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Population assessment and feeding ecology of brown hyenas (hyaena brunnea) in Mountain Zebra National Park, Eastern Cape, South Africa

  • Authors: Comley, Jessica
  • Date: 2016
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/2862 , vital:20336
  • Description: The development of many small (<400 km2), enclosed game reserves in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa over the past 25 years has contributed greatly to the conservation of large carnivores. However, the brown hyena (Hyaena brunnea) is one of the least studied large carnivores in South Africa. Nevertheless, the reintroduction of this species (n=3 in 2008) into Mountain Zebra National Park (MZNP) provided the perfect opportunity to broaden our understanding of the role that this carnivore plays in an enclosed system. Camera trap data was collected for just over a year from April 2014 to April 2015 and brown hyena density estimates were calculated using spatially explicit capture-recapture analysis. Left-side images of brown hyenas were used in the analysis and 12 individuals were positively identified. The best model to estimate brown hyena density included a road covariate and estimated brown hyena density to be 6-10 individuals/100 km2 (an absolute abundance of between 12 and 21 individuals), which is higher than densities calculated for brown hyenas in other arid, open systems. In, addition, brown hyena scat samples were collected over a five year period from April 2011 to June 2015 and standard techniques for scat analysis were used to identify prey items. Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) and lion (Panthera leo) kill site data were used to investigate the impacts of these species on the diet of brown hyenas. Before the release of lions brown hyenas predominantly scavenged on medium-sized mammals, which was what the cheetahs mainly killed. However, after the release of the lions, brown hyenas predominantly scavenged on large mammals, which was what the lions primarily killed. The results from my study indicate that brown hyenas are most likely reaching high densities in enclosed systems, due to increased scavenging opportunities provided by other large predators. The rapid increase of brown hyena densities from small founder populations in enclosed reserves could result in inbreeding. Therefore, in order to successfully conserve brown hyenas and other large carnivores in South Africa, continual post-release monitoring and possible implementation of meta-population management schemes is required.
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  • Date Issued: 2016

The effect of interest rates on investment spending: an empirical analysis of South Africa

  • Authors: Dakin, Nicholas John
  • Date: 2016
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
  • Identifier: vital:1131 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1021174
  • Description: This thesis investigates the nature and strength of the relationship between short-, medium-, and long-term real interest rates and capital investment spending at both the aggregate and disaggregate levels in South Africa in order to determine whether changes in the real interest rate affect the level of capital investment in the economy. This thesis used quarterly data for the period 1987 to 2013. VAR modelling, variance decompositions, impulse response functions and Granger causality tests are used to explore the nature and strength of the relationship between interest rates and investment spending. It is found that interest rates explain very little of the variation in investment spending and seem to have little impact on investment (of any type). Furthermore, short-, medium- and long-term interest rates have different effects on the level of investment spending. A rise in short-term interest rates appears to decrease the level of investment spending in the long-run, whereas a rise in long-term interest rates results in an increase in investment.
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  • Date Issued: 2016

A light-emitting-diode pulsing system for measurement of time-resolved luminescence

  • Authors: Uriri, Solomon Akpore
  • Date: 2015
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: vital:20976 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/5788
  • Description: A new light-emitting-diode based pulsing system for measurement of time-resolved luminescence has been developed. The light-emitting-diodes are pulsed at various pulse-widths by a 555-timer operated as a monostable multivibrator. The light-emitting-diodes are arranged in a dural holder connected in parallel in sets of four, each containing four diodes in series. The output pulse from the 555-timer is fed into an 2N7000 MOSFET to produce a pulse-current of 500 mA to drive the set of 16 light-emitting-diodes. This size of current is sufficient to drive the diodes with each driven at a pulse-current of 90 mA with a possible maximum of 110 mA per diode. A multichannel scaler is used to trigger the pulsing system and to record data at selectable dwell times. The system is capable of generating pulse-widths in the range of microseconds upwards.
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  • Date Issued: 2015

An in-silico investigation of Morita-Baylis-Hillman accessible heterocyclic analogues for applications as novel HIV-1 C protease inhibitors

  • Authors: Sigauke, Lester Takunda
  • Date: 2015
  • Subjects: Protease inhibitors , Heterocyclic compounds , HIV (Viruses) , HIV infections , Drug resistance , Cheminformatics
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: vital:4152 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017913
  • Description: Cheminformatic approaches have been employed to optimize the bis-coumarin scaffold identified by Onywera et al. (2012) as a potential hit against the protease HIV-1 protein. The Open Babel library of commands was used to access functions that were incorporated into a markov chain recursive program that generated 17750 analogues of the bis-coumarin scaffold. The Morita-Baylis-Hillman accessible heterocycles were used to introduce structural diversity within the virtual library. In silico high through-put virtual screening using AutoDock Vina was used to rapidly screen the virtual library ligand set against 61 protease models built by Onywera et al. (2012). CheS-Mapper computed a principle component analysis of the compounds based on 13 selected chemical descriptors. The compounds were plotted against the principle component analysis within a 3 dimensional chemical space in order to inspect the diversity of the virtual library. The physicochemical properties and binding affinities were used to identify the top 3 performing ligands. ACPYPE was used to inspect the constitutional properties and eliminated virtual compounds that possessed open valences. Chromene based ligand 805 and ligand 6610 were selected as the lead candidates from the high-throughput virtual screening procedure we employed. Molecular dynamic simulations of the lead candidates performed for 5 ns allowed the stability of the ligand protein complexes with protease model 305152. The free energy of binding of the leads with protease model 305152 was computed over the first 50 ps of simulation using the molecular mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann method. Analysis structural features and energy profiles from molecular dynamic simulations of the protein–ligand complexes indicated that although ligand 805 had a weaker binding affinity in terms of docking, it outperformed ligand 6610 in terms of complex stability and free energy of binding. Medicinal chemistry approaches will be used to optimize the lead candidates before their analogues will be synthesized and assayed for in vivo protease activity.
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  • Date Issued: 2015

Assessing the role of civil society in poverty alleviation : a case study of Amathole District, (Eastern Cape)

  • Authors: Ngumbela, Xolisile Gideon
  • Date: 2015
  • Subjects: Poverty -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Poor -- Services for -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Economic assistance -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/2161 , vital:27618
  • Description: The purpose of this study is to conduct an assessment of the role of civil society organizations with regards to poverty alleviation. The study is conducted in Amathole District, Eastern Cape Province. The sample for the study is constituted by 3 civic society organizations (CSO), which are located in 3 local municipalities; namely, Amahlathi (Ikhwezi Women Support Center), Mbhashe (Nyhwara Home Base), and Mnquma (We Care Ministries) Local Municipalities. In terms of the data collection, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 officers from these civic society organizations. Concerning the research design, a combination of a qualitative and quantitative research approach was used. Concerning the findings of the study, the following points were noted: the different forms of interventions by civic society organizations, poverty eradication strategies, challenges that were experienced by civic society organizations, and the logical framework versus unexpected changes. It is probably safe to make mention that CSOs in the Eastern Cape portray a positive attitude and willingness to learn to manage the organizations better. The continuing support from the Department of Social Development will go a long way to assist the CSOs to become sustainable, in the context of management and efficient running of these organizations. The study thus concluded that specific benefactor-beneficiary dynamics are crucial for the success of any anti-poverty intervention. A greater need for the robust pro-poor social policy, availability of resources with which to translate it into action, and local entrepreneurial potential do not in themselves bring about success; they must operate in a certain way and be supported by certain principles and commitment for them to become powerful proper vehicle for alleviating poverty.
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  • Date Issued: 2015

Experiences of professional nurses regarding clinical placement exposure during their compulsory community service at state hospitals in Nelson Mandela Bay

  • Authors: Mshweshwe, Nonkululeko Mica
  • Date: 2015
  • Subjects: Nurses -- In-service training -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality , Community health services -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality , Nursing -- Practice -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
  • Identifier: vital:10069 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021074
  • Description: The nursing student who has undergone the four year diploma or degree training as a nurse also has to undergo compulsory community service as a requirement before she/he can be registered as a qualified professional nurse. While it has been compulsory for other health professionals such as doctors, dieticians or dentists to place students in compulsory community service, it has only been compulsory for nursing students since 2008. This means that the practice is relatively new in nursing and it is not clear how the newly qualified professional nurse experiences compulsory community service (CCS). The overall goal of this study is to determine the experiences of professional nurses placed at the state hospitals in Nelson Mandela Bay regarding compulsory community service clinical placement exposure and to use these descriptions to develop guidelines. The study followed a qualitative, exploratory, descriptive, contextual design. Literature was reviewed in order to identify research that was done previously regarding compulsory community service amongst health care professionals. The research population included professional nurses who underwent compulsory community service in the three state hospitals in the Nelson Mandela Bay. Purposive sampling was utilised to identify the participants. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect information and field notes were kept. The interviews were transcribed and Tech’s (1990) in Creswell, 2009:186) eight steps of data analysis were followed to create meaning from the data collected. An independent coder assisted with the coding process to ensure the trustworthiness of the findings. The researcher ensured the validity of the study by conforming to Lincoln and Guba’s model of trustworthiness which consists of the following four constructs, namely credibility, transferability, dependability and conformability (Lincoln & Guba, 1999, as cited in Schurink, Fouche & de Vos, 2011:419- 421). Three themes and sub themes were identified. Literature control was done to compare the findings with existing research results. The researcher ensured that the study was conducted in an ethical manner by adhering to ethical principles such as beneficence, justice and fidelity. All the participants in the study felt that the clinical placement exposure was a worthwhile experience. The participants expressed a feeling of gratitude that they were afforded this opportunity of practicing under the guidance of experienced professional nurses. To them it was an opportunity to master whatever they were taught as student nurses so that by the time they practice as independent practitioners they would be confident and knowledgeable. The CCS nurses indicated that orientation and mentorship were not always of good quality and professional nurses were not always available as in some units professional nurses were not readily accessible. The CCS nurses were left alone and isolated with no one to consult. If proper orientation and mentorship had been in place the CCS nurses would have enjoyed the community service year more and they felt that they would have benefited more. Had there been a mentoring system in place it could have gone a long way to ascertain that the participants gained confidence and were able to perform tasks independently and confidently. The participants overwhelmingly indicated that unit management should have been included in their CCS year placement. During the CCS year the CCS nurses were not exposed to unit management. This was seen by CCS nurses as a missed opportunity. Had they been afforded the opportunity to practice unit management under the supervision of unit nursing managers, professional growth and development in unit management could have been facilitated. That they were not afforded that opportunity deprived them of a valuable skill as well as personal and professional growth. In conclusion guidelines for placement of CCS nurses in the Nelson Mandela State hospitals have been formulated for implementation. Recommendations were made to enhance nursing practice, nursing education and nursing research.
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  • Date Issued: 2015

Characterization of animal fibres

  • Authors: Notayi, Mzwamadoda
  • Date: 2014
  • Subjects: Animal fibres , Textile fabrics , Animal science
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: vital:10552 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020426
  • Description: Identification of fibres, particularly in blends, requires knowledge of their characteristics. Individual Identifying features between wool and mohair fibres were investigated in this study using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared-Attenuated Total Reflection (FTIR-ATR), Fourier Transform Raman and Atomic Force Microscope (AFM). This study confirmed that wool and mohair can be differentiated and identified in blends using the cuticle scale height (CSH) criterion, wool having an average CSH of 0.6 ± 0.1 μm and mohair having an average CSH of 0.4 ± 0.1 μm. The AFM provided highly reproducible CSH results, which also confirmed the SEM results that indeed wool and mohair could be differentiated using the CSH as criterion. The AFM gave a CSH value of 0.9 ± 0.2 μm for wool and 0.6 ± 0.2 μm for mohair, the difference between the two results being statistically significant according to the student t-test. It has been demonstrated that wool and mohair identification in blends is possible, by using the AFM to measure CSH, although the method is very time consuming and might be expensive. The FTIR-ATR showed similar spectra for wool and mohair fibres, confirming that the two fibre types consist of the same polymer material. Nevertheless, a difference was observed in the ratios of the relative intensities of the amide I (around 1630 cm-1) to the amide II (around 1515cm-1) absorption bands. The FT Raman provided similar spectra for the wool and mohair fibres, although a possible distinguishing feature between the two fibres could be the intensities of the alkyl side chains chemical band near 2940 cm-1 in the spectra of the two fibre types. According to the results obtained in this study, the FTIR-ATR and the FT Raman techniques may have potential for differentiating between wool and mohair but this requires further investigation.
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  • Date Issued: 2014

Electrical conductivity experiments on carbon-rich Karoo shales and forward modelling of aeromagnetic data across the Beattie Anomaly

  • Authors: Branch, Thomas Cameron
  • Date: 2014
  • Subjects: Earth sciences -- South Africa -- Karoo , Geology -- South Africa -- Karoo
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: vital:10662 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1014544
  • Description: The Beattie Magnetic Anomaly is the world’s longest terrestrial magnetic anomaly with a strike length of over 1000 km and a wavelength in excess of 100 km. Collinear with this is a large belt of elevated crustal conductivities called the Southern Cape Conductive Belt. Historical crustal interpretations proposed a common source of serpentinized ophiolite as an explanation for both the anomalous crustal magnetic susceptibility and electrical conductivities. Spreading between the Western and Eastern Cape of South Africa the mid- to lower crust that hosts these anomalies is obscured by the overlying Cape and Karoo Supergroups. Between 2003 and 2006, three high resolution geophysical experiments were completed across the surface maximum of the Beattie Magnetic Anomaly (BMA) and the Southern Cape Conductive Belt (SCCB). These included a magnetotelluric (MT) survey and near vertical reflection and wide angle refraction seismic profiles. Within the MT inversion model the SCCB appeared as a composite anomaly, which included a mid-crustal conductor which is spatially associated with the BMA and a laterally continuous upper crustal conductor which is located at depths equivalent to the lower Karoo Supergroup. Subsequently; the upper crustal conductor was identified in northern and eastern extensions of the magnetotelluric profile; a distance in excess of 400 km. Historical magnetometer and Schlumberger Sounding experiments have previously identified elevated conductivities in the Karoo sequences which were attributed to the Whitehill and Prince Albert formations. These carboniferous, transgressive sediments are known to be conductive from borehole conductivity surveys and direct measurements at surface. In order to constrain the conductive properties of these sediments, impedance spectroscopy (IS) experiments were completed on core samples collected from a historical borehole drilled near to the MT profile. Part One of this thesis presents the results of these experiments, which support the proposition that the Whitehill and Prince Albert Formations are responsible for the laterally continuous, sub-horizontal, upper crustal conductor visible in the MT inversion model. Vitrinite reflectance studies were performed on the same samples by the Montanuniversität, in Leoben, these results corroborate the proposition that elevated organic carbon, of meta-anthracite rank, is the primary conductive phase for the Whitehill and Prince Albert formations. Part two of this thesis completed forward modelling exercises using historical aeromagnetic data previously collected across the Beattie Magnetic Anomaly. Preliminary models were unable to fit the geometry of any single magnetic model with conductors present in the MT inversion model discounting the proposition that the SCCB and BMA arise from a single crustal unit. Two constrained models were arrived at through an iterative process that sought a best fit between the measured data and the NVR crustal interpretations. The first model, proposes a largely resistive unit which incorporates portions of elevated crustal conductivity; these conductors are spatially correlated to crustal portions also characterised by high seismic reflectivity. The size of this modelled body suggest the likely host of the BMA is an intermediate plutonic terrane, analogous with the Natal sector of the Namaqua Natal Mobile Belt as well as the Heimefrontfjella in Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica, with magnetite hosted within shear zones. This is in agreement with previous studies. The second model proposes a lower crustal sliver imaged in the NVR data at depths proximal to the Curie Isotherm for magnetite and hematite as the source of the BMA. At these depths geomagnetic properties such as burial magnetisation or thermo-viscous remanent magnetism (TVRM) can potentially be linked to regional scale tectonic processes and can theoretically elevate a body’s net magnetic susceptibility. TVRM has been proposed for long wavelength crustal anomalies elsewhere.
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  • Date Issued: 2014

Modelling the spatial and genetic response of the endemic sparid: Polysteganus praeorbitalis (Pisces: Sparidae) to climate change in the Agulhas Current system

  • Authors: Isemonger, Devin Neil
  • Date: 2014
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/54509 , vital:26576
  • Description: The Scotsman Seabream, Polysteganus praeorbitalis, is one of several large, slow-growing members of the Sparidae family of fishes endemic to the Agulhas Current system in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO). Relatively little research has been conducted on this species despite its importance to both recreational and commercial line fisheries in South Africa and the drastic decline in catch per unit effort (CPUE) that has been recorded since the 1940s. Changing sea temperatures as a result of global climate change are further expected to affect the distribution and abundance of many fish species based on their thermal tolerances, life histories and population structures. The ability of these species to shift their distribution and adapt to new environments and thermal conditions will depend to some degree on the levels of genetic variation and gene flow, within and between populations. A combined approach using species distribution modelling and genetic analyses may prove to be a useful tool in investigating the potential effects of climate change on the distribution and genetic diversity of species. An ensemble species distribution model (SDM) based on 205 occurrence records and 30 years of Reynolds Optimum Interpolated (OI) sea surface temperature data was constructed to predict the distributional response of P. praeorbitalis to climate change in the Agulhas Current system. The ensemble SDM displayed a true skill statistic (TSS) of 0.975 and an area under the receiver operating curve (ROC) of 0.999, indicating good model fit. Autumn and winter minimum temperatures, as well as bathymetry, were the most important predictor variables in the majority of models, indicating that these variables may directly constrain the distribution of P. praeorbitalis. In particular, the southern range edge of this species appeared to be constrained by autumn and winter minima, with high model agreement on this range edge. Conversely, the northern range limit showed poor model agreement leading to a gradual reduction in occurrence. This indicates that this range edge may be constrained by other factors not included in the models such as species interactions. The ensemble SDM projected the current range of P. praeorbitalis to be 1500 km², smaller than the published range for this species. The model underestimated the northern range edge of this species by approximately 5° latitude when binary transformed. This is probably due to the rarity of this species in the landings of the Mozambican linefishery, which was assumed to be an indication of low abundance of P. praeorbitalis in these waters. The absence of a specimen to verify the published northern range edge of this species indicates that the northern range edge produced by this model is likely to be closer to the actual range limit of the species. A range contraction of 30% occurring at both the northern and southern edge of P. praeorbitalis’ range and range fragmentation occurring, towards its northern range edge by 2030, was predicted. These changes are modelled to be the results of cooling related to the intensification of the Port Alfred upwelling cell and of warming predicted north of the Natal Bight and in southern Mozambique. Genetic analyses of the nuclear DNA (nDNA) S7 intron 1 and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region genes were carried out using 118 tissue samples of P. praeorbitalis collected at four main localities: the Eastern Cape, Transkei, southern KwaZulu-Natal and northern KwaZulu-Natal. Analyses of genetic diversity levels revealed relatively low diversity in the mtDNA dataset (Hd = 0.488; π = 0.004) and moderate levels of diversity in the nDNA dataset (Ad = 0.922; π = 0.005). The low levels of diversity observed in the mtDNA dataset might be explained by a number of factors, including high variation in spawning success, the negative effects of over-harvesting, or a recent population bottleneck. The last explanation is supported by characteristic star-shaped haplotype networks and unimodal mismatch distributions displayed by both datasets. These results, in conjunction with a significant (p = 0.005) negative Tajimas D value (-2.029) in the mtDNA dataset and significant (p = 0.0005) negative Fu’s F statistic in both the nDNA (F = -26.5) and mtDNA (F = -11.9) datasets, provide strong evidence for a recent population expansion after a bottleneck event in this species. Spatially, mtDNA diversity was highest in the Eastern Cape and lowest in the middle localities, while nDNA diversity showed the opposite pattern. These results may be indicative of differences in the sex ratio between localities, possibly as a result of the protogynous hermaphroditism that has been postulated for this species. Although pairwise comparisons and exact tests of population differentiation revealed no significant geneticdifferentiation between populations in the mtDNA dataset, there was some evidence of low levels of differentiation in the nDNA dataset. This occurred for comparisons between the Eastern Cape and Transkei (Fst = 0.039; p <0.05), and the northern KwaZulu-Natal (Fst = 0.045; p < 0.05).. This might be the result of one or a combination of factors including the effects of the Port Alfred upwelling cell on dispersal and gene flow, or the possibility of more than one spawning ground for this species promoting sub-structuring. A SAMOVA analyses run on the nDNA dataset maximised variance by grouping the Eastern Cape and southern KwaZulu-Natal together and Transkei and northern KwaZulu-Natal together in two groups. This revealed no evidence of spatial structure (p = 0.36), with only 3.30% of variation explained by this grouping. The removal of individuals below the estimated length at 50% maturity in the nDNA dataset, in order to test for temporal structure, resulted in stronger evidence of differentiation between the Eastern Cape and all other localities: Transkei (Fst = 0.081; p< 0.05), southern KwaZulu-Natal (Fst = 0.031; p<0.05), and northern KwaZulu-Natal (Fst = 0.078; p< 0.05). This indicates that some temporal genetic structure may exist between age classes within this species. The differentiation observed between the Eastern Cape and other localities, coupled with the high percentage of private haplotypes in the mtDNA dataset in this locality, indicates that this area is where P. praeorbitalis is most vulnerable to the potential negative effects of climate change on its genetic diversity. However, the vast majority of this species genetic diversity appears to reside towards the centre of its range where it is most abundant and the lack of strong genetic structure indicates high levels of gene flow. In conclusion, while P. praeorbitalis is vulnerable to range loss as a result of climate change, its genetic diversity is unlikely to be greatly affected.
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  • Date Issued: 2014

Rehab is for quitters

  • Authors: Maharaj, Keshav
  • Date: 2014
  • Subjects: Creative writing (Higher education) Short stories, South African (English) -- 21st century South African fiction (English) -- 21st century English language -- Writing
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: vital:5972 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011901
  • Description: My collection has the common theme of addiction: addictive personalities strung across the pages. Not only the usual addictions such as the daily-ritualized beer or joint, but also the pain of addiction to anti-social habits, pathologies, forbidden love, etc. I try to capture the behavior and life that surrounds addictions too: relationships, rehab, criminal behavior, all sorts of abuse, etc. Some of the stories are heavy-handed, slapping the reader in the face, some are subtler. Some are told with lightness and humor, some with gravity.
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  • Date Issued: 2014

Some general convergence theorems on fixed points

  • Authors: Panicker, Rekha Manoj
  • Date: 2014
  • Subjects: Fixed point theory , Convergence , Coincidence theory (Mathematics)
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
  • Identifier: vital:5426 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013112
  • Description: In this thesis, we first obtain coincidence and common fixed point theorems for a pair of generalized non-expansive type mappings in a normed space. Then we discuss two types of convergence theorems, namely, the convergence of Mann iteration procedures and the convergence and stability of fixed points. In addition, we discuss the viscosity approximations generated by (ψ ,ϕ)-weakly contractive mappings and a sequence of non-expansive mappings and then establish Browder and Halpern type convergence theorems on Banach spaces. With regard to iteration procedures, we obtain a result on the convergence of Mann iteration for generalized non-expansive type mappings in a Banach space which satisfies Opial's condition. And, in the case of stability of fixed points, we obtain a number of stability results for the sequence of (ψ,ϕ)- weakly contractive mappings and the sequence of their corresponding fixed points in metric and 2-metric spaces. We also present a generalization of Fraser and Nadler type stability theorems in 2-metric spaces involving a sequence of metrics.
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  • Date Issued: 2014

The extent to which selected management accounting techniques are practised by SMEs in Nelson Mandela Bay

  • Authors: Korkie, Waven Merchan
  • Date: 2014
  • Subjects: Managerial accounting Small business -- Accounting
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/45792 , vital:38990
  • Description: The aim of this study is to investigate the extent to which selected management accounting techniques are practised by small-medium enterprises (SMEs) in Nelson Mandela Bay. Management accounting techniques can be described as the information and methods management use for decision-making in order to operate the business more effectively. Management accounting research has focused on large companies over the years. Limited research exists with regards to the practises of management accounting techniques within SMEs and the extent to which it is used. It is widely accepted that SMEs are an important part of most economies and contribute significantly in economic terms. This study outlines the selected management accounting techniques, and highlights the importance of management accounting within SMEs. This study appropriately considered a quantitative method, by using a self-administered questionnaire for the primary objective of the study. The designated population, who was surveyed, included the financial manager, management accountant or skilled accounting staff members within SMEs. Purposive sampling was considered, which consisted of the database of Nelson Mandela Bay Chamber of Commerce, Business Partners and Transnet, all of which work closely with SMEs in Nelson Mandela Bay. The study obtained 53 responses from 126 SMEs targeted. However, only 50 responses were usable. The main findings of the study reveal that SMEs are neutral with regards to the usage of the selected management accounting techniques, which means that to some extent the selected management accounting techniques are used, and to another extent it is not used. Conclusions with regard to the extent to which SMEs use the selected management accounting techniques, cannot be generalised, and further research is recommended. However, this research can be used as a basis for future research.
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  • Date Issued: 2014

Foraging ecology of Cape Gannets (Morus Capensis) at Bird Island, Algoa Bay

  • Authors: Green, David Bruce
  • Date: 2013
  • Subjects: Birds of prey -- Behavior -- South Africa -- Algoa Bay , Gannets -- South Africa -- Algoa Bay , Birds -- Breeding -- South Africa -- Algoa Bay
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: vital:10725 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020790
  • Description: The Cape gannet has undergone considerable population change and redistribution over the past 50 years. This has been linked to shifts in the abundance and distribution of their dominant prey, sardine and anchovy. Five breeding colonies, along the west coast of Southern Africa, have shown rapid population declines as a result of reduced prey availability. In contrast, a single colony (Bird Island, Algoa Bay) on the south coast of South Africa has, over the same period, grown fivefold and now supports approximately two thirds of the total population. Due to its conservation importance, and isolation from other breeding localities, it is important to assess the health of the Bird Island colony, and determine how foraging distribution relates to the environment to evaluate current measures of protection. This was achieved through two related studies; a long-term dietary analysis spanning 34 years, and a spatial foraging study, which related three years of tracking data to estimates of prey availability, oceanographic features and marine protected areas (MPAs). The results of the dietary study showed that the dietary constituents of Cape gannets breeding at Bird Island have remained similar over the last three decades, but the importance of sardine and anchovy has increased significantly. For sardine, in particular, this reflects an increased availability of this species (as deduced from hydroacoustic surveys) within the foraging range of the Bird Island colony. The dietary abundance of anchovy was found to be negatively correlated with that of sardine. Surprisingly,.the dietary abundance of anchovy was also negatively correlated with estimates of its availability based on acoustic surveys. The latter is likely to be due to sardine being a preferred prey item. Recent decreases in the dietary contribution of sardine (since 2005) suggest that this species is becoming less available to gannets, with profound implications in terms of nutrient gain associated with foraging. However, this has been mediated by an increase in the dietary contribution of anchovy, which now accounts for the vast majority of prey taken. Spatially, the foraging range of the Bird Island colony expanded during the three years of study, indicating an increase in effort. This increase was likely in an effort to track a distributional change of sardine and anchovy, which showed an apparent westward shift during the study period. There was, however, no evidence of birds tracking features associated with high productivity. This may have been partly due to anomalously warm conditions during the summer of 2012/2013, in which an absence of coastal upwelling prevented surface cooling. Nonetheless, low sea surface temperatures and high chlorophyll a concentrations do not seem to be reliable indicators of important Cape gannet foragingareas. Foraging effort was largely concentrated outside of MPAs, indicating that the current MPA network provides little protection for foraging gannets. This could change with the additional protection of the proposed Greater Addo Elephant National Park MPA expansion, as prey species are allowed to recover following the removal of fishing pressure. Overall, the colony appears to be in good condition as the diet is still dominated by live prey items, and the foraging range remains smaller than many of the colonies along the west coast. However, it is important that monitoring be continued, in particular with respect to changes in the availability of sardine and anchovy. Long-term shifts of these species out of the colony‘s foraging range could negatively influence the population in the future. This might be worsened by interspecific competition for prey resources. Considering the conservation importance of this population, maintenance of healthy prey stocks within the home range of breeding Cape gannets should be prioritised in order to prevent declines similar to those observed at west coast colonies.
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  • Date Issued: 2013

Hungry but silent: a content analysis of media reporting on the 2011-2012 famine in Somalia

  • Authors: Stupart, Richard
  • Date: 2013
  • Subjects: Famines -- Political aspects -- Somalia Somalia -- In mass media Famines in mass media
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: vital:3500 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006054
  • Description: This dissertation examines media coverage of the 2011- 2012 famine in Somalia by the websites of BBC News, CNN and Al Jazeera. Using both quantitative and qualitative content analyses, it asks why coverage of the famine began as late as it did, despite ample evidence of the coming famine. It further surveys the famine-related news reports for evidence of four paradigms through which the causes of famine can be understood; as a Malthusian competition between population and land, as a failure of food entitlements as conceived of by Sen (1981), as critical political event (Edkins, 2004), or as an issue of criminality (Alex de Waal, 2008). Findings include a dramatic silencing of victim’s accounts of famine, despite a reliance on their photographic images, as well as an overwhelming preference for Malthusian accounts of the famine. Late media coverage is explored via a new-values paradigm which links the sudden outburst of media coverage for the famine to a formal UN declaration, and suggests that this may have created a new elite-relevance to the event which did not exist before, and therefore making it of relevance to domestic publics.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2013

Movements of sub-adult sicklefin lemon sharks Negaprion acutidens in a remote Indian Ocean atoll

  • Authors: Filmalter, John David
  • Date: 2012
  • Subjects: Silky shark , Silky shark -- Habitat , Sharks -- Amirante Islands (Seychelles)
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: vital:5383 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018229
  • Description: The sicklefin lemon shark Negaprion acutidens is a large-bodied (> 3m) coastal shark species, widely distributed in tropical and sub-tropical Indo-Pacific waters. Despite its large size and wide distribution, very little is known about its movement behaviour throughout ontogeny. The primary aim of this thesis was to gain an understanding of the movements of sub-adult N. acutidens, in and around the St. Joseph Atoll, Republic of Seychelles, to facilitate the effective conservation of this vulnerable species. A total of 22 sharks (139 – 202 cm TL) were equipped with coded acoustic transmitters and passively monitored using moored acoustic receivers for a period of 20 month from March 2009 to October 2010. The use of passive acoustic telemetry arrays to study behavioural ecology has increased in popularity in recent years and been successfully applied to study a host of teleost and elasmobranch species in a diversity of habitats, ranging from sheltered estuaries to the offshore pelagic environment. However, the practicalities of designing an effective network of receivers to optimally monitor animal movements can be challenging. In this study the receiver array was optimised through a series of incremental steps to achieve an efficient design that allowed for the specific objectives to be addressed. The specific objectives of this study were to i) gain an understanding of the long term space use patterns and site fidelity of sub-adult N. acutidens within degree of use of the St. Joseph Atoll lagoon and surrounding habitats, and ii) investigate their short term behavioural patterns in response to natural rhythmic cycles. The important role the atoll plays in the sub-adult stage of this species was demonstrated by the very low numbers of detections outside the atoll compared to the very large numbers of detections inside the atoll. Over the course of a year the tagged sharks showed a high degree of site fidelity to the atoll, with 79 – 100% of the individuals detected during each month and 50% being detected on a near daily basis. This result provides testimony of the nursery role of the atoll and importance of these habitats in the early life history for this species. Individual area use was generally found to be restricted to the eastern part of the atoll incorporating a portion of the central deep lagoon and a nearby adjacent area of the sand flats. The movements of sub-adult N. acutidens on and off of the shallow flats surrounding the central lagoon (likely for foraging) were found to be strongly influenced by the tidal height and the diel cycle. Tagged sharks were found to utilise the flats more regularly when the tidal height was greater than 90 cm and particularly more so during the night and early morning than during daylight times. The combined results of this study expose the vulnerability of this species to rapid local depletion. Similarly, the effectiveness of spatial management measures, such as no-take marine protected areas is highlighted as an efficient tool for the future conservation of this species. In the St. Joseph Atoll in particular, the use of a multi-levelled protection approach, where the eastern portion on the atoll is completely restricted while the remaining area is utilized for non-consumptive tourism activities, could be highly effective. Future research should investigate changes in area use throughout the ontogeny of this species as well improve the understanding of the breeding site fidelity and population size of reproductive females using the St. Joseph Atoll.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2012

The effectiveness of internal newsletters: case study of Transnet Freight Rail's platform

  • Authors: Matshoba, Thembekile Phillinah
  • Date: 2012
  • Subjects: Newsletters , Business communication
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: vital:8420 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1015672
  • Description: The research is based on a case study of an internal newsletter, Platform. The objective was to obtain more information about Transnet Freight Rail employees‘ thoughts on its effectiveness and the effectiveness of internal newsletters by using Platform as an example. The treatise explored the perceptions of employees and Transnet in terms of the effectiveness of the internal newsletter as a communication tool as well as their attitudes towards the newsletter as an information disseminating medium. A mixed methods approach was used for analysis in this study. The first methodological paradigm took an interpretivist approach, focusing primarily on analysing the content of the newsletter. The second methodological design was based on the positivistic theory approach and utilised a survey by questionnaire. One hundred and twenty (120) questionnaires were issued to Transnet Freight Rail employees representing the three regions: Central Region, Eastern Region & Western Region and the Head Office of which 120 (100 percent) were received back by the deadline. Of these respondents 56 (46,66 percent) said that they find Platform very relevant as an internal newsletter. A further finding was that 68,33 percent of the respondents said Platform should stay as it is. About 58,33 percent of the respondents took 30 minutes to an hour to read the newsletter with ratings of 72,5 percent interested in communication from management, 65 percent in financial performance, 60 percent in news about people and 59,16 percent in departmental information. The main types of information required are about updates on business performance and safety news. The content of six editions of the newsletter was analysed. The newsletter editions used were from the latest one published counting backwards. The content of the newsletter varies in each edition and depends on the theme. There are similar themes that come up with every edition such as safety. The style of writing used is simple to ensure maximum understanding.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2012

The role of cluster centre principals in the Ohangwena education region in Namibia

  • Authors: Nghatanga, Ponny Haggai
  • Date: 2011
  • Subjects: School management and organization -- Namibia -- Ohangwena School principals -- Namibia -- Ohangwena Educational leadership -- Namibia -- Ohangwena Educational change -- Namibia -- Ohangwena
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
  • Identifier: vital:1748 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003632
  • Description: The Namibian Ministry of Education introduced the School Clustering System (SCS) in 1996. The system entails the grouping of schools into clusters to facilitate the sharing of resources and expertise. One school in a group is selected to serve as the Cluster Centre and the principal of the centre is identified as the Cluster Centre Principal (CCP). This has created a new level of educational leadership which is still relatively under-researched and the primary purpose of this study is to investigate the perceptions of this new role since it is perceived to be pivotal to the effective functioning of the cluster. This study is an interpretive case study of Cluster Centres in the Komesho Circuit in the Ohangwena Educational Region. Three data collection instruments were used, namely document analysis, observation and interviews. The collected data provided insight into participants' views on the role of Cluster Centre Principals (CCPs), which shed light on the challenges faCing the roles of CCPs. The findings revealed that respondents welcomed the decentralisation of an education system that involves cluster members and parents in decision making. Furthermore, the perceived role of CCPs is perceived as delegation through participative leadership and management approaches. This involves groups in teamwork to enhance the quality of teaching and learning. The study has, however, also exposed tensions surrounding the role and function of CCPs. This is partly because the role has not been formalised and is perceived as existing in a legal vacuum. This study will benefit the Cluster Centre Principals, Inspectors of Education, Advisory Teachers, non-governmental Organisations, the community and the Ministry of Education by placing the role of Cluster Centre Principals in perspective.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2011

Becoming a business journalist in Malawi: a case study of The Daily Times and The Nation newspapers

  • Authors: Manjawira, Ellard Spencer
  • Date: 2010 , 2013-07-17
  • Subjects: Journalists -- Malawi Journalism -- Study and teaching -- Malawi Journalists -- Training of -- Malawi Journalists -- Education -- Malawi
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: vital:3506 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007440
  • Description: In the past few decades, the proportion of business news compared to general news has increased tremendously across all media platforms in Africa. While the critical role played by business journalism is recognised, little is known about the people who write and report such news. Most studies on business reporting have tended to focus on analysing the content of business news, rather than the specific processes through which business journalists are socialized and trained. The findings of this study are drawn mainly from in-depth interviews with business reporters and editors at two leading newspapers in Malawi, The Daily Times and The Nation. Three major findings emerge trom the study data. First, business journalists vary in their educational and professional backgrounds, as well as the reasons for working on this beat. Second, the majority of them have no prerequisite formal education and training in business journalism and, therefore, have little knowledge and skills about what constitute good business journalism. Third, professionalism in the sub-field is constrained by a host of factors, influence of advertisers being the critical one. The study recommends that business reporting become an integral component of journalism education and training programmes to adequately prepare future generations of business journalists. In addition there is need for media houses to devise strategies to counter obstacles that business journalists face for them to effectively contribute to political economy debate. , KMBT_363
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2010

The presentation of the orphan child in eighteenth and early nineteenth century English literature in a selection of William Blake's 'Songs of innocence and experience', and in Charlotte Brontë's 'Jane Eyre', and Emily Brontë's 'Wuthering Heights'

  • Authors: Singh, Jyoti
  • Date: 2010 , 2013-07-18
  • Subjects: Blake, William, 1757-1827 -- Songs of innocence and of experience -- Characters -- Orphans Blake, William, 1757-1827 -- Criticism and interpretation Brontë, Charlotte, 1816-1855 -- Jane Eyre -- Characters -- Orphans Brontë, Charlotte, 1816-1855 -- Criticism and interpretation Brontë, Emily, 1818-1848 -- Wuthering Heights -- Characters -- Orphans Brontë, Emily, 1818-1848 -- Criticism and interpretation Orphans in literature
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: vital:2267 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005628
  • Description: This thesis is a study of the presentation of the orphan child in eighteenth and early nineteenth century English literature, and focuses on William Blake's Songs of Innocence and Experience, Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre, and Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights. It is concerned with assessing the extent to which the orphan children in each of the works are liberated from familial and social constraints and structures and to what end. Chapter One examines the major thematic concern of the extent to which the motif of the orphan child represents a wronged innocent, and whether this symbol can also, or alternatively, be presented as a revolutionary force that challenges society's status quo in Blake's Songs of Innocence and Experience. Chapter Two considers the significance of the child "lost" and "found", which forms the explicit subject of six of Blake's Songs of Innocence and Experience and explores the treatment of these conditions, and their differences and consequences for the children concerned. Chapter Three focuses on Charlotte Bronte's depiction of the orphan in Jane Eyre, which presents two models of the orphan child: the protagonist Jane, and Helen Burns. The chapter examines these two models and their responses to orphan-hood in a hostile world where orphans are mistreated by family and society alike. Chapter Four determines whether the orphan constitutes a subversive threat to the family in Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights and also explores the notion that, although orphan-hood often entails liberation from adult guardians, it also comprises vulnerability and exposure. The thesis concludes by considering the extent to which orphan-hood can involve a form of liberation from the confines of social structures, and what this liberation constitutes for each of the three authors.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2010

The tuba in solo and ensemble repertory : a critical perspective

  • Authors: Bower, Danel
  • Date: 2008
  • Subjects: Tuba -- Performance , Tuba -- History and criticism
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MMus
  • Identifier: vital:8515 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/759 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1012064 , Tuba -- Performance , Tuba -- History and criticism
  • Description: The topic of this research is to explore various aspects pertaining to the tuba and its role in music. The role of the tuba in modern performance practice is greatly dependent on the history of the tuba and the different roles that were fulfilled in the various eras. The study begins with an investigation into the most important predecessors of the tuba – the most prominent thereof being the ophicleide. The next field of study includes the role of the tuba in orchestras in different countries as well as the role that the tuba fulfills in various ensembles. There is a wide variety of brass instruments that were manufactured in the past and are still being produced today. Various improvements and adaptations of the tuba are listed and studied. Next the tuba is considered in its capacity as a solo instrument and the fact that the tuba can exist as a solo instrument is motivated. Even though it might not be evident that there are a large number of composers for this instrument, some of the most respected and influential composers of tuba music of all time are sighted in this study. Several famous and celebrated tuba players are mentioned and their accomplishments listed. Finally the three practical music examination institutions in South Africa are studied. Lists are compiled to assess the quality of the different examination options between these institutions and provide a suggestion of a preferred option.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2008
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