Wild vegetables of the Eastern Cape of South Africa: the nutritional value and domestication of solanum nigrum l
- Authors: Bvenura, Callistus
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Ethnobotany)
- Identifier: vital:11885 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1015514
- Description: An ethnobotanical survey was conducted in Alice and Willowvale in the Nkonkobe and Mbashe municipalities of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa to identify and document wild vegetables growing in the areas. The survey documented 22 vegetable species belonging to 12 different families. The Amaryllidaceae, Amaranthaceae, Apiaceae, Asteraceae, Caryophyllaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Convolvulaceae, Cruciferae, Cucurbitaceaea, Euphorbiaceae, Tiliaceae, Solanaceae, Polygonaceae and Urticaceae were the families that were recorded. The species were Tulbaghia violacea Harv., Amaranthus blitoides S., Amaranthus blitum L., Amaranthus hybridus L., Centella coriacea Nannfd., Bidens pilosa L, Cotula heterocarpa DC., Sonchus oleraceus L., Galinsoga parviflora Cav., Taraxacum officinale Weber, Hypochaeris radicata L., Stellaria media L., Chenopodium album L., Chenopodium murale L., Ipomoea batatas L., Sisymbrium thellungii O. Schulz, Cucurbita pepo L., Rumex crispus L., Acalypha virginica L., Nicandra physalodes L., Physalis peruviana L., Solanum nigrum L., Urtica urens L. and Corchorus olitorius L. About 27 % of the wild vegetables were native to South Africa and about 45 % were also used as medicinal plants in the areas. Sun drying was the most common method of preserving the wild vegetables for the off season months. This study also revealed that, men and the younger generation knew less about wild vegetables than the women. The study also revealed a loss of knowledge of wild vegetables and their use by the rural dwellers who are more in favour of the exotic types such as spinach and cabbage.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Bvenura, Callistus
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Ethnobotany)
- Identifier: vital:11885 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1015514
- Description: An ethnobotanical survey was conducted in Alice and Willowvale in the Nkonkobe and Mbashe municipalities of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa to identify and document wild vegetables growing in the areas. The survey documented 22 vegetable species belonging to 12 different families. The Amaryllidaceae, Amaranthaceae, Apiaceae, Asteraceae, Caryophyllaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Convolvulaceae, Cruciferae, Cucurbitaceaea, Euphorbiaceae, Tiliaceae, Solanaceae, Polygonaceae and Urticaceae were the families that were recorded. The species were Tulbaghia violacea Harv., Amaranthus blitoides S., Amaranthus blitum L., Amaranthus hybridus L., Centella coriacea Nannfd., Bidens pilosa L, Cotula heterocarpa DC., Sonchus oleraceus L., Galinsoga parviflora Cav., Taraxacum officinale Weber, Hypochaeris radicata L., Stellaria media L., Chenopodium album L., Chenopodium murale L., Ipomoea batatas L., Sisymbrium thellungii O. Schulz, Cucurbita pepo L., Rumex crispus L., Acalypha virginica L., Nicandra physalodes L., Physalis peruviana L., Solanum nigrum L., Urtica urens L. and Corchorus olitorius L. About 27 % of the wild vegetables were native to South Africa and about 45 % were also used as medicinal plants in the areas. Sun drying was the most common method of preserving the wild vegetables for the off season months. This study also revealed that, men and the younger generation knew less about wild vegetables than the women. The study also revealed a loss of knowledge of wild vegetables and their use by the rural dwellers who are more in favour of the exotic types such as spinach and cabbage.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Antibiogram profiling of Escherichia coli pathotypes isolated from Kat River and Fort Beaufort abstraction water
- Authors: Nontongana, Nolonwabo
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Escherichia coli infections -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Water -- Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Microbiology)
- Identifier: vital:11289 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1019820 , Escherichia coli infections -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Water -- Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a widespread species that includes a broad variety of strains, ranging from highly pathogenic strains causing worldwide outbreaks of severe disease to virulent isolates which are part of the normal intestinal flora or which are well characterized and safe laboratory strains. The pathogenicity of a given E. coli strain is mainly determined by specific virulence factors which include adhesins, invasins, toxins and capsule. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and antibiogram profiles of E. coli pathotypes previously isolated from Kat River and Fort Beaufort abstraction water. A total of 171 E. coli isolates showed at least one pathogenic determinant among the isolated 278 E. coli. The other 107 isolates were negative for the tested virulence genes. All 278 presumptive isolates tested positive for the UidA gene, and were therefore classified as non-categorized pathogenic E. coli. The 171 pathogenic isolates had at least one characteristic gene of pathogenic E. coli and were identified and classified as enteropathogenic E. coli (6%), enterotoxigenicE. coli (131), uropathogenic E. coli (6), neonatal meningitis E. coli (14), diffusely adherent E. coli (1) and enterohaemrrhagic E. coli (1). Interestingly, no virulence genes were detected for the enteroinvasive E. coli and the enteroaggregative E. coli. The antibiotic resistance profiles for all isolates that were identified as E. coli showed 100% resistance to penicillin G, 98% resistance to ampicillin, 38% resistance to trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole and 8% resistance to streptomycin. Multiple antibacterial resistance (MAR) was also observed, where 44% of the isolates were resistant to three antibiotics and 8% resistant to four antibiotics. The results of this study showed the Kat River and Fort Beaufort abstraction water are reservoirs of pathogenic strains of E. coli which harbour antibiotic resistance determinants that can cause serious health risks to the people in the surrounding communities.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Nontongana, Nolonwabo
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Escherichia coli infections -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Water -- Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Microbiology)
- Identifier: vital:11289 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1019820 , Escherichia coli infections -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Water -- Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a widespread species that includes a broad variety of strains, ranging from highly pathogenic strains causing worldwide outbreaks of severe disease to virulent isolates which are part of the normal intestinal flora or which are well characterized and safe laboratory strains. The pathogenicity of a given E. coli strain is mainly determined by specific virulence factors which include adhesins, invasins, toxins and capsule. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and antibiogram profiles of E. coli pathotypes previously isolated from Kat River and Fort Beaufort abstraction water. A total of 171 E. coli isolates showed at least one pathogenic determinant among the isolated 278 E. coli. The other 107 isolates were negative for the tested virulence genes. All 278 presumptive isolates tested positive for the UidA gene, and were therefore classified as non-categorized pathogenic E. coli. The 171 pathogenic isolates had at least one characteristic gene of pathogenic E. coli and were identified and classified as enteropathogenic E. coli (6%), enterotoxigenicE. coli (131), uropathogenic E. coli (6), neonatal meningitis E. coli (14), diffusely adherent E. coli (1) and enterohaemrrhagic E. coli (1). Interestingly, no virulence genes were detected for the enteroinvasive E. coli and the enteroaggregative E. coli. The antibiotic resistance profiles for all isolates that were identified as E. coli showed 100% resistance to penicillin G, 98% resistance to ampicillin, 38% resistance to trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole and 8% resistance to streptomycin. Multiple antibacterial resistance (MAR) was also observed, where 44% of the isolates were resistant to three antibiotics and 8% resistant to four antibiotics. The results of this study showed the Kat River and Fort Beaufort abstraction water are reservoirs of pathogenic strains of E. coli which harbour antibiotic resistance determinants that can cause serious health risks to the people in the surrounding communities.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Aggregate stability, crust formation, steady state infiltration and mode of seedling emergence in soils with various texture and mineralogy
- Authors: Nciizah, Adornis Dakarai
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Crop Science)
- Identifier: vital:11871 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1015539
- Description: The general objective of this study was to quantify the interactive effects of soil texture and mineralogy on soil crusting, infiltration and erosion and the subsequent effects on maize seedling emergence and early development using soils collected from 14 ecotopes in the Eastern Cape Province. The specific objectives were to determine; i) particulate organic matter, soil texture and mineralogy relations, ii) aggregate stability and breakdown mechanisms as affected by soil texture and organic matter, iii) crust formation and steady state infiltration, iv) rainfall pattern effects on crusting, infiltration and erodibility and v) rainfall intensity effects on crusting and mode of seedling emergence. Particulate organic matter (POM) was fractionated into litter POM, coarse POM and fine POM. Both total soil organic matter (SOM) and the POM in each fraction were determined using the weight loss on ignition procedure. Most ecotopes were either sandy loam or sandy clay loam and primary minerals especially quartz dominated the soil mineralogy. The clay content was significantly related to the total SOM (r = 0.78), hematite (r = 0.83) and quartz (r = -0.74). Aggregate stability was determined following methods described by Le Bissonnais (1996) i.e. fast wetting (FW), slow wetting (SW) and wet stirring (WSt). Aggregate breakdown followed the order; slaking < mechanical breakdown < micro-cracking for most ecotopes except Lujiko Leeufontein and Amatola Jozini where SW and WSt resulted in the least MWD respectively. Aggregate stability was significantly correlated to POM only for FW and SW and only positive but not significant for WSt. To study crust formation, aggregate sizes <2, 2 to 3, 3 to 5 mm were exposed to 60 mm hr-1 simulated rainfall. Sieving structural crusts, ~0.2 to ~0.8 mm thick with a surface layer of loose grains overlying a thin plasmic layer, formed in all ecotopes. Crusts with strengths between 0.25 and 3.42 10-4 kg m-2 developed on the <2 mm compared to <2.23 10-4 kg m-2 in the >2 mm aggregates. The reverse occurred in Alice Jozini, which had relatively low clay content of 120 g kg-1. Two significantly different groups of the SSIR were observed. The SSIR was between 1.24 and 3.60 mm hr-1 in the group of ecotopes dominated by primary minerals and relatively lower clay content. In the second group, consisting one ecotope dominated by kaolinite and relatively higher clay content, the SSIR was 15.23 mm hr-1. Rainfall pattern i.e. rainfall applied either as an eight minute single rainstorm (SR) or four-two minute intermittent rainstorms (IR) separated by a 48 h drying period significantly (p < 0.05) affected crust strength, SSIR and erosion. The IR resulted in higher crust strength and SSIR than SR. The effect of rainfall pattern on SSIR was mostly influenced by the primary minerals namely, quartz. Three maize seeds of equal size were planted in plastic pots, pre-wetted by capillary action and then subjected to simulated rainfall at three intensities for 5 min. Rainfall intensity (30, 45 and 60 mm h-1) significantly (P < 0.05) affected crust strength and mean emergence day (MED) but not emergence percentage (EMP) and shoot length (P > 0.05). The 60 mm h-1 rainfall intensity resulted in the highest crust strength and MED.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Nciizah, Adornis Dakarai
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Crop Science)
- Identifier: vital:11871 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1015539
- Description: The general objective of this study was to quantify the interactive effects of soil texture and mineralogy on soil crusting, infiltration and erosion and the subsequent effects on maize seedling emergence and early development using soils collected from 14 ecotopes in the Eastern Cape Province. The specific objectives were to determine; i) particulate organic matter, soil texture and mineralogy relations, ii) aggregate stability and breakdown mechanisms as affected by soil texture and organic matter, iii) crust formation and steady state infiltration, iv) rainfall pattern effects on crusting, infiltration and erodibility and v) rainfall intensity effects on crusting and mode of seedling emergence. Particulate organic matter (POM) was fractionated into litter POM, coarse POM and fine POM. Both total soil organic matter (SOM) and the POM in each fraction were determined using the weight loss on ignition procedure. Most ecotopes were either sandy loam or sandy clay loam and primary minerals especially quartz dominated the soil mineralogy. The clay content was significantly related to the total SOM (r = 0.78), hematite (r = 0.83) and quartz (r = -0.74). Aggregate stability was determined following methods described by Le Bissonnais (1996) i.e. fast wetting (FW), slow wetting (SW) and wet stirring (WSt). Aggregate breakdown followed the order; slaking < mechanical breakdown < micro-cracking for most ecotopes except Lujiko Leeufontein and Amatola Jozini where SW and WSt resulted in the least MWD respectively. Aggregate stability was significantly correlated to POM only for FW and SW and only positive but not significant for WSt. To study crust formation, aggregate sizes <2, 2 to 3, 3 to 5 mm were exposed to 60 mm hr-1 simulated rainfall. Sieving structural crusts, ~0.2 to ~0.8 mm thick with a surface layer of loose grains overlying a thin plasmic layer, formed in all ecotopes. Crusts with strengths between 0.25 and 3.42 10-4 kg m-2 developed on the <2 mm compared to <2.23 10-4 kg m-2 in the >2 mm aggregates. The reverse occurred in Alice Jozini, which had relatively low clay content of 120 g kg-1. Two significantly different groups of the SSIR were observed. The SSIR was between 1.24 and 3.60 mm hr-1 in the group of ecotopes dominated by primary minerals and relatively lower clay content. In the second group, consisting one ecotope dominated by kaolinite and relatively higher clay content, the SSIR was 15.23 mm hr-1. Rainfall pattern i.e. rainfall applied either as an eight minute single rainstorm (SR) or four-two minute intermittent rainstorms (IR) separated by a 48 h drying period significantly (p < 0.05) affected crust strength, SSIR and erosion. The IR resulted in higher crust strength and SSIR than SR. The effect of rainfall pattern on SSIR was mostly influenced by the primary minerals namely, quartz. Three maize seeds of equal size were planted in plastic pots, pre-wetted by capillary action and then subjected to simulated rainfall at three intensities for 5 min. Rainfall intensity (30, 45 and 60 mm h-1) significantly (P < 0.05) affected crust strength and mean emergence day (MED) but not emergence percentage (EMP) and shoot length (P > 0.05). The 60 mm h-1 rainfall intensity resulted in the highest crust strength and MED.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Rural households livelihood strategies in communities around the Fort Hare and Middle Drift rural dairy projects in Eastern Cape Province South Africa
- Authors: Mukotami, Samuel
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Households -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Dairy farming -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Agricultural Economics)
- Identifier: vital:11228 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1021132 , Households -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Dairy farming -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: In this study, rural households livelihood strategies in communities around Fort Hare and Middle Drift dairy projects in the Nkonkobe Municipality are explored from a household perspective. Rural communities around Fort Hare and Middle Drift dairy projects in Eastern Cape, South Africa are found choosing a multiple of livelihood portfolios that are linked to dairy project activities to increase food, generate income, and safeguard against risks and shocks. The dairy projects in rural areas can reduced the problem of shrinking livelihood options in rural areas were most of the households are relying on government grants which has characterised the rural areas with long queues during month ends. The main objectives of this study are, to assess whether the rural dairy projects set goals are being achieved; to identify dominant livelihood strategies of households living around dairy projects in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa and to identify determinant factors influencing rural households around dairy projects to choose certain livelihood strategies that improve their welfare. The study analysed socio-economic survey data that had been collected from households in six rural villages in Nkonkobe Municipality surrounding the Fort Hare and Middle drift dairy projects. The stratified and random sampling method was used. The descriptive analysis comparing the livelihood portfolios’ in the six rural villages around Fort hare and Middle Drift dairy projects has revealed that there is an increasingly important role of the non-farm economy in the area (income from activities not linked to farming) as compared to farming, non-labour (income from remittances and government grants) and non-farm activities that are combined with farming (non-farm and farming activities). The multinomial logistic regression model revealed, with respect to the household variables, social-economic and institutional related variables as some of the barriers faced by poor households in rural areas sharing boundaries with rural dairy projects to enter into various livelihood strategies. Results from this study outlined that rural communities around dairy projects do not rely much on one livelihood pathway but they link multiple strategies together to improve their standard of living. The study, therefore, conclude that rural dairy projects with activities that are complementing with rural livelihood pathways available can be trusted as a reliable and sustainable livelihood source to reduce poverty in communities which share boundaries with rural dairy projects.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Mukotami, Samuel
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Households -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Dairy farming -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Agricultural Economics)
- Identifier: vital:11228 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1021132 , Households -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Dairy farming -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: In this study, rural households livelihood strategies in communities around Fort Hare and Middle Drift dairy projects in the Nkonkobe Municipality are explored from a household perspective. Rural communities around Fort Hare and Middle Drift dairy projects in Eastern Cape, South Africa are found choosing a multiple of livelihood portfolios that are linked to dairy project activities to increase food, generate income, and safeguard against risks and shocks. The dairy projects in rural areas can reduced the problem of shrinking livelihood options in rural areas were most of the households are relying on government grants which has characterised the rural areas with long queues during month ends. The main objectives of this study are, to assess whether the rural dairy projects set goals are being achieved; to identify dominant livelihood strategies of households living around dairy projects in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa and to identify determinant factors influencing rural households around dairy projects to choose certain livelihood strategies that improve their welfare. The study analysed socio-economic survey data that had been collected from households in six rural villages in Nkonkobe Municipality surrounding the Fort Hare and Middle drift dairy projects. The stratified and random sampling method was used. The descriptive analysis comparing the livelihood portfolios’ in the six rural villages around Fort hare and Middle Drift dairy projects has revealed that there is an increasingly important role of the non-farm economy in the area (income from activities not linked to farming) as compared to farming, non-labour (income from remittances and government grants) and non-farm activities that are combined with farming (non-farm and farming activities). The multinomial logistic regression model revealed, with respect to the household variables, social-economic and institutional related variables as some of the barriers faced by poor households in rural areas sharing boundaries with rural dairy projects to enter into various livelihood strategies. Results from this study outlined that rural communities around dairy projects do not rely much on one livelihood pathway but they link multiple strategies together to improve their standard of living. The study, therefore, conclude that rural dairy projects with activities that are complementing with rural livelihood pathways available can be trusted as a reliable and sustainable livelihood source to reduce poverty in communities which share boundaries with rural dairy projects.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
A comparative evolutionary approach to gum-feeding in Galago Moholi and Microcebus Griseorufus
- Authors: Andrews, Curswan Allan
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Zoology)
- Identifier: vital:11795 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1019831
- Description: Gums are soluble plant exudates rich in complex carbohydrates. In primates, the consumption of gum (gummivory) has been described as a primitive, fall-back diet exhibited when other food sources become scarce, particularly during dry periods. In apparent support for this interpretation, gummivory is often observed in nocturnal strepsirhines (tooth-combed primates) believed to have retained many primitive features. The complex carbohydrates in gums, however, are also known to be difficult to digest, and require particular alimentary adaptations. The hypothesis of a primitive diet predicts that gummivorous strepsirhines should use homologous digestive strategies, while the presence of different digestive adaptations in different lineages would suggest convergent evolution. I compared the digestive adaptations to gummivory in two small strepsirhine taxa, African lesser bushbabies (Galago moholi) and Malagasy reddish-grey mouse lemurs (Microcebus griseorufus). Both taxa digest gum primarily by fermentation, and have enlarged caeca for this process, but only G. moholi has an ansa coli in which digestion can be continued. In captive feeding experiments, the faeces of wild-caught G. moholi and M. griseorufus showed no significant difference in their digestive efficiency of gum compared with a control food (banana), and the banana and gum samples showed no significant difference in nutrient concentration and overall composition. To gain a broader understanding of the origins of gummivory in strepsirhines, I used a phylogenetic method to reconstruct their dietary evolution. My results indicate that gummivory evolved convergently in several primate lineages, apparently in response to environmental hypervariability. I conducted biochemical analyses of the secondary compounds found in gums that are regularly consumed, and preliminary results show that Commiphora spp. have a number of compounds, while Acacia spp. show no such traces. The absence of secondary compounds from M. griseorufus faeces suggests that the animals have physiological means for either converting them into digestible products or detoxifying and excreting them in their urine. Finally, I compared the distribution patterns of G. moholi and M. griseorufus with climatic parameters; both study taxa inhabit regions in which the dry season is characterised by little to no rainfall, a drought that may persist for months. Similar climatic regions are occupied by other gum-feeders, including the marsupial gliders (Petauridae) of Australia.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Andrews, Curswan Allan
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Zoology)
- Identifier: vital:11795 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1019831
- Description: Gums are soluble plant exudates rich in complex carbohydrates. In primates, the consumption of gum (gummivory) has been described as a primitive, fall-back diet exhibited when other food sources become scarce, particularly during dry periods. In apparent support for this interpretation, gummivory is often observed in nocturnal strepsirhines (tooth-combed primates) believed to have retained many primitive features. The complex carbohydrates in gums, however, are also known to be difficult to digest, and require particular alimentary adaptations. The hypothesis of a primitive diet predicts that gummivorous strepsirhines should use homologous digestive strategies, while the presence of different digestive adaptations in different lineages would suggest convergent evolution. I compared the digestive adaptations to gummivory in two small strepsirhine taxa, African lesser bushbabies (Galago moholi) and Malagasy reddish-grey mouse lemurs (Microcebus griseorufus). Both taxa digest gum primarily by fermentation, and have enlarged caeca for this process, but only G. moholi has an ansa coli in which digestion can be continued. In captive feeding experiments, the faeces of wild-caught G. moholi and M. griseorufus showed no significant difference in their digestive efficiency of gum compared with a control food (banana), and the banana and gum samples showed no significant difference in nutrient concentration and overall composition. To gain a broader understanding of the origins of gummivory in strepsirhines, I used a phylogenetic method to reconstruct their dietary evolution. My results indicate that gummivory evolved convergently in several primate lineages, apparently in response to environmental hypervariability. I conducted biochemical analyses of the secondary compounds found in gums that are regularly consumed, and preliminary results show that Commiphora spp. have a number of compounds, while Acacia spp. show no such traces. The absence of secondary compounds from M. griseorufus faeces suggests that the animals have physiological means for either converting them into digestible products or detoxifying and excreting them in their urine. Finally, I compared the distribution patterns of G. moholi and M. griseorufus with climatic parameters; both study taxa inhabit regions in which the dry season is characterised by little to no rainfall, a drought that may persist for months. Similar climatic regions are occupied by other gum-feeders, including the marsupial gliders (Petauridae) of Australia.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Assessing farmers’ aspirations and goals to expand irrigation crop production from homestead gardens to irrigation plots in Mhlontlo Local Municipality
- Authors: Finiza, Tabisa Nomava
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Crops irrigation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Farms, Small -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Economic development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Agricultural Economics)
- Identifier: vital:11209 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1016173 , Crops irrigation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Farms, Small -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Economic development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Most land is still state owned and is granted to users through traditional authorities. Even though the government has undertaken some programmes to reduce rural poverty and has initiated land reform programmes, improved service delivery and formed new water rights legislation in rural areas, the problem of low crop production still persists among South African farmers. The study was undertaken to identify different farmers’ aspirations and goals for expanding their crop production from homestead gardening to irrigation plots in Mhlontlo Local Municipality, in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. The central problem is that smallholder farmers are not expanding their scale of crop production even though they have access to natural capital which includes land and water. The broad objective of the study was to determine the aspirations and goals of farmers to expand irrigation crop production from homestead gardens to irrigation plots. The specific objectives of the study were to assess factors that addressed smallholder farmers’ aspirations and goals to expand crop production, to identify challenges that smallholder farmers encountered in expanding from homestead gardens to irrigation plots and to determine the current state of homestead gardens and irrigation plots. A list of 20 goals were identified from the field survey with 54 homestead food gardeners and 50 smallholder irrigation farmers in the different villages of the Mhlontlo Local Municipality. Random sampling was used to select the farmers who were asked to score the identified farm enterprise goals in terms of their relative importance. The goals were categorised into five factors using Gasson goal ranking methods which ranked goals on the basis of intrinsic, expressive, instrumental, and social criteria. The next step was to determine the standard deviations and means of the ranked goals. Descriptive statistics was then used to profile the farmers according to such factors as age, gender, years of farm experience, types of plot, the availability of water and land for crop production, the income farmers generate from the sale of crops produced and these are cross-tabulated with their goal rankings. The Logit model was used to estimate the probability that farmers would belong to a particular goal ranking and performance category. The logit model was also used to identify the factors that influence the expansion of the cropped area. The results revealed that maize production and land size where significant at 1%. Age and type of irrigation used were also positively significant at 1%. The results also revealed that the adoption of agricultural technology by smallholder irrigation farmers and homestead food gardens contributed to better quality produce.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Finiza, Tabisa Nomava
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Crops irrigation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Farms, Small -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Economic development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Agricultural Economics)
- Identifier: vital:11209 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1016173 , Crops irrigation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Farms, Small -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Economic development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Most land is still state owned and is granted to users through traditional authorities. Even though the government has undertaken some programmes to reduce rural poverty and has initiated land reform programmes, improved service delivery and formed new water rights legislation in rural areas, the problem of low crop production still persists among South African farmers. The study was undertaken to identify different farmers’ aspirations and goals for expanding their crop production from homestead gardening to irrigation plots in Mhlontlo Local Municipality, in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. The central problem is that smallholder farmers are not expanding their scale of crop production even though they have access to natural capital which includes land and water. The broad objective of the study was to determine the aspirations and goals of farmers to expand irrigation crop production from homestead gardens to irrigation plots. The specific objectives of the study were to assess factors that addressed smallholder farmers’ aspirations and goals to expand crop production, to identify challenges that smallholder farmers encountered in expanding from homestead gardens to irrigation plots and to determine the current state of homestead gardens and irrigation plots. A list of 20 goals were identified from the field survey with 54 homestead food gardeners and 50 smallholder irrigation farmers in the different villages of the Mhlontlo Local Municipality. Random sampling was used to select the farmers who were asked to score the identified farm enterprise goals in terms of their relative importance. The goals were categorised into five factors using Gasson goal ranking methods which ranked goals on the basis of intrinsic, expressive, instrumental, and social criteria. The next step was to determine the standard deviations and means of the ranked goals. Descriptive statistics was then used to profile the farmers according to such factors as age, gender, years of farm experience, types of plot, the availability of water and land for crop production, the income farmers generate from the sale of crops produced and these are cross-tabulated with their goal rankings. The Logit model was used to estimate the probability that farmers would belong to a particular goal ranking and performance category. The logit model was also used to identify the factors that influence the expansion of the cropped area. The results revealed that maize production and land size where significant at 1%. Age and type of irrigation used were also positively significant at 1%. The results also revealed that the adoption of agricultural technology by smallholder irrigation farmers and homestead food gardens contributed to better quality produce.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Professional nurses’ perceptions on quality patient care in one of the Eastern Cape state hospitals
- Authors: Somahela, Khanyisa Judith
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Nursing Science)
- Identifier: vital:11353 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1021141
- Description: The focus of this study was to explore the perceptions of professional nurses in the quality of care rendered by nurses in the public hospitals. Nursing is a challenging, demanding, and yet fulfilling profession, whose goal is to provide quality care to individuals, families and communities. However, there are inconsistencies regarding the quality of care rendered by nurses in the public hospitals. The media and the public portray nurses as providing poor quality care in the health care facilities. Conversely, the nurses view that they are doing their best, considering the challenging circumstances under which they work in public institutions.The study followed a qualitative approach and an exploratory descriptive design. A purposive sample of 13 professional nurses participated in the study. The sample size was not pre-determined. Data were collected until data saturation, when the interviews yielded no new information. The study was conducted in a state hospital in the Eastern Cape, using an interview guide. Responses were recorded using a tape recorder. No incentives were given to participants. Data were collected and analysed following the Tesch’s method. Prior to conducting the study, the researcher obtained ethical clearance from the University of Fort Hare research ethics committee. The perceptions of the professional nurses who participated in this study were inconsistent. The majority pointed out that the quality of patient care was deteriorating which means the patient care is poor. whereas some participants indicated that the quality of patient care was still the same; it had not changed or deteriorated, The contributing factors to the poor quality patient care were indicated as; shortage of staff, shortage of resources such as equipment, inadequate empowerment of staff, insufficient training of students, staff arriving late for duties, lack of passion their work, skipping and missing of routines, support service that was not working hand in hand with the nursing staff, increased hospitalization of patients and the Eastern cape Department of Health failing to remunerate the nurses as promised.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Somahela, Khanyisa Judith
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Nursing Science)
- Identifier: vital:11353 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1021141
- Description: The focus of this study was to explore the perceptions of professional nurses in the quality of care rendered by nurses in the public hospitals. Nursing is a challenging, demanding, and yet fulfilling profession, whose goal is to provide quality care to individuals, families and communities. However, there are inconsistencies regarding the quality of care rendered by nurses in the public hospitals. The media and the public portray nurses as providing poor quality care in the health care facilities. Conversely, the nurses view that they are doing their best, considering the challenging circumstances under which they work in public institutions.The study followed a qualitative approach and an exploratory descriptive design. A purposive sample of 13 professional nurses participated in the study. The sample size was not pre-determined. Data were collected until data saturation, when the interviews yielded no new information. The study was conducted in a state hospital in the Eastern Cape, using an interview guide. Responses were recorded using a tape recorder. No incentives were given to participants. Data were collected and analysed following the Tesch’s method. Prior to conducting the study, the researcher obtained ethical clearance from the University of Fort Hare research ethics committee. The perceptions of the professional nurses who participated in this study were inconsistent. The majority pointed out that the quality of patient care was deteriorating which means the patient care is poor. whereas some participants indicated that the quality of patient care was still the same; it had not changed or deteriorated, The contributing factors to the poor quality patient care were indicated as; shortage of staff, shortage of resources such as equipment, inadequate empowerment of staff, insufficient training of students, staff arriving late for duties, lack of passion their work, skipping and missing of routines, support service that was not working hand in hand with the nursing staff, increased hospitalization of patients and the Eastern cape Department of Health failing to remunerate the nurses as promised.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Synthesis, characterization, and biological studies of pyrazolone Schiff bases and their transition metal complexes
- Authors: Idemudia, Omoruyi Gold
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Chemistry)
- Identifier: vital:11340 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1016068
- Description: Some new acylpyrazolone Schiff bases have been synthesized from the condensation reaction of two acylpyrazolone diketone precursors with phenylhydrazine, 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine and sulfanilamide. They have been fully characterized by elemental analysis and spectroscopic techniques (IR,1H and 13C NMR, and mass-spectra). The single crystal structure of the benzoyl derivative acylpyrazolone Schiff bases have been obtained and analyzed by X-ray crystallography technique. Solid state X-ray diffraction revealed a keto tautomer Schiff base in solid state. Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes with the Schiff bases have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR and UV-VIS spectroscopy, magnetic susceptibility measurements, and thermal studies (TGA and DTG). An octahedral geometry around the transition metal ion, consisting of two bidentate Schiff base ligands bonding through the azometine nitrogen and ketonic oxygen have been proposed based on careful interpretation of available analytical and spectroscopic characterization results. Two water molecules as ligands complete the octahedral geometry in all cases. Using the invitro disc diffusion method for screening synthesized compounds against selected gram positive and gram negative bacterial at 40 mg/mL, and the DPPH free radical scavenging methods at 0.50, 0.25 and 0.13 mg/mL, the synthesized Schiff base and metal complexes showed varying biological activities. 4-benzoyl-3-methyl-1-phenyl-2-pyrazolin-5-one sul29 fanilamide showed more activity generally, exhibiting a broad spectrum activity against all selected bacterial in some cases. Mn(II), Co(II) and Ni(II) complexes of sulfanilamide Schiff base with the acetylpyrazolone derivative 4-acetyl-3-methyl-1-phenyl-2-pyrazolin-5-one sulfanilamide, exhibited a stronger and very good DPPH radical scavenging activity as good as ascorbic acid on comparing, but not with Cu(II). As such they could be important antitumour candidates.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Idemudia, Omoruyi Gold
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Chemistry)
- Identifier: vital:11340 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1016068
- Description: Some new acylpyrazolone Schiff bases have been synthesized from the condensation reaction of two acylpyrazolone diketone precursors with phenylhydrazine, 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine and sulfanilamide. They have been fully characterized by elemental analysis and spectroscopic techniques (IR,1H and 13C NMR, and mass-spectra). The single crystal structure of the benzoyl derivative acylpyrazolone Schiff bases have been obtained and analyzed by X-ray crystallography technique. Solid state X-ray diffraction revealed a keto tautomer Schiff base in solid state. Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes with the Schiff bases have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR and UV-VIS spectroscopy, magnetic susceptibility measurements, and thermal studies (TGA and DTG). An octahedral geometry around the transition metal ion, consisting of two bidentate Schiff base ligands bonding through the azometine nitrogen and ketonic oxygen have been proposed based on careful interpretation of available analytical and spectroscopic characterization results. Two water molecules as ligands complete the octahedral geometry in all cases. Using the invitro disc diffusion method for screening synthesized compounds against selected gram positive and gram negative bacterial at 40 mg/mL, and the DPPH free radical scavenging methods at 0.50, 0.25 and 0.13 mg/mL, the synthesized Schiff base and metal complexes showed varying biological activities. 4-benzoyl-3-methyl-1-phenyl-2-pyrazolin-5-one sul29 fanilamide showed more activity generally, exhibiting a broad spectrum activity against all selected bacterial in some cases. Mn(II), Co(II) and Ni(II) complexes of sulfanilamide Schiff base with the acetylpyrazolone derivative 4-acetyl-3-methyl-1-phenyl-2-pyrazolin-5-one sulfanilamide, exhibited a stronger and very good DPPH radical scavenging activity as good as ascorbic acid on comparing, but not with Cu(II). As such they could be important antitumour candidates.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Analysis of technical efficiency of small-scale maize producers: a case study in Tsolo magisterial district in O.R Tambo district in the Eastern Cape of South Africa
- Authors: Avuletey, Richard
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Corn -- Fertilizers -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Corn -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Entrepreneurship -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Agricultural Economics)
- Identifier: vital:11210 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1016191 , Corn -- Fertilizers -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Corn -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Entrepreneurship -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Maize is the most important cereal crop grown in South Africa. This crop is produced throughout the country under diverse conditions and in diverse environments. The study only focuses on technical efficiency because it is an important subject in developing agriculture where resources are limited, but high population growth is very common. In such a setting, increased output will depend more on efficiency improvements and assessing the scope for such efficiency improvements within the system is a crucial need. The objective of the study was to determine the level of technical efficiency and to identify the socio-economic and institutional characteristics as well as the entrepreneurial spirit that influence the technical efficiency of small-scale maize producers in the Tsolo magisterial district. Purposive and Snowball sampling techniques were used to collect primary data from 120 small-scale farmers. The stochastic frontier model was used to determine the level of technical efficiency. The Multivariate OLS was used to analyze the socio-economic factors and institutional characteristics that have influenced the technical efficiency of maize production. A similar linear regression model was used to estimate the influence of positive psychological capital and entrepreneurial spirit on the technical efficiency of maize production. The stochastic results revealed that small-scale farmers in Tsolo are technically efficient at 98 percent in maize production and experience increasing return to scale (1.37), which means that increase in the use of inputs, will as well increase their productivity and efficiency. The inefficiency model results indicated that age, years in farming, household size and extension contact significant and 3 variables, namely, as years in farming, extension contact and farm size are significant in the OLS model. Lastly the results of the linear regression indicated that, out of the 4 variables estimated in the entrepreneurial spirit, self-efficacy and resilience were significant with respect to its responsiveness to total maize output.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Avuletey, Richard
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Corn -- Fertilizers -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Corn -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Entrepreneurship -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Agricultural Economics)
- Identifier: vital:11210 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1016191 , Corn -- Fertilizers -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Corn -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Entrepreneurship -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Maize is the most important cereal crop grown in South Africa. This crop is produced throughout the country under diverse conditions and in diverse environments. The study only focuses on technical efficiency because it is an important subject in developing agriculture where resources are limited, but high population growth is very common. In such a setting, increased output will depend more on efficiency improvements and assessing the scope for such efficiency improvements within the system is a crucial need. The objective of the study was to determine the level of technical efficiency and to identify the socio-economic and institutional characteristics as well as the entrepreneurial spirit that influence the technical efficiency of small-scale maize producers in the Tsolo magisterial district. Purposive and Snowball sampling techniques were used to collect primary data from 120 small-scale farmers. The stochastic frontier model was used to determine the level of technical efficiency. The Multivariate OLS was used to analyze the socio-economic factors and institutional characteristics that have influenced the technical efficiency of maize production. A similar linear regression model was used to estimate the influence of positive psychological capital and entrepreneurial spirit on the technical efficiency of maize production. The stochastic results revealed that small-scale farmers in Tsolo are technically efficient at 98 percent in maize production and experience increasing return to scale (1.37), which means that increase in the use of inputs, will as well increase their productivity and efficiency. The inefficiency model results indicated that age, years in farming, household size and extension contact significant and 3 variables, namely, as years in farming, extension contact and farm size are significant in the OLS model. Lastly the results of the linear regression indicated that, out of the 4 variables estimated in the entrepreneurial spirit, self-efficacy and resilience were significant with respect to its responsiveness to total maize output.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Alternative remedies used by resource-limited farmers in the treatment and manipulation of the reproductive system of non-descript goats in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
- Authors: Rwodzi, Maxwell
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Goats -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Traditional veterinary medicine -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Animal Science)
- Identifier: vital:11831 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1019767 , Goats -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Traditional veterinary medicine -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: This study was carried out to determine alternative approaches used by resource-limited farmers to enhance fertility and in the treatment of reproduction ailments of goats in Mount Frere area, Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Furthermore, information on farmer perceptions pertaining to these practices was also gathered. A questionnaire survey was conducted to determine materials used by resource-limited farmers to enhance fertility and treat reproductive ailments. The survey revealed 10 plant species that were commonly used for reproductive health in goats. Elephantorrhizza elephantina (37.1%) and Rhoicissus tomentosa (25.7%) were the most frequently cited plant species. Elephantorrhiza elephantina and R. tomentosa recorded the highest Fidelity Level (FL) values of 92.86% and 75% respectively, for their use in the treatment of reproductive ailments and these were the plants on which further studies were conducted. The study also revealed that farmers had different perceptions on the effectiveness of the traditional medicines. An in-vivo assessment was done to determine efficacy of E. elephantina and R. tomentosa using serum estradiol and progesterone profiles. The highest (P<0.05) serum estradiol and progesterone concentration was observed in animals administered with aqueous extracts of E. elephantina and R. tomentosa mixture while the least (P<0.05) concentrations were observed in the negative control group. Does administered with a mixture of aqueous E. elephantina and R. tomentosa extract had the highest (P<0.05) body weight (65 kg) as well as body condition scores, while the negative control which were administered with distilled water had the least body weights (54 kg) and body condition scores. Does that were administered with a mixture of E.elephantina and R. tomentosa were all pregnant with twins (100%), confirmed by a doppler ultrasound scan.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Rwodzi, Maxwell
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Goats -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Traditional veterinary medicine -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Animal Science)
- Identifier: vital:11831 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1019767 , Goats -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Traditional veterinary medicine -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: This study was carried out to determine alternative approaches used by resource-limited farmers to enhance fertility and in the treatment of reproduction ailments of goats in Mount Frere area, Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Furthermore, information on farmer perceptions pertaining to these practices was also gathered. A questionnaire survey was conducted to determine materials used by resource-limited farmers to enhance fertility and treat reproductive ailments. The survey revealed 10 plant species that were commonly used for reproductive health in goats. Elephantorrhizza elephantina (37.1%) and Rhoicissus tomentosa (25.7%) were the most frequently cited plant species. Elephantorrhiza elephantina and R. tomentosa recorded the highest Fidelity Level (FL) values of 92.86% and 75% respectively, for their use in the treatment of reproductive ailments and these were the plants on which further studies were conducted. The study also revealed that farmers had different perceptions on the effectiveness of the traditional medicines. An in-vivo assessment was done to determine efficacy of E. elephantina and R. tomentosa using serum estradiol and progesterone profiles. The highest (P<0.05) serum estradiol and progesterone concentration was observed in animals administered with aqueous extracts of E. elephantina and R. tomentosa mixture while the least (P<0.05) concentrations were observed in the negative control group. Does administered with a mixture of aqueous E. elephantina and R. tomentosa extract had the highest (P<0.05) body weight (65 kg) as well as body condition scores, while the negative control which were administered with distilled water had the least body weights (54 kg) and body condition scores. Does that were administered with a mixture of E.elephantina and R. tomentosa were all pregnant with twins (100%), confirmed by a doppler ultrasound scan.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Evaluation of some wastewater treatment facilities in Chris Hani and Amathole district municipalities as potential sources of Escherichia coli in the environment
- Authors: Mazwi, Sinazo Nomathamsanqa
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Escherichia coli -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Water -- Purification
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Microbiology)
- Identifier: vital:11285 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1019804 , Escherichia coli -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Water -- Purification
- Description: Access to clean and safe water is essential for the survival of human beings. Pollution of freshwater sources constitutes a major problem hindering access to safe water for drinking and other domestic uses. Wastewater effluent discharges often impact the microbiological qualities of surface waters with its attendant health and environmental problems. This study evaluated the microbiological qualities of the discharged effluents of four selected wastewater treatment plants in Amathole and Chris Hani District Municipalities of the Eastern Cape Province over a twelve-month sampling period. Microbiological analysis (faecal coliform, Escherichia coli and Escherichia coli O157:H7) was done using standard methods and polymerase chain reaction method was used to confirm identities ofbacterial isolates. Presumptive bacteria counts ranged as follows: faecal coliforms 0 to 1.6 × 103 CFU/100 ml, E. coli 0 to 1.4 × 103 CFU/100 ml and E. coli O157:H7 0 to 9.6 × 102 CFU/100 ml. Forty eight percent (305/626) of the presumptive E. coli isolates were confirmed using species-specific uidA gene which code for β-glucuronidase enzyme in E. coli. Antibiotic susceptibility profile of the isolate using a panel of 10 antibiotics shows 100% (150/150) resistance to antibiotics rifampicin and penicillin G while 49.3% (74/150) of the isolates and 46.7% (70/150) were susceptible to streptomycin and cefotaxime respectively. Multiple antibiotic resistance phenotypes (MARP) of the isolates showed resistance to two or more test antibiotics while the calculated multiple antibiotic resistance index (MARI) for the tested isolated is 0.49. The detection of potentially pathogenic E. coli in the final effluents suggestspotential danger to the receiving water bodies where the effluents are discharge. The high MARI valued obtained in this study indicates that the isolates are form environment where the tested antibiotics are being used and may further lead to the spread of multiple antibiotics resistance among other pathogens that may be present in the same environment.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Mazwi, Sinazo Nomathamsanqa
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Escherichia coli -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Water -- Purification
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Microbiology)
- Identifier: vital:11285 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1019804 , Escherichia coli -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Water -- Purification
- Description: Access to clean and safe water is essential for the survival of human beings. Pollution of freshwater sources constitutes a major problem hindering access to safe water for drinking and other domestic uses. Wastewater effluent discharges often impact the microbiological qualities of surface waters with its attendant health and environmental problems. This study evaluated the microbiological qualities of the discharged effluents of four selected wastewater treatment plants in Amathole and Chris Hani District Municipalities of the Eastern Cape Province over a twelve-month sampling period. Microbiological analysis (faecal coliform, Escherichia coli and Escherichia coli O157:H7) was done using standard methods and polymerase chain reaction method was used to confirm identities ofbacterial isolates. Presumptive bacteria counts ranged as follows: faecal coliforms 0 to 1.6 × 103 CFU/100 ml, E. coli 0 to 1.4 × 103 CFU/100 ml and E. coli O157:H7 0 to 9.6 × 102 CFU/100 ml. Forty eight percent (305/626) of the presumptive E. coli isolates were confirmed using species-specific uidA gene which code for β-glucuronidase enzyme in E. coli. Antibiotic susceptibility profile of the isolate using a panel of 10 antibiotics shows 100% (150/150) resistance to antibiotics rifampicin and penicillin G while 49.3% (74/150) of the isolates and 46.7% (70/150) were susceptible to streptomycin and cefotaxime respectively. Multiple antibiotic resistance phenotypes (MARP) of the isolates showed resistance to two or more test antibiotics while the calculated multiple antibiotic resistance index (MARI) for the tested isolated is 0.49. The detection of potentially pathogenic E. coli in the final effluents suggestspotential danger to the receiving water bodies where the effluents are discharge. The high MARI valued obtained in this study indicates that the isolates are form environment where the tested antibiotics are being used and may further lead to the spread of multiple antibiotics resistance among other pathogens that may be present in the same environment.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Implementation of a facebook crawler for opinion monitoring and trend analysis purposes: a case study of government service delivery in Dwesa
- Mfenyana, Sinesihle Ignetious
- Authors: Mfenyana, Sinesihle Ignetious
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Online social networks -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Social media -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Internet -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Web-based user interfaces -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , User interfaces (Computer systems) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Computer Science)
- Identifier: vital:11394 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1016067 , Online social networks -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Social media -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Internet -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Web-based user interfaces -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , User interfaces (Computer systems) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The Internet has shifted from the Web 1.0 era to the Web 2.0 era. In the contemporary era of web 2.0, the Internet is being used to build and reflect social relationships among people who share similar interests and activities. This is done through services such as Social Networking Sites (Facebook, Twitter etc.) and the web blogs. Currently, there is a very high usage of Social Networking Sites (SNSs) and blogs where people share their views, opinions, and thoughts. This leads to the production of a lot of data by people who post such content on SNSs. As a result, SNSs and blogs become the ideal platforms for opinion monitoring and the trend analysis. These SNSs and Blogs could be used by service providers for tracking what the public thinks or requires. The reason being, having such knowledge can help in decision making and future planning. If service providers can keep track of such views, opinions or thoughts with regard to the services they provide, they can better their understanding about the public or clients’ needs and improve the provision of relevant services. This research project presents a system prototype for performing opinion monitoring and trend analysis on Facebook. The proposed system crawl Facebook, indexes the data and provides user interface (UI) where end users can search and see the trending of a topics of their choice. The system prototype could also be used to check the trending topics without having to search. The main objective of this research project was to develop a framework that will contribute in improving the way government officials, companies or any service providers and normal citizens communicate regarding services they provide. This research project is premised on the conceptualization that if the government officials, companies or any service providers can keep track of the citizen’s opinions, views and thoughts with regards to services they provide it can help improve the delivery of such services. This research and the implementation of the trend analysis tool is undertaken in the context of the Siyakhula Living Lab (SLL), an Information and Communication Technologies for Development (ICTD) intervention for Dwesa marginalized community.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Mfenyana, Sinesihle Ignetious
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Online social networks -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Social media -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Internet -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Web-based user interfaces -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , User interfaces (Computer systems) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Computer Science)
- Identifier: vital:11394 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1016067 , Online social networks -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Social media -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Internet -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Web-based user interfaces -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , User interfaces (Computer systems) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The Internet has shifted from the Web 1.0 era to the Web 2.0 era. In the contemporary era of web 2.0, the Internet is being used to build and reflect social relationships among people who share similar interests and activities. This is done through services such as Social Networking Sites (Facebook, Twitter etc.) and the web blogs. Currently, there is a very high usage of Social Networking Sites (SNSs) and blogs where people share their views, opinions, and thoughts. This leads to the production of a lot of data by people who post such content on SNSs. As a result, SNSs and blogs become the ideal platforms for opinion monitoring and the trend analysis. These SNSs and Blogs could be used by service providers for tracking what the public thinks or requires. The reason being, having such knowledge can help in decision making and future planning. If service providers can keep track of such views, opinions or thoughts with regard to the services they provide, they can better their understanding about the public or clients’ needs and improve the provision of relevant services. This research project presents a system prototype for performing opinion monitoring and trend analysis on Facebook. The proposed system crawl Facebook, indexes the data and provides user interface (UI) where end users can search and see the trending of a topics of their choice. The system prototype could also be used to check the trending topics without having to search. The main objective of this research project was to develop a framework that will contribute in improving the way government officials, companies or any service providers and normal citizens communicate regarding services they provide. This research project is premised on the conceptualization that if the government officials, companies or any service providers can keep track of the citizen’s opinions, views and thoughts with regards to services they provide it can help improve the delivery of such services. This research and the implementation of the trend analysis tool is undertaken in the context of the Siyakhula Living Lab (SLL), an Information and Communication Technologies for Development (ICTD) intervention for Dwesa marginalized community.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Enterococcus pathotypes as reservoirs of antibiotic resistance determinants in the Kat River and Fort Beaufort abstraction waters
- Authors: Ntloko, Phindiwe
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Enterococcus , Drug resistance
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Microbiology)
- Identifier: vital:11290 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1019821 , Enterococcus , Drug resistance
- Description: In this study, 400 presumptive Enterococcus isolates previously recovered from Kat River and Fort Beaufort Abstraction water dam were subjected to molecular confirmation and pathotyping. Two hundred and seventy-four (68%) of these isolates were confirmed to be enterococci species. Confirmations studies were polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based, using enterococci specific primers targeting the tuf gene. The confirmed enterococci isolates were further differentiated into their pathotypes, the targets of which were: E. faecalis, E. avium, E. hirae, E. casseliflavarus and E. gallinarum using well documented species specific primer sequences. E. faecalis accounted for 20% of the isolates, followed by E. avium (16%), E. hirae (13%), E. casseliflavarus (5%) and E. gallinarum (3%). Furthermore, all the confirmed isolates were analysed for antibiotic susceptibilities using a panel of nine different antibiotics, namely vancomycin, linezolid, ciprofloxacin, ampicillin, gentamicin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, erythromycin, penicillin, and those that were resistant were assayed for the presence of relevant antibiotic resistance genes. All the 274 isolates were found to harbour vanA resistance gene confirming their phenotypic resistance to the vancomycin. Similarly, 60% (109/180) of the isolates showed phenotypic resistance to erythromycin which was further confirmed by the presence of ermA genes in these isolates. The presence of antibiotic resistant bacteria in surface waters poses a risk to public health.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Ntloko, Phindiwe
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Enterococcus , Drug resistance
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Microbiology)
- Identifier: vital:11290 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1019821 , Enterococcus , Drug resistance
- Description: In this study, 400 presumptive Enterococcus isolates previously recovered from Kat River and Fort Beaufort Abstraction water dam were subjected to molecular confirmation and pathotyping. Two hundred and seventy-four (68%) of these isolates were confirmed to be enterococci species. Confirmations studies were polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based, using enterococci specific primers targeting the tuf gene. The confirmed enterococci isolates were further differentiated into their pathotypes, the targets of which were: E. faecalis, E. avium, E. hirae, E. casseliflavarus and E. gallinarum using well documented species specific primer sequences. E. faecalis accounted for 20% of the isolates, followed by E. avium (16%), E. hirae (13%), E. casseliflavarus (5%) and E. gallinarum (3%). Furthermore, all the confirmed isolates were analysed for antibiotic susceptibilities using a panel of nine different antibiotics, namely vancomycin, linezolid, ciprofloxacin, ampicillin, gentamicin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, erythromycin, penicillin, and those that were resistant were assayed for the presence of relevant antibiotic resistance genes. All the 274 isolates were found to harbour vanA resistance gene confirming their phenotypic resistance to the vancomycin. Similarly, 60% (109/180) of the isolates showed phenotypic resistance to erythromycin which was further confirmed by the presence of ermA genes in these isolates. The presence of antibiotic resistant bacteria in surface waters poses a risk to public health.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Socio-economic importance, health and welfare aspects of donkeys (Equus asinus) used for carting in a peri-urban area of South Africa
- Authors: Marufu, Madure
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Donkeys -- South Africa , Animal welfare , Donkeys -- Handling , Donkeys -- Health
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Animal Science)
- Identifier: vital:11832 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1019781 , Donkeys -- South Africa , Animal welfare , Donkeys -- Handling , Donkeys -- Health
- Description: The broad objective of the study was to determine the socio-economic importance, health and welfare aspects of donkeys used for carting in a peri-urban area. A survey was conducted among 71 donkey owners in Joza, a peri-urban area near Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape Province (ECP) of South Africa to investigate their perceptions on socio-economic importance, health and welfare aspects of donkeys used for transport. Two hundred and seventy-one donkeys used for carting were assessed through direct observation of health and behaviour parameters to determine their welfare status. Results revealed that donkeys are indeed of immense value to people, being used daily (54.93%) for income generation activities and at least once per month (7.08%) for domestic chores. Most of the respondents (32%) earned R 600.00 per week while 11% earned at least R 200.00 per week from carting using donkeys. Donkeys were used for carting of goods (90.14%) more than for manure (16.9%). Gender and age of owners significantly (P < 0.05) influence perceptions on source of income while education level influenced their perceptions on carting firewood, goods and water. Results on management practices and health problems encountered by working donkeys showed that most of the owners managed their animals poorly. Most donkeys were being beaten (74.65%) during work, made to travel long distances (43.66%), worked long hours (52.11%) without adequate water (59.10%) and feed supplements (83.10%). Wounds (95.97%), coughing (75.65%) and lameness (64.79%) were some of the health problems encountered by donkeys. Significant relationships (P ˂ 0.05) were observed between owners’ perceptions on management practices and health problems encountered by donkeys. Among the observed animals, 61% were thin and mostly apathetic (26.2%) than medium and fat animals. Responses to observer approaches were significantly associated with sex and body condition score (BCS), with stallions in good body condition being more aggressive. Donkeys having a BCS of 3-5 avoided chin contact either by kicking out or moving away. Results further showed that most of the donkeys were suffering from external injuries, with the hindquarters (39.85%), shoulder (32.10%) and spine (21.77%) being the mostly affected areas. The prevalence of wounds on tail-base, belly, flank and neck were seen in less than 13% of the animals. The prevalence of wounds was influenced by age and BCS of the animals. Young donkeys with good BCS were less affected than old donkeys. Lameness, poor coat condition, external parasites, abnormal mucous membrane and dental problems were observed in less than 30% of the animals. It was concluded that donkeys play a pivotal role economically and socially to the livelihoods of people in a peri-urban area (Joza) in terms of income generation and transportation. However, these animals are experiencing multiple health and welfare problems. Therefore, more access to veterinary services, training on donkey use and management, health and welfare promotion programs are of paramount importance in solving the problem of poor health and welfare in donkeys.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Marufu, Madure
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Donkeys -- South Africa , Animal welfare , Donkeys -- Handling , Donkeys -- Health
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Animal Science)
- Identifier: vital:11832 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1019781 , Donkeys -- South Africa , Animal welfare , Donkeys -- Handling , Donkeys -- Health
- Description: The broad objective of the study was to determine the socio-economic importance, health and welfare aspects of donkeys used for carting in a peri-urban area. A survey was conducted among 71 donkey owners in Joza, a peri-urban area near Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape Province (ECP) of South Africa to investigate their perceptions on socio-economic importance, health and welfare aspects of donkeys used for transport. Two hundred and seventy-one donkeys used for carting were assessed through direct observation of health and behaviour parameters to determine their welfare status. Results revealed that donkeys are indeed of immense value to people, being used daily (54.93%) for income generation activities and at least once per month (7.08%) for domestic chores. Most of the respondents (32%) earned R 600.00 per week while 11% earned at least R 200.00 per week from carting using donkeys. Donkeys were used for carting of goods (90.14%) more than for manure (16.9%). Gender and age of owners significantly (P < 0.05) influence perceptions on source of income while education level influenced their perceptions on carting firewood, goods and water. Results on management practices and health problems encountered by working donkeys showed that most of the owners managed their animals poorly. Most donkeys were being beaten (74.65%) during work, made to travel long distances (43.66%), worked long hours (52.11%) without adequate water (59.10%) and feed supplements (83.10%). Wounds (95.97%), coughing (75.65%) and lameness (64.79%) were some of the health problems encountered by donkeys. Significant relationships (P ˂ 0.05) were observed between owners’ perceptions on management practices and health problems encountered by donkeys. Among the observed animals, 61% were thin and mostly apathetic (26.2%) than medium and fat animals. Responses to observer approaches were significantly associated with sex and body condition score (BCS), with stallions in good body condition being more aggressive. Donkeys having a BCS of 3-5 avoided chin contact either by kicking out or moving away. Results further showed that most of the donkeys were suffering from external injuries, with the hindquarters (39.85%), shoulder (32.10%) and spine (21.77%) being the mostly affected areas. The prevalence of wounds on tail-base, belly, flank and neck were seen in less than 13% of the animals. The prevalence of wounds was influenced by age and BCS of the animals. Young donkeys with good BCS were less affected than old donkeys. Lameness, poor coat condition, external parasites, abnormal mucous membrane and dental problems were observed in less than 30% of the animals. It was concluded that donkeys play a pivotal role economically and socially to the livelihoods of people in a peri-urban area (Joza) in terms of income generation and transportation. However, these animals are experiencing multiple health and welfare problems. Therefore, more access to veterinary services, training on donkey use and management, health and welfare promotion programs are of paramount importance in solving the problem of poor health and welfare in donkeys.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Expenditure analysis and planning in a changed economy: a case study approach of Gweru City Council, Zimbabwe
- Authors: Kuhudzai, Anesu G
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Economic development -- Zimbabwe , Poverty -- Zimbabwe , Regression analysis
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Mathematical Statistics)
- Identifier: vital:11786 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1019780 , Economic development -- Zimbabwe , Poverty -- Zimbabwe , Regression analysis
- Description: The purpose of this study is to analyse Gweru City Council`s spending pattern and behaviour and to determine if this spending pattern is directed towards poverty reduction and economic development or not. Furthermore, to fit a log-differenced regression model to a historical financial dataset obtained from Gweru City Council Finance Department for the time period July 2009 to September 2012. Regression techniques were used to determine how Gweru City Council`s total income (dependent variable) is affected by its expenditure (independent variables). Econometric modeling techniques were employed for the evaluation of estimate tests, conducted to determine the reliability of the estimated model. The study concludes by providing some recommendations for possible financial plans which could be adopted by Gweru City Council and other local authorities in Zimbabwe for the well-being of Zimbabweans and economic development.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Kuhudzai, Anesu G
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Economic development -- Zimbabwe , Poverty -- Zimbabwe , Regression analysis
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Mathematical Statistics)
- Identifier: vital:11786 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1019780 , Economic development -- Zimbabwe , Poverty -- Zimbabwe , Regression analysis
- Description: The purpose of this study is to analyse Gweru City Council`s spending pattern and behaviour and to determine if this spending pattern is directed towards poverty reduction and economic development or not. Furthermore, to fit a log-differenced regression model to a historical financial dataset obtained from Gweru City Council Finance Department for the time period July 2009 to September 2012. Regression techniques were used to determine how Gweru City Council`s total income (dependent variable) is affected by its expenditure (independent variables). Econometric modeling techniques were employed for the evaluation of estimate tests, conducted to determine the reliability of the estimated model. The study concludes by providing some recommendations for possible financial plans which could be adopted by Gweru City Council and other local authorities in Zimbabwe for the well-being of Zimbabweans and economic development.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Studies on the antimicrobial, antioxidant and antiproliferative potential of the ethyl acetate extract and compounds of Peltophorum africanum
- Authors: Okeleye, Benjamin Ifeoluwa
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Microbiology)
- Identifier: vital:11282 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1016165
- Description: Cells are constantly exposed to a variety of oxidizing agents, some of which are necessary for life. Oxidants produced in excess can cause an imbalance, leading to oxidative stress, especially in chronic bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections. This can result to damage of biomolecules such as lipids, proteins, and DNA, hence, an increased risk for cancer. Plants have a long history of use in the treatment of cancer. Plant secondary metabolites have proved to be an excellent reservoir of new medical compounds. Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains contain a wide variety of antioxidant phytochemicals, such as phenolics and carotenoids, and may help protect cellular systems from oxidative damage and also may lower the risk of chronic diseases. Peltophorum africanum, a member of the family Fabaceae (Sond) is also known as the African weeping wattle and is used in traditional medicine in South Africa. This study investigated the antimicrobial, antioxidant and antiproliferative potential of the ethyl acetate extract and compounds of Peltophorum africanum in order to validate its pharmacological use. The study assessed the in vitro antimicrobial activity of ethyl acetate extract (EAE) of Peltophorum africanum stem bark and its fractions by the agar well and macrodilution methods. The toxicity on a normal human liver cell (Chang liver cell) and antiproliferation of human breast (MCF-7), colon (HT-29) and cervical (HeLa) cancer cell lines were determined using the CellTiter-Blue cell viability assay and the mechanism of action delineated using the Nucleic Acid and Protein Purification Nucleospin® Tissue Kit, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Propidium iodide (PI) and Acridine orange (AO) double-staining techniques, the Cleaved Caspase 3 (Asp 175) Alexa Fluor® 488 Antibody and the Coulter® DNA PrepTM Reagents Kit. Purification and identification of the compounds from EAE and fractions as well as the morphological alteration of bacteria, yeast and cancer cells were determined using thin layer chromatography, infrared spectra fingerprint and GC-MS analysis, micro-dilution and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis. In vitro antioxidant activity of EAE was determined by means of radical scavenging and ferric reducing power analysis using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2, 2`-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) kit, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), iron (iii) chloride (Fe3+) and nitric oxide (NO). To assess the likely effects of secondary metabolites on the activities observed; total proanthocyanidins, phenolics, flavonols, and flavonoids were determined using standard phytochemical methods. Data were analyzed by one way analysis of variance (ANOVA; SPSS Version 17.0, 2011), regression analysis (MINITAB, version 12 for windows), probit analysis test (software NCSS, 2007) and GraphPad Prism4 software package. The p-values < 0.05 were considered significant. Marked activity of the extract was observed against Plesiomonas shigelloides ATCC 51903, with MIC and MLC values of 0.15625 and 0.3125mg/mL, respectively. The extract was both bactericidal (MICindex ≤ 2) and bacteriostatic/fungistatic (MICindex > 2) in activity. Lethal dose at 50 (LD50) showed 82.64 ± 1.40 degree of toxicity at 24 hrs, and 95 percentile of cell death dose activity ranged from log 3.12 ± 0.01 to 4.59 ± 0.03. The activity of the eight fractions tested ranged from 1.0 ± 0.5 to 3.7 ± 1.6 mg/mL (IC50) and from 2.1 ± 0.8 to 6.25 ± 0 mg/mL (IC90) (Chapter 3). Due to the effect of compounds present in the crude extract and fractions, the P. aeruginosa treated with EAE had a reduction of sodium from 5.55 % (untreated) - 1.50 %. For C. albicans, pottasium was reduced from 4.16 % (untreated) - 0.76 % (T1). Remarkable morphological alterations were observed including deformation of the germ tubes and perforation of the cell wall (Chapter 4). Extract scavenging activity of 88.73± 6.69 % (25 μg mL-1), 53.93±1.09 % (25 μg mL-1) were recorded for H2O2 and NO respectively with proanthocyanidins (92.18±4.68 mg/g) occurring more (p < 0.05) in the extract compared to all other phenolics compounds (Chapter 5). Significant reduction in cell viability of the cells was noted as the MCF-7 cells were reduced from 100 - 54.33±1.84 % after 72 hrs of treatment with 5 μg/mL of EAE (P. value < 0.05). TEt10 was cytotoxic against human normal cells (chang liver cell) at EC50 of 37 μg/mL and 74 μg/mL after 24 and 48 h of treatment respectively. Marked antiproliferative activity of 13.2 μg/mL (EC50) was observed when HeLa cells were treated for 48 h. Internucleosomal DNA of MCF-7, HT-29 and HeLa cells randomly fragmented into an uninterrupted spectrum of sizes, complemented by the intercalation of nucleic acid-specific fluorochromes by PI and AO spotting two phases of apoptosis; early (EA) and late (LA) apoptosis. Distinctive ultramorphological changes observed include; cell shrinkage, membrane blebbing, and typical cell induced death. The study also recorded 705.102 ± 28.56 % TEt10 caspase-3 activity compared to curcumin 592.857 ± 165.76 % (positive control) and untreated (negative control; 100 ± 15.81 %) cells. Percentage HeLa cell with Sub-G1 DNA phase increased from 0.13 ± 0.06 % (negative control) to 13.8 ± 3.04 % compared to curcumin (8.17 ± 2.20 %) after treatment with TEt10. The compounds identified in the fractions including Colchicine, N-(trifluoroacetyl)methyl-N-deacetyl-, Lupeol and .gamma.-Sitosterol may be responsible for the induction of apoptosis observed and could be further studied in vivo as a potential template for new anticancer treatment (Chapter 6 & 7).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Okeleye, Benjamin Ifeoluwa
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Microbiology)
- Identifier: vital:11282 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1016165
- Description: Cells are constantly exposed to a variety of oxidizing agents, some of which are necessary for life. Oxidants produced in excess can cause an imbalance, leading to oxidative stress, especially in chronic bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections. This can result to damage of biomolecules such as lipids, proteins, and DNA, hence, an increased risk for cancer. Plants have a long history of use in the treatment of cancer. Plant secondary metabolites have proved to be an excellent reservoir of new medical compounds. Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains contain a wide variety of antioxidant phytochemicals, such as phenolics and carotenoids, and may help protect cellular systems from oxidative damage and also may lower the risk of chronic diseases. Peltophorum africanum, a member of the family Fabaceae (Sond) is also known as the African weeping wattle and is used in traditional medicine in South Africa. This study investigated the antimicrobial, antioxidant and antiproliferative potential of the ethyl acetate extract and compounds of Peltophorum africanum in order to validate its pharmacological use. The study assessed the in vitro antimicrobial activity of ethyl acetate extract (EAE) of Peltophorum africanum stem bark and its fractions by the agar well and macrodilution methods. The toxicity on a normal human liver cell (Chang liver cell) and antiproliferation of human breast (MCF-7), colon (HT-29) and cervical (HeLa) cancer cell lines were determined using the CellTiter-Blue cell viability assay and the mechanism of action delineated using the Nucleic Acid and Protein Purification Nucleospin® Tissue Kit, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Propidium iodide (PI) and Acridine orange (AO) double-staining techniques, the Cleaved Caspase 3 (Asp 175) Alexa Fluor® 488 Antibody and the Coulter® DNA PrepTM Reagents Kit. Purification and identification of the compounds from EAE and fractions as well as the morphological alteration of bacteria, yeast and cancer cells were determined using thin layer chromatography, infrared spectra fingerprint and GC-MS analysis, micro-dilution and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis. In vitro antioxidant activity of EAE was determined by means of radical scavenging and ferric reducing power analysis using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2, 2`-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) kit, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), iron (iii) chloride (Fe3+) and nitric oxide (NO). To assess the likely effects of secondary metabolites on the activities observed; total proanthocyanidins, phenolics, flavonols, and flavonoids were determined using standard phytochemical methods. Data were analyzed by one way analysis of variance (ANOVA; SPSS Version 17.0, 2011), regression analysis (MINITAB, version 12 for windows), probit analysis test (software NCSS, 2007) and GraphPad Prism4 software package. The p-values < 0.05 were considered significant. Marked activity of the extract was observed against Plesiomonas shigelloides ATCC 51903, with MIC and MLC values of 0.15625 and 0.3125mg/mL, respectively. The extract was both bactericidal (MICindex ≤ 2) and bacteriostatic/fungistatic (MICindex > 2) in activity. Lethal dose at 50 (LD50) showed 82.64 ± 1.40 degree of toxicity at 24 hrs, and 95 percentile of cell death dose activity ranged from log 3.12 ± 0.01 to 4.59 ± 0.03. The activity of the eight fractions tested ranged from 1.0 ± 0.5 to 3.7 ± 1.6 mg/mL (IC50) and from 2.1 ± 0.8 to 6.25 ± 0 mg/mL (IC90) (Chapter 3). Due to the effect of compounds present in the crude extract and fractions, the P. aeruginosa treated with EAE had a reduction of sodium from 5.55 % (untreated) - 1.50 %. For C. albicans, pottasium was reduced from 4.16 % (untreated) - 0.76 % (T1). Remarkable morphological alterations were observed including deformation of the germ tubes and perforation of the cell wall (Chapter 4). Extract scavenging activity of 88.73± 6.69 % (25 μg mL-1), 53.93±1.09 % (25 μg mL-1) were recorded for H2O2 and NO respectively with proanthocyanidins (92.18±4.68 mg/g) occurring more (p < 0.05) in the extract compared to all other phenolics compounds (Chapter 5). Significant reduction in cell viability of the cells was noted as the MCF-7 cells were reduced from 100 - 54.33±1.84 % after 72 hrs of treatment with 5 μg/mL of EAE (P. value < 0.05). TEt10 was cytotoxic against human normal cells (chang liver cell) at EC50 of 37 μg/mL and 74 μg/mL after 24 and 48 h of treatment respectively. Marked antiproliferative activity of 13.2 μg/mL (EC50) was observed when HeLa cells were treated for 48 h. Internucleosomal DNA of MCF-7, HT-29 and HeLa cells randomly fragmented into an uninterrupted spectrum of sizes, complemented by the intercalation of nucleic acid-specific fluorochromes by PI and AO spotting two phases of apoptosis; early (EA) and late (LA) apoptosis. Distinctive ultramorphological changes observed include; cell shrinkage, membrane blebbing, and typical cell induced death. The study also recorded 705.102 ± 28.56 % TEt10 caspase-3 activity compared to curcumin 592.857 ± 165.76 % (positive control) and untreated (negative control; 100 ± 15.81 %) cells. Percentage HeLa cell with Sub-G1 DNA phase increased from 0.13 ± 0.06 % (negative control) to 13.8 ± 3.04 % compared to curcumin (8.17 ± 2.20 %) after treatment with TEt10. The compounds identified in the fractions including Colchicine, N-(trifluoroacetyl)methyl-N-deacetyl-, Lupeol and .gamma.-Sitosterol may be responsible for the induction of apoptosis observed and could be further studied in vivo as a potential template for new anticancer treatment (Chapter 6 & 7).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Preparation and characterisation of nanocomposites of biomass and montmorillonite clay for use as biofuels
- Authors: Nyamutswa, Lavern Tendayi
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Chemistry)
- Identifier: vital:11345 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1019779
- Description: The aim of the study was to prepare composites of clay and biomass which burn longer than unmodified biomass. Montmorillonite clay was converted to mono-ionic clay by ion exchange with sodium using sodium chloride solution. The mono-ionic clay was organically modified with an organic surfactant, methyl triphenyl phosphonium bromide. Nanocomposites were then prepared by combining the modified forms of the clay with sawdust. The three forms of clay used for the formation of composites were unmodified montmorillonite, mono-ionic montmorillonite and organically modified montmorillonite. The solution blending method was used to make the nanocomposites. FT-IR and XRD analysis showed that organic surfactant increases the interlayer space of the clay since it is bulkier than the inorganic cations that are naturally present in the interlayer space of montmorillonite. The combination of clay and sawdust resulted in the formation of exfoliated nanocomposites as shown by the absence of peaks in the low 2 theta angle in the x-ray diffraction data of the nanocomposite. The nanocomposite which was made from sawdust and 1% organically modified clay showed the best results in terms of burning time and thermal stability, as well as giving a calorific value closest to unmodified sawdust and the least amount of residue.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Nyamutswa, Lavern Tendayi
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Chemistry)
- Identifier: vital:11345 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1019779
- Description: The aim of the study was to prepare composites of clay and biomass which burn longer than unmodified biomass. Montmorillonite clay was converted to mono-ionic clay by ion exchange with sodium using sodium chloride solution. The mono-ionic clay was organically modified with an organic surfactant, methyl triphenyl phosphonium bromide. Nanocomposites were then prepared by combining the modified forms of the clay with sawdust. The three forms of clay used for the formation of composites were unmodified montmorillonite, mono-ionic montmorillonite and organically modified montmorillonite. The solution blending method was used to make the nanocomposites. FT-IR and XRD analysis showed that organic surfactant increases the interlayer space of the clay since it is bulkier than the inorganic cations that are naturally present in the interlayer space of montmorillonite. The combination of clay and sawdust resulted in the formation of exfoliated nanocomposites as shown by the absence of peaks in the low 2 theta angle in the x-ray diffraction data of the nanocomposite. The nanocomposite which was made from sawdust and 1% organically modified clay showed the best results in terms of burning time and thermal stability, as well as giving a calorific value closest to unmodified sawdust and the least amount of residue.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
An assessment of the impact of animal traction on rural household food security: a case of Damane rural community of Cofimvaba in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa
- Authors: Manzana, Sihle
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Animal traction -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Farms, Small -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Food security -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Agricultural Economics)
- Identifier: vital:11208 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1016162 , Animal traction -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Farms, Small -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Food security -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: This dissertation assesses the impact of animal traction on rural household food security. Since rural communities do not have sufficient agricultural capital to purchase improved agricultural technologies for better crop production, and often lack knowledge and skills to apply improved technologies low-cost alternatives must be sought. For these reasons, animal traction has been seen by researchers as an affordable, easy-to-use, sustainable and appropriate operation for crops production in rural areas. Animal traction has been long used and it continues to be used in rural areas to improve food insecurities. But the system confronts a number of constraints that impede the development of its full potential and these should be addressed in order to reap the full benefits of agricultural restructuring in the rural areas. A study was carried out in Damane rural village under Ntsika Yethu Municipality in the Eastern Cape where animal traction is very popular. A total of 80 small-scale farmers were interviewed by means of structured questionnaires to collect data from adopters and non-adopters of animal traction. A wide range of analytical techniques were employed to assess the impact of animal traction on household food production. Descriptive statistics was employed for analyses of demographic, agricultural production process of the surveyed households and challenges encountered by households. Multiple Linear Regression was applied to determine the factors affecting animal traction use and the extent to which they contribute to gross farm production. The results of the multiple linear regressions showed that animal traction played a significant role in the total output of all the crops produced last season. The results of the t- tests showed that animal traction was the most effective technology compared to the simple hand-tools such as fork, fork spade and hoes. The binary logistic regression was employed to test the probability that resource poor households would adopt animal traction technology. It is therefore recommended that government should support animal traction users by providing all the necessary resources for development of animal in rural South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Manzana, Sihle
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Animal traction -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Farms, Small -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Food security -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Agricultural Economics)
- Identifier: vital:11208 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1016162 , Animal traction -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Farms, Small -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Food security -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: This dissertation assesses the impact of animal traction on rural household food security. Since rural communities do not have sufficient agricultural capital to purchase improved agricultural technologies for better crop production, and often lack knowledge and skills to apply improved technologies low-cost alternatives must be sought. For these reasons, animal traction has been seen by researchers as an affordable, easy-to-use, sustainable and appropriate operation for crops production in rural areas. Animal traction has been long used and it continues to be used in rural areas to improve food insecurities. But the system confronts a number of constraints that impede the development of its full potential and these should be addressed in order to reap the full benefits of agricultural restructuring in the rural areas. A study was carried out in Damane rural village under Ntsika Yethu Municipality in the Eastern Cape where animal traction is very popular. A total of 80 small-scale farmers were interviewed by means of structured questionnaires to collect data from adopters and non-adopters of animal traction. A wide range of analytical techniques were employed to assess the impact of animal traction on household food production. Descriptive statistics was employed for analyses of demographic, agricultural production process of the surveyed households and challenges encountered by households. Multiple Linear Regression was applied to determine the factors affecting animal traction use and the extent to which they contribute to gross farm production. The results of the multiple linear regressions showed that animal traction played a significant role in the total output of all the crops produced last season. The results of the t- tests showed that animal traction was the most effective technology compared to the simple hand-tools such as fork, fork spade and hoes. The binary logistic regression was employed to test the probability that resource poor households would adopt animal traction technology. It is therefore recommended that government should support animal traction users by providing all the necessary resources for development of animal in rural South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Barriers and incentives to potential adoption of biofuel crops by smallholder farmers in selected areas in the Chris Hani and O.R. Tambo district municipalities, South Africa
- Authors: Cheteni, Priviledge
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Renewable energy sources -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Energy crops industry -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Farms, Small -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Agricultural Economics)
- Identifier: vital:11225 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1020182 , Renewable energy sources -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Energy crops industry -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Farms, Small -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Since the launch of the Biofuels Industrial Strategy in 2007 by the South African government, only a few smallholder farmers have adopted biofuels for production. The government hopes to stimulate economic development and alleviate poverty by targeting areas that were previously neglected for agriculture by the apartheid government. However, there still appears to be a lack of a clear and comprehensive policy framework for the development of a South African biofuel industry, because the proposed initiatives have not been implemented to date. There are also concerns among stakeholders that government policy is taking too long to formulate, compounding existing uncertainty in the industry. This study therefore aims to identify barriers and incentives that influence the potential adoption of biofuel crops in selected areas in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The study utilised a semi-structured questionnaire to record responses from 129 smallholder farmers that were identified through a snowballing sampling technique. Descriptive statistical analysis and a Heckman two-step model were applied to analyse the data. Analysis was done using SPSS 21 and EViews 8. Results obtained showed that the variables: arable land, incentives offered, challenges faced, labour source and farm experience were statistical significant at 5 or 10 percent p value to awareness of farmers to biofuel crops. Adoption of biofuel crops was statistically related to gender, qualification, membership to association and household size. The study recommends that the Biofuels Industrial Strategy Policy be revisited in order to have a mechanism of including smallholder farmers that it aims to empower with employment and improvement in their livelihoods. The government can help smallholder farmers by addressing the challenges they face in improving their output. Furthermore, it recommends that a national study on barriers and incentives that influence the adoption of biofuel crops be carried out in order to identify other factors that may hinder the Biofuels Strategy Policy aims in empowering the disadvantaged farmers.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Cheteni, Priviledge
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Renewable energy sources -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Energy crops industry -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Farms, Small -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Agricultural Economics)
- Identifier: vital:11225 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1020182 , Renewable energy sources -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Energy crops industry -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Farms, Small -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Since the launch of the Biofuels Industrial Strategy in 2007 by the South African government, only a few smallholder farmers have adopted biofuels for production. The government hopes to stimulate economic development and alleviate poverty by targeting areas that were previously neglected for agriculture by the apartheid government. However, there still appears to be a lack of a clear and comprehensive policy framework for the development of a South African biofuel industry, because the proposed initiatives have not been implemented to date. There are also concerns among stakeholders that government policy is taking too long to formulate, compounding existing uncertainty in the industry. This study therefore aims to identify barriers and incentives that influence the potential adoption of biofuel crops in selected areas in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The study utilised a semi-structured questionnaire to record responses from 129 smallholder farmers that were identified through a snowballing sampling technique. Descriptive statistical analysis and a Heckman two-step model were applied to analyse the data. Analysis was done using SPSS 21 and EViews 8. Results obtained showed that the variables: arable land, incentives offered, challenges faced, labour source and farm experience were statistical significant at 5 or 10 percent p value to awareness of farmers to biofuel crops. Adoption of biofuel crops was statistically related to gender, qualification, membership to association and household size. The study recommends that the Biofuels Industrial Strategy Policy be revisited in order to have a mechanism of including smallholder farmers that it aims to empower with employment and improvement in their livelihoods. The government can help smallholder farmers by addressing the challenges they face in improving their output. Furthermore, it recommends that a national study on barriers and incentives that influence the adoption of biofuel crops be carried out in order to identify other factors that may hinder the Biofuels Strategy Policy aims in empowering the disadvantaged farmers.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Analysis of marketing channels used by smallholder crop farmers in Vryheid (Abaqulusi) Municipality, Kwazulu-Natal
- Ntshangase, Muziwandile Gift
- Authors: Ntshangase, Muziwandile Gift
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Agriculture -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Marketing channels -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Farm management -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Agricultural Economics)
- Identifier: vital:11222 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1019823 , Agriculture -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Marketing channels -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Farm management -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal
- Description: A total of 120 structured questionnaires were administered to analyse marketing channels used by smallholder crop farmers, at Abaqulusi Municipality, Vryheid and KwaZulu Natal Province, South Africa. Research methodology consisted of research design, sample frame, sampling procedure, data collection and data analysis which were used in the study. Descriptive statistics analysis was used, where frequencies and percentages of the variables were indicated. Variables which were measured included demographic socio-economic profile of survey household heads where age, marital status, educational level, occupation other than farming, land ownership, household size and gender of the household heads.The results show that the statistically significant variables (gender, household size) at 5% level positively affect smallholder crop farmers’ access to market information, expertise on grades and standards, availability of contractual agreements, existence of extensive social capital, availability of good market infrastructure, group participation and reliance on tradition. These findings suggest that an adjustment in each one of the significant variables can significantly influence the probability of participation in either formal or informal marketing, and hence their marketing channels. In the light of the foregoing research findings, several policy options were suggested. These include encouraging collective action, promotion of contract farming, ensuring the availability of market information to all farmers, encouraging value addition and investment in rural infrastructure.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Ntshangase, Muziwandile Gift
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Agriculture -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Marketing channels -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Farm management -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Agricultural Economics)
- Identifier: vital:11222 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1019823 , Agriculture -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Marketing channels -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Farm management -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal
- Description: A total of 120 structured questionnaires were administered to analyse marketing channels used by smallholder crop farmers, at Abaqulusi Municipality, Vryheid and KwaZulu Natal Province, South Africa. Research methodology consisted of research design, sample frame, sampling procedure, data collection and data analysis which were used in the study. Descriptive statistics analysis was used, where frequencies and percentages of the variables were indicated. Variables which were measured included demographic socio-economic profile of survey household heads where age, marital status, educational level, occupation other than farming, land ownership, household size and gender of the household heads.The results show that the statistically significant variables (gender, household size) at 5% level positively affect smallholder crop farmers’ access to market information, expertise on grades and standards, availability of contractual agreements, existence of extensive social capital, availability of good market infrastructure, group participation and reliance on tradition. These findings suggest that an adjustment in each one of the significant variables can significantly influence the probability of participation in either formal or informal marketing, and hence their marketing channels. In the light of the foregoing research findings, several policy options were suggested. These include encouraging collective action, promotion of contract farming, ensuring the availability of market information to all farmers, encouraging value addition and investment in rural infrastructure.
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- Date Issued: 2014