Towards the development of a protocol for the selection of probiotics in marine fish larviculture
- Authors: Vine, Niall Gordon
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Marine fishes -- Larvae Bacteria Fishes -- Microbiology Fish culture
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:5329 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005175
- Description: Manipulation or control of the microbiological aquaculture environment has been identified as an important focus area for future hatchery development. Subsequently, alternatives to obtain control of the microbiological environment are being sought of which the field of probiotics appears highly promising. Probiotics are usually selected based on various in vitro characteristics, however, the methods used differ and are sometimes unsuccessful due to poor experimentation. The aim of this work is to contribute towards the development of a protocol for the in vitro screening of bacterial candidate probiotics for marine fish larviculture. To reduce the number of candidate probiotics to be tested in vivo, various in vitro experiments need to be conducted, each screening for a particular mode of action – antagonism towards pathogen through production of antimicrobial compounds, growth and attachment to fish intestinal mucus, and the production of other beneficial compounds such as vitamins, fatty-acids and digestive enzymes. A total of 108 bacteria species were isolated from the digestive tract of the adult common clownfish, Amphiprion percula to screen for potential probiotics to be used in clownfish larval rearing. The antagonistic compounds assay identified twelve isolates which showed antagonism towards two or more aquatic pathogens. This was followed by an in vitro test that involved growing the organisms in fish intestinal mucus and modeling their growth parameters. A ranking index (RI) was developed using the lag period (λ) and doubling time (td) of the organism, where (1over λ x td) x 100. Five candidate probionts (AP1-AP5) with varied growth parameters were used for further in vitro experiments. The attachment to mucus assay introduced a novel tool for quantifying competition for attachment sites between candidate probionts and pathogens on mucus. Candidate probiont Pseudoalteromonas AP5 reduced the attachment ability of Vibrio alginolyticus when added before the pathogen and partially out-competed the pathogen for attachment sites when added second. In vitro screening for the production of beneficial compounds tested the candidate probiotics’ ability to produce digestive enzymes - trypsin, lipase and alkaline phosphatase as well as carotenoids and vitamin C. Candidate probiont Pseudoalteromonas AP5 produced high levels of the enzymes (98.2, 34.1 and 91.3 mU product liberated.ml⁻¹, respectively) and contained carotenoids while Kocuria AP4 contained carotenoids but produced low quantities of enzymes (7.8, 0 and 59 mU product liberated.ml⁻¹, respectively). None of the candidate probiotics produced vitamin C. To eliminate potential pathogenic or toxic candidate probionts, Artemia nauplii were exposed to each candidate probiont and the percentage Artemia mortality after 24-hours was determined. Candidate probiont AP2 caused high mortality of Artemia nauplii (98.4%) and was excluded from further studies. Identification of candidate probionts AP3-AP5 was performed using 16S-rDNA molecular techniques and the bacteria were assigned the names Bacillus AP3, Kocuria AP4 and Pseudoalteromonas AP5, respectively. Two methods of larval probiont delivery were tested – attachment to Artemia, and in-water delivery. Attachment to Artemia was high for both Kocuria AP4 and Pseudoalteromonas AP5 (7.2 x10³ and 2.7x10⁴ bacteria.nauplius⁻¹, respectively) while the in-water viability experiment showed that Kocuria AP4 comprised 23.9% of the total culturable water microflora after 24 hours while Pseudoalteromonas AP5 contributed 100%. To validate the findings from the in vitro experiments, in vivo trials using clownfish larvae were performed. Of the four candidate probiotics tested, only Kocuria AP4 showed potential to increase larval survival. In vitro tests produced a better understanding of the possible mode of action and strategies of competition between bacteria, however, the number of criteria in which a candidate probiont is successful in vitro may not be the best predictor for its effectiveness in vivo. Commercial studies that reduce between-treatment variation are required to test predictions about the most suitable probiont or combinations thereof.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Vine, Niall Gordon
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Marine fishes -- Larvae Bacteria Fishes -- Microbiology Fish culture
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:5329 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005175
- Description: Manipulation or control of the microbiological aquaculture environment has been identified as an important focus area for future hatchery development. Subsequently, alternatives to obtain control of the microbiological environment are being sought of which the field of probiotics appears highly promising. Probiotics are usually selected based on various in vitro characteristics, however, the methods used differ and are sometimes unsuccessful due to poor experimentation. The aim of this work is to contribute towards the development of a protocol for the in vitro screening of bacterial candidate probiotics for marine fish larviculture. To reduce the number of candidate probiotics to be tested in vivo, various in vitro experiments need to be conducted, each screening for a particular mode of action – antagonism towards pathogen through production of antimicrobial compounds, growth and attachment to fish intestinal mucus, and the production of other beneficial compounds such as vitamins, fatty-acids and digestive enzymes. A total of 108 bacteria species were isolated from the digestive tract of the adult common clownfish, Amphiprion percula to screen for potential probiotics to be used in clownfish larval rearing. The antagonistic compounds assay identified twelve isolates which showed antagonism towards two or more aquatic pathogens. This was followed by an in vitro test that involved growing the organisms in fish intestinal mucus and modeling their growth parameters. A ranking index (RI) was developed using the lag period (λ) and doubling time (td) of the organism, where (1over λ x td) x 100. Five candidate probionts (AP1-AP5) with varied growth parameters were used for further in vitro experiments. The attachment to mucus assay introduced a novel tool for quantifying competition for attachment sites between candidate probionts and pathogens on mucus. Candidate probiont Pseudoalteromonas AP5 reduced the attachment ability of Vibrio alginolyticus when added before the pathogen and partially out-competed the pathogen for attachment sites when added second. In vitro screening for the production of beneficial compounds tested the candidate probiotics’ ability to produce digestive enzymes - trypsin, lipase and alkaline phosphatase as well as carotenoids and vitamin C. Candidate probiont Pseudoalteromonas AP5 produced high levels of the enzymes (98.2, 34.1 and 91.3 mU product liberated.ml⁻¹, respectively) and contained carotenoids while Kocuria AP4 contained carotenoids but produced low quantities of enzymes (7.8, 0 and 59 mU product liberated.ml⁻¹, respectively). None of the candidate probiotics produced vitamin C. To eliminate potential pathogenic or toxic candidate probionts, Artemia nauplii were exposed to each candidate probiont and the percentage Artemia mortality after 24-hours was determined. Candidate probiont AP2 caused high mortality of Artemia nauplii (98.4%) and was excluded from further studies. Identification of candidate probionts AP3-AP5 was performed using 16S-rDNA molecular techniques and the bacteria were assigned the names Bacillus AP3, Kocuria AP4 and Pseudoalteromonas AP5, respectively. Two methods of larval probiont delivery were tested – attachment to Artemia, and in-water delivery. Attachment to Artemia was high for both Kocuria AP4 and Pseudoalteromonas AP5 (7.2 x10³ and 2.7x10⁴ bacteria.nauplius⁻¹, respectively) while the in-water viability experiment showed that Kocuria AP4 comprised 23.9% of the total culturable water microflora after 24 hours while Pseudoalteromonas AP5 contributed 100%. To validate the findings from the in vitro experiments, in vivo trials using clownfish larvae were performed. Of the four candidate probiotics tested, only Kocuria AP4 showed potential to increase larval survival. In vitro tests produced a better understanding of the possible mode of action and strategies of competition between bacteria, however, the number of criteria in which a candidate probiont is successful in vitro may not be the best predictor for its effectiveness in vivo. Commercial studies that reduce between-treatment variation are required to test predictions about the most suitable probiont or combinations thereof.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
Comparison of maximal aerobic capacity during running and lifting activities : research article
- Christie, Candice J, Scott, Patricia A
- Authors: Christie, Candice J , Scott, Patricia A
- Date: 2005
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6745 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1009314
- Description: Acknowledging the specificity of assessing maximal output, the purpose of this paper was to compare the physiological and perceptual responses during a traditional running activity and the common industrial task of lifting; both were taken to maximal effort. The responses of eight male participants were measured during both physical activities separated by at least five days: i) a progressive speed protocol (PSP) involved running on a treadmill at increasing speeds, starting at 10 km.h[superscript -1] and increasing by 1 km.h[superscript -1] every minute until exhaustion; ii) a progressive frequency protocol (PFP) required participants to lift a load of 20% body mass at increasing lifting frequencies, starting at one lift every 10s and reducing the time between lifts by 1s every minute until exhaustion. Physiological responses were measured using a portable on-line system, the K4b[superscript 2] (Cosmed(r)). "Central" perceptual measures were obtained every minute using the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) scale. Results: Responses increased progressively with augmented exercise intensity in both protocols; however, oxygen consumption and peak oxygen values were both lower during the lifting protocol compared to the running protocol. In contrast to the oxygen uptake responses, peak RER values were significantly higher during lifting (mean of 1.32) than running (mean of 1.18), while maximal heart rate and perceptual responses revealed no significant difference between the two protocols. These findings caution against using the 'traditional' treadmill protocol to assess the aerobic capacity of manual labourers involved in lifting, as it is evident that the traditional lower body protocol will indicate a higher capacity than the maximum capacity of an upper body activity, which could lead to manual labourers being taxed beyond acceptable limits.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Christie, Candice J , Scott, Patricia A
- Date: 2005
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6745 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1009314
- Description: Acknowledging the specificity of assessing maximal output, the purpose of this paper was to compare the physiological and perceptual responses during a traditional running activity and the common industrial task of lifting; both were taken to maximal effort. The responses of eight male participants were measured during both physical activities separated by at least five days: i) a progressive speed protocol (PSP) involved running on a treadmill at increasing speeds, starting at 10 km.h[superscript -1] and increasing by 1 km.h[superscript -1] every minute until exhaustion; ii) a progressive frequency protocol (PFP) required participants to lift a load of 20% body mass at increasing lifting frequencies, starting at one lift every 10s and reducing the time between lifts by 1s every minute until exhaustion. Physiological responses were measured using a portable on-line system, the K4b[superscript 2] (Cosmed(r)). "Central" perceptual measures were obtained every minute using the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) scale. Results: Responses increased progressively with augmented exercise intensity in both protocols; however, oxygen consumption and peak oxygen values were both lower during the lifting protocol compared to the running protocol. In contrast to the oxygen uptake responses, peak RER values were significantly higher during lifting (mean of 1.32) than running (mean of 1.18), while maximal heart rate and perceptual responses revealed no significant difference between the two protocols. These findings caution against using the 'traditional' treadmill protocol to assess the aerobic capacity of manual labourers involved in lifting, as it is evident that the traditional lower body protocol will indicate a higher capacity than the maximum capacity of an upper body activity, which could lead to manual labourers being taxed beyond acceptable limits.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
A critical investigation into the process of negotiating a mathematics education curriculum with pre-service teachers
- Authors: Westaway, Lise
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Teacher participation in curriculum planning -- South Africa Curriculum planning -- South Africa Curriculum change -- South Africa Mathematics -- Study and teaching -- South Africa Teachers -- Training of -- South Africa Mathematics teachers -- Training of -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1826 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003712
- Description: It's almost like a dinner party and a buffet. A dinner party you get dished up stuff and you eat it and a buffet you can choose what you want out of a range of stuff. I mean think about it when you go to a dinner party- they always dish up something you don't like and you don't want to eat it anyway. It's the same if you have a lecturer in the front that just dishes out what you're going to learn, ... you have to learn it. But in terms of the curriculum negotiation process, I've got to choose what I wanted to leam. (Melissa II 27/11/01: 3) This thesis focuses on the process of negotiating the curriculum with twelve pre-service teachers registered for the Bachelor of Education (Primary) Degree during their Mathematics Education Course in their third year of study. The research is presented methodologically as an action research located within two paradigmatic positions, interpretive and critical. The research attempted to understand, interpret and critique the process of curriculum negotiation within the context of teacher education in South Africa In order to understand the negotiated curriculum process, experiences of the participants are presented through the use of their voices within the thesis. The interpretation is based on the construction and reconstruction of meaning during the enactment of the negotiated curriculum process and during the writing and reviewing of this thesis. The critique is rooted in the historical, cultural and social contexts of both the students and the author. The main contention of this thesis is that curriculum negotiation is not necessarily a suitable vehicle for developing a critical pedagogy in pre-service teacher education when all the participants form a homogenous group in this case, white middle-class women. The democratic values promoted within the context of our curriculum negotiation were fraught with dilemmas and entrenched the values of western liberalism. At most, the curriculum negotiation process and the development of a democratic learning environment, promoted a conscientisation at an individual level, namely a ' transformation of consciousness' . The democratic values promoted in our pedagogy were not sufficient in bringing about social change, a 'transformation for social action'.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Westaway, Lise
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Teacher participation in curriculum planning -- South Africa Curriculum planning -- South Africa Curriculum change -- South Africa Mathematics -- Study and teaching -- South Africa Teachers -- Training of -- South Africa Mathematics teachers -- Training of -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1826 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003712
- Description: It's almost like a dinner party and a buffet. A dinner party you get dished up stuff and you eat it and a buffet you can choose what you want out of a range of stuff. I mean think about it when you go to a dinner party- they always dish up something you don't like and you don't want to eat it anyway. It's the same if you have a lecturer in the front that just dishes out what you're going to learn, ... you have to learn it. But in terms of the curriculum negotiation process, I've got to choose what I wanted to leam. (Melissa II 27/11/01: 3) This thesis focuses on the process of negotiating the curriculum with twelve pre-service teachers registered for the Bachelor of Education (Primary) Degree during their Mathematics Education Course in their third year of study. The research is presented methodologically as an action research located within two paradigmatic positions, interpretive and critical. The research attempted to understand, interpret and critique the process of curriculum negotiation within the context of teacher education in South Africa In order to understand the negotiated curriculum process, experiences of the participants are presented through the use of their voices within the thesis. The interpretation is based on the construction and reconstruction of meaning during the enactment of the negotiated curriculum process and during the writing and reviewing of this thesis. The critique is rooted in the historical, cultural and social contexts of both the students and the author. The main contention of this thesis is that curriculum negotiation is not necessarily a suitable vehicle for developing a critical pedagogy in pre-service teacher education when all the participants form a homogenous group in this case, white middle-class women. The democratic values promoted within the context of our curriculum negotiation were fraught with dilemmas and entrenched the values of western liberalism. At most, the curriculum negotiation process and the development of a democratic learning environment, promoted a conscientisation at an individual level, namely a ' transformation of consciousness' . The democratic values promoted in our pedagogy were not sufficient in bringing about social change, a 'transformation for social action'.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
A phenomenological investigation into lecturers' understanding of themselves as assessors at Rhodes University
- Authors: Grant, Rose
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Curriculum-based assessment -- South Africa Education, Higher -- South Africa -- Evaluation Educational tests and measurements -- South Africa Education, Higher -- Evaluation Case studies Universities and colleges -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:1315 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003948
- Description: This thesis sets out to obtain an understanding of what it means to be an assessor in higher education, more especially within the Rhodes University context. The concept of assessment, a highly contentious and complex issue, is examined against a background of competing understandings of the nature and purpose of higher education, including the striving for excellence versus the call to more equitable ideals associated with a mass higher education and training system. An overview of salient issues is presented in which both traditional and alternative paradigms of measurement and assessment theory are explored with a view to considering foundational principles upon which sound assessment practice should be based. Specific methods and instruments of assessment are examined with the purpose of evaluating their potential for empowering students as active participants in their own learning and in the assessment process. In a field in which much of the literature seeks improved assessment merely through the administration of increasingly sophisticated assessment techniques, a phenomenological investigation offered a unique way of understanding the meaning assessors make of their practice. Making use of in-depth interviews with five lecturers at Rhodes University the researcher, interacting in a personal manner with people not viewed as experimental objects but as human subjects, assisted participants in moving towards non-theoretical descriptions that accurately reflected their experience. Insights contained in the data were synthesised and integrated into a consistent description of the essential nature of the experience, the primary endeavour of the phenomenologist being to transform naïve experience into more explicitly detailed conceptual knowledge. The essence of how these educators understand themselves as assessors at Rhodes University is perhaps best encapsulated by a considerable sense of agency or initiative on their part. While participants make use of a variety of assessment strategies, they are conscious that assessment cannot be viewed in isolation from other aspects of their teaching and the curriculum. Not only do they make use of different assessment methods but, conscious of accommodating the diverse needs of students, understand their responsibility in terms of providing learning opportunities to assist students in meeting the course outcomes and fulfilling their potential. Rather than allowing pressures from within and outside of the academy to dictate, these lecturers, with significant hard work, courage and a capacity for reflective practice, have embraced the challenges associated with higher education in a state of transition.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Grant, Rose
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Curriculum-based assessment -- South Africa Education, Higher -- South Africa -- Evaluation Educational tests and measurements -- South Africa Education, Higher -- Evaluation Case studies Universities and colleges -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:1315 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003948
- Description: This thesis sets out to obtain an understanding of what it means to be an assessor in higher education, more especially within the Rhodes University context. The concept of assessment, a highly contentious and complex issue, is examined against a background of competing understandings of the nature and purpose of higher education, including the striving for excellence versus the call to more equitable ideals associated with a mass higher education and training system. An overview of salient issues is presented in which both traditional and alternative paradigms of measurement and assessment theory are explored with a view to considering foundational principles upon which sound assessment practice should be based. Specific methods and instruments of assessment are examined with the purpose of evaluating their potential for empowering students as active participants in their own learning and in the assessment process. In a field in which much of the literature seeks improved assessment merely through the administration of increasingly sophisticated assessment techniques, a phenomenological investigation offered a unique way of understanding the meaning assessors make of their practice. Making use of in-depth interviews with five lecturers at Rhodes University the researcher, interacting in a personal manner with people not viewed as experimental objects but as human subjects, assisted participants in moving towards non-theoretical descriptions that accurately reflected their experience. Insights contained in the data were synthesised and integrated into a consistent description of the essential nature of the experience, the primary endeavour of the phenomenologist being to transform naïve experience into more explicitly detailed conceptual knowledge. The essence of how these educators understand themselves as assessors at Rhodes University is perhaps best encapsulated by a considerable sense of agency or initiative on their part. While participants make use of a variety of assessment strategies, they are conscious that assessment cannot be viewed in isolation from other aspects of their teaching and the curriculum. Not only do they make use of different assessment methods but, conscious of accommodating the diverse needs of students, understand their responsibility in terms of providing learning opportunities to assist students in meeting the course outcomes and fulfilling their potential. Rather than allowing pressures from within and outside of the academy to dictate, these lecturers, with significant hard work, courage and a capacity for reflective practice, have embraced the challenges associated with higher education in a state of transition.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
Screening of technologies for the recovery of rhodium (III) metal ions from a precious metal refinery wastewater
- Authors: Mack, Cherie-Lynn
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Rhodium , Metal ions , Sewage -- Purification -- Metals removal , Platinum group
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:3987 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004046 , Rhodium , Metal ions , Sewage -- Purification -- Metals removal , Platinum group
- Description: The selective recovery of rhodium from wastewaters, in which the metal would be otherwise lost, would be highly profitable if the process were suitably low-cost. Current recovery processes are generally high maintenance and high-cost, whereas biological processes can be engineered to run with little external input in terms of cost and maintenance. Three emerging technologies were chosen based on their reported efficiency when removing base metals from wastewaters. The first technology screened, the sulphide-extraction membrane bioreactor (SEMB), consists of a sulphate-reducing prokaryote (SRP) anaerobic digester, in which a silicone membrane is submerged. Wastewater is passed through the membrane and metal ions are precipitated as metal sulphides by the hydrogen sulphide gas, which is capable of permeating the membrane. The second technology screened was a fluidized sand bed reactor in which metal ions are removed from solution via induction of nucleated precipitation by sodium carbonate onto the sand grains. The third, and most well established removal technology screened was a biosorption system using immobilized Saccharomyces cerevisiae biomass as the biosorbent. Experimental trials with each technology highlighted drawbacks with each; the SEMB system proved to be largely ineffective when challenged with the removal of rhodium from the wastewater as the rhodium precipitate fouled the membrane within hours, the fluidized bed system seemed unable to overcome the acidity of the wastewater and thus could not precipitate out the rhodium metal, and the efficiency of the biosorption process was hampered by the diversity of rhodium species present in the wastewater, which reduced the amount recovered. The outcomes of the trials with each technology indicated that further optimization of the technology or pretreatment of the wastewater is necessary before any of these options can be implemented. It could be concluded, however, that despite further optimization, both the SEMB and the fluidized bed system were not applicable in this case as precipitation would be non-specific, resulting in the necessity for further steps in order to purify the rhodium ions. Hence, the biosorption system was shown to be most applicable, and further optimization of the system could yield a highly efficient rhodium recovery process.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Mack, Cherie-Lynn
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Rhodium , Metal ions , Sewage -- Purification -- Metals removal , Platinum group
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:3987 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004046 , Rhodium , Metal ions , Sewage -- Purification -- Metals removal , Platinum group
- Description: The selective recovery of rhodium from wastewaters, in which the metal would be otherwise lost, would be highly profitable if the process were suitably low-cost. Current recovery processes are generally high maintenance and high-cost, whereas biological processes can be engineered to run with little external input in terms of cost and maintenance. Three emerging technologies were chosen based on their reported efficiency when removing base metals from wastewaters. The first technology screened, the sulphide-extraction membrane bioreactor (SEMB), consists of a sulphate-reducing prokaryote (SRP) anaerobic digester, in which a silicone membrane is submerged. Wastewater is passed through the membrane and metal ions are precipitated as metal sulphides by the hydrogen sulphide gas, which is capable of permeating the membrane. The second technology screened was a fluidized sand bed reactor in which metal ions are removed from solution via induction of nucleated precipitation by sodium carbonate onto the sand grains. The third, and most well established removal technology screened was a biosorption system using immobilized Saccharomyces cerevisiae biomass as the biosorbent. Experimental trials with each technology highlighted drawbacks with each; the SEMB system proved to be largely ineffective when challenged with the removal of rhodium from the wastewater as the rhodium precipitate fouled the membrane within hours, the fluidized bed system seemed unable to overcome the acidity of the wastewater and thus could not precipitate out the rhodium metal, and the efficiency of the biosorption process was hampered by the diversity of rhodium species present in the wastewater, which reduced the amount recovered. The outcomes of the trials with each technology indicated that further optimization of the technology or pretreatment of the wastewater is necessary before any of these options can be implemented. It could be concluded, however, that despite further optimization, both the SEMB and the fluidized bed system were not applicable in this case as precipitation would be non-specific, resulting in the necessity for further steps in order to purify the rhodium ions. Hence, the biosorption system was shown to be most applicable, and further optimization of the system could yield a highly efficient rhodium recovery process.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
The motivating force of moral beliefs
- Authors: Vos, James Antony
- Date: 2005 , 2013-06-14
- Subjects: Hume, David, 1711-1776 -- Ethics , Ethics , Motivation , Practical reason , Rationalism
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2729 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003804 , Hume, David, 1711-1776 -- Ethics , Ethics , Motivation , Practical reason , Rationalism
- Description: I investigate the issue of whether or not one's holding a moral belief is sufficient to motivate one to act as that belief prescribes. I argue that rational persons who hold a moral belief that is also a 'self-referential belief' will form a desire to act as that belief prescribes and thereby be motivated to act on the moral belief. I argue for this claim by, firstly, showing that the demand that moral judgements must be intrinsically motivating, Internalism, should only apply to rational persons, that is, the link between moral judgement and motivation can be broken in cases of irrationality. Secondly, I argue against the Humean claim that one cannot rationally form a desire simply because one believes that one ought to have that desire. This claim requires an investigation into a variety of views of Practical Reason and an argument concluding that Practical Reason is broader in scope than the Instrumentalist or Humean allows. I undertake this task in chapter 2. Thirdly, I argue that believing that I ought to perform a certain action will give me an internal commitment to perform that action, insofar as I am rational. I argue that an internal commitment is a form of desire. Once I recognise that I have a moral belief and an internal commitment, I will be motivated to act as that belief and commitment prescribe. , KMBT_363 , Adobe Acrobat 9.54 Paper Capture Plug-in
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Vos, James Antony
- Date: 2005 , 2013-06-14
- Subjects: Hume, David, 1711-1776 -- Ethics , Ethics , Motivation , Practical reason , Rationalism
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2729 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003804 , Hume, David, 1711-1776 -- Ethics , Ethics , Motivation , Practical reason , Rationalism
- Description: I investigate the issue of whether or not one's holding a moral belief is sufficient to motivate one to act as that belief prescribes. I argue that rational persons who hold a moral belief that is also a 'self-referential belief' will form a desire to act as that belief prescribes and thereby be motivated to act on the moral belief. I argue for this claim by, firstly, showing that the demand that moral judgements must be intrinsically motivating, Internalism, should only apply to rational persons, that is, the link between moral judgement and motivation can be broken in cases of irrationality. Secondly, I argue against the Humean claim that one cannot rationally form a desire simply because one believes that one ought to have that desire. This claim requires an investigation into a variety of views of Practical Reason and an argument concluding that Practical Reason is broader in scope than the Instrumentalist or Humean allows. I undertake this task in chapter 2. Thirdly, I argue that believing that I ought to perform a certain action will give me an internal commitment to perform that action, insofar as I am rational. I argue that an internal commitment is a form of desire. Once I recognise that I have a moral belief and an internal commitment, I will be motivated to act as that belief and commitment prescribe. , KMBT_363 , Adobe Acrobat 9.54 Paper Capture Plug-in
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
Surface electrochemistry of iron phthalocyanine axially ligated to 4-mercaptopyridine self-assembled monolayers at gold electrode
- Ozoemena, Kenneth I, Nyokong, Tebello
- Authors: Ozoemena, Kenneth I , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/289282 , vital:56615 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelechem.2005.02.018"
- Description: Surface electrochemical behaviour of a self-immobilised iron phthalocyanine (FePc) ultrathin film, via axial ligation reaction, onto a preformed 4-mercaptopyridine self-assembled monolayer on gold electrode has been described. Electrochemical evidence for the sensor clearly suggested surface-confined, flat “umbrella”-oriented and densely-packed monolayer film structure. The proposed electrochemical sensor exhibited good catalytic activity towards the oxidation of thiocyanate in pH 4.0 medium over a linear range of three decades of concentration (ca. 10−6–10−3 mol dm−3) with a detection limit in the order of ∼10−7 mol dm−3. The sensor exhibited useful potential for the analysis of thiocyanate in human urine and saliva samples. The advantageous properties of this type of electrode as a sensor for thiocyanate lie in its ease of fabrication, excellent catalytic activity, stability, sensitivity and simplicity.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Ozoemena, Kenneth I , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/289282 , vital:56615 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelechem.2005.02.018"
- Description: Surface electrochemical behaviour of a self-immobilised iron phthalocyanine (FePc) ultrathin film, via axial ligation reaction, onto a preformed 4-mercaptopyridine self-assembled monolayer on gold electrode has been described. Electrochemical evidence for the sensor clearly suggested surface-confined, flat “umbrella”-oriented and densely-packed monolayer film structure. The proposed electrochemical sensor exhibited good catalytic activity towards the oxidation of thiocyanate in pH 4.0 medium over a linear range of three decades of concentration (ca. 10−6–10−3 mol dm−3) with a detection limit in the order of ∼10−7 mol dm−3. The sensor exhibited useful potential for the analysis of thiocyanate in human urine and saliva samples. The advantageous properties of this type of electrode as a sensor for thiocyanate lie in its ease of fabrication, excellent catalytic activity, stability, sensitivity and simplicity.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
Not all J domains are created equal: implications for the specificity of Hsp40-Hsp70 interactions
- Hennessy, Fritha, Nicoll, Willam S, Zimmerman, Richard, Cheetham, Michael E, Blatch, Gregory L
- Authors: Hennessy, Fritha , Nicoll, Willam S , Zimmerman, Richard , Cheetham, Michael E , Blatch, Gregory L
- Date: 2005
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6487 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006270 , http://dx.doi.org/10.1110/ps.051406805
- Description: Heat shock protein 40s (Hsp40s) and heat shock protein 70s (Hsp70s) form chaperone partnerships that are key components of cellular chaperone networks involved in facilitating the correct folding of a broad range of client proteins. While the Hsp40 family of proteins is highly diverse with multiple forms occurring in any particular cell or compartment, all its members are characterized by a J domain that directs their interaction with a partner Hsp70. Specific Hsp40-Hsp70 chaperone partnerships have been identified that are dedicated to the correct folding of distinct subsets of client proteins. The elucidation of the mechanism by which these specific Hsp40-Hsp70 partnerships are formed will greatly enhance our understanding of the way in which chaperone pathways are integrated into finely regulated protein folding networks. From in silico analyses, domain swapping and rational protein engineering experiments, evidence has accumulated that indicates that J domains contain key specificity determinants. This review will critically discuss the current understanding of the structural features of J domains that determine the specificity of interaction between Hsp40 proteins and their partner Hsp70s. We also propose a model in which the J domain is able to integrate specificity and chaperone activity.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Hennessy, Fritha , Nicoll, Willam S , Zimmerman, Richard , Cheetham, Michael E , Blatch, Gregory L
- Date: 2005
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6487 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006270 , http://dx.doi.org/10.1110/ps.051406805
- Description: Heat shock protein 40s (Hsp40s) and heat shock protein 70s (Hsp70s) form chaperone partnerships that are key components of cellular chaperone networks involved in facilitating the correct folding of a broad range of client proteins. While the Hsp40 family of proteins is highly diverse with multiple forms occurring in any particular cell or compartment, all its members are characterized by a J domain that directs their interaction with a partner Hsp70. Specific Hsp40-Hsp70 chaperone partnerships have been identified that are dedicated to the correct folding of distinct subsets of client proteins. The elucidation of the mechanism by which these specific Hsp40-Hsp70 partnerships are formed will greatly enhance our understanding of the way in which chaperone pathways are integrated into finely regulated protein folding networks. From in silico analyses, domain swapping and rational protein engineering experiments, evidence has accumulated that indicates that J domains contain key specificity determinants. This review will critically discuss the current understanding of the structural features of J domains that determine the specificity of interaction between Hsp40 proteins and their partner Hsp70s. We also propose a model in which the J domain is able to integrate specificity and chaperone activity.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
How policy discourses and contextual realities influence environmental teaching and learning processes in early childhood development: a case study of the Raglan Road child care centre
- Authors: Vallabh, Priya
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Early childhood education -- South Africa , Health education -- South Africa , Environmental education -- Study and teaching -- South Africa , Day care centers -- South Africa , Child development
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1559 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003441 , Early childhood education -- South Africa , Health education -- South Africa , Environmental education -- Study and teaching -- South Africa , Day care centers -- South Africa , Child development
- Description: This case study considers the relationship between context, school policy and environmental teaching and learning processes at a community-based early childhood development centre in South Africa. The study recognises that educational practices in the early childhood development field are shaped by historical, cultural, economic and political realities at both local and national levels. It is from the understanding that each school is a unique composition of these shaping factors that the research was designed to consider the community-based school participating in this study. By compiling a contextual profile, this study attempts to consider dominant contextual factors affecting the school. Through the critical discourse analysis of a school policy document, this study considers local level policy, and through the literature chapter, national policy. Teacher interviews provide insight into teacher understanding of school policy in response to contextual issues, as well as providing insight into how teachers perceive their translation of policy into teaching practice. Observations of lessons in the centre provided an. opportunity to see how context and policy translated into and influenced environmental teaching and learning processes. This study looks at how environmental education is addressed in the Raglan Road Child Care Centre, and provides insight into how environmental education within the context of the school and in relation to school policy may be strengthened. It comments on the tensions and ambivalences arising from the relationships between context, policy and environmental teaching and learning processes and makes recommendations to address these ambivalences in ways that are contextually relevant. The main recommendations were designed to be practically useful for the school involved in the study and are focused around engaging the ambivalences emerging from this study to open up 'spaces' for deliberating environmental teaching and learning processes and other tensions arising out of the study at an ECD level. Recommendations included: 1) engaging with the strong development focus in school policy and the educational focus in national policy and teacher discourse; 2) deliberating the ways in which school policy and national policy respond to risk; 3) engaging with the ambivalence in the school-parent relationship; 4) the re-alignment of the explicit curriculum and broadening the contextually-based view of whole child development; and 5) engaging the ambivalence in approaches to education at the centre.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Vallabh, Priya
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Early childhood education -- South Africa , Health education -- South Africa , Environmental education -- Study and teaching -- South Africa , Day care centers -- South Africa , Child development
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1559 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003441 , Early childhood education -- South Africa , Health education -- South Africa , Environmental education -- Study and teaching -- South Africa , Day care centers -- South Africa , Child development
- Description: This case study considers the relationship between context, school policy and environmental teaching and learning processes at a community-based early childhood development centre in South Africa. The study recognises that educational practices in the early childhood development field are shaped by historical, cultural, economic and political realities at both local and national levels. It is from the understanding that each school is a unique composition of these shaping factors that the research was designed to consider the community-based school participating in this study. By compiling a contextual profile, this study attempts to consider dominant contextual factors affecting the school. Through the critical discourse analysis of a school policy document, this study considers local level policy, and through the literature chapter, national policy. Teacher interviews provide insight into teacher understanding of school policy in response to contextual issues, as well as providing insight into how teachers perceive their translation of policy into teaching practice. Observations of lessons in the centre provided an. opportunity to see how context and policy translated into and influenced environmental teaching and learning processes. This study looks at how environmental education is addressed in the Raglan Road Child Care Centre, and provides insight into how environmental education within the context of the school and in relation to school policy may be strengthened. It comments on the tensions and ambivalences arising from the relationships between context, policy and environmental teaching and learning processes and makes recommendations to address these ambivalences in ways that are contextually relevant. The main recommendations were designed to be practically useful for the school involved in the study and are focused around engaging the ambivalences emerging from this study to open up 'spaces' for deliberating environmental teaching and learning processes and other tensions arising out of the study at an ECD level. Recommendations included: 1) engaging with the strong development focus in school policy and the educational focus in national policy and teacher discourse; 2) deliberating the ways in which school policy and national policy respond to risk; 3) engaging with the ambivalence in the school-parent relationship; 4) the re-alignment of the explicit curriculum and broadening the contextually-based view of whole child development; and 5) engaging the ambivalence in approaches to education at the centre.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
Burrow utilization by springhares (Pedetescapensis) in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Peinke, D M , Brown, C R
- Date: 2005
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6962 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1012025
- Description: The use of burrows by springhares was investigated in the Eastern Cape, South Africa using radio telemetry. Springhares utilized 4–27 different burrows scattered over areas ranging from 0.6–28.5 ha, with maximum distances of 170–1000 m between burrows. Springhares frequently changed burrows, seldom spending more than a few consecutive days in each, unless rearing young. The number of burrows used by individuals was correlated with the length of time they were tracked and, even after a year, some individuals were still occupying burrows previously unused by them. Males and females did not differ significantly in the mean number of burrows used, the mean area over which these were distributed, or the mean maximum distance between burrows. Springhares were generally solitary and occupied burrows were, with few exceptions, apparently avoided by conspecifics.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Peinke, D M , Brown, C R
- Date: 2005
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6962 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1012025
- Description: The use of burrows by springhares was investigated in the Eastern Cape, South Africa using radio telemetry. Springhares utilized 4–27 different burrows scattered over areas ranging from 0.6–28.5 ha, with maximum distances of 170–1000 m between burrows. Springhares frequently changed burrows, seldom spending more than a few consecutive days in each, unless rearing young. The number of burrows used by individuals was correlated with the length of time they were tracked and, even after a year, some individuals were still occupying burrows previously unused by them. Males and females did not differ significantly in the mean number of burrows used, the mean area over which these were distributed, or the mean maximum distance between burrows. Springhares were generally solitary and occupied burrows were, with few exceptions, apparently avoided by conspecifics.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
Institutional change and ecosystem dynamics in the communal areas around Mt Coke State Forest, Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Cundill, Georgina
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Biodiversity -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Ecosystem management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Natural resources -- Management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Nature conservation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:4746 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006959 , Biodiversity -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Ecosystem management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Natural resources -- Management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Nature conservation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Through a combination of theoretical discussion and case study analysis from two villages in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, this thesis explores the relationship between institutional change and ecosystem dynamics through a multi-scale approach that combines local and scientific knowledge. Several conceptual approaches were combined in this study. These included; the Resilience perspective, the Sustainable Rural Livelihoods approach, the Millennium Assessment framework and principles, and the Environmental Entitlements approach. Various participatory research techniques were employed which combined with GIS technologies, existing data sets, and historical records. Common pool resource areas are social spaces, where local values attached to resources are institutionally mediated, politically nuanced, economically interpreted and historically situated. Political driving forces at various scales have played a disproportionate role in local level institutional functioning in the case study area. In particular, inappropriate state-lead interventions into land use planning have weakened local level institutions, and have reduced the ability of the linked social-ecological system to cope with change and uncertainty. People and ecosystems become more vulnerable when driving forces such as political upheaval, economic depression and drought over-lap. However, rural people are not mere spectators in the face of these driving forces; they respond both reactively and proactively to ensure resilience to change and uncertainty. Ecosystems at Mt Coke play a key role during times of crisis in rural livelihoods. These ecosystems have undergone various short-term cyclical changes largely in response to rainfall fluctuations, and some longer-term changes linked to political events and trends that have affected management practices and local institutions over time. Orthodox ecological interpretations of ecosystem change appear to ignore four key factors identified in this study: 1) the role of institutions in shaping access to resources, 2) the demand for resources in rural livelihoods, 3) the dynamic interaction between social and natural systems, and 4) the interaction between social and natural systems across scales of analysis. The future of common pool resource management lies in the combination of local and scientific knowledge through an adaptive management approach that encourages learning and adaptation in local level institutional structures.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Cundill, Georgina
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Biodiversity -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Ecosystem management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Natural resources -- Management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Nature conservation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:4746 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006959 , Biodiversity -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Ecosystem management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Natural resources -- Management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Nature conservation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Through a combination of theoretical discussion and case study analysis from two villages in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, this thesis explores the relationship between institutional change and ecosystem dynamics through a multi-scale approach that combines local and scientific knowledge. Several conceptual approaches were combined in this study. These included; the Resilience perspective, the Sustainable Rural Livelihoods approach, the Millennium Assessment framework and principles, and the Environmental Entitlements approach. Various participatory research techniques were employed which combined with GIS technologies, existing data sets, and historical records. Common pool resource areas are social spaces, where local values attached to resources are institutionally mediated, politically nuanced, economically interpreted and historically situated. Political driving forces at various scales have played a disproportionate role in local level institutional functioning in the case study area. In particular, inappropriate state-lead interventions into land use planning have weakened local level institutions, and have reduced the ability of the linked social-ecological system to cope with change and uncertainty. People and ecosystems become more vulnerable when driving forces such as political upheaval, economic depression and drought over-lap. However, rural people are not mere spectators in the face of these driving forces; they respond both reactively and proactively to ensure resilience to change and uncertainty. Ecosystems at Mt Coke play a key role during times of crisis in rural livelihoods. These ecosystems have undergone various short-term cyclical changes largely in response to rainfall fluctuations, and some longer-term changes linked to political events and trends that have affected management practices and local institutions over time. Orthodox ecological interpretations of ecosystem change appear to ignore four key factors identified in this study: 1) the role of institutions in shaping access to resources, 2) the demand for resources in rural livelihoods, 3) the dynamic interaction between social and natural systems, and 4) the interaction between social and natural systems across scales of analysis. The future of common pool resource management lies in the combination of local and scientific knowledge through an adaptive management approach that encourages learning and adaptation in local level institutional structures.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
Stress-inducible protein 1: a bioinformatic analysis of the human, mouse and yeast STI1 gene structure
- Authors: Aken, Bronwen Louise
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Molecular chaperones , Proteins -- Analysis , Heat shock proteins , Bioinformatics , Genetics -- Data processing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:3990 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004049 , Molecular chaperones , Proteins -- Analysis , Heat shock proteins , Bioinformatics , Genetics -- Data processing
- Description: Stress-inducible protein 1 (Sti1) is a 60 kDa eukaryotic protein that is important under stress and non-stress conditions. Human Sti1 is also known as the Hsp70/Hsp90 organising protein (Hop) that coordinates the functional cooperation of heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) and heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) during the folding of various transcription factors and kinases, including certain oncogenic proteins and prion proteins. Limited studies have been conducted on the STI1 gene structure. Thus, the aim of this study was to develop a comprehensive description of human STI1 (hSTI1), mouse STI1 (mSTI1), and yeast STI1 (ySTI1) genes, using a bioinformatic approach. Genes encoded near the STI1 loci were identified for the three organisms using National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) MapViewer and the Saccharomyces Genome Database. Exon/intron boundaries were predicted using Hidden Markov model gene prediction software (HMMGene) and Genscan, and by alignment of the mRNA sequence with the genomic DNA sequence. Transcription factor binding sites (TFBS) were predicted by scanning the region 1000 base pairs (bp) upstream of the STI1 orthologues’ transcription start site (TSS) with Alibaba, Transcription element search software (TESS) and Transcription factor search (TFSearch). The promoter region was defined by comparing the number, type and position of TFBS across the orthologous STI1 genes. Additional putative TFBS were identified for ySTI1 by searching with software that aligns nucleic acid conserved elements (AlignACE) for over-represented motifs in the region upstream of the TSS of genes thought to be co-regulated with ySTI1. This study showed that hSTI1 and mSTI1 occur in a region of synteny with a number of genes of related function. Both hSTI1 and mSTI1 comprised 14 putative exons, while ySTI1 was encoded on a single exon. Human and mouse STI1 shared a perfectly conserved 55 bp region spanning their predicted TSS, although their TATA boxes were not conserved. A putative CpG island was identified in the region from -500 to +100 bp relative to the hSTI1 and mSTI1 TSS. This region overlapped with a region of high TFBS density, suggesting that the core promoter region was located in the region approximately 100 to 200 bp upstream of the TSS. Several conserved clusters of TFBS were also identified upstream of this promoter region, including binding sites for stimulatory protein 1 (Sp1), heat shock factor (HSF), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB), and the cAMP/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP). Microarray data suggested that ySTI1 was co-regulated with several heat shock proteins and substrates of the Hsp70/Hsp90 heterocomplex, and several putative regulatory elements were identified in the upstream region of these co-regulated genes, including a motif for HSF binding. The results of this research suggest several avenues of future experimental work, including the confirmation of the proposed core promoter, upstream regulatory elements, and CpG island, and the investigation into the co-regulation of mammalian STI1 with its surrounding genes. These results could also be used to inform STI1 gene knockout experiments in mice, to assess the biological importance of mammalian STI1.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Aken, Bronwen Louise
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Molecular chaperones , Proteins -- Analysis , Heat shock proteins , Bioinformatics , Genetics -- Data processing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:3990 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004049 , Molecular chaperones , Proteins -- Analysis , Heat shock proteins , Bioinformatics , Genetics -- Data processing
- Description: Stress-inducible protein 1 (Sti1) is a 60 kDa eukaryotic protein that is important under stress and non-stress conditions. Human Sti1 is also known as the Hsp70/Hsp90 organising protein (Hop) that coordinates the functional cooperation of heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) and heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) during the folding of various transcription factors and kinases, including certain oncogenic proteins and prion proteins. Limited studies have been conducted on the STI1 gene structure. Thus, the aim of this study was to develop a comprehensive description of human STI1 (hSTI1), mouse STI1 (mSTI1), and yeast STI1 (ySTI1) genes, using a bioinformatic approach. Genes encoded near the STI1 loci were identified for the three organisms using National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) MapViewer and the Saccharomyces Genome Database. Exon/intron boundaries were predicted using Hidden Markov model gene prediction software (HMMGene) and Genscan, and by alignment of the mRNA sequence with the genomic DNA sequence. Transcription factor binding sites (TFBS) were predicted by scanning the region 1000 base pairs (bp) upstream of the STI1 orthologues’ transcription start site (TSS) with Alibaba, Transcription element search software (TESS) and Transcription factor search (TFSearch). The promoter region was defined by comparing the number, type and position of TFBS across the orthologous STI1 genes. Additional putative TFBS were identified for ySTI1 by searching with software that aligns nucleic acid conserved elements (AlignACE) for over-represented motifs in the region upstream of the TSS of genes thought to be co-regulated with ySTI1. This study showed that hSTI1 and mSTI1 occur in a region of synteny with a number of genes of related function. Both hSTI1 and mSTI1 comprised 14 putative exons, while ySTI1 was encoded on a single exon. Human and mouse STI1 shared a perfectly conserved 55 bp region spanning their predicted TSS, although their TATA boxes were not conserved. A putative CpG island was identified in the region from -500 to +100 bp relative to the hSTI1 and mSTI1 TSS. This region overlapped with a region of high TFBS density, suggesting that the core promoter region was located in the region approximately 100 to 200 bp upstream of the TSS. Several conserved clusters of TFBS were also identified upstream of this promoter region, including binding sites for stimulatory protein 1 (Sp1), heat shock factor (HSF), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB), and the cAMP/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP). Microarray data suggested that ySTI1 was co-regulated with several heat shock proteins and substrates of the Hsp70/Hsp90 heterocomplex, and several putative regulatory elements were identified in the upstream region of these co-regulated genes, including a motif for HSF binding. The results of this research suggest several avenues of future experimental work, including the confirmation of the proposed core promoter, upstream regulatory elements, and CpG island, and the investigation into the co-regulation of mammalian STI1 with its surrounding genes. These results could also be used to inform STI1 gene knockout experiments in mice, to assess the biological importance of mammalian STI1.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
Agroforestry tree products (AFTPs): Targeting poverty reduction and enhanced livelihoods
- Leakey, Roger R, Tchoundjeu, Zac, Schreckenberg, Kate, Shackleton, Sheona E, Shackleton, Charlie M
- Authors: Leakey, Roger R , Tchoundjeu, Zac , Schreckenberg, Kate , Shackleton, Sheona E , Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/182136 , vital:43803 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1080/14735903.2005.9684741"
- Description: Agroforestry tree domestication emerged as a farmer-driven, market-led process in the early 1990s and became an international initiative. A participatory approach now supplements the more traditional aspects of tree improvement, and is seen as an important strategy towards the Millennium Development Goals of eradicating poverty and hunger, promoting social equity and environmental sustainability. Considerable progress has been made towards the domestication of indigenous fruits and nuts in many villages in Cameroon and Nigeria. Vegetatively-propagated cultivars based on a sound knowledge of ‘ideotypes’ derived from an understanding of the tree-to-tree variation in many commercially important traits are being developed by farmers. These are being integrated into polycultural farming systems, especially the cocoa agroforests. Markets for Agroforestry Tree Products (AFTPs) are crucial for the adoption of agroforestry on a scale to have meaningful economic, social and environmental impacts. Important lessons have been learned in southern Africa from detailed studies of the commercialization of AFTPs. These provide support for the wider acceptance of the role of domesticating indigenous trees in the promotion of enhanced livelihoods for poor farmers in the tropics. Policy guidelines have been developed in support of this sustainable rural development as an alternative strategy to those proposed in many other major development and conservation fora.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Leakey, Roger R , Tchoundjeu, Zac , Schreckenberg, Kate , Shackleton, Sheona E , Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/182136 , vital:43803 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1080/14735903.2005.9684741"
- Description: Agroforestry tree domestication emerged as a farmer-driven, market-led process in the early 1990s and became an international initiative. A participatory approach now supplements the more traditional aspects of tree improvement, and is seen as an important strategy towards the Millennium Development Goals of eradicating poverty and hunger, promoting social equity and environmental sustainability. Considerable progress has been made towards the domestication of indigenous fruits and nuts in many villages in Cameroon and Nigeria. Vegetatively-propagated cultivars based on a sound knowledge of ‘ideotypes’ derived from an understanding of the tree-to-tree variation in many commercially important traits are being developed by farmers. These are being integrated into polycultural farming systems, especially the cocoa agroforests. Markets for Agroforestry Tree Products (AFTPs) are crucial for the adoption of agroforestry on a scale to have meaningful economic, social and environmental impacts. Important lessons have been learned in southern Africa from detailed studies of the commercialization of AFTPs. These provide support for the wider acceptance of the role of domesticating indigenous trees in the promotion of enhanced livelihoods for poor farmers in the tropics. Policy guidelines have been developed in support of this sustainable rural development as an alternative strategy to those proposed in many other major development and conservation fora.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
A hermeneutic description of a therapeutic interview using reader response concepts from literary theory
- Odendaal, Dirk Hermanus, 1954-
- Authors: Odendaal, Dirk Hermanus, 1954-
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Psychotherapy , Hermeneutics , Narrative therapy , Reading, Psychology of , Reader-response criticism , Psychology and literature
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:3168 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007749
- Description: Certain approaches in the discipline Psychology, use the term narrative to describe how they work. Upon investigation one finds that the term narrative is seldom informed from Literary Theory, the background from which it originated. Instead, other disciplines that were also influenced by Literary Theory are invariably used as a means of cross fertilisation, e.g. the work of Geertz from an anthropologist background. Therapists make use of techniques described in the theories in an attempt to come to an understanding of the interactions in the therapy session. Some of the later theories emanating from Literary Theory appear to very useful for opening new ways of research in psychology, especially because some of them already come from an interdisciplinary background. This research attempts to identify useful theories and then apply them within a hermeneutical background in a therapeutical session. Theoretical work on ambiguity, recent research on foregrounding and defamiliarization and also the research in psychonarratology appear to be eminently useful for coming to a deeper understanding of the processes that take place in a therapeutic environment. It is thought that these theories could be of use because they have been 'tested' against the experiences of real readers reading texts. As novels differ from reports and washing lists, therapeutic settings differ from discussions. A novel is a cultivated variant of a report, and a therapeutic conversation is a cultivated version of a chat. These theories then, were applied to a real therapeutic session. The therapists who participated were interviewed on the session and on their reactions to certain 'readings' made by them during the session. The purpose of the interview was to obtain an understanding of their interpretation of what had happened during that session. The questions, reactions, observations and reflections of the session constitute the text of this research. The generated text was then reread from the perspective of each of the theories. The data was collected and interpreted. The interpretation focusses on the therapists 'reading' or understanding of the session and in the process, leads the therapists and researcher to further levels of understanding. In conclusion, it was found that the theories were indeed useful as they were able to point out how certain stylistics of language and situation in the therapeutic session had led to hermeneutic or interpretive processes and also how these processes were perceived or experienced on reflection by the therapists.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Odendaal, Dirk Hermanus, 1954-
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Psychotherapy , Hermeneutics , Narrative therapy , Reading, Psychology of , Reader-response criticism , Psychology and literature
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:3168 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007749
- Description: Certain approaches in the discipline Psychology, use the term narrative to describe how they work. Upon investigation one finds that the term narrative is seldom informed from Literary Theory, the background from which it originated. Instead, other disciplines that were also influenced by Literary Theory are invariably used as a means of cross fertilisation, e.g. the work of Geertz from an anthropologist background. Therapists make use of techniques described in the theories in an attempt to come to an understanding of the interactions in the therapy session. Some of the later theories emanating from Literary Theory appear to very useful for opening new ways of research in psychology, especially because some of them already come from an interdisciplinary background. This research attempts to identify useful theories and then apply them within a hermeneutical background in a therapeutical session. Theoretical work on ambiguity, recent research on foregrounding and defamiliarization and also the research in psychonarratology appear to be eminently useful for coming to a deeper understanding of the processes that take place in a therapeutic environment. It is thought that these theories could be of use because they have been 'tested' against the experiences of real readers reading texts. As novels differ from reports and washing lists, therapeutic settings differ from discussions. A novel is a cultivated variant of a report, and a therapeutic conversation is a cultivated version of a chat. These theories then, were applied to a real therapeutic session. The therapists who participated were interviewed on the session and on their reactions to certain 'readings' made by them during the session. The purpose of the interview was to obtain an understanding of their interpretation of what had happened during that session. The questions, reactions, observations and reflections of the session constitute the text of this research. The generated text was then reread from the perspective of each of the theories. The data was collected and interpreted. The interpretation focusses on the therapists 'reading' or understanding of the session and in the process, leads the therapists and researcher to further levels of understanding. In conclusion, it was found that the theories were indeed useful as they were able to point out how certain stylistics of language and situation in the therapeutic session had led to hermeneutic or interpretive processes and also how these processes were perceived or experienced on reflection by the therapists.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
Reproductive biology of a riverine cyprinid, Labeo umbratus (Teleostei: Cyprinidae), in small South African reservoirs
- Potts, Warren M, Booth, Anthony J, Hecht, Thomas, Andrew, Timothy G
- Authors: Potts, Warren M , Booth, Anthony J , Hecht, Thomas , Andrew, Timothy G
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/125854 , vital:35826 , https://doi.10.2989/16085910509503849
- Description: The reproductive and recruitment characteristics of moggel, Labeo umbratus, populations were examined in four small South African reservoirs. Reproduction, characterised by an extended spawning season, high fecundity, short incubation time and rapid larval development, appears to be ideally suited to the highly variable environment of small reservoirs. Evidence suggested that L. umbratus spawns in the reservoirs. In two reservoirs where samples were conducted monthly, GSI (gonado-somatic index) was positively correlated with both water temperature and day length, whilst the CPUE (catch per unit effort) of juveniles was not related to any environmental variable. The success of moggel spawning appeared to increase when there was early spring and consistent summer rainfall.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Potts, Warren M , Booth, Anthony J , Hecht, Thomas , Andrew, Timothy G
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/125854 , vital:35826 , https://doi.10.2989/16085910509503849
- Description: The reproductive and recruitment characteristics of moggel, Labeo umbratus, populations were examined in four small South African reservoirs. Reproduction, characterised by an extended spawning season, high fecundity, short incubation time and rapid larval development, appears to be ideally suited to the highly variable environment of small reservoirs. Evidence suggested that L. umbratus spawns in the reservoirs. In two reservoirs where samples were conducted monthly, GSI (gonado-somatic index) was positively correlated with both water temperature and day length, whilst the CPUE (catch per unit effort) of juveniles was not related to any environmental variable. The success of moggel spawning appeared to increase when there was early spring and consistent summer rainfall.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
The feeding ecology and habitat use of lions reintroduced to small, enclosed reserves in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
- Authors: Rapson, Jackie Anne
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Lion -- Food -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Lion -- Behavior -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Predation (Biology) , Lion -- Nutrition
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5938 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018268
- Description: Lions have recently been introduced to a number of small (<300km²), enclosed reserves in the Eastern Cape Province as a draw-card for tourists. However, there have been few studies of lion behaviour or predator prey interactions within small reserves. Thus the aim of this study is to contribute towards a better understanding of the effects of space on diet and habitat use of re-introduced lions. The research was conducted at two small private reserves, Shamwari and Kwandwe. Kills were mostly large (55%, >120kg), adult (41%) and male (39%) and the five most commonly killed species (kudu, black wildebeest, warthog, bushbuck and Blesbuck) comprised 67.9% of all kills and 67.8% of total biomass consumed. In an attempt to overcome the problem of gaps in the kill lists, a subset of data, which excluded kills more than five days apart, was analyzed and this gave similar results to analysis of the full kill lists. Mean daily intake rates varied annually between 2.26 and 5.23kg.FEQ⁻¹ for the full data set and 4.53 and 1 0.46kg.FEQ⁻¹ for the subset. The difference between estimated (calculated using daily intake rates of 5 and 7.12kg.FEQ⁻¹) and observed offtake for each ungulate species reflected the preference ratings for that species. Analysis of bone marrow indicated that: lions killed ungulates in moderate to good condition; condition of culled animals was lower than that of kills; distal bones could be used in analyses; and that that bones exposed to the environment for at least a week could be used to analyze condition of prey. Home ranges and activity centers ranged from 21.42km² to 73.27km² and 2.7lkm² to 17.47km² respectively, which was smaller than expected from previous studies. Although, lions at K wandwe and Shan1wari preferred different vegetation types, at both reserves they generally occupied areas that were structurally similar to what has previously been reported. Continuous monitoring and analyses of diet, including condition of the prey, and habitat use will provide reserve managers with some of the necessary information to enable them to effectively manage their lion populations and to predict and minimize potential problems.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Rapson, Jackie Anne
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Lion -- Food -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Lion -- Behavior -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Predation (Biology) , Lion -- Nutrition
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5938 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018268
- Description: Lions have recently been introduced to a number of small (<300km²), enclosed reserves in the Eastern Cape Province as a draw-card for tourists. However, there have been few studies of lion behaviour or predator prey interactions within small reserves. Thus the aim of this study is to contribute towards a better understanding of the effects of space on diet and habitat use of re-introduced lions. The research was conducted at two small private reserves, Shamwari and Kwandwe. Kills were mostly large (55%, >120kg), adult (41%) and male (39%) and the five most commonly killed species (kudu, black wildebeest, warthog, bushbuck and Blesbuck) comprised 67.9% of all kills and 67.8% of total biomass consumed. In an attempt to overcome the problem of gaps in the kill lists, a subset of data, which excluded kills more than five days apart, was analyzed and this gave similar results to analysis of the full kill lists. Mean daily intake rates varied annually between 2.26 and 5.23kg.FEQ⁻¹ for the full data set and 4.53 and 1 0.46kg.FEQ⁻¹ for the subset. The difference between estimated (calculated using daily intake rates of 5 and 7.12kg.FEQ⁻¹) and observed offtake for each ungulate species reflected the preference ratings for that species. Analysis of bone marrow indicated that: lions killed ungulates in moderate to good condition; condition of culled animals was lower than that of kills; distal bones could be used in analyses; and that that bones exposed to the environment for at least a week could be used to analyze condition of prey. Home ranges and activity centers ranged from 21.42km² to 73.27km² and 2.7lkm² to 17.47km² respectively, which was smaller than expected from previous studies. Although, lions at K wandwe and Shan1wari preferred different vegetation types, at both reserves they generally occupied areas that were structurally similar to what has previously been reported. Continuous monitoring and analyses of diet, including condition of the prey, and habitat use will provide reserve managers with some of the necessary information to enable them to effectively manage their lion populations and to predict and minimize potential problems.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
Development of an experimental system to investigate the interaction between the Helicoverpa armigera stunt virus capsid protein and viral RNA
- Authors: Nel, Andrew James Mascré
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Helicoverpa armigera , RNA viruses
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:3946 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004005 , Helicoverpa armigera , RNA viruses
- Description: Tetraviruses are entomopathogenic viruses that propagate solely in lepidopteran hosts. Viruses of this group possess non-enveloped 38- to 40-nm capsids arranged in T = 4 surface symmetry. The viral genome consists of one or two single stranded positive sense RNA strands, which define the two genera of this family, the monopartite betatetraviruses and the bipartite omegatetraviruses. Two extensively studied members of the tetraviruses are the omegatetraviruses, Helicoverpa armigera stunt virus (HaSV) and the closely related Nudaurelia capensis ω virus (NωV). The larger genomic strand of HaSV (RNA1) encodes the viral replicase, while the other (RNA2) encodes the 71-kDa capsid precursor protein (p71). The pro-capsid is assembled from 240 copies of p71, which undergo a maturation auto-catalytic cleavage into the 64-kDa (p64) capsid protein and a 7-kDa peptide (p7) forming the capsid shell. The mechanism for the recognition and packaging of the viral genome is poorly understood for these viruses. The principle objective of the research described in this study was to develop in vitro and in vivo experimental systems to investigate interactions between the N terminal domain of HaSV p71 and viral RNAs. More specifically, the two positively charged clusters of predominantly arginine residues that are conserved amongst tetraviruses and the structurally analologous nodaviruses capsid protomers’ N terminal domains were investigated. An in vitro RNA-protein “pull down” system was developed using the rapid protein purification technique of the IMPACTTM-CN system. The coding sequence of the N terminal domain of p71 was fused to that of a chitin binding affinity tag (intein). This fusion protein was used as protein bait for the viral RNA. It was proposed that if RNA interacted with the fusion protein, it would be pulled down by the mass of affinity matrix and be precipitated and fluoresce when analysed by agarose gel electrophoresis using ethidium bromide. Despite optimisation of the in vitro assay, results were affected by the interaction between the intein-tag and nucleic acids, the state of the expressed fusion protein (in particular self-cleavage) and the excessive fluorescence present on the gels. The ADH2-GAPDH yeast expression system was used to investigate the in vivo assembly of p71 containing deletions of either one or both clusters within N terminal domain. It was found that all p71 mutants were expressed with the exception of the mutant containing a deletion of the second cluster. The reasons for this still require further investigation. The expressed p71 mutants were not processed into p64 and were degraded in vivo. In addition, an experimental attempt to purify assembled p71 mutant VLPs was unsuccessful. The assembly defect of p71 mutants emphasised the significance of the clusters, which are possibly required for interaction with viral RNAs for efficient VLP assembly. The results of this study suggest that an alternative tag or in vitro RNA-protein interaction assay be used. In addition, further experiments are required to investigate whether the co-expression of full length viral RNAs are required to rescue the in vivo assembly defect of p71 mutants into VLPs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Nel, Andrew James Mascré
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Helicoverpa armigera , RNA viruses
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:3946 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004005 , Helicoverpa armigera , RNA viruses
- Description: Tetraviruses are entomopathogenic viruses that propagate solely in lepidopteran hosts. Viruses of this group possess non-enveloped 38- to 40-nm capsids arranged in T = 4 surface symmetry. The viral genome consists of one or two single stranded positive sense RNA strands, which define the two genera of this family, the monopartite betatetraviruses and the bipartite omegatetraviruses. Two extensively studied members of the tetraviruses are the omegatetraviruses, Helicoverpa armigera stunt virus (HaSV) and the closely related Nudaurelia capensis ω virus (NωV). The larger genomic strand of HaSV (RNA1) encodes the viral replicase, while the other (RNA2) encodes the 71-kDa capsid precursor protein (p71). The pro-capsid is assembled from 240 copies of p71, which undergo a maturation auto-catalytic cleavage into the 64-kDa (p64) capsid protein and a 7-kDa peptide (p7) forming the capsid shell. The mechanism for the recognition and packaging of the viral genome is poorly understood for these viruses. The principle objective of the research described in this study was to develop in vitro and in vivo experimental systems to investigate interactions between the N terminal domain of HaSV p71 and viral RNAs. More specifically, the two positively charged clusters of predominantly arginine residues that are conserved amongst tetraviruses and the structurally analologous nodaviruses capsid protomers’ N terminal domains were investigated. An in vitro RNA-protein “pull down” system was developed using the rapid protein purification technique of the IMPACTTM-CN system. The coding sequence of the N terminal domain of p71 was fused to that of a chitin binding affinity tag (intein). This fusion protein was used as protein bait for the viral RNA. It was proposed that if RNA interacted with the fusion protein, it would be pulled down by the mass of affinity matrix and be precipitated and fluoresce when analysed by agarose gel electrophoresis using ethidium bromide. Despite optimisation of the in vitro assay, results were affected by the interaction between the intein-tag and nucleic acids, the state of the expressed fusion protein (in particular self-cleavage) and the excessive fluorescence present on the gels. The ADH2-GAPDH yeast expression system was used to investigate the in vivo assembly of p71 containing deletions of either one or both clusters within N terminal domain. It was found that all p71 mutants were expressed with the exception of the mutant containing a deletion of the second cluster. The reasons for this still require further investigation. The expressed p71 mutants were not processed into p64 and were degraded in vivo. In addition, an experimental attempt to purify assembled p71 mutant VLPs was unsuccessful. The assembly defect of p71 mutants emphasised the significance of the clusters, which are possibly required for interaction with viral RNAs for efficient VLP assembly. The results of this study suggest that an alternative tag or in vitro RNA-protein interaction assay be used. In addition, further experiments are required to investigate whether the co-expression of full length viral RNAs are required to rescue the in vivo assembly defect of p71 mutants into VLPs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
The development phase of a case study of outcomes-based education assessment policy in the Human and Social Sciences learning area of C2005
- Authors: Wilmot, P Dianne
- Date: 2005
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6106 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1009735
- Description: The second phase, the 'development phase' (January to December 2003), of an ongoing research project on policy implementation with specific reference to Grade 9 of the Human and Social Sciences (HSS) learning area of C2005 is described. More specifically, a journey, in which nine History and Geography teachers at two independent schools and one university lecturer, working collaboratively as an HSS research team, navigated their way through the national curriculum and assessment policy arena, pushed the boundaries of their own practice as reflexive practitioners, and implemented the first national application of the new General Education and Training Certificate (GETC), is outlined. The article consists of three sections. The first outlines and offers critical commentary on the national policy context in which the research was located, and in which all South African educators currently work. Drawing on national and international literature, it illuminates a number of issues pertinent to national policy enactment. The second section describes the Development Phase. It outlines two areas of curriculum innovation at the two schools, namely enquiry-based learning and the development of a learning process 'map', before honing in on Grade 9 CASS. Section three describes the implementation at the two schools of the HSS Common Tasks for Assessment (CTA) in October/November 2003. The conclusion synthesises the narrative.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Wilmot, P Dianne
- Date: 2005
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6106 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1009735
- Description: The second phase, the 'development phase' (January to December 2003), of an ongoing research project on policy implementation with specific reference to Grade 9 of the Human and Social Sciences (HSS) learning area of C2005 is described. More specifically, a journey, in which nine History and Geography teachers at two independent schools and one university lecturer, working collaboratively as an HSS research team, navigated their way through the national curriculum and assessment policy arena, pushed the boundaries of their own practice as reflexive practitioners, and implemented the first national application of the new General Education and Training Certificate (GETC), is outlined. The article consists of three sections. The first outlines and offers critical commentary on the national policy context in which the research was located, and in which all South African educators currently work. Drawing on national and international literature, it illuminates a number of issues pertinent to national policy enactment. The second section describes the Development Phase. It outlines two areas of curriculum innovation at the two schools, namely enquiry-based learning and the development of a learning process 'map', before honing in on Grade 9 CASS. Section three describes the implementation at the two schools of the HSS Common Tasks for Assessment (CTA) in October/November 2003. The conclusion synthesises the narrative.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
An exploratory study of inclusion of learners with visual impairment into mainstream schools : the learners' parents' and educators' perspectives
- Authors: Ngxata, Ncediwe Gratia
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Blind -- Education -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Blind children -- Education -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Children with visual disabilities -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Mainstreaming in education -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape People with visual disabilities -- Education -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Inclusive education -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Special education -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Parents of children with disabilities -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: vital:5954 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1008096
- Description: The study explores the experiences of inclusion of learners with visual impairment into mainstream schools in Mdantsane and Duncan Village in the Eastern Cape. The learners previously attended a special school away from home for the visually impaired in Port Elizabeth. The study delves into the barriers to inclusion as identified by the parents, educators and learners. A study of this nature was essential as many learners with visual impairment, are sent away to special schools on the grounds that they are unfit to attend mainstream schools when they could do well in mainstream schools when provided with appropriate support. As inclusive education is fairly new in South Africa, studies of this kind provide the Department of Education with some understanding of what the situation is with regard to the implementation of inclusive policies. The study attempts to establish from the participants what they think inclusive education is, the reason for introducing inclusive education, the barriers to inclusive education and the kind of support required to implement inclusive education in South Africa. Data collection was through semi-structured interviews and focus groups. A sample of educators, learners and parents was selected from two high schools and one primary school. Coding was used in data reduction and analysis. The study revealed that some learners, educators and parents are not totally against inclusive education as long as they could be provided with the necessary support. The study also revealed the excitement of learners and parents about attending nearby schools which are close to their homes. However two parents and learners are not satisfied due to lack of support and would rather go back to special school. The study ends with recommendations about how inclusive education could be intensified to ensure that learners with disabilities benefit from the mainstream schools. There is no doubt that this research study will be a strong contribution towards inclusive education initiatives particularly with regard to learners with visual impairment in the Eastern Cape Province.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Ngxata, Ncediwe Gratia
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Blind -- Education -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Blind children -- Education -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Children with visual disabilities -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Mainstreaming in education -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape People with visual disabilities -- Education -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Inclusive education -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Special education -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Parents of children with disabilities -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: vital:5954 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1008096
- Description: The study explores the experiences of inclusion of learners with visual impairment into mainstream schools in Mdantsane and Duncan Village in the Eastern Cape. The learners previously attended a special school away from home for the visually impaired in Port Elizabeth. The study delves into the barriers to inclusion as identified by the parents, educators and learners. A study of this nature was essential as many learners with visual impairment, are sent away to special schools on the grounds that they are unfit to attend mainstream schools when they could do well in mainstream schools when provided with appropriate support. As inclusive education is fairly new in South Africa, studies of this kind provide the Department of Education with some understanding of what the situation is with regard to the implementation of inclusive policies. The study attempts to establish from the participants what they think inclusive education is, the reason for introducing inclusive education, the barriers to inclusive education and the kind of support required to implement inclusive education in South Africa. Data collection was through semi-structured interviews and focus groups. A sample of educators, learners and parents was selected from two high schools and one primary school. Coding was used in data reduction and analysis. The study revealed that some learners, educators and parents are not totally against inclusive education as long as they could be provided with the necessary support. The study also revealed the excitement of learners and parents about attending nearby schools which are close to their homes. However two parents and learners are not satisfied due to lack of support and would rather go back to special school. The study ends with recommendations about how inclusive education could be intensified to ensure that learners with disabilities benefit from the mainstream schools. There is no doubt that this research study will be a strong contribution towards inclusive education initiatives particularly with regard to learners with visual impairment in the Eastern Cape Province.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
Talk radio and public debate : a case study of three Ugandan radio stations
- Authors: Ogoso, Erich Opolot
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Radio stations -- Uganda , Radio broadcasting -- Social aspects -- Uganda , Radio broadcasting -- Political aspects -- Uganda , Radio talk shows -- Uganda , Interviewing on radio -- Uganda
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3514 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007723 , Radio stations -- Uganda , Radio broadcasting -- Social aspects -- Uganda , Radio broadcasting -- Political aspects -- Uganda , Radio talk shows -- Uganda , Interviewing on radio -- Uganda
- Description: This study is a comparative examination of approaches to talk radio as a genre on three Ugandan radio stations. The aim is to draw conclusions, from observations made about these stations, about the potential of talk radio to encourage public debate around social issues and improve democratic participation despite pertinent challenges in Uganda. The study first outlines a theoretical framework, which is informed by Habermas's theory of the media as a 'public sphere'. This framework is applied to an exploration of traditions of talk radio that have emerged globally in order to assess the potential of these traditions to play a role in contributing to the establishment of such a 'public sphere'. The study then goes on to discuss the historical development of radio in Uganda and the establishment of the current broadcast landscape. The focus is on the way in which this history has been defined by a struggle around public expression, in which government has repeatedly sought ways to control media as a vehicle for public expression. It is proposed that Ugandan talk radio has the potential to play an important role in ensuring broad participation in public expression. It is against this background that the study then describes and analyses the development of the talk genre at three Ugandan radio stations (each one an example of, respectively, a commercial, community and public service station). It is explained that staff on all three stations emphasise the importance of talk radio in encouraging participation, by their audiences, in the public debate of social and political issues. It is argued that, because of limitations that exist within these stations, none of the talk show teams fully realize the potential of the genre for participation in such debate. The picture that emerges is one of unequal access, with those sections of radio audiences in positions of privilege being further empowered, while those on the margins remain excluded from public discussion. The study finally recommends ways to improve public participation on Ugandan talk radio, noting the need to review government support, the problems of organizational culture within the stations, the need for more guidelines on practical arrangements around talk show production and the question of contradictions that exist at policy level.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Ogoso, Erich Opolot
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Radio stations -- Uganda , Radio broadcasting -- Social aspects -- Uganda , Radio broadcasting -- Political aspects -- Uganda , Radio talk shows -- Uganda , Interviewing on radio -- Uganda
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3514 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007723 , Radio stations -- Uganda , Radio broadcasting -- Social aspects -- Uganda , Radio broadcasting -- Political aspects -- Uganda , Radio talk shows -- Uganda , Interviewing on radio -- Uganda
- Description: This study is a comparative examination of approaches to talk radio as a genre on three Ugandan radio stations. The aim is to draw conclusions, from observations made about these stations, about the potential of talk radio to encourage public debate around social issues and improve democratic participation despite pertinent challenges in Uganda. The study first outlines a theoretical framework, which is informed by Habermas's theory of the media as a 'public sphere'. This framework is applied to an exploration of traditions of talk radio that have emerged globally in order to assess the potential of these traditions to play a role in contributing to the establishment of such a 'public sphere'. The study then goes on to discuss the historical development of radio in Uganda and the establishment of the current broadcast landscape. The focus is on the way in which this history has been defined by a struggle around public expression, in which government has repeatedly sought ways to control media as a vehicle for public expression. It is proposed that Ugandan talk radio has the potential to play an important role in ensuring broad participation in public expression. It is against this background that the study then describes and analyses the development of the talk genre at three Ugandan radio stations (each one an example of, respectively, a commercial, community and public service station). It is explained that staff on all three stations emphasise the importance of talk radio in encouraging participation, by their audiences, in the public debate of social and political issues. It is argued that, because of limitations that exist within these stations, none of the talk show teams fully realize the potential of the genre for participation in such debate. The picture that emerges is one of unequal access, with those sections of radio audiences in positions of privilege being further empowered, while those on the margins remain excluded from public discussion. The study finally recommends ways to improve public participation on Ugandan talk radio, noting the need to review government support, the problems of organizational culture within the stations, the need for more guidelines on practical arrangements around talk show production and the question of contradictions that exist at policy level.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005