiatives. Additionally, further studies are also suggested for examining formative interventionist research as a participatory action research approach for capability development work in education and learning research and in different study fields and contexts. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Education, Education, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
Learning to make a difference: Small-scale women farmers in social learning spaces for climate action
- Authors: Chanyau, Ludwig
- Date: 2023-10-13
- Subjects: Social learning South Africa Amathole District Municipality , Value creation , Environmental education South Africa Amathole District Municipality , Climatic changes Study and teaching South Africa Amathole District Municipality , Communities of practice , Crops and climate South Africa Amathole District Municipality , Women farmers South Africa Amathole District Municipality , Farms, Small South Africa , Agricultural ecology South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/402944 , vital:69908 , DOI 10.21504/10962/402944
- Description: How do women farmers in Africa learn about climate change? What is quality climate change learning for farmers? How do farmers interface new knowledge with their long-held and trusted traditional knowledge? How do we evaluate learning at farm level and beyond? Using Okoli’s theory mining review, I untangled a tripartite knot of social learning literature to find Social Learning Theory (SLT) suitable for a study to explore my practical and scholarly curiosity as reflected in the above questions. Wenger’s theory of Social Learning emerged as the most appropriate for my research. The second phase of my study explored the climate change learning and practice terrain for small-scale women farmers, analysing the connection between learning, practice, and the resultant value in two case study areas, municipalities in the Amathole District of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. In addition to a paper on SLT mining review that unravels and chooses between the strands of social learning, the two case studies resulted in three articles that responded to the study’s objectives and the research questions. The thesis is introduced and synthesised through five 'book-end' chapters, as well as through these four articles. What were my findings? In the first case study, in the drought-stricken Raymond Mhlaba Municipality, I gathered the data through individual semi-structured interviews with farmers, extension officers and representatives of the involved organisations. I also conducted a group interview with farmers and analysed documents to supplement interview data. I analysed the data using concepts of Communities of Practice (CoP) and SLT to map out the learning and practice landscape. I discovered a constellation of CoPs interconnected by the shared drive for adaptive water management. The constellation is made up of tertiary institutions, government departments, non-governmental organisations and farmers of varying experiences and competencies, with women emerging as the more proactive gender, and state-led extension services being willing but overstretched and under-resourced. SLT effectively traced the apparent fragmented learning within and outside the CoPs and the sudden and extensive shifts in the CoP boundaries, especially in the context of COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns and the increased adoption of digital learning platforms. Despite the richness and diversity brought by the emergent new learning networks that involve participants in the province and further afield, the adoption of digital learning platforms worsened the existing generational digital divide among farmers. iii In the second case study, in the water scarce Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, I adopted the Value Creation Framework (VCF) to conduct an ethnographic evaluation that used semi-structured interviews, participant observation and document analysis of the learning experiences of women farmers in a social movement on agroecology. I found that the farmer-centred learning approach of the movement has created value for the farmers involved, evidenced by the adoption of agroecology by over 2700 members (including new urban farmers who are occupying open spaces typically used as dumpsites). The learning approach has facilitated expansive learning, enhanced resource mobilisation, new collaborations, partnerships, and seed sharing networks. Additionally, it necessitated context-appropriate and transformative changes to intersectional justice issues associated with historical inequalities in access to land and water and gender discrimination, leading to improved practices, new access to markets and improved quality yields. These are examples of immediate, potential, applied, realised, orienting, enabling and transformative as well as strategic value, as defined by the VCF. In reflecting on how women farmers learn in these social learning spaces I elucidate the learning impact pathways and local contextual influences in shifting CoP boundaries, domains, and practices during the climate crisis as it intersects with other compounding factors. I generated insights that could be useful for stakeholders in the agricultural (extension) sector to build better pathways for emancipatory and empowering expansive social learning in contexts characterised by resource constraints, but also by strong women-led agency. Such learning could make a difference and cushion small-scale farming from collapse especially in times of unprecedented changes. The agroecology movement and associated communities of practice explored in this study create transformative social learning spaces that are able to respond to climate change, and hence a model that state-led extension might want to adopt in other resource-constrained contexts. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Education, Education, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-10-13
'ORPHEIOI HYMNOI' The generic contexts of the Orphic Hymns
- Authors: Malamis, Daniel Scott Christos
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Orphic hymns , Poetics Early works to 1800 , Hymns, Greek (Classical) History and criticism , Literary form
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/327177 , vital:61088 , DOI 10.21504/10962/327177
- Description: Uncertainty surrounds the circumstances of Orphic Hymns’ composition and their intended use. Their author has substituted their own identity for that of the mythological poet and there is no certain reference to the extant collection in any ancient source. They are, in this sense, decontextualised. This study aims to make a contribution to the ongoing debate concerning the hymns’ composition, and the original function they might have served, through an analysis of their poetic and generic contexts. Following a detailed survey of scholarship on the hymns, I reflect first on the collection as a unified text, the constitutive parts of the individual hymns and the methods they employ for addressing, describing and praying to the gods. I then study a select group of stylistic features that the hymns prominently display: their use of phonic effects, including etymological figures, of antithesis and symmetrical patterning, and their extensive repetition of poetic formulae. In each case I discuss the deployment and significance of these poetic elements within the collection and consider the intertextual parallels suggested by their recurrence in Greek literary texts of all periods. This analysis reveals the hymns’ engagement with an overlapping set of poetic traditions, including, most prominently, cultic hymns and oracles, gnomic poetry, the theological discourses of the Presocratic philosophers and, in particular, Orphic poetry in its many forms. It suggests moreover that the hymns engage deeply with the oral strategies of the earliest Greek poets, underscoring the conclusion reached by several recent scholars, that the extant collection is essentially performative and was intended to be recited and heard. I argue that the Orphic Hymns were not a unique text in their employment of the stylistic features studied here, but drew extensively upon earlier hymns composed in Orpheus’ name. I further consider, in the light of this argument, the bearing this study has on the unresolved questions of the hymns’ composition, whether by a single author or many, and the aims of the poet(s) who composed them. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Languages and Literature Studies, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
Quantifying the impacts of cactus biological control agents in South Africa
- Authors: Mnqeta, Zezethu
- Date: 2022-04-08
- Subjects: Cactus Biological control South Africa , Noxious weeds South Africa , Invasive plants Biological control South Africa , Insects as biological pest control agents South Africa , Cochineal insect South Africa , Mealybugs South Africa , Agricultural productivity South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/294631 , vital:57239 , DOI 10.21504/10962/294631
- Description: Invasive alien cacti are prominent weeds that threaten indigenous biodiversity and have a negative impact on agricultural productivity in South Africa. These plants are problematic because they form dense thickets that reduce the carrying capacity of rangelands; restrict the movement of livestock and wildlife thus reducing access to shade and water sources; and are directly harmful to livestock, wildlife and people due to their sharp spines. Biological control is the most effective, affordable and environmentally friendly method to control invasive alien cacti and minimize their negative impacts. Cochineal insects (Dactylopius spp.: Dactylopiidae) and the gall-forming mealybug, Hypogeococcus sp. (Pseudococcidae) are used as biological control agents for cacti. The agents are however poor dispersers, so mass-rearing and augmentative releases are required in order to establish the agents at sites where they are needed. This study aimed to evaluate the mass-rearing and release efforts of cactus biological control in South Africa, quantify the impact of the biological control agents on cactus plant populations through long-term monitoring, and assess the benefits accrued due to the biological control agents through the perceptions of land-users. An assessment of the effectiveness of the release effort for cactus biological control agents was conducted by comparing where biological control agents have been released with the known distribution of the target weeds. Only 26% of the quarter degree squares that are known to be occupied by invasive alien cacti have had biological control agents released in them. This indicated that the mass-rearing and release efforts in South Africa are inadequate and should be increased, especially in areas where few releases have been made and many cacti are present, such as the Limpopo Province. The impact of the biological control agents on cactus plant populations was assessed by monitoring agent densities, target plant densities and target plant reproductive outputs before and after releases. Plant biomass and reproductive output were reduced by biological control agents for three of the target weeds that were assessed, while the duration of the study was too short to measure reductions for the fourth target weed. Benefits to land-users were then quantified through a questionnaire survey. Land-users perceived biological control as an effective management option, with 81% of the land-users reporting that there was less invasive alien cactus after releasing biological control agents on their land. Forty-nine percent of the land-users believed that the negative impacts of the cactus had been reduced and that they benefited more from their land since control was achieved. Since land-users were only interviewed within four years of the releases being conducted, it is expected that the percentage of land-users who gained benefits from biological control will increase in future. Ninety-seven percent of the land-users stated that the agents were safe and had not fed on any other plants or had any detrimental impacts. These perceptions indicated that land-users regarded biological control as a safe and effective method of controlling invasive alien cacti. This study confirms that biological control is an effective and safe way of controlling invasive alien Cactaceae. It is also the first to assess some of the benefits that land-users have accrued due to biological control of cactus weeds. It is however evident that a greater mass-rearing and release effort is required for South Africa to get the maximum benefits possible from the use of the biological control agents for cactus weeds that are available in the country. , Izityalo ze-cactus ezisuka kwamanye amazwe zilukhula olubalaseleyo, olwenza ingxaki kwintlobo ngeentlobo zezityalo nezilwanyana kwaye ezizityalo zinefuthe neziphumo ezingalunganga kwimveliso yezolimo eMzantsi Afrika. Ezi zizityalo ziyingxaki kuba zenza amatyholo ashinyeneyo athi anciphise umthamo wokusebenzisa umhlaba: zinqanda ukuhamba nogkukhululekileyo kwemfuyo nezilwanyana zasendle ngokwenza oko zingakwazi ukufikelela emthuzini xa kutshisa nakwimithombo yamanzi yokusela; zikwayiyo nengozi kwimfuyo, izilwanyana zasendle kunye nabantu ngenxa yamave abukhali afumaneka kwezizityalo. Ukulawula nokwehliza ubunzini nezinga lemigcipheko yezizityalo, kusetyenziswa indlela ekuthiwa yi-biological control. Lendlela yeyona ndlela isebenza ngokuphucukileyo, efikelelayo, nengenabungozi kokusingqongileyo. Izinambuzane ze- cochineal (i-Dactylopius spp.: Dactylopiidae) kunye ne-mealybug, i-Hypogeococcus sp. (Pseudococcidae) zisetyenziswe njengezixhobo ze-biological control ezinceda ukulawula ezizityalo ze-cactus zingafunekiyo. Ingxaki yazo ezizinambuzane zizixhobo ze-biological control zingentla kukuba azikwazi kuzisasaza ngokwazo ukuba zifikelele nakwizityalo ezikude ngoko ke ukukhuliswa nokukhutshwa ngobuninzi bazo kuyafuneka ukukhawulelana nalengxaki kunye nokwandisa amathuba wokuba zifikelele kuzozonke izityalo ze-cactus ekufuneka zizilawule. Olu phononongo lujolise ekuvavanyeni iinzame zokukhulisa ngobuninzi nokukhupha ezezinambuzane zizixhobo ze-bioloigical control zokulawula izityalo ze-cactus eMzantsi Afrika, ukujonga ubungakanani befuthe notshintsho elenziwa zezinambuzane zizixhobo ze-bioloigical control kwizityalo ze-cactus emva kwexesha elide lokuzijonga, kunye nokuvavanya inzuzo efunyenwe ngenxa yokulawula ezizityalo ze-cactus ngokwemibono yabasebenzisi bomhlaba. Uvavanyo lweenzame zokukhutshwa kwezixhobo zezixhobo zezinambuzane ze-bioloigical control kwizityalo ze-cactus lwenziwa ngokuthelekisa iindawo apho izixhobo zezinambuzane ze-biological control zikhutshwe khona kunye neendawo apho izityalo ze-cactus kwaziwayo ukuba ziyafumaneka khona. Yi-26% kuphela yesikwere sekota eyaziwayo ukuba kukhona izityalo ze-cactus nalapho kukhutshwe khona kwezinambuzane ezizixhobo ze-biological control. Oku kubonisa ukuba iinzame zokukhulisa nokukhutshwa kwezinambuzane ezizixhobo ze-biological control eMzantsi Afrika azanelanga kwaye kufuneka zandiswe, ngakumbi kwiindawo apho kukho ukhutsho olumbalwa olwenziweyo kunye nezityalo ze-cactus ezininzi ezifumaneka khona, njengePhondo laseLimpopo. Iimpembelelo yokukhutshwa kwezinambuzane ezizixhobo ze-biological control kwizityalo ze-cactus zavavanywa ngokujonga ubunizi bezinambuzane ezizixhobo ze-biological control, ukuxinana kwezityalo ze-cactus ekujoliswe kuzo kunye nemveliso yokuzala kwezityalo ze-cactus phambi nasemva kokuba kukhutshwe izinambuzane ezizixhobo ze-biological control. Ubungakanani bezityalo ze-cactus kunye nemveliso yokuzala ziye zacutheka emva kokukhutshwa kwezinambuzane ezizixhobo ze-biological control kwinzityalo ezintathu ze-cactus ebekujoliswe uvavanyo kuzo, ngelixa ixesha lophononongo lalifutshane kakhulu ukuvavanya unciphiso kwisityalo se-cactus sesine. Izibonelelo zabasebenzisi bomhlaba zaye zavavanywa kusetyenziswa uhlobo lwemibuzo. Abasebenzisi bomhlaba balubona ukusetyenziswa kwezinambuzane ezizixhobo ze-biological control njengendlela yolawulo olusebenzayo, yi81% yabasebenzisi bomhlaba echaze ukuba izityalo ze-cactus zecuthekile emva kokukhutshwa kwezinambuzane ezizixhobo ze-biological control emhlabeni wabo. Amashumi amane anesithoba eepesenti zabasebenzisi bomhlaba bakholelwa ukuba impembelelo ezingalunganga ze-cactus zincitshisiwe kwaye baxhamle kakhulu kumhlaba wabo okoko lwaphunyenzwa. Oludliwano-ndlebe belwenziwe kubasebenzisi bomhlaba kwisithuba seminyaka emine emva kokuba kukhutshwe izinambuzane ezizixhobo ze-biological control, kulindeleke ukuba ipesenti yabasebenzisi bomhlaba abathe bafumana izibonelelo kwi-biological control lonyuke kwixesha elizayo. Amashumi alithoba anesixhenxe ekhulwini abasebenzisi bomhlaba bachaze ukuba izinambuzane ezizixhobo ze-biological control zikhuselekile kwaye khange zidle kuzo naziphi na ezinye izityalo ezingezi eze-cactus ebekujoliswe kuzo okanye zineempembelelo eyingozi. Ezi mbono ziyabonisa ukuba abasebenzi bomhlaba bayithatha i-biological control njengendlela ekhuselekileyo nesebenzayo yokulawula izityalo ze-cactus zamanye amazwe. Olu phononongo luqinisekisa ukuba ulawulo olusebenzisa izinambuzane ezizixhobo ze-biological control yindlela esebenzayo nekhuselekileyo yokulawula iCactaceae yamanye amazwe. Ikwangolokuqala ukuvavanya ezinye zezibonelelo ezizuzwe ngabasebenzisi bomhlaba ngenxa ye-biological control yezityalo ze-cactus. Nangona kunjalo kucacile ukuba ukwandisa inzame zokukhulisa nokukhupha ngobuninzi izinambuzane ezizixhobo ze-biological control kuyafuneka ukuze uMzantsi Afrika ufumane izibonelelo eziphakamileyo enokubakho ngokusetyenziswa kwe zinambuzane ezizixhobo ze-biological control zokulawula ukhula lwe-cactus olukhoyo kweli lizwe. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Zoology and Entomology, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-04-08
A social history of midwifery practices in colonial Ibadan, Nigeria, 1893 - 1960
- Authors: Olorunnibe, Folaranmi Flourish
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Midwifery Nigeria Ibadan , Nigeria History 1900-1960 , Nigeria Politics and government To 1960 , Nigeria Social conditions To 1960 , Maternal health services Nigeria Ibadan , Ibadan (Nigeria) Colonial influence
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/408716 , vital:70519 , DOI 10.21504/10962/408716
- Description: This thesis examines the introduction and development of western medical practices in colonial spaces with particular reference to midwifery practices in colonial Ibadan, Nigeria, from 1893 to 1960. This has become necessary because of the importance placed on childbirth and maternal healthcare in the twentieth century. The trends and changes in midwifery and midwifery practices in colonial Ibadan are seen as reflections of other transformations in British African colonies at large. The study begins with a detailed historical analysis of the major metropolitan and local factors that informed the introduction and development of Western obstetrics in colonial Ibadan, Nigeria. It proceeds to examine the development of Western midwifery practices in colonial Ibadan; highlighting the contributions of the Ibadan people to the development of Western midwifery practices and emphasizing policies affecting development, and implementation of Western obstetrics. The thesis goes further to reveal the prejudiced nature of colonial medical policies, and the ways it shaped various responses especially from rural folks who were particularly marginalized since the 1920s when maternal healthcare policies was implemented in the urban areas till the 1950s when a reformed policy for rural medical service scheme was introduced to the rural folks. Thus, influencing the ways they imagined and appropriated ideas of western obstetrics alongside African traditional midwifery practices. The idea is to demonstrate in this thesis the extent to which the precincts in colonial medical policies, most especially the establishment of maternity hospitals, clinics and dispensaries, and the institutionalization of western obstetrics, inspired critical and ingenious responses from colonial doctors, colonial officials, the missionaries, patients, African trained midwives, traditional medical practitioners and the African population in general. Placing all of these historical events within a wider context, this thesis borrows insights from the social history of medicine in an attempt to reconstruct the colonial medical practices in Ibadan, Nigeria, through the sites of midwifery practices and maternal welfare services from 1893 to 1960. This is in addition to its dependence on a comparatively rich, but skewed historical evidence, including a plethora of annual medical reports, official reports of the department of medical and sanitary services, official correspondences within the colonial government in Ibadan and Nigeria, and between the colonial government and the colonial office in the United Kingdom. Details of African responses to medical policies were garnered from oral testimonies, newspaper publications and correspondences between the African public and the colonial government in Ibadan. In exploring this historical evidence, the thesis reveals very interesting details of colonial perceptions about African health and their underlining motives for introducing western medical ideas, the various medical schemes and policies used in driving colonial interest and the ways Africans imagined, re-imagined, and appropriated Western medical practices. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Humanities, History, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
Identification and characterisation of microbial communities and their metabolic potential in meltwater ponds, Western Dronning Mau Land, Antarctica
- Authors: Van Aswegen, Sunet
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/365723 , vital:65779
- Description: Thesis embargoed. Expected release date early 2024. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Biochemistry and Microbiology, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-10-14