Effect of livestock management and services to ecosystems on rangeland health and resilience in the NamaKaroo
- Authors: Boshoff, Mishak
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Livestock – Management --South Africa—Karoo , Range ecology
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60611 , vital:66017
- Description: Rangelands offer great opportunities for mutualisms between nature conservation and economic productivity if positive feedback loops can be identified and described. The effects of different livestock management practices are controversial. This research examined the effect of different grazing intensities on soil health using springtails (Collembola) and ants (Formicidae) as bioindicators, combined with soil and vegetation variables. The relationship between rangeland managers and rangeland ecosystems, particularly with regard to feedback loops between land care and economic production, was also investigated. Bioindicator samples were collected at different treatments of livestock grazing intensity and a questionnaire was submitted to 65 rangeland managers in the semi-arid Nama-Karoo biome of South Africa. In most cases we found no significant relationship between grazing intensity and Collembola and ant community composition, vegetation variables, and soil variables. The few significant relationships we found were contradictory in their implications for the effect of high intensity grazing on soil health. The results suggested that differences in livestock management are relatively unimportant for soil health, at least in semi-arid systems under conditions immediately following a drought. The questionnaire yielded results on outline of management practices, basis of management decisions, consequences of monitoring veld to inform management decisions, and indicators of successful management. Respondents characterized by higher ecological fluency focused on livestock production when making management decisions, stocked at higher densities, and monitored the rangeland ecosystem to inform their decisions. For monitoring the ecosystem, they used bioindicators such as diversity of biota, successional stage, and ecologically important functional groups. We concluded that the development of ecological knowledge in rangeland managers enables the establishment of feedback loops between ecosystem services and services to ecosystems, which are desirable for economic productivity and nature conservation. Development of relevant ecological knowledge and management techniques should be based on forums and dialogue among rangeland managers, developing distributed cognition and resilience in the community of rangeland managers. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School Natural Resource Science and Management, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
- Authors: Boshoff, Mishak
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Livestock – Management --South Africa—Karoo , Range ecology
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60611 , vital:66017
- Description: Rangelands offer great opportunities for mutualisms between nature conservation and economic productivity if positive feedback loops can be identified and described. The effects of different livestock management practices are controversial. This research examined the effect of different grazing intensities on soil health using springtails (Collembola) and ants (Formicidae) as bioindicators, combined with soil and vegetation variables. The relationship between rangeland managers and rangeland ecosystems, particularly with regard to feedback loops between land care and economic production, was also investigated. Bioindicator samples were collected at different treatments of livestock grazing intensity and a questionnaire was submitted to 65 rangeland managers in the semi-arid Nama-Karoo biome of South Africa. In most cases we found no significant relationship between grazing intensity and Collembola and ant community composition, vegetation variables, and soil variables. The few significant relationships we found were contradictory in their implications for the effect of high intensity grazing on soil health. The results suggested that differences in livestock management are relatively unimportant for soil health, at least in semi-arid systems under conditions immediately following a drought. The questionnaire yielded results on outline of management practices, basis of management decisions, consequences of monitoring veld to inform management decisions, and indicators of successful management. Respondents characterized by higher ecological fluency focused on livestock production when making management decisions, stocked at higher densities, and monitored the rangeland ecosystem to inform their decisions. For monitoring the ecosystem, they used bioindicators such as diversity of biota, successional stage, and ecologically important functional groups. We concluded that the development of ecological knowledge in rangeland managers enables the establishment of feedback loops between ecosystem services and services to ecosystems, which are desirable for economic productivity and nature conservation. Development of relevant ecological knowledge and management techniques should be based on forums and dialogue among rangeland managers, developing distributed cognition and resilience in the community of rangeland managers. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School Natural Resource Science and Management, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
Efficacy of recapitalisation and development programme: A comparative study of the citrus farms in Amathole district
- Authors: Ndema, Thenjiwe
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Land reform , Development policy
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/62227 , vital:72019
- Description: The majority of the land reform beneficiaries have remained poor, with some being worse off than before. Despite the various government initiatives to address issues of food insecurity and poverty alleviation, there has been slow progress in terms of producing enough food to ensure local and national food security. In South Africa, the Recapitalisation and Development Programme (RECAP) was initiated to alleviate the challenges faced by land redistribution and restitution recipient farmers such as inadequate post-settlement support to increase farms production output in order for them to become successful commercial farms. Several farmers have benefitted from this programme and the have been able to increase production output while others are still struggling, or worse showing zero output. These mixed outcomes call into question the efficacy of RECAP and the need to understand why some farmers are successful while others are not. This study adopted a qualitative comparative case study approach of six RECAP beneficiary citrus farms located in the Amathole District of the Eastern Cape as well as their respective strategic partner and mentors. The findings of the study were analysed with the employ of reflexive thematic analysis. The study found that RECAP recipient citrus producers in Amathole have experienced varying degrees of success with access to finance being the key obstacle to success. Significantly, the study found that the challenges around finance do not relate primarily to the purchase of inputs to production, as was the previous understanding, but rather relate to the securing of title deeds and having a history of receiving finance which combined allow farmers to access additional finance when needed. The findings of this study have practical implications for policymakers as land reform and food security remain key Development challenges in South Africa that have been exacerbated by climate change. , Thesis (Ma) -- Faculty of Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
- Authors: Ndema, Thenjiwe
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Land reform , Development policy
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/62227 , vital:72019
- Description: The majority of the land reform beneficiaries have remained poor, with some being worse off than before. Despite the various government initiatives to address issues of food insecurity and poverty alleviation, there has been slow progress in terms of producing enough food to ensure local and national food security. In South Africa, the Recapitalisation and Development Programme (RECAP) was initiated to alleviate the challenges faced by land redistribution and restitution recipient farmers such as inadequate post-settlement support to increase farms production output in order for them to become successful commercial farms. Several farmers have benefitted from this programme and the have been able to increase production output while others are still struggling, or worse showing zero output. These mixed outcomes call into question the efficacy of RECAP and the need to understand why some farmers are successful while others are not. This study adopted a qualitative comparative case study approach of six RECAP beneficiary citrus farms located in the Amathole District of the Eastern Cape as well as their respective strategic partner and mentors. The findings of the study were analysed with the employ of reflexive thematic analysis. The study found that RECAP recipient citrus producers in Amathole have experienced varying degrees of success with access to finance being the key obstacle to success. Significantly, the study found that the challenges around finance do not relate primarily to the purchase of inputs to production, as was the previous understanding, but rather relate to the securing of title deeds and having a history of receiving finance which combined allow farmers to access additional finance when needed. The findings of this study have practical implications for policymakers as land reform and food security remain key Development challenges in South Africa that have been exacerbated by climate change. , Thesis (Ma) -- Faculty of Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
Evaluating provisioning and cultural ecosystem services in two contracting estuaries in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape
- Authors: Booi Siphesihle
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: estuaries -- Gqeberha , ecosystem services , Economic value added
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60982 , vital:69585
- Description: Estuaries are notable for their biodiversity, productive and invertible fisheries, and significant capacities. This study assesses the economic value of the Swartkops and Sundays estuaries in Algoa Bay, Gqeberha, to estuary users and local communities1 . The data was collected from December 2021 to April 2022, during the summer and autumn seasons. The seasons are considered peak times; however, international travel was restricted during Covid-19 level one lockdown. The study employs both the Travel Cost method and the Choice experiment method. Based on the findings, anglers and bait collectors in Swartkops Estuary sell their catches for an average of R77.41. The majority of these anglers and bait collectors earn between R0 and R1 583 per month and rely on catch and bait for a living, with the majority of participants benefiting from provisioning ecosystem service. Sundays estuary users, on the other hand, primarily use the estuary for recreational purposes. Anglers visiting Swartkops and Sundays estuaries spend R4 709 128 and R2 203 158 annually on food and beverages, fuel/transport costs, bait. This contributes R7 534 572.67 and R3 525 052.18 to the local economy in Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality based on the multiplier. The study emphasizes the importance of estuary management and monitoring to preserve and protect them for future generations. The primary issue is to extract resources from the Swartkops and Sundays estuaries in a sustainable manner while also protecting them. Estuaries can help grow the economy if managed well and used in a sustainable way. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Science, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
- Authors: Booi Siphesihle
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: estuaries -- Gqeberha , ecosystem services , Economic value added
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60982 , vital:69585
- Description: Estuaries are notable for their biodiversity, productive and invertible fisheries, and significant capacities. This study assesses the economic value of the Swartkops and Sundays estuaries in Algoa Bay, Gqeberha, to estuary users and local communities1 . The data was collected from December 2021 to April 2022, during the summer and autumn seasons. The seasons are considered peak times; however, international travel was restricted during Covid-19 level one lockdown. The study employs both the Travel Cost method and the Choice experiment method. Based on the findings, anglers and bait collectors in Swartkops Estuary sell their catches for an average of R77.41. The majority of these anglers and bait collectors earn between R0 and R1 583 per month and rely on catch and bait for a living, with the majority of participants benefiting from provisioning ecosystem service. Sundays estuary users, on the other hand, primarily use the estuary for recreational purposes. Anglers visiting Swartkops and Sundays estuaries spend R4 709 128 and R2 203 158 annually on food and beverages, fuel/transport costs, bait. This contributes R7 534 572.67 and R3 525 052.18 to the local economy in Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality based on the multiplier. The study emphasizes the importance of estuary management and monitoring to preserve and protect them for future generations. The primary issue is to extract resources from the Swartkops and Sundays estuaries in a sustainable manner while also protecting them. Estuaries can help grow the economy if managed well and used in a sustainable way. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Science, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
Evaluation of the toxicity of secondary metabolites in Solanum incanum L. to advance community knowledge
- Authors: Zivanayi, William
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Solanum -- Zimbabwe , Pesticides -- Toxicology , Medicinal plants
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/61018 , vital:69686
- Description: The effects of pests and the need to produce adequate food have influenced small-scale farmers in disadvantaged communities to adopt and utilise natural plant pesticides to improve harvests in many Southern African Development Communities. However, the phytochemistry associated with these indigenous plants’ pesticide activity still needs to be explored. The lack of evidence of scientific knowledge of the plant species has caused a lot of health issues among the users of indigenous plant pesticides. Solanum incanum is among the plants utilised to control cabbage aphids in Mkoba village, Zimbabwe. Solanum species are known for their steroidal compounds which comprise glycoalkaloids and saponins. This study evaluated the knowledge, opinions, and attitudes of the vegetable peasant farming community in Gweru regarding their use of the indigenous plant (S. incanum) as a pesticide. The study also reported the phytochemical profiling, structural characterisation of the isolated compounds, and biological and pesticidal activity evaluation of phytochemicals isolated from S. incanum. A descriptive survey was carried out to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices of a conveniently sampled group of vegetable farmers in Mkoba village who use S. incanum as a pesticide. Forty-nine respondents comprised of 19 males and 30 females of ages ranging from 15 to above 60 years took part in the study by answering an open and closed-ended questionnaire. The survey revealed that parents and neighbours were instrumental in disseminating pesticidal information in the community. Brassica napus were the most grown.vegetable and vulnerable to cabbage aphids. Mixed opinions amongst the respondents varied regarding the health and environmental impact of S. incanum as a pesticide. Seventy-five percent (75%) of the respondents supported the use of S. incanum as a pesticide whilst 25% claimed that the use of S. incanum was the source of the health problems experienced in the community. The survey demonstrated that (45)91% of the farmers displayed poor practices regarding the disposal of empty pesticide containers and the use of personal protective clothing. The most prevalent symptoms in the community were skin rash, nausea, headache, and poor vision and these symptoms were common in the age group 30 to 60 years. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, School of biomolecular and Chemical Sciences, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
- Authors: Zivanayi, William
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Solanum -- Zimbabwe , Pesticides -- Toxicology , Medicinal plants
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/61018 , vital:69686
- Description: The effects of pests and the need to produce adequate food have influenced small-scale farmers in disadvantaged communities to adopt and utilise natural plant pesticides to improve harvests in many Southern African Development Communities. However, the phytochemistry associated with these indigenous plants’ pesticide activity still needs to be explored. The lack of evidence of scientific knowledge of the plant species has caused a lot of health issues among the users of indigenous plant pesticides. Solanum incanum is among the plants utilised to control cabbage aphids in Mkoba village, Zimbabwe. Solanum species are known for their steroidal compounds which comprise glycoalkaloids and saponins. This study evaluated the knowledge, opinions, and attitudes of the vegetable peasant farming community in Gweru regarding their use of the indigenous plant (S. incanum) as a pesticide. The study also reported the phytochemical profiling, structural characterisation of the isolated compounds, and biological and pesticidal activity evaluation of phytochemicals isolated from S. incanum. A descriptive survey was carried out to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices of a conveniently sampled group of vegetable farmers in Mkoba village who use S. incanum as a pesticide. Forty-nine respondents comprised of 19 males and 30 females of ages ranging from 15 to above 60 years took part in the study by answering an open and closed-ended questionnaire. The survey revealed that parents and neighbours were instrumental in disseminating pesticidal information in the community. Brassica napus were the most grown.vegetable and vulnerable to cabbage aphids. Mixed opinions amongst the respondents varied regarding the health and environmental impact of S. incanum as a pesticide. Seventy-five percent (75%) of the respondents supported the use of S. incanum as a pesticide whilst 25% claimed that the use of S. incanum was the source of the health problems experienced in the community. The survey demonstrated that (45)91% of the farmers displayed poor practices regarding the disposal of empty pesticide containers and the use of personal protective clothing. The most prevalent symptoms in the community were skin rash, nausea, headache, and poor vision and these symptoms were common in the age group 30 to 60 years. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, School of biomolecular and Chemical Sciences, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
Experiences of youths participating in combination social protection and HIV prevention programme in resource constrained settings of Gauteng Province in South Africa: a collective case study design
- Authors: Zibengwa, Enock
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: HIV infections -- Prevention , HIV (Viruses) , HIV infections -- Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/27347 , vital:66944
- Description: South Africa continues to experience unacceptably high Human Immunodeficiency Virus HIV incidence rates among youths aged 15 to 24 years. Remarkably, this is despite the numerous youth HIV prevention programmes that have been implemented in the country. Unfortunately, the programmes have not significantly curbed the spread of HIV due to the partial and fragmented nature of their implementation. The programmes are also observed to be weak in addressing complex economic factors recognised as important structural drivers for vulnerabilities that put youths at risk of HIV infection. To address this challenge, there is increased adoption and implementation of the Combination Social Protection introduced in this research as the CSP by Non-Governmental Organisations NGOs. The CSP is a youth empowerment programming strategy whose critical foundations are entrenched in combining economic strengthening interventions and HIV prevention education. CSP could provide youths with a set of indispensable life skills that enhance their competencies and agency to make informed and effective decisions regarding their health and economic lives. Despite its growing traction, little is known regarding links between the CSP and its abilities to improve HIV prevention outcomes for youths. Given the paucity of research, this study aimed to explore the experiences of youths participating in the CSP and HIV prevention programme, with a particular focus on the resource-constrained settings of Gauteng Province in South Africa. This study employed a collective case study design, within the qualitative approach, and was exploratory. In-depth individual interviews were conducted with 30 youths from six established NGOs in the City of Johannesburg (CoJ). Qualitative thematic analysis was employed as a data analysis strategy. Focus groups were separately with six practitioners from the same six NGOs, and five officials from the Department of Social Development (DSD). Both phases of data collection were guided by interview themes, which were aligned with the objectives of the study. The findings of the study point to the fact that the CSP’s innovative and holistic approach offered numerous transformative and empowering benefits to youths. It equipped them with basic informational resources, capabilities, and social assets to safeguard their health and aid their economic advancement. The programme’s mixedgender sessions provided space, freedom, and support for youths to engage on issues of gender, differential access to health and socio-economic opportunities. Another major finding of the study was that improvement of economic aptitude (brought about by financial literacy education), employability, and entrepreneurship training stirred a sense of agency and purposefulness among youths, which in turn, prompted them to be more focused on achieving long-term objectives instead of indulging in risky sexual practices. Conversely, findings revealed that the programme had limited opportunities and did not create an adequate supportive environment for youths to develop successful entrepreneurial or income-generating projects. There was also no structure to assist youths to access apprenticeship and employment markets. The study specifically recognised that the programme’s efforts to develop youths’ entrepreneurship and employability capabilities were curtailed by a lack of mentorshipnand access to financial capital for start-up costs. With these findings in mind, recommendations are made for the creation of an enabling environment by purposefully engaging youths, establishing collaborative relations with communities, and building networks with businesses and financial institutions that can help youths with capital, mentorship, and linkages to internship and wage employment. Such collaborations could be fundamental in unravelling the impact of the programme on building livelihoods and reducing HIV among youths. Hence, this study proposes a model with strategies to support the successful implementation of economic strengthening interventions for youths. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
- Authors: Zibengwa, Enock
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: HIV infections -- Prevention , HIV (Viruses) , HIV infections -- Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/27347 , vital:66944
- Description: South Africa continues to experience unacceptably high Human Immunodeficiency Virus HIV incidence rates among youths aged 15 to 24 years. Remarkably, this is despite the numerous youth HIV prevention programmes that have been implemented in the country. Unfortunately, the programmes have not significantly curbed the spread of HIV due to the partial and fragmented nature of their implementation. The programmes are also observed to be weak in addressing complex economic factors recognised as important structural drivers for vulnerabilities that put youths at risk of HIV infection. To address this challenge, there is increased adoption and implementation of the Combination Social Protection introduced in this research as the CSP by Non-Governmental Organisations NGOs. The CSP is a youth empowerment programming strategy whose critical foundations are entrenched in combining economic strengthening interventions and HIV prevention education. CSP could provide youths with a set of indispensable life skills that enhance their competencies and agency to make informed and effective decisions regarding their health and economic lives. Despite its growing traction, little is known regarding links between the CSP and its abilities to improve HIV prevention outcomes for youths. Given the paucity of research, this study aimed to explore the experiences of youths participating in the CSP and HIV prevention programme, with a particular focus on the resource-constrained settings of Gauteng Province in South Africa. This study employed a collective case study design, within the qualitative approach, and was exploratory. In-depth individual interviews were conducted with 30 youths from six established NGOs in the City of Johannesburg (CoJ). Qualitative thematic analysis was employed as a data analysis strategy. Focus groups were separately with six practitioners from the same six NGOs, and five officials from the Department of Social Development (DSD). Both phases of data collection were guided by interview themes, which were aligned with the objectives of the study. The findings of the study point to the fact that the CSP’s innovative and holistic approach offered numerous transformative and empowering benefits to youths. It equipped them with basic informational resources, capabilities, and social assets to safeguard their health and aid their economic advancement. The programme’s mixedgender sessions provided space, freedom, and support for youths to engage on issues of gender, differential access to health and socio-economic opportunities. Another major finding of the study was that improvement of economic aptitude (brought about by financial literacy education), employability, and entrepreneurship training stirred a sense of agency and purposefulness among youths, which in turn, prompted them to be more focused on achieving long-term objectives instead of indulging in risky sexual practices. Conversely, findings revealed that the programme had limited opportunities and did not create an adequate supportive environment for youths to develop successful entrepreneurial or income-generating projects. There was also no structure to assist youths to access apprenticeship and employment markets. The study specifically recognised that the programme’s efforts to develop youths’ entrepreneurship and employability capabilities were curtailed by a lack of mentorshipnand access to financial capital for start-up costs. With these findings in mind, recommendations are made for the creation of an enabling environment by purposefully engaging youths, establishing collaborative relations with communities, and building networks with businesses and financial institutions that can help youths with capital, mentorship, and linkages to internship and wage employment. Such collaborations could be fundamental in unravelling the impact of the programme on building livelihoods and reducing HIV among youths. Hence, this study proposes a model with strategies to support the successful implementation of economic strengthening interventions for youths. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
Factors affecting pinniped skull morphology
- Authors: Penaluna, Julia Elizabeth
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: hybridisation -- South Africa , Sexual dimorphism (Animals) , Craniology
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/61306 , vital:70077
- Description: Morphologies have evolved due to trade-offs between competing selective pressures. This is especially true for the skull. Not only does it contain the brain and the organs that are responsible for sensory function, but it is also contains components that play important roles in feeding, breathing, balance, defence, aggression and communication. The pinnipeds, a group of species that has evolved from terrestrial origins and became adapted to the marine environment, are under numerous selective pressures within the marine environment. These species have had to evolve in order to capture and process food underwater, and to dive. In addition, they are also characterised by substantial sexual size dimorphism in some species. Pinnipeds also make use of numerous marine and haul-out habitats with varying characteristics and complexity. Hybridisation has been recorded among pinnipeds, resulting in the production of hybrid offspring with characteristics that are different to their parent species. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of these life history characteristics on skull and mandible morphology of pinniped species using three dimensional geometric morphometrics. To achieve this, 43 skull and 15 mandible 3D landmarks were collected using a Microscribe G2X digitizer with 0.2mm accuracy, on the skull and mandibles of 17 species of pinnipeds across three families, and one hybrid species. In total, 96 specimens across these species were examined. Data on the different life history characteristics of each species were collected from the literature. These data were plotted onto the PCA results in order to create and visually compare minimum convex polygons for each life history category. The results found that phylogeny, feeding strategy and sexual dimorphism were the most important factors in explaining differences in pinniped skull and mandible shape and size. may have resulted in these changes. Similarly, the inclusion of more species, covering a broader range of life histories may be beneficial. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Environmental Sciences, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
- Authors: Penaluna, Julia Elizabeth
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: hybridisation -- South Africa , Sexual dimorphism (Animals) , Craniology
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/61306 , vital:70077
- Description: Morphologies have evolved due to trade-offs between competing selective pressures. This is especially true for the skull. Not only does it contain the brain and the organs that are responsible for sensory function, but it is also contains components that play important roles in feeding, breathing, balance, defence, aggression and communication. The pinnipeds, a group of species that has evolved from terrestrial origins and became adapted to the marine environment, are under numerous selective pressures within the marine environment. These species have had to evolve in order to capture and process food underwater, and to dive. In addition, they are also characterised by substantial sexual size dimorphism in some species. Pinnipeds also make use of numerous marine and haul-out habitats with varying characteristics and complexity. Hybridisation has been recorded among pinnipeds, resulting in the production of hybrid offspring with characteristics that are different to their parent species. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of these life history characteristics on skull and mandible morphology of pinniped species using three dimensional geometric morphometrics. To achieve this, 43 skull and 15 mandible 3D landmarks were collected using a Microscribe G2X digitizer with 0.2mm accuracy, on the skull and mandibles of 17 species of pinnipeds across three families, and one hybrid species. In total, 96 specimens across these species were examined. Data on the different life history characteristics of each species were collected from the literature. These data were plotted onto the PCA results in order to create and visually compare minimum convex polygons for each life history category. The results found that phylogeny, feeding strategy and sexual dimorphism were the most important factors in explaining differences in pinniped skull and mandible shape and size. may have resulted in these changes. Similarly, the inclusion of more species, covering a broader range of life histories may be beneficial. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Environmental Sciences, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
Factors that contribute to an optimal omnichannel retail experience: A South African perspective
- Authors: Hopa, Tandazile
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Business planning , Consumer satisfaction
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/61339 , vital:70374
- Description: The increase in the number of channels driven by technology trajectory over the years have led to a change in customer behaviour. Customers move around different retailer platforms during a single purchase; even so customers still expect a superior and seamless customer experience while navigating these channels. The present study built on studies conducted in countries such as China, Spain, India, United Kingdom amongst others to determine if the learnings from these countries can be applied in the South African context. This study used an interpretivist phenomenological approach and interviewed a qualitative sample of participants to gain insights on their experiences while shopping in these retailers. This study will assist Information Technology managers with prioritisation of their technology roadmaps. This study will also contribute to computer science studies because programmers will have a context of a customer’s perspective when developing omnichannel solutions. Lastly, the study can be used by governments and policy makers in developing national strategic plans relating to shared economy because the study highlights the need to omnichannel retailing in remote areas. The findings from the research were summarised into five themes customer experience, convenience, product, support, and security. The optimal South African omnichannel retail experience is one that allows the customer to seamlessly move across channels by integrating the retailing mix elements of product, place, promotion, price. To achieve this experience, retailers must integrate the customer’s profile information and ensure that the customer’s payment details are secure and are able to seamlessly login in all the retailer platforms. Contrary to the researcher’s expectations, South African customers do not expect an omnichannel support. They expect to keep online support separate from in-store support. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
- Authors: Hopa, Tandazile
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Business planning , Consumer satisfaction
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/61339 , vital:70374
- Description: The increase in the number of channels driven by technology trajectory over the years have led to a change in customer behaviour. Customers move around different retailer platforms during a single purchase; even so customers still expect a superior and seamless customer experience while navigating these channels. The present study built on studies conducted in countries such as China, Spain, India, United Kingdom amongst others to determine if the learnings from these countries can be applied in the South African context. This study used an interpretivist phenomenological approach and interviewed a qualitative sample of participants to gain insights on their experiences while shopping in these retailers. This study will assist Information Technology managers with prioritisation of their technology roadmaps. This study will also contribute to computer science studies because programmers will have a context of a customer’s perspective when developing omnichannel solutions. Lastly, the study can be used by governments and policy makers in developing national strategic plans relating to shared economy because the study highlights the need to omnichannel retailing in remote areas. The findings from the research were summarised into five themes customer experience, convenience, product, support, and security. The optimal South African omnichannel retail experience is one that allows the customer to seamlessly move across channels by integrating the retailing mix elements of product, place, promotion, price. To achieve this experience, retailers must integrate the customer’s profile information and ensure that the customer’s payment details are secure and are able to seamlessly login in all the retailer platforms. Contrary to the researcher’s expectations, South African customers do not expect an omnichannel support. They expect to keep online support separate from in-store support. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
Factors that influence the success of total quality management (TGM) practices in a South African (SA) automotive organisation
- Authors: Makone, Tlangelani Sandra
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Automotive Industry , Total Quality Management
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/62113 , vital:71996
- Description: The South African automotive industry is a key driver of the economy and industrialisation of the country. The Covid-19 pandemic has had adverse effects on many industries globally. In the automotive industry, Covid-19 affected the supply chain resulting in a shortage of semi-conductors, which are essential in the microchips used in the vehicle assembly process. The delays in supply resulted in decreased production volumes and thus a decline in sales which has had an adverse effect on the economic growth of the industry. Therefore, the automotive industry must be sustainable and agile to be competitive globally. This study aimed to focus on total quality management (TQM) practices as a tool for competitive advantage. TQM is significant for sustainability, business continuity and competitive advantage. The study highlights the relevance of TQM practices in the global automotive industry and in South Africa where the study was performed. The organisations at the base of the study are multinational original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) that manufacture passenger vehicles for both local and export markets. This quantitative study investigated the relationship between leadership support, quality culture, education and training, structure and resources, and strategic quality plan as the independent variables and TQM practices as the dependent variable. A closed-ended online survey with 70 respondents was employed to collect the data from the OEMs. The findings are that there is a positive and significant correlation between the variables. Leadership support, quality culture and strategic quality planning have more influence on the success of TQM practices. Education and training, and structure and resources have a moderate influence on TQM practices. Managers in quality assurance and production in automotive organisations need to prioritise leadership support, quality culture and strategic quality planning for TQM practices to succeed. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
- Authors: Makone, Tlangelani Sandra
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Automotive Industry , Total Quality Management
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/62113 , vital:71996
- Description: The South African automotive industry is a key driver of the economy and industrialisation of the country. The Covid-19 pandemic has had adverse effects on many industries globally. In the automotive industry, Covid-19 affected the supply chain resulting in a shortage of semi-conductors, which are essential in the microchips used in the vehicle assembly process. The delays in supply resulted in decreased production volumes and thus a decline in sales which has had an adverse effect on the economic growth of the industry. Therefore, the automotive industry must be sustainable and agile to be competitive globally. This study aimed to focus on total quality management (TQM) practices as a tool for competitive advantage. TQM is significant for sustainability, business continuity and competitive advantage. The study highlights the relevance of TQM practices in the global automotive industry and in South Africa where the study was performed. The organisations at the base of the study are multinational original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) that manufacture passenger vehicles for both local and export markets. This quantitative study investigated the relationship between leadership support, quality culture, education and training, structure and resources, and strategic quality plan as the independent variables and TQM practices as the dependent variable. A closed-ended online survey with 70 respondents was employed to collect the data from the OEMs. The findings are that there is a positive and significant correlation between the variables. Leadership support, quality culture and strategic quality planning have more influence on the success of TQM practices. Education and training, and structure and resources have a moderate influence on TQM practices. Managers in quality assurance and production in automotive organisations need to prioritise leadership support, quality culture and strategic quality planning for TQM practices to succeed. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
Financial sector development, financial innovation and economic growth: case of a selected SADC countries
- Mpukumpa, Siphosethu https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7342-8751
- Authors: Mpukumpa, Siphosethu https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7342-8751
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Financial services industry -- Africa, Southern , Investments -- Africa, Southern , Economic development -- Africa, Southern
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/26852 , vital:66036
- Description: The financial sector plays a pivotal role in an economy of a country; hence the importance of financial sector development cannot be underestimated. Financial sector development is widely regarded as another conduit through which financial innovation and economic growth can be alleviated. The study firstly empirically examines the effect of financial sector development on financial innovation and also the impact of financial sector development and financial innovation on economic growth in selected Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries, employing the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) technique for the period 1990 to 2020. Empirical results revealed that financial sector development overall does have an impact on financial innovation in the selected SADC countries. And also, financial sector development together with financial innovation does have an impact on economic growth in the selected SADC countries. However, on the relationship between financial system stability, financial innovation and economic growth, results reveal that a stable financial system is beneficial to new technological advancement and improved economic growth. Therefore, the overall findings from the study indicate that financial access or financial inclusion and financial stability is what increases financial innovation and boosts economic growth instead of mere financial sector development at a broader level. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Management and Commerce, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
- Authors: Mpukumpa, Siphosethu https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7342-8751
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Financial services industry -- Africa, Southern , Investments -- Africa, Southern , Economic development -- Africa, Southern
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/26852 , vital:66036
- Description: The financial sector plays a pivotal role in an economy of a country; hence the importance of financial sector development cannot be underestimated. Financial sector development is widely regarded as another conduit through which financial innovation and economic growth can be alleviated. The study firstly empirically examines the effect of financial sector development on financial innovation and also the impact of financial sector development and financial innovation on economic growth in selected Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries, employing the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) technique for the period 1990 to 2020. Empirical results revealed that financial sector development overall does have an impact on financial innovation in the selected SADC countries. And also, financial sector development together with financial innovation does have an impact on economic growth in the selected SADC countries. However, on the relationship between financial system stability, financial innovation and economic growth, results reveal that a stable financial system is beneficial to new technological advancement and improved economic growth. Therefore, the overall findings from the study indicate that financial access or financial inclusion and financial stability is what increases financial innovation and boosts economic growth instead of mere financial sector development at a broader level. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Management and Commerce, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
Fiscal consolidation and economic growth: a comparison of South Africa and selected three OECD countries
- Mphaphuli, Zeb Junior Rabelani
- Authors: Mphaphuli, Zeb Junior Rabelani
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Fiscal consolidation , Economic growth -- South Africa , OECD countries
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/62142 , vital:72001
- Description: The study examined the relationship between fiscal consolidation and economic growth in South Africa (SA) in comparison with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. The study emphasizes the use of fiscal consolidation as a tool to stimulate economic growth and reduce the budget deficit, focusing on the reforms of public revenues and expenditures. Moreover, the study employed the panel Autoregressive Distributed Lag (PARDL) model to explore the relationship between fiscal consolidation and economic growth in SA and three OECD countries from the period 1990 - 2018. The cointegration analysis confirmed the existence of cointegration between the variables which suggested that there is a long-run relationship among the variables. As a result, both long and short run dynamic models were evaluated. The result of the study shows that fiscal consolidation positively affects economic growth in South Africa in the long run, whilst in OECD countries fiscal consolidation negatively affects economic growth, both in the short and long run. Low government debt in South Africa due to lower deficit translated to a higher economic growth whilst higher debt level in OECD countries due to higher government spending translated to higher economic growth, one of the main differences in the relationship between fiscal consolidation and economic growth in South Africa and OECD countries is their spending pattern. Majority of South Africa’s budget is spent on inefficient state-owned enterprises, which have accounted for the bulk of government contingent liabilities, resulting in high borrowing costs, which consequently lead to high borrowing cost, thus the rising central government debt as a percentage of GDP. Unlike in SA, OECD countries spend towards capital expenditure specifically in priority areas such as infrastructure, Technology, and transport hence their high debt levels result in higher economic growth. In attempt to stimulate South Africa's economic growth, it is recommended that South Africa implement effective fiscal consolidations based on expenditure adjustments rather than revenue adjustments, as expenditure adjustments are more likely to reduce deficits and debt-to-GDP ratios and are more effective. In addition, the South African fiscal stimulus package can be used to invest more in infrastructure to increase private capital accumulation and stimulate economic growth. However, South Africa must exercise caution when reducing expenditures to avoid a reduction in development spending, which could lead to a decline in unemployment. , Thesis (Ma) -- Faculty of Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
- Authors: Mphaphuli, Zeb Junior Rabelani
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Fiscal consolidation , Economic growth -- South Africa , OECD countries
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/62142 , vital:72001
- Description: The study examined the relationship between fiscal consolidation and economic growth in South Africa (SA) in comparison with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. The study emphasizes the use of fiscal consolidation as a tool to stimulate economic growth and reduce the budget deficit, focusing on the reforms of public revenues and expenditures. Moreover, the study employed the panel Autoregressive Distributed Lag (PARDL) model to explore the relationship between fiscal consolidation and economic growth in SA and three OECD countries from the period 1990 - 2018. The cointegration analysis confirmed the existence of cointegration between the variables which suggested that there is a long-run relationship among the variables. As a result, both long and short run dynamic models were evaluated. The result of the study shows that fiscal consolidation positively affects economic growth in South Africa in the long run, whilst in OECD countries fiscal consolidation negatively affects economic growth, both in the short and long run. Low government debt in South Africa due to lower deficit translated to a higher economic growth whilst higher debt level in OECD countries due to higher government spending translated to higher economic growth, one of the main differences in the relationship between fiscal consolidation and economic growth in South Africa and OECD countries is their spending pattern. Majority of South Africa’s budget is spent on inefficient state-owned enterprises, which have accounted for the bulk of government contingent liabilities, resulting in high borrowing costs, which consequently lead to high borrowing cost, thus the rising central government debt as a percentage of GDP. Unlike in SA, OECD countries spend towards capital expenditure specifically in priority areas such as infrastructure, Technology, and transport hence their high debt levels result in higher economic growth. In attempt to stimulate South Africa's economic growth, it is recommended that South Africa implement effective fiscal consolidations based on expenditure adjustments rather than revenue adjustments, as expenditure adjustments are more likely to reduce deficits and debt-to-GDP ratios and are more effective. In addition, the South African fiscal stimulus package can be used to invest more in infrastructure to increase private capital accumulation and stimulate economic growth. However, South Africa must exercise caution when reducing expenditures to avoid a reduction in development spending, which could lead to a decline in unemployment. , Thesis (Ma) -- Faculty of Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
Foreign aid and Human Development Indicators: Evidence from South Africa
- Authors: Mwimba, Inambao
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Human development indicators , Official Development Aid
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/62162 , vital:72003
- Description: The purpose of this study is to determine whether foreign aid influences the quality of life in South Africa. To do so, the study analyses the relationship between foreign aid and the human development index (HDI). HDI consists of three other indices: the index of wellbeing, the index of education, and the index of income. To measure the relationship between foreign aid and HDI, five Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) models are used in estimating the effect of foreign aid on HDI as well as life expectancy, education level, unemployment, and GDP per capita from 1993 to 2019. Income, population density, and credit are given to the private sector are part of the empirical models as controlled variables. The results show that no significant relationship exists between foreign aid and HDI, education, and GDP, while aid is linked to a lower life expectancy rate and unemployment. These findings imply that aid can increase the HDI in South Africa by contributing to a decreased unemployment rate, and thus policy makers should establish concrete plans and develop economic strategies that focus on creating incentives that attract more aid, especially in the short run. This can lead to a decrease in the unemployment rate, which is often regarded as South Africa’s biggest economic issue. , Thesis (Ma) -- Faculty of Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
- Authors: Mwimba, Inambao
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Human development indicators , Official Development Aid
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/62162 , vital:72003
- Description: The purpose of this study is to determine whether foreign aid influences the quality of life in South Africa. To do so, the study analyses the relationship between foreign aid and the human development index (HDI). HDI consists of three other indices: the index of wellbeing, the index of education, and the index of income. To measure the relationship between foreign aid and HDI, five Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) models are used in estimating the effect of foreign aid on HDI as well as life expectancy, education level, unemployment, and GDP per capita from 1993 to 2019. Income, population density, and credit are given to the private sector are part of the empirical models as controlled variables. The results show that no significant relationship exists between foreign aid and HDI, education, and GDP, while aid is linked to a lower life expectancy rate and unemployment. These findings imply that aid can increase the HDI in South Africa by contributing to a decreased unemployment rate, and thus policy makers should establish concrete plans and develop economic strategies that focus on creating incentives that attract more aid, especially in the short run. This can lead to a decrease in the unemployment rate, which is often regarded as South Africa’s biggest economic issue. , Thesis (Ma) -- Faculty of Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
Integration of digital media and pedagogy in the twenty first century classroom: a survey of selected high schools in Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Mhlomi, Yolisa
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Teaching , Digital media , Classroom learning centers
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/27369 , vital:66952
- Description: The essence of this thesis was to study the effectiveness of integrating digital media technologies within the pedagogical approaches adopted and implemented in private and public high schools in a comparative manner. The study looked closely at private and public high schools of the Eastern Cape Province, to study the gaps of accessibility to technology by schools. The study identified the Eastern Cape Province as having a problem of poor performance in matric results at the end of each year as compared to other South African provinces. In order to select the relevant sample for the study, the researcher has utilized two secondary schools private and public in Makhanda Grahamstown and one public secondary school in Alice. The pragmatic paradigm was used to inform the study and used the mixed methods approach to data collection. The researcher distributed closed ended questionnaires to the learners in the three selected secondary schools and semi-structured interviews for the principals of the schools. The key findings reveal that the digital media tools are used for the teaching and learning purposes as well as communication to the schools’ stakeholders. The findings also revealed that various online platforms are utilized for teaching and sharing of information. For example, D6 and Ibambisa School Communicator app, WhatsApp groups for learners, Facebook, Instagram and School website for potential stakeholders. Hence, the results of this study should contribute to the field of ICTs and education in the country to solve the problems facing the teaching and learning systems of private and public schools of the Eastern Cape. Most schools (especially the public) do not have access to digital media tools in their classrooms. Thus, they still depend heavily on the textbooks, which may be outdated or not enough for all learners. In response to the issues faced by the Eastern Cape secondary schools and the findings, the researcher has suggested a model named the Digital Media and Pedagogy Integration DMPI Model of Communication. This model will contribute to the body of knowledge by providing advice to the Department of Basic Education on how teachers and learners can utilize digital media tools effectively. Also, the study has recommended that there is a need for provision of computer literacy training for teachers in secondary schools in this digital age. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
- Authors: Mhlomi, Yolisa
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Teaching , Digital media , Classroom learning centers
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/27369 , vital:66952
- Description: The essence of this thesis was to study the effectiveness of integrating digital media technologies within the pedagogical approaches adopted and implemented in private and public high schools in a comparative manner. The study looked closely at private and public high schools of the Eastern Cape Province, to study the gaps of accessibility to technology by schools. The study identified the Eastern Cape Province as having a problem of poor performance in matric results at the end of each year as compared to other South African provinces. In order to select the relevant sample for the study, the researcher has utilized two secondary schools private and public in Makhanda Grahamstown and one public secondary school in Alice. The pragmatic paradigm was used to inform the study and used the mixed methods approach to data collection. The researcher distributed closed ended questionnaires to the learners in the three selected secondary schools and semi-structured interviews for the principals of the schools. The key findings reveal that the digital media tools are used for the teaching and learning purposes as well as communication to the schools’ stakeholders. The findings also revealed that various online platforms are utilized for teaching and sharing of information. For example, D6 and Ibambisa School Communicator app, WhatsApp groups for learners, Facebook, Instagram and School website for potential stakeholders. Hence, the results of this study should contribute to the field of ICTs and education in the country to solve the problems facing the teaching and learning systems of private and public schools of the Eastern Cape. Most schools (especially the public) do not have access to digital media tools in their classrooms. Thus, they still depend heavily on the textbooks, which may be outdated or not enough for all learners. In response to the issues faced by the Eastern Cape secondary schools and the findings, the researcher has suggested a model named the Digital Media and Pedagogy Integration DMPI Model of Communication. This model will contribute to the body of knowledge by providing advice to the Department of Basic Education on how teachers and learners can utilize digital media tools effectively. Also, the study has recommended that there is a need for provision of computer literacy training for teachers in secondary schools in this digital age. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
Interactive visualisation of electricity usage in smart environments
- Ngwenya, Moreblessing Tafadzwa
- Authors: Ngwenya, Moreblessing Tafadzwa
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Smart environment -- south Africa , Application software -- Development , Intelligent buildings
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/61477 , vital:70687
- Description: Saving electricity is a trending topic due to the electricity challenges that are being faced globally. Smart environments are environments that are equipped with physical objects, which include computers, sensors, actuators, smartphones, and wearable devices interconnected together through the Internet of Things. The Internet of Things provides a network to achieve communication, and computation abilities to provide individuals with smart services anytime, and anywhere. Rapid developments in information technology have increased the number of smart appliances being used, leading to increased electricity usage. Devices and appliances in Smart Environments continue to consume electricity even when not in use, because of the standby function. The problems arise as the electricity consumption of the standby function accumulates to large amounts. Effective communication through visualisation of the electricity consumption in a Smart Environment provides a viable solution to reducing the consumption of electricity. This research aimed to design and developed a visualisation system that successfully communicates electricity consumption to the user using a variety of visualisation techniques. The Design Science Research Methodology was used to address the research questions and was used to iteratively design and develop an energy usage visualisation system. The visualisation system was created for the Smart Lab at the Nelson Mandela University's Department of Computing Sciences. A usability study was conducted to assess the usability and efficacy of the system. The system was found to be usable and effective in communicating power usage to potential customers, since the participants were able to complete the tasks in a short amount of time. The positive results show that visualisation can aid in communicating electricity usage to customers, resulting in a possible reduction in electricity consumption and improved decision-making. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
- Authors: Ngwenya, Moreblessing Tafadzwa
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Smart environment -- south Africa , Application software -- Development , Intelligent buildings
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/61477 , vital:70687
- Description: Saving electricity is a trending topic due to the electricity challenges that are being faced globally. Smart environments are environments that are equipped with physical objects, which include computers, sensors, actuators, smartphones, and wearable devices interconnected together through the Internet of Things. The Internet of Things provides a network to achieve communication, and computation abilities to provide individuals with smart services anytime, and anywhere. Rapid developments in information technology have increased the number of smart appliances being used, leading to increased electricity usage. Devices and appliances in Smart Environments continue to consume electricity even when not in use, because of the standby function. The problems arise as the electricity consumption of the standby function accumulates to large amounts. Effective communication through visualisation of the electricity consumption in a Smart Environment provides a viable solution to reducing the consumption of electricity. This research aimed to design and developed a visualisation system that successfully communicates electricity consumption to the user using a variety of visualisation techniques. The Design Science Research Methodology was used to address the research questions and was used to iteratively design and develop an energy usage visualisation system. The visualisation system was created for the Smart Lab at the Nelson Mandela University's Department of Computing Sciences. A usability study was conducted to assess the usability and efficacy of the system. The system was found to be usable and effective in communicating power usage to potential customers, since the participants were able to complete the tasks in a short amount of time. The positive results show that visualisation can aid in communicating electricity usage to customers, resulting in a possible reduction in electricity consumption and improved decision-making. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
Investigating Funding Challenges Experienced by SMMEs in Komani, South Africa
- Authors: Doku, Daniel Korku
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Small business -- South Africa , Economic development projects--Finance
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/61165 , vital:69790
- Description: All around the world there are small, medium and micro-enterprises (SMMEs) that help by creating jobs and contributing to gross domestic product. However, funding is a major problem that limits the growth and development of SMMEs. Funding challenges have increased, hence the need for research to be conducted in Komani, in South Africa‟s Eastern Cape Province, to see how the challenge can be overcome. This research aims at investigating the funding challenges experienced by SMMEs in Komani. The objectives of the research were to: evaluate the effect of funding challenges on the number of people employed in SMMEs; establish reasons why SMMEs fail to obtain funding from major financial institutions; to examine the avenues available for funding SMMEs; and to recommend to policymakers and SMMEs how to solve the problem of funding. However, previous research in Komani has not managed to investigate this problem with regard to the research process and the method used. This research is based on the positivistic paradigm and used the quantitative method to investigate the funding challenges. The research population was 441 SMMEs; of them 82 SMMEs were sampled using questionnaires. Data collected was analysed using Excel and Stata. Pearson Chi-square test of association from Stata and Excel Analysis ToolPak were used. The study found that most SMMEs use retained earnings and informal funding to finance their operations. It also found that most SMMEs were unaware of government support agencies like SEFA. The research recommends that more must be done to raise awareness on a regular basis to make sure that all SMMEs are aware of the financial support system that the government has for the SMMEs. Financial institutions will need to lower their requirements when SMMEs apply for finance. Finally, SMMEs are supported financially by both the government and the private sector to employ more people. However, the government could also create a guarantee scheme for SMMEs to ensure successful credit applications , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of business and economic sciences, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
- Authors: Doku, Daniel Korku
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Small business -- South Africa , Economic development projects--Finance
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/61165 , vital:69790
- Description: All around the world there are small, medium and micro-enterprises (SMMEs) that help by creating jobs and contributing to gross domestic product. However, funding is a major problem that limits the growth and development of SMMEs. Funding challenges have increased, hence the need for research to be conducted in Komani, in South Africa‟s Eastern Cape Province, to see how the challenge can be overcome. This research aims at investigating the funding challenges experienced by SMMEs in Komani. The objectives of the research were to: evaluate the effect of funding challenges on the number of people employed in SMMEs; establish reasons why SMMEs fail to obtain funding from major financial institutions; to examine the avenues available for funding SMMEs; and to recommend to policymakers and SMMEs how to solve the problem of funding. However, previous research in Komani has not managed to investigate this problem with regard to the research process and the method used. This research is based on the positivistic paradigm and used the quantitative method to investigate the funding challenges. The research population was 441 SMMEs; of them 82 SMMEs were sampled using questionnaires. Data collected was analysed using Excel and Stata. Pearson Chi-square test of association from Stata and Excel Analysis ToolPak were used. The study found that most SMMEs use retained earnings and informal funding to finance their operations. It also found that most SMMEs were unaware of government support agencies like SEFA. The research recommends that more must be done to raise awareness on a regular basis to make sure that all SMMEs are aware of the financial support system that the government has for the SMMEs. Financial institutions will need to lower their requirements when SMMEs apply for finance. Finally, SMMEs are supported financially by both the government and the private sector to employ more people. However, the government could also create a guarantee scheme for SMMEs to ensure successful credit applications , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of business and economic sciences, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
Investigating the role of UAVs and convolutional neural networks in the identification of invasive plant species in the Albany Thicket
- Authors: Wesson, Frank Cameron
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Drone aircraft -- Control systems , Drone -- South Africa , Albany Thicket -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/61097 , vital:69755
- Description: The study aimed to determine whether plant species could be classified by using high resolution aerial imagery and a convolutional neural network (CNN). The full capabilities of a CNN were examined including testing whether the platform could be used for land cover and the evaluation of land change over time. A drone or unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was used to collect the aerial data of the study area, and 45 subplots were used for the image analysis. The CNN was coded and operated in RStudio, and digitised data from the input imagery were used as training and validation data by the programme to learn features. Four classifications were performed using various quantities of input data to access the performance of the neural network. In addition, tests were performed to understand whether the CNN could be used as a land cover and land change detection tool. Accuracy assessments were done on the results to test reliability and accuracy. The best-performing classification achieved an average user and producer accuracy of above 90%, while the overall accuracy was 93%, and the kappa coefficient score was 0.86. The CNN was also able to predict the land coverage area of Opuntia to be within 4% of the ground truthing data area. A change in land cover over time was detected by the programme after the manual clearing of the invasive plant had been undertaken. This research has determined that the use of a CNN in remote sensing is a very powerful tool for supervised image classifications and that it can be used for monitoring land cover by accurately estimating the spatial distribution of plant species and by monitoring the species' growth or decline over time. A CNN could also be used as a tool for landowners to prove that they are making efforts to clear invasive species from their land. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Environmental Sciences, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
- Authors: Wesson, Frank Cameron
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Drone aircraft -- Control systems , Drone -- South Africa , Albany Thicket -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/61097 , vital:69755
- Description: The study aimed to determine whether plant species could be classified by using high resolution aerial imagery and a convolutional neural network (CNN). The full capabilities of a CNN were examined including testing whether the platform could be used for land cover and the evaluation of land change over time. A drone or unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was used to collect the aerial data of the study area, and 45 subplots were used for the image analysis. The CNN was coded and operated in RStudio, and digitised data from the input imagery were used as training and validation data by the programme to learn features. Four classifications were performed using various quantities of input data to access the performance of the neural network. In addition, tests were performed to understand whether the CNN could be used as a land cover and land change detection tool. Accuracy assessments were done on the results to test reliability and accuracy. The best-performing classification achieved an average user and producer accuracy of above 90%, while the overall accuracy was 93%, and the kappa coefficient score was 0.86. The CNN was also able to predict the land coverage area of Opuntia to be within 4% of the ground truthing data area. A change in land cover over time was detected by the programme after the manual clearing of the invasive plant had been undertaken. This research has determined that the use of a CNN in remote sensing is a very powerful tool for supervised image classifications and that it can be used for monitoring land cover by accurately estimating the spatial distribution of plant species and by monitoring the species' growth or decline over time. A CNN could also be used as a tool for landowners to prove that they are making efforts to clear invasive species from their land. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Environmental Sciences, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
Investigating thermoregulatory responses of rhabdomys pumilio at high wet-bulb temperatures
- Authors: Hartley, Oliver
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Heat stress physiology , Small mammal thermoregulation -- South Africa , Climate change - Wet-bulb temperature
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60873 , vital:68916
- Description: As the Anthropocene continues to be characterised by ever rising temperature highs, increasingly sporadic and extreme climatic events, and their accompanying mass mortality events, climate scientists now warn that the continued climate destabilisation may for the first time in recorded history prevent terrestrial homeothermic endotherms from being able to thermoregulate. Having evolved to maintain body temperatures (Tbs) well above their ambient (Ta) conditions, these endotherms have evolved a suite of adaptations to a colder environment to allow for homeothermic thermoregulation to occur. However, by the same vein, having evolved in a colder climate to stay warm also has led to a reduced capacity to prevent heat stress when temperature conditions are elevated. In absence of behavioural counter measures, the only physiological means available to thermoregulation to prevent such heat stress is that of evaporative water loss (EWL). If still inefficient, the endotherm will risk becoming hyperthermic. Literature has established that excessive heat exposure or reduced evaporative cooling capacities strain or retard thermoregulatory processes. If an endotherm experiences severe heat exposure, the rate at which passive heating is experienced will increase. Should an endotherm be in a humid environment, evaporative cooling efficiency is reduced. As a result, these two abiotic factors are therefore known to contribute towards heat storage, and therefore thermal stress. However, should both factors occur in the same environment, the heat stress effects are compounded, creating an environment dangerous for thermoregulating endotherms. For this reason, authors have emphasised that future wet-bulb (Tw) conditions may pose a penultimate threat to thermoregulating endotherms. Being a measure of coldest temperature attainable as a result of evaporative cooling, Tw has been proposed to represent a lower temperature thermal limit to endothermic thermoregulation. Once reaching a 2°C differential below an endotherms Tb (Tb – Tw = 2˚C), Tw is believed to impede the evaporative cooling process and, consequentially, commit endotherms to becoming hyperthermic. Considering that most mammals defend constant Tbs within the range of predicted Tw maxima increases that future Tw conditions may pose a significant threat to mammalian thermoregulation. However, to date, despite being well supported in the literature, ii empirical investigations into how extreme Tw conditions will affect endothermic thermoregulation are scant. Therefore, understanding of the proposed inhibitory nature of extreme Tw conditions is lacking. Considering that such conditions are to have a profound effect of endothermic survival, this dearth in understanding could prove fatal. As such, this thesis sought to provide evidence on how extreme Tw conditions may affect thermoregulatory processes in homeothermic endotherms. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Environmental Sciences, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
- Authors: Hartley, Oliver
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Heat stress physiology , Small mammal thermoregulation -- South Africa , Climate change - Wet-bulb temperature
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60873 , vital:68916
- Description: As the Anthropocene continues to be characterised by ever rising temperature highs, increasingly sporadic and extreme climatic events, and their accompanying mass mortality events, climate scientists now warn that the continued climate destabilisation may for the first time in recorded history prevent terrestrial homeothermic endotherms from being able to thermoregulate. Having evolved to maintain body temperatures (Tbs) well above their ambient (Ta) conditions, these endotherms have evolved a suite of adaptations to a colder environment to allow for homeothermic thermoregulation to occur. However, by the same vein, having evolved in a colder climate to stay warm also has led to a reduced capacity to prevent heat stress when temperature conditions are elevated. In absence of behavioural counter measures, the only physiological means available to thermoregulation to prevent such heat stress is that of evaporative water loss (EWL). If still inefficient, the endotherm will risk becoming hyperthermic. Literature has established that excessive heat exposure or reduced evaporative cooling capacities strain or retard thermoregulatory processes. If an endotherm experiences severe heat exposure, the rate at which passive heating is experienced will increase. Should an endotherm be in a humid environment, evaporative cooling efficiency is reduced. As a result, these two abiotic factors are therefore known to contribute towards heat storage, and therefore thermal stress. However, should both factors occur in the same environment, the heat stress effects are compounded, creating an environment dangerous for thermoregulating endotherms. For this reason, authors have emphasised that future wet-bulb (Tw) conditions may pose a penultimate threat to thermoregulating endotherms. Being a measure of coldest temperature attainable as a result of evaporative cooling, Tw has been proposed to represent a lower temperature thermal limit to endothermic thermoregulation. Once reaching a 2°C differential below an endotherms Tb (Tb – Tw = 2˚C), Tw is believed to impede the evaporative cooling process and, consequentially, commit endotherms to becoming hyperthermic. Considering that most mammals defend constant Tbs within the range of predicted Tw maxima increases that future Tw conditions may pose a significant threat to mammalian thermoregulation. However, to date, despite being well supported in the literature, ii empirical investigations into how extreme Tw conditions will affect endothermic thermoregulation are scant. Therefore, understanding of the proposed inhibitory nature of extreme Tw conditions is lacking. Considering that such conditions are to have a profound effect of endothermic survival, this dearth in understanding could prove fatal. As such, this thesis sought to provide evidence on how extreme Tw conditions may affect thermoregulatory processes in homeothermic endotherms. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Environmental Sciences, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
Isolation, characterization and functionalization of cellulose fibres derived from the waste pineapple leaf fibres by hydrolysis to produce cellulose acetate
- Authors: Seyisi, Thulethu
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Nonwoven fabrics -- Technological innovations , Pineapple fiber -- South Africa , Fibrous composites
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/61248 , vital:69844
- Description: This thesis forms part of the Nelson Mandela University biomass and nanotechnology project, which aims at using agricultural waste for many applications, including biomedical applications, water treatment, and agricultural films. Pineapple leaf fiber (PALF) is one of the natural fibers with the highest cellulose content (about 80%), and they produce about 2.5–3.3% of the weight of green leaves. However, the other parts of the pineapple fruit, such as the leaves and crown, are still treated as waste due to a lack of understanding of the benefits and risks of these parts of the pineapple fruit. The transformation of PALF as a renewable and abundantly available natural residue into cellulose fibers (CFs) will reduce the waste accumulated in the atmosphere, and it will add value to the cultivation of pineapple. In the biomedical industry, CF is very promising in terms of drug delivery. Cellulose acetate is a remarkable biomaterial extensively used in biomedical applications due to its properties such as being non-toxic, non-irritant, biodegradable, heat resistant, and less hygroscopic. In this research, the isolation, functionalization, and characterization of cellulose from PALFs were conducted. The PALFs were dried and ground into small particles before being alkali treated with sodium hydroxide to remove the non-cellulosic components. Moreover, the remaining lignin in the residue was removed using sodium chlorite and acetic acid; this process is known as the bleaching process. The bleaching process resulted in white CFs, which was an indication of the successful removal of the non-cellulosic material. The obtained CFs were further functionalized using acetic acid, acetic anhydride, and sulfuric acid, and this reaction is known as the acetylation reaction. Subsequently, both treated, untreated, and functionalized CFs were characterised using the following instruments: FTIR, SEM, SPM, TGA, XRD, and XPS. In the FTIR data of raw PALFs, the following functional groups were more pronounced: C-O, C=C-O, and C=O, whereas peak C-O-C disappeared and peak CH2, C-O, were less pronounced. These FTIR results confirmed the successful removal of non-cellulosic components. The SEM and SPM images visually suggested the partial removal of hemicellulose and lignin from the raw PALFs after the chemical treatment, which are the cementing materials around the fiber bundles. The TGA studies revealed good thermal stability for the isolated CFs from PALFs. The XRD diffractograms of the PALFs showed a cellulose I crystal pattern where the peaks were located at angular positions (2θ) of around 18°, 26°, and 41°. Lastly, after the functionalization of CFs, the cellulose structure remained intact (not damaged); instead, the newly ix introduced functional groups (the acetyl group) were attached at the ends of the cellulose structure. These results are therefore confirmation of the successful removal of non-cellulose material from the PALFs after the chemical treatment. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Natural Resource Science and Management, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
- Authors: Seyisi, Thulethu
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Nonwoven fabrics -- Technological innovations , Pineapple fiber -- South Africa , Fibrous composites
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/61248 , vital:69844
- Description: This thesis forms part of the Nelson Mandela University biomass and nanotechnology project, which aims at using agricultural waste for many applications, including biomedical applications, water treatment, and agricultural films. Pineapple leaf fiber (PALF) is one of the natural fibers with the highest cellulose content (about 80%), and they produce about 2.5–3.3% of the weight of green leaves. However, the other parts of the pineapple fruit, such as the leaves and crown, are still treated as waste due to a lack of understanding of the benefits and risks of these parts of the pineapple fruit. The transformation of PALF as a renewable and abundantly available natural residue into cellulose fibers (CFs) will reduce the waste accumulated in the atmosphere, and it will add value to the cultivation of pineapple. In the biomedical industry, CF is very promising in terms of drug delivery. Cellulose acetate is a remarkable biomaterial extensively used in biomedical applications due to its properties such as being non-toxic, non-irritant, biodegradable, heat resistant, and less hygroscopic. In this research, the isolation, functionalization, and characterization of cellulose from PALFs were conducted. The PALFs were dried and ground into small particles before being alkali treated with sodium hydroxide to remove the non-cellulosic components. Moreover, the remaining lignin in the residue was removed using sodium chlorite and acetic acid; this process is known as the bleaching process. The bleaching process resulted in white CFs, which was an indication of the successful removal of the non-cellulosic material. The obtained CFs were further functionalized using acetic acid, acetic anhydride, and sulfuric acid, and this reaction is known as the acetylation reaction. Subsequently, both treated, untreated, and functionalized CFs were characterised using the following instruments: FTIR, SEM, SPM, TGA, XRD, and XPS. In the FTIR data of raw PALFs, the following functional groups were more pronounced: C-O, C=C-O, and C=O, whereas peak C-O-C disappeared and peak CH2, C-O, were less pronounced. These FTIR results confirmed the successful removal of non-cellulosic components. The SEM and SPM images visually suggested the partial removal of hemicellulose and lignin from the raw PALFs after the chemical treatment, which are the cementing materials around the fiber bundles. The TGA studies revealed good thermal stability for the isolated CFs from PALFs. The XRD diffractograms of the PALFs showed a cellulose I crystal pattern where the peaks were located at angular positions (2θ) of around 18°, 26°, and 41°. Lastly, after the functionalization of CFs, the cellulose structure remained intact (not damaged); instead, the newly ix introduced functional groups (the acetyl group) were attached at the ends of the cellulose structure. These results are therefore confirmation of the successful removal of non-cellulose material from the PALFs after the chemical treatment. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Natural Resource Science and Management, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
Microstructural based creep life assessment of 1CrMov Turbine rotor steels after long-term service
- Nyembe, Hlanganani Siphelele
- Authors: Nyembe, Hlanganani Siphelele
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Materials – Creep –South Africa , Steel -- Creep
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/61380 , vital:70622
- Description: Creep-resistant 1CrMoV steels are used for high-pressure turbine rotors in fossil fuel power stations operating at steam temperatures up to 565 °C in the creep regime. The upper bainitic microstructure of 1CrMoV rotors changes when exposed to high temperature service over long periods. The aim of this study was to relate these microstructural changes for service exposed 1CrMoV rotor steels to the remaining creep life as determined using existing methods. Analytical electron microscopy was used to quantitatively study the microstructural evolution of service-exposed 1CrMoV steel rotors. 1CrMoV rotor steel samples were characterised in the initial state, and three long-term (272 h to 300 kh) service exposed states. Detailed microstructural investigations were conducted to analyse the cavities; bainitic laths and packets; dislocations; carbide phases and their size, population, composition. The creep life fractions were estimated using conventional life assessment methods based on creep cavitation and hardness. The creep life fraction consumed of the rotors, estimated based on the creep cavities and hardness data, ranged from ~0.5 to 1. Electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) was used to analyse the bainitic packets, laths, misorientations, and dislocations, which showed that the bainitic lath surface area to volume (SV) correlated with service time. The precipitates were extracted from the Fe-matrix using extraction replication and were further investigated using transmission Kikuchi diffraction (TKD), scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). STEM-EDS and TKD identified M3C, MC, M2C, M7C3, and M23C6 (M = Fe, Cr, Mo, V, Mn) in the 1CrMoV steels. STEM-EDS measurements revealed that Fe/Cr ratios in M3C decreased from 4.5 (initial state) to 2.5 (>272 kh). The Fe/Cr and Fe/Mo ratios in overall carbides decreased from 5 and 10 (initial state) to 1 and 2 (>272 kh), respectively. The TKD analysis indicated that the relative phase proportion of M2C and M7C3 carbides, relative to the total extracted carbides, is positively correlated with service exposure. These microstructural features correlate with the creep life fraction consumed and could potentially be used as another indicator of the remnant creep life. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, School of Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics. 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
- Authors: Nyembe, Hlanganani Siphelele
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Materials – Creep –South Africa , Steel -- Creep
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/61380 , vital:70622
- Description: Creep-resistant 1CrMoV steels are used for high-pressure turbine rotors in fossil fuel power stations operating at steam temperatures up to 565 °C in the creep regime. The upper bainitic microstructure of 1CrMoV rotors changes when exposed to high temperature service over long periods. The aim of this study was to relate these microstructural changes for service exposed 1CrMoV rotor steels to the remaining creep life as determined using existing methods. Analytical electron microscopy was used to quantitatively study the microstructural evolution of service-exposed 1CrMoV steel rotors. 1CrMoV rotor steel samples were characterised in the initial state, and three long-term (272 h to 300 kh) service exposed states. Detailed microstructural investigations were conducted to analyse the cavities; bainitic laths and packets; dislocations; carbide phases and their size, population, composition. The creep life fractions were estimated using conventional life assessment methods based on creep cavitation and hardness. The creep life fraction consumed of the rotors, estimated based on the creep cavities and hardness data, ranged from ~0.5 to 1. Electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) was used to analyse the bainitic packets, laths, misorientations, and dislocations, which showed that the bainitic lath surface area to volume (SV) correlated with service time. The precipitates were extracted from the Fe-matrix using extraction replication and were further investigated using transmission Kikuchi diffraction (TKD), scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). STEM-EDS and TKD identified M3C, MC, M2C, M7C3, and M23C6 (M = Fe, Cr, Mo, V, Mn) in the 1CrMoV steels. STEM-EDS measurements revealed that Fe/Cr ratios in M3C decreased from 4.5 (initial state) to 2.5 (>272 kh). The Fe/Cr and Fe/Mo ratios in overall carbides decreased from 5 and 10 (initial state) to 1 and 2 (>272 kh), respectively. The TKD analysis indicated that the relative phase proportion of M2C and M7C3 carbides, relative to the total extracted carbides, is positively correlated with service exposure. These microstructural features correlate with the creep life fraction consumed and could potentially be used as another indicator of the remnant creep life. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, School of Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics. 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
Modelling the dynamics of Breast Cancer disease with hormone therapy and surgery controls
- Ngalo, Akhona Sunshine, Mbava,Willard
- Authors: Ngalo, Akhona Sunshine , Mbava,Willard
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Cancer -- Molecular aspects , Breast cancer -- South Africa , Hormone therapy
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/61487 , vital:70688
- Description: In this study, we discussed a mathematical model that incorporates important interactions between normal cells, tumor cells, immune cells, and estrogen. The mathematical model was revised to include two control measures; namely surgery and hormone therapy to minimize the number of tumor cells. The model was mathematically analyzed with the premise that the two control measures are positive constants. Locally and globally analyses were performed using a variety of analytical methods to investigate the stability of the breast cancer model. Furthermore, an optimal control problem was formulated and used to determine the best strategy for reducing the number of tumor cells by incorporating hormone therapy and surgery, based on the well-known Pontryagin’s Maximum Principle. The numerical results indicates combining both optimal control measures (surgery and hormone therapy) simultaneously is more efficacious than using single control measure separately in decreasing the number of tumor cells. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
- Authors: Ngalo, Akhona Sunshine , Mbava,Willard
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Cancer -- Molecular aspects , Breast cancer -- South Africa , Hormone therapy
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/61487 , vital:70688
- Description: In this study, we discussed a mathematical model that incorporates important interactions between normal cells, tumor cells, immune cells, and estrogen. The mathematical model was revised to include two control measures; namely surgery and hormone therapy to minimize the number of tumor cells. The model was mathematically analyzed with the premise that the two control measures are positive constants. Locally and globally analyses were performed using a variety of analytical methods to investigate the stability of the breast cancer model. Furthermore, an optimal control problem was formulated and used to determine the best strategy for reducing the number of tumor cells by incorporating hormone therapy and surgery, based on the well-known Pontryagin’s Maximum Principle. The numerical results indicates combining both optimal control measures (surgery and hormone therapy) simultaneously is more efficacious than using single control measure separately in decreasing the number of tumor cells. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
Perceptions about the role of social entrepreneurship in the provision of employment in South Africa: A case study of buffalo city Metropolitan municipality
- Authors: Damane, Qaqamba
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Job creation , socioeconomic status , Social integration
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/61075 , vital:69722
- Description: The high rates of unemployment and poverty in South Africa are significant barriers to economic advancement in the country. According to Statistics South Africa (2022), the country’s unemployment rate is 34.5 percent, while it has been reported that the proportion of the population living in poverty was 55.5 percent in 2020. Social entrepreneurship has been recognised as a means of tackling these socioeconomic challenges, by providing innovative social solutions. However, the lack of a universal definition for social entrepreneurship has caused misperceptions regarding its potential for job creation, poverty alleviation and economic development. In order to understand the relationship between social entrepreneurship and job creation, this study focused on existent perceptions of social entrepreneurship as pertaining to job creation in South Africa; the study used the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality as a case study. An in-depth literature review was conducted on the relevant literature related to the concept of social entrepreneurship, and its role in job creation. This study employed a qualitative research approach, in this respect, it relied on inductive reasoning. The research design followed the hermeneutic phenomenological method, for which non-probability purposive sampling was used in order to select participants. The study sample comprised of twelve social entrepreneurs registered on the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality's Local Economic Development database for social entrepreneurs. For the purpose of data collection, the study employed semi-structured interviews which relied on open-ended questions; in this regard, the study achieved a 100 percent response rate. The primary research findings indicated that the youth of the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality participate in, and promote, social entrepreneurship as a solution to the metropole’s high youth unemployment rate. The results of the study support current government policy by encouraging the implementation of local government policy initiatives that support social entrepreneurship, which could eventually result in the creation of jobs, and a decline in the country's unemployment rate. In addition, the study identified the need for government support, specifically in terms of the provision of funding and resources as a perceived government function; this would assist in the creation of social entrepreneurshipbased jobs. The study contributes to the existent body of work on the phenomenon of social entrepreneurship, and to further understanding the role this phenomenon plays in job creation in South Africa. Local government should acknowledge and support social entrepreneurship through the improvement of its current systems and the reallocation of government resources, so as to encourage openness and participation, in order to foster an environment that is vi favorable to social innovation. Furthermore, by capitalizing on the commercial aspects of social enterprises, and abandoning reliance on traditional Local Economic Development policies, local government can develop policy frameworks that promote socio-economic development in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of business and economic sciences, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
- Authors: Damane, Qaqamba
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Job creation , socioeconomic status , Social integration
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/61075 , vital:69722
- Description: The high rates of unemployment and poverty in South Africa are significant barriers to economic advancement in the country. According to Statistics South Africa (2022), the country’s unemployment rate is 34.5 percent, while it has been reported that the proportion of the population living in poverty was 55.5 percent in 2020. Social entrepreneurship has been recognised as a means of tackling these socioeconomic challenges, by providing innovative social solutions. However, the lack of a universal definition for social entrepreneurship has caused misperceptions regarding its potential for job creation, poverty alleviation and economic development. In order to understand the relationship between social entrepreneurship and job creation, this study focused on existent perceptions of social entrepreneurship as pertaining to job creation in South Africa; the study used the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality as a case study. An in-depth literature review was conducted on the relevant literature related to the concept of social entrepreneurship, and its role in job creation. This study employed a qualitative research approach, in this respect, it relied on inductive reasoning. The research design followed the hermeneutic phenomenological method, for which non-probability purposive sampling was used in order to select participants. The study sample comprised of twelve social entrepreneurs registered on the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality's Local Economic Development database for social entrepreneurs. For the purpose of data collection, the study employed semi-structured interviews which relied on open-ended questions; in this regard, the study achieved a 100 percent response rate. The primary research findings indicated that the youth of the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality participate in, and promote, social entrepreneurship as a solution to the metropole’s high youth unemployment rate. The results of the study support current government policy by encouraging the implementation of local government policy initiatives that support social entrepreneurship, which could eventually result in the creation of jobs, and a decline in the country's unemployment rate. In addition, the study identified the need for government support, specifically in terms of the provision of funding and resources as a perceived government function; this would assist in the creation of social entrepreneurshipbased jobs. The study contributes to the existent body of work on the phenomenon of social entrepreneurship, and to further understanding the role this phenomenon plays in job creation in South Africa. Local government should acknowledge and support social entrepreneurship through the improvement of its current systems and the reallocation of government resources, so as to encourage openness and participation, in order to foster an environment that is vi favorable to social innovation. Furthermore, by capitalizing on the commercial aspects of social enterprises, and abandoning reliance on traditional Local Economic Development policies, local government can develop policy frameworks that promote socio-economic development in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of business and economic sciences, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04