A Comparative Analysis of PSA Trends of Conventional vs Hypo-fractionated External Beam Radiotherapy for the Treatment of Localised Prostate Cancer at Frere Hospital
- Authors: Mistry, Himal
- Date: 2023-10
- Language: English
- Type: Masters theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/12906 , vital:76177
- Description: External beam radiotherapy with a moderate hypofractionated regimen has largely replaced conventional schedules. The change in regimen is based on the premise that prostate cancer, due to its low the alpha/beta ratio, demonstrates a higher sensitivity to a larger dose per fraction of radiation. Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) is a specific indicator of prostate cancer treatment outcomes. The serum PSA trend is an indication of treatment response and risk for relapse. The time to nadir and the value of the PSA nadir are important predictors of biochemical control or failure. The lower the PSA level, the more durable the probability of maintained biochemical disease free survival. This study focuses on the biochemical control of patients treated with two different fractionation regimens at Frere Hospital. Aim To illustrate that the use of a moderate hypofractionated regimen for the treatment of intermediate and high risk prostate cancer is non inferior to a conventional regimen. Methodology The study took place at the department of radiation oncology, Frere Hospital, East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa. The study population consisted of 26 patients treated with conventional fractionation (2.00Gy x 36 fractions) in 2018 and 36 patients treated with the newly adopted hypofractionated regimen (3.00Gy x 20 fractions) in 2019. A comparison is made of the post treatment PSA trend over a 24 month period. Impact of study The study is projected to support the change in fractionation regimens at an institutional level. 2 Results: 41.9% of patients were enrolled in the conventional regimen, 58.1% were enrolled in the moderately hypo-fractionated arm. The participants were classified into high risk and intermediate risk in the two treatment arms and these were distributed equally. There was a clear decline in the serum PSA values over the two-year follow-up period. All four groups showed a similar pattern in that from the baseline to the first quarter, there was a sharp decline in the serum PSA values and this was significant for all four groups , Thesis (Masters) -- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-10
Assessing the invasive status of the Oenothera species (evening primroses) in South Africa
- Authors: Scott, Zimbini
- Date: 2023-10
- Subjects: Evening primrose , Invasive plants -- Biological control -- South Africa , Ecological assessment (Biology)
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/28414 , vital:74321
- Description: Oenothera species (Myrtales: Onagraceae), commonly known as evening primroses, were introduced to South Africa for various purposes, where they established alien populations and expanded their distribution nationwide. Although some of these species are listed as emerging invaders in South Africa, their invasive status is currently unclear. This study assessed the invasive status of eight Oenothera species listed as emerging invaders in South Africa, namely, O. biennis, O. glazioviana, O. laciniata, O. indecora, O. stricta, O. jamesii and O. rosea. The study also focused on the biotic interactions of Oenothera with native arthropod species to assess any potential ecological impacts. The distribution of the eight Oenothera species was mapped using available occurrence records from sources such as the SAPIA database, herbarium records, and BRAHMS database. Additional records were collected by conducting field surveys in KwaZulu- Natal and Eastern Cape provinces. The distribution of these species was mapped using QGIS. Most Oenothera species were found in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Free State, Mpumalanga and Western Cape provinces, while North-West, Northern Cape, and Limpopo provinces had fewer species. The grassland, savanna and fynbos biomes had more Oenothera species than other biomes in South Africa. The results indicated that O. biennis, O. glaziviana, and O. rosea are spreading at a preceding rate. In South Africa, the species flower predominantly in the spring and summer seasons. Species distribution modelling was conducted using Maxent to identify climatically suitable areas for establishing evening primrose populations. Species distribution models results show that the climatically suitable areas are concentrated in the central, eastern, and south-western regions of South Africa. The most considerable climatic variables contributing to the distribution of most Oenothera species were the annual mean temperature and precipitation during the driest month. To evaluate biotic interactions between native arthropods and Oenothera species and assess the potential ecological impacts, arthropods were collected from two Oenothera species (O. biennis and O. glazioviana) in different localities (only in Eastern Cape: East London and Fort Beaufort). The arthropods collected were identified, and diversity indices were calculated to determine the diversity of native arthropods collected in sites where these species are present. The overall number of individual arthropods collected was 768, belonging to six orders. These arthropod species belong to three feeding guilds: herbivores, predators, and palynivores. The ANOVA results showed that these species statistically differ in diversity for all the diversity indices. Overall, there were significant interactions between the arthropods’ orders and their feeding guilds. Lastly, the risk analysis framework assessed the potential for managing and listing two species (O. biennis and O. rosea) in the NEM: BA A&IS list. After considering all the likelihood elements, environmental, socioeconomic, and potential impacts, the risks posed by Oenothera biennis in South Africa were found to be high. The recommendation of this analysis suggests that O. biennis and O. rosea species be listed as category 1b in the NEMBA A & IS regulations list. The results of this study indicate that these congeners experience ecological differences, resulting in their varied distribution and invasion. Furthermore, they offer new insights regarding the geographical patterns and potential distribution of Oenothera species in South Africa. Moreover, it also provides recommendations for the management of the species in the South African context. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-10
Technological pedagogical content knowledge development: investigating secondary school teachers' integration and use of technology during emergency remote teaching in Endola education circuit
- Authors: Munyanyo, Johanna
- Date: 2023-10
- Subjects: Pedagogical content knowledge , Social distancing (Public health) and education , Distance teaching , Educational technology , Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/423882 , vital:72101
- Description: The Covid-19 pandemic has created the largest disruption of education systems in human history. The closure of schools and other learning spaces has impacted billions of learners worldwide. The mitigative measures and many new standard operating procedures have brought restrictions and many challenges. The face-to-face traditional teaching method lost its value, and teaching shifted to distance through the integration of technologies. The integration of technologies necessitated the emergency remote teaching process, as it is one of the distance teaching modes that can make teaching possible even for less technologically privileged nations. Literature has shown that the integration and usage of technology during teaching support the development of technological pedagogical and content knowledge (TPACK) of teachers. This study, therefore, sought to investigate how the integration and use of technology during the emergency remote teaching of Covid-19 developed the secondary school teachers’ technological pedagogical and content knowledge. The study is underpinned by an interpretive paradigm, and a qualitative case study approach was employed. It was conducted in seven secondary schools in the Endola education circuit, Ohangwena region, with the purposeful participation of twenty-six secondary school teachers. Data was collected using semi-structured questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. The study was informed by Vygotsky’s (1978) sociocultural theory together with the TPACK framework of Thompson and Mishra (2007) as both theoretical and analytical frameworks. The study's results showed that teachers made use of existing technological resources to sustain their teaching efforts during ERT. They encountered various challenges, including a lack of technological expertise (knowledge) among both teachers and learners. The shift to virtual instruction during ERT supported teachers in developing proficient technological pedagogical content knowledge. This research concludes that schools possess the necessary technological infrastructure to enable teachers to incorporate technology into their teaching methods. Furthermore, it highlights that teachers generally hold favourable attitudes toward integrating technology into their instruction. Nevertheless, it recommends that there is a need for improving both in-service and pre-service teachers’ training and support for effectively teaching in online and blended learning environments. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Secondary and Post-School Education, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-10