A cox proportional hazard model for mid-point imputed interval censored data
- Authors: Gwaze, Arnold Rumosa
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Statistics -- Econometric models , Survival analysis (Biometry) , Mathematical statistics -- Data processing , Nonparametric statistics , Sampling (Statistics) , Multiple imputation (Statistics)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Biostatistics and Epidemiology)
- Identifier: vital:11780 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/385 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1001135 , Statistics -- Econometric models , Survival analysis (Biometry) , Mathematical statistics -- Data processing , Nonparametric statistics , Sampling (Statistics) , Multiple imputation (Statistics)
- Description: There has been an increasing interest in survival analysis with interval-censored data, where the event of interest (such as infection with a disease) is not observed exactly but only known to happen between two examination times. However, because so much research has been focused on right-censored data, so many statistical tests and techniques are available for right-censoring methods, hence interval-censoring methods are not as abundant as those for right-censored data. In this study, right-censoring methods are used to fit a proportional hazards model to some interval-censored data. Transformation of the interval-censored observations was done using a method called mid-point imputation, a method which assumes that an event occurs at some midpoint of its recorded interval. Results obtained gave conservative regression estimates but a comparison with the conventional methods showed that the estimates were not significantly different. However, the censoring mechanism and interval lengths should be given serious consideration before deciding on using mid-point imputation on interval-censored data.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Gwaze, Arnold Rumosa
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Statistics -- Econometric models , Survival analysis (Biometry) , Mathematical statistics -- Data processing , Nonparametric statistics , Sampling (Statistics) , Multiple imputation (Statistics)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Biostatistics and Epidemiology)
- Identifier: vital:11780 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/385 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1001135 , Statistics -- Econometric models , Survival analysis (Biometry) , Mathematical statistics -- Data processing , Nonparametric statistics , Sampling (Statistics) , Multiple imputation (Statistics)
- Description: There has been an increasing interest in survival analysis with interval-censored data, where the event of interest (such as infection with a disease) is not observed exactly but only known to happen between two examination times. However, because so much research has been focused on right-censored data, so many statistical tests and techniques are available for right-censoring methods, hence interval-censoring methods are not as abundant as those for right-censored data. In this study, right-censoring methods are used to fit a proportional hazards model to some interval-censored data. Transformation of the interval-censored observations was done using a method called mid-point imputation, a method which assumes that an event occurs at some midpoint of its recorded interval. Results obtained gave conservative regression estimates but a comparison with the conventional methods showed that the estimates were not significantly different. However, the censoring mechanism and interval lengths should be given serious consideration before deciding on using mid-point imputation on interval-censored data.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
Adaptation choices, community perceptions, livelihood linkages and income dynamics for district producer communities surrounding Nyatana Game Park in Zimbabwe
- Authors: Taruvinga, Amon
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Game reserves -- Zimbabwe , Wildlife conservation -- Zimbabwe , Wildlife management -- Zimbabwe , Sustainable development -- Zimbabwe , Game farms -- Zimbabwe , Rural poor -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Agricultural Economics)
- Identifier: vital:11154 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/476 , Game reserves -- Zimbabwe , Wildlife conservation -- Zimbabwe , Wildlife management -- Zimbabwe , Sustainable development -- Zimbabwe , Game farms -- Zimbabwe , Rural poor -- Zimbabwe
- Description: This thesis explores human-wildlife interactions under community managed game parks. The thesis consists of an introductory chapter, study location chapter and four self-contained studies based on different samples from created clusters surrounding Nyatana Game Park, which make up the rest of the thesis chapters. Chapter one presents an introductory overview of wildlife management in Zimbabwe, specifically looking at human-wildlife interactions under CAMPFIRE projects, welfare dynamics and conservation implications for the surrounding communities who share boundaries with community-managed game parks. The chapter concludes by highlighting the challenges facing community-based wildlife conservation in Zimbabwe as well as the key concepts that will be the subject of the rest of the thesis. Chapter two presents the study location; it highlights the road map to the study area, starting with the provincial location, and indicates the specific districts from which respondents were selected. A brief agro-ecological summary of the study area is also presented; it looks specifically at climate, vegetation and a demographic data of the study area. Chapter three: Can game parks be trusted as livelihood sources? To answer this topical question, Chapter three explores livelihood adaptation strategies for households who share boundaries with Nyatana Game Park. Most of the community managed game parks, under CAMPFIRE principles in Zimbabwe, were established with the primary objective of generating revenue for the surrounding communities; this was done in the hope of using positive returns from game farming to promote the conservation of wildlife. Has this materialised in practice? Descriptive results from this study seem to suggest otherwise, where mixed farming and gold panning were the major livelihood adaptation choices reported by most households. The revenue from game farming was reported to be too low and inconsistent, to such an extent that the majority of the community regarded it as risky and unreliable. A multinomial logistic regression model for correlates of adaptation choices indicated that access to credit, markets, and extension may be some of the current institutional constraints inhibiting households from accessing off-farm sources for their livelihoods. In addition, household size, gender and age may enhance the adaptive capacity of households to move out of risky crop faming into other off-farm portfolio diversifications. The study, therefore, suggests that game parks, according to the evidence uncovered by the study, may not be trusted as a reliable and sustainable livelihood source. If local communities who share boundaries with game parks do not view them as reliable and sustainable livelihood sources, as concluded in Chapter three, how can they (local communities) be trusted to conserve them? To assess their perceptions of game parks, Chapter four presents a multinomial logistic regression model for perceptions of society on game parks using the African elephant as a typical example. The results suggest that Problem Animal Control (PAC) perceptions, livestock predation and issues of low and poor revenue distribution may be some of the critical perceptions capable of influencing surrounding communities to negatively participate in the conservation of wildlife. The results further suggest that using wildlife proceeds to finance observable local common pool infrastructure may positively influence the surrounding communities to conserve wildlife. The chief conclusion regarding game parks, therefore, was that the surrounding communities were in favour of the obliteration pathway, although minimal conservation perceptions were also available. Given the negative conclusions regarding game parks, as suggested in Chapters three and four, citizens would then wonder if any meaningful hope for community managed game parks exists. Chapter five probes the buffer zone livelihood link under community managed game parks, using evidence from the Nyatana Game Park. The binary logistic regression model results, for buffer zone participation and resource extraction combinations by surrounding communities, suggest that resource extraction may be market driven rather than focussing on domestic consumption. The study therefore concludes that the buffer zone livelihood link as currently practiced, though potential, may fail to address the livelihood expectations of the sub-district producer communities. The study therefore calls for extreme caution whenever the buffer zone livelihood link is considered, because several institutional and design conflicts exist within this dynamic. In Chapter six, the study further probed the buffer zone income dynamics for the sub-district producer community. The results of descriptive statistics suggest that the contribution of buffer zone activities to household income may be significant with a positive correlation to household agricultural income for communities who reside inside or close to the park (primary sub-district producer community). Using the Gini decomposition approach and Lorenz curves, the study concluded that a buffer zone income may be capable of contributing to more equally distributed incomes for rural communities who share boundaries with game parks. With respect to the correlates of household income, the results suggest that household size and age may negatively influence income from buffer zone activities, while gender may have a positive effect. This was also true for education and Livestock Units (LUs) with respect to income from self employment; the former positively and the latter negatively related. The results further suggest that land size may also be positively significant in order to explain income from agriculture as well as total income. With regard to the distance from the buffer zone, the results suggest a negative influence with respect to the buffer zone, agriculture and total income. The implied message therefore suggests that buffer zones may provide active livelihood sources which are capable of financing rural household agriculture. The income equalizing effect which is portrayed may also further imply that, if correctly targeted and promoted, a buffer zone income could possibly address the current income inequality which is generic in rural areas. However, this potential may not be realized due to the current buffer zone design status (created for local secondary use as opposed to commercial primary use), restrictive policies and poor institutional support. With this dilemma facing community managed game parks (threats as summarised in Chapters three and four amid the potential hope summarized in Chapters five and six), Chapter 7 concludes the study by suggesting that the human-wildlife interaction model, though currently theoretical, may have significant practical potential in addressing the livelihoods of the surrounding communities as well as promoting the conservation of wildlife. This could be possible if available challenges that range from low revenue, insecure property rights, high human-elephant conflict and institutional design conflict for buffer zone utilization are corrected by means of the free market system. This would allow market forces to deliver on the expectations of the ―human-wildlife interactions model‖ – sustainable livelihoods for the former and intergenerational conservation for the latter.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Taruvinga, Amon
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Game reserves -- Zimbabwe , Wildlife conservation -- Zimbabwe , Wildlife management -- Zimbabwe , Sustainable development -- Zimbabwe , Game farms -- Zimbabwe , Rural poor -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Agricultural Economics)
- Identifier: vital:11154 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/476 , Game reserves -- Zimbabwe , Wildlife conservation -- Zimbabwe , Wildlife management -- Zimbabwe , Sustainable development -- Zimbabwe , Game farms -- Zimbabwe , Rural poor -- Zimbabwe
- Description: This thesis explores human-wildlife interactions under community managed game parks. The thesis consists of an introductory chapter, study location chapter and four self-contained studies based on different samples from created clusters surrounding Nyatana Game Park, which make up the rest of the thesis chapters. Chapter one presents an introductory overview of wildlife management in Zimbabwe, specifically looking at human-wildlife interactions under CAMPFIRE projects, welfare dynamics and conservation implications for the surrounding communities who share boundaries with community-managed game parks. The chapter concludes by highlighting the challenges facing community-based wildlife conservation in Zimbabwe as well as the key concepts that will be the subject of the rest of the thesis. Chapter two presents the study location; it highlights the road map to the study area, starting with the provincial location, and indicates the specific districts from which respondents were selected. A brief agro-ecological summary of the study area is also presented; it looks specifically at climate, vegetation and a demographic data of the study area. Chapter three: Can game parks be trusted as livelihood sources? To answer this topical question, Chapter three explores livelihood adaptation strategies for households who share boundaries with Nyatana Game Park. Most of the community managed game parks, under CAMPFIRE principles in Zimbabwe, were established with the primary objective of generating revenue for the surrounding communities; this was done in the hope of using positive returns from game farming to promote the conservation of wildlife. Has this materialised in practice? Descriptive results from this study seem to suggest otherwise, where mixed farming and gold panning were the major livelihood adaptation choices reported by most households. The revenue from game farming was reported to be too low and inconsistent, to such an extent that the majority of the community regarded it as risky and unreliable. A multinomial logistic regression model for correlates of adaptation choices indicated that access to credit, markets, and extension may be some of the current institutional constraints inhibiting households from accessing off-farm sources for their livelihoods. In addition, household size, gender and age may enhance the adaptive capacity of households to move out of risky crop faming into other off-farm portfolio diversifications. The study, therefore, suggests that game parks, according to the evidence uncovered by the study, may not be trusted as a reliable and sustainable livelihood source. If local communities who share boundaries with game parks do not view them as reliable and sustainable livelihood sources, as concluded in Chapter three, how can they (local communities) be trusted to conserve them? To assess their perceptions of game parks, Chapter four presents a multinomial logistic regression model for perceptions of society on game parks using the African elephant as a typical example. The results suggest that Problem Animal Control (PAC) perceptions, livestock predation and issues of low and poor revenue distribution may be some of the critical perceptions capable of influencing surrounding communities to negatively participate in the conservation of wildlife. The results further suggest that using wildlife proceeds to finance observable local common pool infrastructure may positively influence the surrounding communities to conserve wildlife. The chief conclusion regarding game parks, therefore, was that the surrounding communities were in favour of the obliteration pathway, although minimal conservation perceptions were also available. Given the negative conclusions regarding game parks, as suggested in Chapters three and four, citizens would then wonder if any meaningful hope for community managed game parks exists. Chapter five probes the buffer zone livelihood link under community managed game parks, using evidence from the Nyatana Game Park. The binary logistic regression model results, for buffer zone participation and resource extraction combinations by surrounding communities, suggest that resource extraction may be market driven rather than focussing on domestic consumption. The study therefore concludes that the buffer zone livelihood link as currently practiced, though potential, may fail to address the livelihood expectations of the sub-district producer communities. The study therefore calls for extreme caution whenever the buffer zone livelihood link is considered, because several institutional and design conflicts exist within this dynamic. In Chapter six, the study further probed the buffer zone income dynamics for the sub-district producer community. The results of descriptive statistics suggest that the contribution of buffer zone activities to household income may be significant with a positive correlation to household agricultural income for communities who reside inside or close to the park (primary sub-district producer community). Using the Gini decomposition approach and Lorenz curves, the study concluded that a buffer zone income may be capable of contributing to more equally distributed incomes for rural communities who share boundaries with game parks. With respect to the correlates of household income, the results suggest that household size and age may negatively influence income from buffer zone activities, while gender may have a positive effect. This was also true for education and Livestock Units (LUs) with respect to income from self employment; the former positively and the latter negatively related. The results further suggest that land size may also be positively significant in order to explain income from agriculture as well as total income. With regard to the distance from the buffer zone, the results suggest a negative influence with respect to the buffer zone, agriculture and total income. The implied message therefore suggests that buffer zones may provide active livelihood sources which are capable of financing rural household agriculture. The income equalizing effect which is portrayed may also further imply that, if correctly targeted and promoted, a buffer zone income could possibly address the current income inequality which is generic in rural areas. However, this potential may not be realized due to the current buffer zone design status (created for local secondary use as opposed to commercial primary use), restrictive policies and poor institutional support. With this dilemma facing community managed game parks (threats as summarised in Chapters three and four amid the potential hope summarized in Chapters five and six), Chapter 7 concludes the study by suggesting that the human-wildlife interaction model, though currently theoretical, may have significant practical potential in addressing the livelihoods of the surrounding communities as well as promoting the conservation of wildlife. This could be possible if available challenges that range from low revenue, insecure property rights, high human-elephant conflict and institutional design conflict for buffer zone utilization are corrected by means of the free market system. This would allow market forces to deliver on the expectations of the ―human-wildlife interactions model‖ – sustainable livelihoods for the former and intergenerational conservation for the latter.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
Adherence to pre-selected infant feeding practices among mothers on the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV/AIDS programme in the Amathole region, Eastern Cape
- Authors: Yako, Elizabeth Matseliso
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Child care -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Child health services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Mother and infant -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Parenteral feeding of children -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Motherhood -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , HIV infections -- Children -- Transmission -- Prevention , Maternal health services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , AIDS (Disease) in pregnancy -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Nursing Science)
- Identifier: vital:11891 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1001091 , Child care -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Child health services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Mother and infant -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Parenteral feeding of children -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Motherhood -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , HIV infections -- Children -- Transmission -- Prevention , Maternal health services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , AIDS (Disease) in pregnancy -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Infant feeding in the context of HIV/AIDS poses a challenge among mothers. The implementation of UNICEF guidelines on infant feeding, which state that “when replacement feeding is acceptable, feasible, affordable, sustainable and safe, avoidance of all breastfeeding by HIV-infected mothers is recommended” (WHO, 2003:12) are not easy to meet. In more developed countries, where these criteria are met, almost all HIV-infected mothers have ceased to breast feed. Consequently, infants of mothers in these countries are less likely to be infected with HIV postnatally. In South Africa, more specifically in the Eastern Cape, infant feeding is a challenge as a number of UNICEF criteria cannot be met. The Eastern Cape is one of the poorest Provinces in South Africa, with a number of rural communities. Earlier studies have shown that, if mothers select either exclusive breast feeding or exclusive formula feeding, this reduces mother-to-child transmission of HIV. A limited number of studies on adherence to the method of infant feeding selected before delivery were found in the literature, hence the need for the current study. The purpose of the study was to explore adherence to exclusive breast feeding and exclusive formula feeding among mothers with HIV infection and to determine the problems that mothers may be facing in implementing their pre-selected methods.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Yako, Elizabeth Matseliso
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Child care -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Child health services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Mother and infant -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Parenteral feeding of children -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Motherhood -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , HIV infections -- Children -- Transmission -- Prevention , Maternal health services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , AIDS (Disease) in pregnancy -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Nursing Science)
- Identifier: vital:11891 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1001091 , Child care -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Child health services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Mother and infant -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Parenteral feeding of children -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Motherhood -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , HIV infections -- Children -- Transmission -- Prevention , Maternal health services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , AIDS (Disease) in pregnancy -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Infant feeding in the context of HIV/AIDS poses a challenge among mothers. The implementation of UNICEF guidelines on infant feeding, which state that “when replacement feeding is acceptable, feasible, affordable, sustainable and safe, avoidance of all breastfeeding by HIV-infected mothers is recommended” (WHO, 2003:12) are not easy to meet. In more developed countries, where these criteria are met, almost all HIV-infected mothers have ceased to breast feed. Consequently, infants of mothers in these countries are less likely to be infected with HIV postnatally. In South Africa, more specifically in the Eastern Cape, infant feeding is a challenge as a number of UNICEF criteria cannot be met. The Eastern Cape is one of the poorest Provinces in South Africa, with a number of rural communities. Earlier studies have shown that, if mothers select either exclusive breast feeding or exclusive formula feeding, this reduces mother-to-child transmission of HIV. A limited number of studies on adherence to the method of infant feeding selected before delivery were found in the literature, hence the need for the current study. The purpose of the study was to explore adherence to exclusive breast feeding and exclusive formula feeding among mothers with HIV infection and to determine the problems that mothers may be facing in implementing their pre-selected methods.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
An assessment of the formulation of permit conditions associated with environmental authorisations and implications for compliance monitoring
- Authors: Jennings, Patricia Jean
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Environmental impact analysis , Environmental management , Economic development projects , Licenses , Environmental monitoring , Compliance -- Environmental aspects , Environmental policy
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPhil (Environmental Studies)
- Identifier: vital:11873 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/437 , Environmental impact analysis , Environmental management , Economic development projects , Licenses , Environmental monitoring , Compliance -- Environmental aspects , Environmental policy
- Description: Environmental impact assessment is a widely accepted planning tool used in environmental management. Internationally it has been adopted as a formal permitting requirement for development projects in many jurisdictions. Historically the focus has been on the pre-decision making stages of environmental impact assessment. It has, however, been widely acknowledged that post-decision environmental impact assessment follow-up is an important component in confirming initial predictions, enabling responsible adaptive management of environmental impacts and ensuring compliance with permit conditions. It is this last function which is the focus of this study. Specifically, the role of permit conditions in enabling compliance and facilitating compliance monitoring is addressed. Permit conditions of twenty-one environmental authorisations were examined and tested for conformance with legislated requirements, and practicality of monitoring for compliance (monitorability). It was found that there are many contributors to achieving monitorable permit conditions. Amongst the most significant of these are conformity in interpretation of the regulations specifying permit content by officials, gaps in guidance on the part of the regulations themselves, and a tendency to focus on construction related impacts. The lack of clarity regarding the roles and functions of environmental control officer and environmental auditor further contribute to poor monitorability of permit conditions. Specific areas of shortcoming and best practice in the permit conditions analysed were identified and discussed. Finally, recommendations are made for the improvement of permit condition monitorability.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Jennings, Patricia Jean
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Environmental impact analysis , Environmental management , Economic development projects , Licenses , Environmental monitoring , Compliance -- Environmental aspects , Environmental policy
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPhil (Environmental Studies)
- Identifier: vital:11873 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/437 , Environmental impact analysis , Environmental management , Economic development projects , Licenses , Environmental monitoring , Compliance -- Environmental aspects , Environmental policy
- Description: Environmental impact assessment is a widely accepted planning tool used in environmental management. Internationally it has been adopted as a formal permitting requirement for development projects in many jurisdictions. Historically the focus has been on the pre-decision making stages of environmental impact assessment. It has, however, been widely acknowledged that post-decision environmental impact assessment follow-up is an important component in confirming initial predictions, enabling responsible adaptive management of environmental impacts and ensuring compliance with permit conditions. It is this last function which is the focus of this study. Specifically, the role of permit conditions in enabling compliance and facilitating compliance monitoring is addressed. Permit conditions of twenty-one environmental authorisations were examined and tested for conformance with legislated requirements, and practicality of monitoring for compliance (monitorability). It was found that there are many contributors to achieving monitorable permit conditions. Amongst the most significant of these are conformity in interpretation of the regulations specifying permit content by officials, gaps in guidance on the part of the regulations themselves, and a tendency to focus on construction related impacts. The lack of clarity regarding the roles and functions of environmental control officer and environmental auditor further contribute to poor monitorability of permit conditions. Specific areas of shortcoming and best practice in the permit conditions analysed were identified and discussed. Finally, recommendations are made for the improvement of permit condition monitorability.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
An assessment of the quality of family planning services rendered to adolescents by health workers at Mdantsane clinics, Mdantsane, Eastern Cape Province, S.A.
- Authors: Ndlebe, Siphokazi
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Health promotion -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Community health nursing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Public health nursing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sex instruction for youth -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Nursing Science)
- Identifier: vital:11892 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/407 , Health promotion -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Community health nursing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Public health nursing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sex instruction for youth -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Family planning services are rendered at no cost in all clinics in Mdantsane. Mdantsane is situated in the Eastern Cape and falls under Amathole District Municipality. The high rate of adolescent pregnancy in the area raises a question as to whether the family planning services are adequate. This issue reflects on the quality of family planning service delivery. According to Roux (1995:94), a quality service is a safe, easily available and readily acceptable service, delivered by well trained family planning personnel through well planned programmes. Aims and Objectives: To assess the quality of family planning service delivery by health providers to adolescents; determine the opinions of adolescents regarding accessibility, friendliness of staff, privacy, confidentiality, reproductive health information and resources at Mdantsane clinics from June to July 2009. Method: A questionnaire was designed to collect data. The questionnaire was administered on the adolescents utilizing the reproductive health services at eleven primary health clinics in Mdantsane. A sample consisting of 110 adolescent youth between 19 and 24 years was selected by using random sampling. A response of “yes” will indicate that the participant is satisfied with the specific item, while a response of “no” will indicate dissatisfaction with that item. A specially designed spreadsheet was developed to analyze the data. Data was analyzed by using the Microsoft Excel 2007 Version 6. Results: The results from this research study suggest that there is a definite need for improvement of adolescent reproductive health services at Mdantsane clinics. It is clear that the current available maternal and child health programmes, school health services and reproductive health services are not able to meet the adolescent sexual and reproductive needs. Conclusion: The research findings from this study indicated the constraints to good quality family planning health care service delivery. Satisfaction responses from the five categories: health facility amenities, accessibility, staff characteristics, availability of sexual and reproductive health services and availability of educational material accessibility were mostly below 70%. The responses regarding the question on the “full information about the available contraceptives”showed the least level of satisfaction. Deficiencies in physical facilities and equipment, disruptions in supplies, insufficient information provided to clients and providers‟ insensitivity to the feelings and needs of the clients are issues that discourage adolescents from utilizing contraceptive services. Recommendations: Adolescents need a safe and supportive environment that offers information and skills to equip them on all aspects related to sexual and reproductive health issues. To satisfy adolescent reproductive needs, the following key elements should be improved: accessibility of reproductive health services, friendliness of clinic staff, availability of information about reproduction and sexuality and maintenance of issues regarding confidentiality and anonymity. Quality requires the presence of trained personnel in well-equipped clinics where clients are treated courteously. To avoid issues of courtesy bias, there is a need to conduct a similar survey utilizing alternative community settings, namely homes of participants or a school.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Ndlebe, Siphokazi
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Health promotion -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Community health nursing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Public health nursing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sex instruction for youth -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Nursing Science)
- Identifier: vital:11892 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/407 , Health promotion -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Community health nursing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Public health nursing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sex instruction for youth -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Family planning services are rendered at no cost in all clinics in Mdantsane. Mdantsane is situated in the Eastern Cape and falls under Amathole District Municipality. The high rate of adolescent pregnancy in the area raises a question as to whether the family planning services are adequate. This issue reflects on the quality of family planning service delivery. According to Roux (1995:94), a quality service is a safe, easily available and readily acceptable service, delivered by well trained family planning personnel through well planned programmes. Aims and Objectives: To assess the quality of family planning service delivery by health providers to adolescents; determine the opinions of adolescents regarding accessibility, friendliness of staff, privacy, confidentiality, reproductive health information and resources at Mdantsane clinics from June to July 2009. Method: A questionnaire was designed to collect data. The questionnaire was administered on the adolescents utilizing the reproductive health services at eleven primary health clinics in Mdantsane. A sample consisting of 110 adolescent youth between 19 and 24 years was selected by using random sampling. A response of “yes” will indicate that the participant is satisfied with the specific item, while a response of “no” will indicate dissatisfaction with that item. A specially designed spreadsheet was developed to analyze the data. Data was analyzed by using the Microsoft Excel 2007 Version 6. Results: The results from this research study suggest that there is a definite need for improvement of adolescent reproductive health services at Mdantsane clinics. It is clear that the current available maternal and child health programmes, school health services and reproductive health services are not able to meet the adolescent sexual and reproductive needs. Conclusion: The research findings from this study indicated the constraints to good quality family planning health care service delivery. Satisfaction responses from the five categories: health facility amenities, accessibility, staff characteristics, availability of sexual and reproductive health services and availability of educational material accessibility were mostly below 70%. The responses regarding the question on the “full information about the available contraceptives”showed the least level of satisfaction. Deficiencies in physical facilities and equipment, disruptions in supplies, insufficient information provided to clients and providers‟ insensitivity to the feelings and needs of the clients are issues that discourage adolescents from utilizing contraceptive services. Recommendations: Adolescents need a safe and supportive environment that offers information and skills to equip them on all aspects related to sexual and reproductive health issues. To satisfy adolescent reproductive needs, the following key elements should be improved: accessibility of reproductive health services, friendliness of clinic staff, availability of information about reproduction and sexuality and maintenance of issues regarding confidentiality and anonymity. Quality requires the presence of trained personnel in well-equipped clinics where clients are treated courteously. To avoid issues of courtesy bias, there is a need to conduct a similar survey utilizing alternative community settings, namely homes of participants or a school.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
An investigation into the implementation of the basic antenatal care programme by midwives in Mdantsane clinics
- Authors: Dyeli, Nolwando
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Primary health care -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Midwifery -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Childbirth -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Midwives -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Pregnancy -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Prenatal care -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Pregnant women -- Health and hygiene -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Nursing Science)
- Identifier: vital:11897 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/425 , Primary health care -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Midwifery -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Childbirth -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Midwives -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Pregnancy -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Prenatal care -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Pregnant women -- Health and hygiene -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Basic Antenatal Care (BANC) is a way of training or upgrading the knowledge and skills of all nurses, midwives and doctors involved in antenatal care at the primary health care level so that the minimum care can be provided effectively. This study was conducted to investigate the implementation of the BANC program by midwives in the Mdantsane clinics during February 2009. Methods: A descriptive study design was undertaken targeting midwives providing antenatal care to pregnant women, in 14 clinics of Mdantsane. Data was collected from 25 midwives in the clinics, and from 140 ANC cards of women attending ANC on the day of their visit to the clinic. Results: The majority of midwives providing BANC in Mdantsane clinics were not trained in BANC. There were 10 trained midwives and 15 not yet trained. A total of twenty five midwives were involved in the study. The number of visits according to the BANC schedule was well known by the midwives in the study. The content of the visits was well known for the first visit, but for subsequent visits, the participating midwives could not state exactly what they do on these visits. They perceived BANC as something beneficial for both midwives and pregnant women with 24 of the participating midwives rating BANC as advantageous. In completing an ANC card, the midwives scored between 48 percent and 100 percent. Under examination, they scored between 52 percent and 100 percent. Lastly on interpretation and decision making, they scored between 0 percent and 92 percent. This could have troubling consequences for the health status of the mother and baby. Weaknesses in providing antenatal care identified in the study included participating midwives failing to fill in the last normal menstrual period (LNMP) and the estimated date of delivery (EDD), which was a worrying observation. Plotting of the gestational age at first visit was also not carried out well as only 47 percent of the midwives in the study did this, meaning that there would be a miscalculation of the gestational age thereafter throughout the pregnancies. The body mass index (BMI) was not calculated as the maternal height and weight were not written on the ANC card. This should be completed in order to check the nutritional status of the pregnant woman to help supplement, if malnourished, and educate on diet, if overweight. Only 17 percent of the midwives in the study plotted the foetal presentation. Failure to plot foetal presentation could lead to complications during delivery because women with abnormal presentations could end up delivering in a clinic instead of the hospital.Conclusion: This study showed that even though midwives are implementing BANC among pregnant women, it is not being carried out correctly. Therefore the programme will not be as beneficial as it would be if put into practice correctly. This is highlighted by the lack of knowledge from the untrained midwives regarding the content of care on subsequent visits. Thus there is an urgent need for BANC training to be conducted and monitored at various sites.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Dyeli, Nolwando
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Primary health care -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Midwifery -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Childbirth -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Midwives -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Pregnancy -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Prenatal care -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Pregnant women -- Health and hygiene -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Nursing Science)
- Identifier: vital:11897 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/425 , Primary health care -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Midwifery -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Childbirth -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Midwives -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Pregnancy -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Prenatal care -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Pregnant women -- Health and hygiene -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Basic Antenatal Care (BANC) is a way of training or upgrading the knowledge and skills of all nurses, midwives and doctors involved in antenatal care at the primary health care level so that the minimum care can be provided effectively. This study was conducted to investigate the implementation of the BANC program by midwives in the Mdantsane clinics during February 2009. Methods: A descriptive study design was undertaken targeting midwives providing antenatal care to pregnant women, in 14 clinics of Mdantsane. Data was collected from 25 midwives in the clinics, and from 140 ANC cards of women attending ANC on the day of their visit to the clinic. Results: The majority of midwives providing BANC in Mdantsane clinics were not trained in BANC. There were 10 trained midwives and 15 not yet trained. A total of twenty five midwives were involved in the study. The number of visits according to the BANC schedule was well known by the midwives in the study. The content of the visits was well known for the first visit, but for subsequent visits, the participating midwives could not state exactly what they do on these visits. They perceived BANC as something beneficial for both midwives and pregnant women with 24 of the participating midwives rating BANC as advantageous. In completing an ANC card, the midwives scored between 48 percent and 100 percent. Under examination, they scored between 52 percent and 100 percent. Lastly on interpretation and decision making, they scored between 0 percent and 92 percent. This could have troubling consequences for the health status of the mother and baby. Weaknesses in providing antenatal care identified in the study included participating midwives failing to fill in the last normal menstrual period (LNMP) and the estimated date of delivery (EDD), which was a worrying observation. Plotting of the gestational age at first visit was also not carried out well as only 47 percent of the midwives in the study did this, meaning that there would be a miscalculation of the gestational age thereafter throughout the pregnancies. The body mass index (BMI) was not calculated as the maternal height and weight were not written on the ANC card. This should be completed in order to check the nutritional status of the pregnant woman to help supplement, if malnourished, and educate on diet, if overweight. Only 17 percent of the midwives in the study plotted the foetal presentation. Failure to plot foetal presentation could lead to complications during delivery because women with abnormal presentations could end up delivering in a clinic instead of the hospital.Conclusion: This study showed that even though midwives are implementing BANC among pregnant women, it is not being carried out correctly. Therefore the programme will not be as beneficial as it would be if put into practice correctly. This is highlighted by the lack of knowledge from the untrained midwives regarding the content of care on subsequent visits. Thus there is an urgent need for BANC training to be conducted and monitored at various sites.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
An investigation of the atmospheric wave dynamics in the polar region using ground based instruments
- Authors: Khanyile, Bhekumuzi Sfundo
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Gravity waves , Atmospheric physics -- South Africa , Riometer , Gravity -- Measurement , Rossby waves
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Physics)
- Identifier: vital:11592 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/447 , Gravity waves , Atmospheric physics -- South Africa , Riometer , Gravity -- Measurement , Rossby waves
- Description: Abstract This study presents the characteristics of small-scale gravity waves in the mesosphere region as derived from the imaging riometer data at high altitude (~90 km) over SANAE (72˚S, 3˚W). Wavelet analysis and FFT (Fast Fourier transform) have been applied to extract short period gravity wave parameters for the year 2000. The horizontal wavelength, phase speed and observed period of gravity waves are typically 10-100 km, 5-60 m.s-1 and 3-60 minutes, respectively. The horizontal propagation direction is north-eastward throughout the year. This could probably be due to selective filtering by the zonal wind. Zonal and meridional winds in the region of the MLT (mesosphere and lower thermosphere) have been measured using HF radars at high latitudes in the southern hemisphere. Data from January 2000 to December 2003 have been used with the aim of investigating the characteristics of planetary wave activity at ~90 km. For SANAE and Halley stations, 2-, 5-, 10-, 16- and 20-day planetary waves are dominant in summer and winter. The results show the seasonal variations of the mean winds, which are caused by the internal variability of the quasi stationary planetary waves. Planetary wave coupling processes between UKMO assimilated and mesospheric data have also been investigated. The cross wavelet results show a strong coupling during winter months. The results suggest that planetary waves are generated at lower atmospheric heights and propagate upwards into mesospheric heights. However, not all observed disturbances in mesospheric heights can be explained by the propagation of planetary waves from lower atmospheric heights.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
An investigation of the atmospheric wave dynamics in the polar region using ground based instruments
- Authors: Khanyile, Bhekumuzi Sfundo
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Gravity waves , Atmospheric physics -- South Africa , Riometer , Gravity -- Measurement , Rossby waves
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Physics)
- Identifier: vital:11592 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/447 , Gravity waves , Atmospheric physics -- South Africa , Riometer , Gravity -- Measurement , Rossby waves
- Description: Abstract This study presents the characteristics of small-scale gravity waves in the mesosphere region as derived from the imaging riometer data at high altitude (~90 km) over SANAE (72˚S, 3˚W). Wavelet analysis and FFT (Fast Fourier transform) have been applied to extract short period gravity wave parameters for the year 2000. The horizontal wavelength, phase speed and observed period of gravity waves are typically 10-100 km, 5-60 m.s-1 and 3-60 minutes, respectively. The horizontal propagation direction is north-eastward throughout the year. This could probably be due to selective filtering by the zonal wind. Zonal and meridional winds in the region of the MLT (mesosphere and lower thermosphere) have been measured using HF radars at high latitudes in the southern hemisphere. Data from January 2000 to December 2003 have been used with the aim of investigating the characteristics of planetary wave activity at ~90 km. For SANAE and Halley stations, 2-, 5-, 10-, 16- and 20-day planetary waves are dominant in summer and winter. The results show the seasonal variations of the mean winds, which are caused by the internal variability of the quasi stationary planetary waves. Planetary wave coupling processes between UKMO assimilated and mesospheric data have also been investigated. The cross wavelet results show a strong coupling during winter months. The results suggest that planetary waves are generated at lower atmospheric heights and propagate upwards into mesospheric heights. However, not all observed disturbances in mesospheric heights can be explained by the propagation of planetary waves from lower atmospheric heights.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
Analysis of food value chains in smallholder crop and livestock enterprises in Eastern Cape Province of South Africa
- Authors: Muchara, Binganidzo
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Agricultural industries -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Food industry and trade -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Food supply -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Farms, Small -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Stochastic processes , Agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Business enterprises -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Livestock -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Crops -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Agricultural Economics)
- Identifier: vital:11158 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1000983 , Agricultural industries -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Food industry and trade -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Food supply -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Farms, Small -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Stochastic processes , Agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Business enterprises -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Livestock -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Crops -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The study was conducted in Mbozi and Ciko villages in Mbhashe Local Municipality of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Two irrigation projects in the area were studied. Consumers and agricultural commodity traders in Willowvale Town, Dutywa, Butterworth and East London were also interviewed. The major objective of the study is to profile and map cabbage, maize and cattle food value chains broadly, and to understand their nature, constraints and opportunities in smallholder agriculture. A multi-stage random sampling procedure was used in which the first stage involved selecting the local government areas. This was followed by the selection of the district and then the respondents. A total of 168 participants were sampled in the proportion of 82 smallholder farmers, 41 consumers, 26 hawkers and 20 agricultural commodity traders. Focus group discussions and key informant interviews were also used during the data collection process. Value Chain mapping was done using the commodity based approach. All value chains under study indicated that they are short and commodities were transacted in unprocessed form. As cabbages and maize move from the farm to retail outlets, value addition start to take place through transportation to the market and processing in supermarkets. The cattle value chain however does not have a forward linkage beyond the two administrative boundaries of the two communities. Less than 3% of the farmers traded livestock, and this was mostly through private sales to neighbours. The farmers‘ major goal in agricultural production is assumed to be an important aspect in lengthening the value chain. As such, results of a Pearson‘s correlation exercise indicated that there is a significant relationship at 0.05% level between goals of the farmers and the village of origin. Some factors that showed significance (p=0.05) in influencing farmers‘ goals are membership of an irrigation project and household sources of income. An analysis of determinants of technical efficiency at farm level was performed using the stochastic frontier model for cabbage, maize and cattle enterprises. The results showed that rainfall adequacy, input costs, market channels and quantity sold are important determinants of cabbage production efficiency. On the other hand, maize production efficiency is positively determined by market price, area under production and rainfall adequacy. Market related variables are major drivers of the cattle value chain efficiency and these include cattle prices, market satisfaction, market channel and farm labour.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Muchara, Binganidzo
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Agricultural industries -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Food industry and trade -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Food supply -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Farms, Small -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Stochastic processes , Agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Business enterprises -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Livestock -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Crops -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Agricultural Economics)
- Identifier: vital:11158 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1000983 , Agricultural industries -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Food industry and trade -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Food supply -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Farms, Small -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Stochastic processes , Agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Business enterprises -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Livestock -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Crops -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The study was conducted in Mbozi and Ciko villages in Mbhashe Local Municipality of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Two irrigation projects in the area were studied. Consumers and agricultural commodity traders in Willowvale Town, Dutywa, Butterworth and East London were also interviewed. The major objective of the study is to profile and map cabbage, maize and cattle food value chains broadly, and to understand their nature, constraints and opportunities in smallholder agriculture. A multi-stage random sampling procedure was used in which the first stage involved selecting the local government areas. This was followed by the selection of the district and then the respondents. A total of 168 participants were sampled in the proportion of 82 smallholder farmers, 41 consumers, 26 hawkers and 20 agricultural commodity traders. Focus group discussions and key informant interviews were also used during the data collection process. Value Chain mapping was done using the commodity based approach. All value chains under study indicated that they are short and commodities were transacted in unprocessed form. As cabbages and maize move from the farm to retail outlets, value addition start to take place through transportation to the market and processing in supermarkets. The cattle value chain however does not have a forward linkage beyond the two administrative boundaries of the two communities. Less than 3% of the farmers traded livestock, and this was mostly through private sales to neighbours. The farmers‘ major goal in agricultural production is assumed to be an important aspect in lengthening the value chain. As such, results of a Pearson‘s correlation exercise indicated that there is a significant relationship at 0.05% level between goals of the farmers and the village of origin. Some factors that showed significance (p=0.05) in influencing farmers‘ goals are membership of an irrigation project and household sources of income. An analysis of determinants of technical efficiency at farm level was performed using the stochastic frontier model for cabbage, maize and cattle enterprises. The results showed that rainfall adequacy, input costs, market channels and quantity sold are important determinants of cabbage production efficiency. On the other hand, maize production efficiency is positively determined by market price, area under production and rainfall adequacy. Market related variables are major drivers of the cattle value chain efficiency and these include cattle prices, market satisfaction, market channel and farm labour.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
Antioxidant activity and the quality of meat from goats and broilers supplemented with Moringa (Moringa Oleifera) leaves
- Authors: Qwele, Kumnandi
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Goats -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Chickens -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Meat -- Quality , Moringa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Animal Science)
- Identifier: vital:11803 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/469 , Goats -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Chickens -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Meat -- Quality , Moringa
- Description: The objective of the study was to determine the antioxidant activity (AA) and the quality of meat from goats and chickens supplemented with Moringa (Moringa oleifera) leaves. For the first experimental chapter, eighteen 9 months old Xhosa lop-eared, castrated goats with an average body weight of 14 kg were used. There were three supplements namely, Moringa oleifera leaves, sunflower cake and grass hay. There were six goats per supplement. The goats were slaughtered after 60 days of supplementation and the Muscularis longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) of the right side of each goat was used to determine fatty acid composition, total phenolic content (TPC), diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, 2, 2 azino-bis (3- ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic diammonium salt (ABTS) assay and reducing power assay of meat. Glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, TBARS) were taken as parameters to evaluate in vivo AA of the meat. For the second experiment, twelve male broilers were used in four groups of dietary supplementation. Three broilers were allocated per group. After slaughter, the breast muscle was sampled for total phenols, flavonoids, proanthocyanidins, TPC, ABTS, GSH, CAT, SOD, lipid peroxidation, ultimate pH (pH24), colour (L* (lightness), a* (redness), b* (yellowness)), WB-shear force and cooking loss. In both chapters Moringa leaves exhibited the highest AA. Meat from goats supplement with Moringa exhibited the highest AA. Meat from broilers supplemented with a mixture of Moringa leaves, broiler finisher and crushed maize, had the highest (P < 0.05) pH24 and L* values. Moringa can therefore be used to preserve meat without changing the quality of meat.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Qwele, Kumnandi
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Goats -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Chickens -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Meat -- Quality , Moringa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Animal Science)
- Identifier: vital:11803 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/469 , Goats -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Chickens -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Meat -- Quality , Moringa
- Description: The objective of the study was to determine the antioxidant activity (AA) and the quality of meat from goats and chickens supplemented with Moringa (Moringa oleifera) leaves. For the first experimental chapter, eighteen 9 months old Xhosa lop-eared, castrated goats with an average body weight of 14 kg were used. There were three supplements namely, Moringa oleifera leaves, sunflower cake and grass hay. There were six goats per supplement. The goats were slaughtered after 60 days of supplementation and the Muscularis longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) of the right side of each goat was used to determine fatty acid composition, total phenolic content (TPC), diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, 2, 2 azino-bis (3- ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic diammonium salt (ABTS) assay and reducing power assay of meat. Glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, TBARS) were taken as parameters to evaluate in vivo AA of the meat. For the second experiment, twelve male broilers were used in four groups of dietary supplementation. Three broilers were allocated per group. After slaughter, the breast muscle was sampled for total phenols, flavonoids, proanthocyanidins, TPC, ABTS, GSH, CAT, SOD, lipid peroxidation, ultimate pH (pH24), colour (L* (lightness), a* (redness), b* (yellowness)), WB-shear force and cooking loss. In both chapters Moringa leaves exhibited the highest AA. Meat from goats supplement with Moringa exhibited the highest AA. Meat from broilers supplemented with a mixture of Moringa leaves, broiler finisher and crushed maize, had the highest (P < 0.05) pH24 and L* values. Moringa can therefore be used to preserve meat without changing the quality of meat.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
Assessment of the antibacterial properties of n-Hexane extract of Cocos Nucifera and its interactions with some conventional antibiotics
- Authors: Akinyele, Taiwo Adesola
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Coconut palm , Microbial sensitivity tests , Gram-negative bacterial infections , Vibrio infections , Antibiotics , Hexane , Extracts
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Microbiology)
- Identifier: vital:11245 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/416 , Coconut palm , Microbial sensitivity tests , Gram-negative bacterial infections , Vibrio infections , Antibiotics , Hexane , Extracts
- Description: Cocos nucifera belong to the family Aracaceae (palm Family). The English name is coconut and it is used extensively as medicinal remedies against infections such as urinary tract infections, gastro intestinal infections, skin and wound infections. The in vitro antibacterial (including anti-listerial and anti-vibrio) properties as well as the evaluation of the combination potentials of the plant extract with six front-line antibiotics were evaluated in this study using standard procedures. The in vitro anti-listerial properties of the crude aqueous and n-Hexane extract of the husk of Cocos nucifera were carried out against 37 Listeria isolates. Twenty-nine of the test organisms were susceptible to the aqueous extract while thirty were susceptible to the n-Hexane extract both at the screening concentration of 25 mg/ml. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) values for all the susceptible bacteria ranged between 0.6 - 5.0 mg/ml. For the aqueous extract, average log reduction in viable cell count ranged between 0.32 Log10 and 4.8 Log10 CFU/ml after 8 hours interaction in 1 × MIC and 2 × MIC. For the n-Hexane extract, the log reduction ranged between 2.4 Log10 and 6.2 Log10 CFU/ml after 8 hours interaction in 1 × MIC and 2 × MIC. The time-kill characteristics of the two extracts suggest that at higher concentration (2 × MIC) and longer duration of interaction (8 hr), more bacteria were killed. In vitro anti-vibrio and antibacterial properties experiment revealed that of all the 45 vibrio and 25 bacteria strains that was tested, 37 were susceptible to the aqueous extract and 38 to the n-Hexane extract, while 17 were susceptible to the aqueous extract and 21 to the n-Hexane extract. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) values for all the susceptible bacteria ranged between 0.3 - 5.0 mg/ml. viii The time kill studies revealed that for the aqueous extract, average log reduction in viable cell count in time kill assay ranged between 0.12 Log10 and 4.2 Log10 CFU/ml after 8 hr interaction at 1 × MIC and 2 × MIC. For the n-Hexane extract, the log reduction ranged between 0.56 Log10 and 6.4 Log10 CFU/ml after 8 hr interaction in 1 × MIC and 2 × MIC. In the test for the combination interactions, the checkerboard method revealed synergy of 67% and indifferent of 33%, while the time kill assay detected synergy in 72% and indifferent in 28% of the combinations tested. The synergy detected was not specific to any of the antibiotics or the Gram reaction of the bacteria, and no antagonism was detected. We conclude that the aqueous and n-Hexane extract of the husk of C. nucifera contains potential broad spectrum antibiotics resistance modulating compounds that could be relevant in the treatment of infections caused by these pathogens. In addition, the husk which is being discarded as agro waste will opens up a vista of opportunities for utilization for therapeutic purposes
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Akinyele, Taiwo Adesola
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Coconut palm , Microbial sensitivity tests , Gram-negative bacterial infections , Vibrio infections , Antibiotics , Hexane , Extracts
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Microbiology)
- Identifier: vital:11245 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/416 , Coconut palm , Microbial sensitivity tests , Gram-negative bacterial infections , Vibrio infections , Antibiotics , Hexane , Extracts
- Description: Cocos nucifera belong to the family Aracaceae (palm Family). The English name is coconut and it is used extensively as medicinal remedies against infections such as urinary tract infections, gastro intestinal infections, skin and wound infections. The in vitro antibacterial (including anti-listerial and anti-vibrio) properties as well as the evaluation of the combination potentials of the plant extract with six front-line antibiotics were evaluated in this study using standard procedures. The in vitro anti-listerial properties of the crude aqueous and n-Hexane extract of the husk of Cocos nucifera were carried out against 37 Listeria isolates. Twenty-nine of the test organisms were susceptible to the aqueous extract while thirty were susceptible to the n-Hexane extract both at the screening concentration of 25 mg/ml. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) values for all the susceptible bacteria ranged between 0.6 - 5.0 mg/ml. For the aqueous extract, average log reduction in viable cell count ranged between 0.32 Log10 and 4.8 Log10 CFU/ml after 8 hours interaction in 1 × MIC and 2 × MIC. For the n-Hexane extract, the log reduction ranged between 2.4 Log10 and 6.2 Log10 CFU/ml after 8 hours interaction in 1 × MIC and 2 × MIC. The time-kill characteristics of the two extracts suggest that at higher concentration (2 × MIC) and longer duration of interaction (8 hr), more bacteria were killed. In vitro anti-vibrio and antibacterial properties experiment revealed that of all the 45 vibrio and 25 bacteria strains that was tested, 37 were susceptible to the aqueous extract and 38 to the n-Hexane extract, while 17 were susceptible to the aqueous extract and 21 to the n-Hexane extract. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) values for all the susceptible bacteria ranged between 0.3 - 5.0 mg/ml. viii The time kill studies revealed that for the aqueous extract, average log reduction in viable cell count in time kill assay ranged between 0.12 Log10 and 4.2 Log10 CFU/ml after 8 hr interaction at 1 × MIC and 2 × MIC. For the n-Hexane extract, the log reduction ranged between 0.56 Log10 and 6.4 Log10 CFU/ml after 8 hr interaction in 1 × MIC and 2 × MIC. In the test for the combination interactions, the checkerboard method revealed synergy of 67% and indifferent of 33%, while the time kill assay detected synergy in 72% and indifferent in 28% of the combinations tested. The synergy detected was not specific to any of the antibiotics or the Gram reaction of the bacteria, and no antagonism was detected. We conclude that the aqueous and n-Hexane extract of the husk of C. nucifera contains potential broad spectrum antibiotics resistance modulating compounds that could be relevant in the treatment of infections caused by these pathogens. In addition, the husk which is being discarded as agro waste will opens up a vista of opportunities for utilization for therapeutic purposes
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
Bioactivity and phytochemical analysis of Hydnora Africana on some selected bacterial pathogens
- Authors: Nethathe, Bono Bianca
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Helicobacter pylori , Medicinal plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Microbial sensitivity tests , Herbs -- Therapeutic use -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Plants -- Analysis , Staphylococcus aureus , Aeromonas hydrophila , Drug resistance in microorganisms , Plant-pathogen relationships
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Microbiology)
- Identifier: vital:11247 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1001063 , Helicobacter pylori , Medicinal plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Microbial sensitivity tests , Herbs -- Therapeutic use -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Plants -- Analysis , Staphylococcus aureus , Aeromonas hydrophila , Drug resistance in microorganisms , Plant-pathogen relationships
- Description: Abstract Medicinal plants have been for long remedies for human diseases because they contain components of therapeutic value. The growing problem of antibiotic resistance by organisms demands the search for novel compounds from plant based sources. The present study was aimed at evaluating the bioactivity and phytochemical analysis of Hydnora africana on clinical and standard strains of Helicobacter pylori (PE 252C and ATCC 43526), Aeromonas hydrophila ATCC 35654, and Staphylococcus aureus NCT 6571 in an effort to identify potential sources of cheap starting materials for the synthesis of new drugs against these strains. Ethyl acetate, acetone, ethanol, methanol, and water crude extracts of H. africana were screened for activity against the test organisms using the agar well diffusion assay. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC50) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) of the most potent extracts were determined by the microdilution method, followed by qualitative phytochemical analysis. Results were analyzed statistically by ANOVA one - way test. Different concentrations (200,100, 50mg/mL) of the methanol, acetone, ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts showed activity against S. aureus and A. hydrophila while for H. pylori, only methanol and ethyl acetate extracts were active; water showed no activity for all studied bacterial pathogens. Mean zone diameter of inhibition which ranged from 0-22mm were observed for all test bacterial pathogens and 14-17mm for ciprofloxacin. The activity of methanol and ethyl acetate extracts were statistically significant (P< 0.05) compared to all the other extracts. MIC50 and MBC ranged from 0.078 – 2.5mg/mL, 0.78-25mg/mL respectively for all tested bacterial pathogens. For ciprofloxacin, the MIC50 and MBC ranged from 0.00976 – 0.078mg/mL and 0.098– 0.78mg/mL respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between extracts (methanol, acetone, ethanol, ethyl acetate) and the control antibiotic (ciprofloxacin) (P> 0.05). Qualitative phytochemical analysis confirmed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, steroids, tannins and flavonoids in the methanol, acetone,ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts. The results demonstrate that H. africana may contain compounds with therapeutic potentials which can be lead molecules for semi-synthesis of new drugs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Nethathe, Bono Bianca
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Helicobacter pylori , Medicinal plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Microbial sensitivity tests , Herbs -- Therapeutic use -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Plants -- Analysis , Staphylococcus aureus , Aeromonas hydrophila , Drug resistance in microorganisms , Plant-pathogen relationships
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Microbiology)
- Identifier: vital:11247 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1001063 , Helicobacter pylori , Medicinal plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Microbial sensitivity tests , Herbs -- Therapeutic use -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Plants -- Analysis , Staphylococcus aureus , Aeromonas hydrophila , Drug resistance in microorganisms , Plant-pathogen relationships
- Description: Abstract Medicinal plants have been for long remedies for human diseases because they contain components of therapeutic value. The growing problem of antibiotic resistance by organisms demands the search for novel compounds from plant based sources. The present study was aimed at evaluating the bioactivity and phytochemical analysis of Hydnora africana on clinical and standard strains of Helicobacter pylori (PE 252C and ATCC 43526), Aeromonas hydrophila ATCC 35654, and Staphylococcus aureus NCT 6571 in an effort to identify potential sources of cheap starting materials for the synthesis of new drugs against these strains. Ethyl acetate, acetone, ethanol, methanol, and water crude extracts of H. africana were screened for activity against the test organisms using the agar well diffusion assay. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC50) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) of the most potent extracts were determined by the microdilution method, followed by qualitative phytochemical analysis. Results were analyzed statistically by ANOVA one - way test. Different concentrations (200,100, 50mg/mL) of the methanol, acetone, ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts showed activity against S. aureus and A. hydrophila while for H. pylori, only methanol and ethyl acetate extracts were active; water showed no activity for all studied bacterial pathogens. Mean zone diameter of inhibition which ranged from 0-22mm were observed for all test bacterial pathogens and 14-17mm for ciprofloxacin. The activity of methanol and ethyl acetate extracts were statistically significant (P< 0.05) compared to all the other extracts. MIC50 and MBC ranged from 0.078 – 2.5mg/mL, 0.78-25mg/mL respectively for all tested bacterial pathogens. For ciprofloxacin, the MIC50 and MBC ranged from 0.00976 – 0.078mg/mL and 0.098– 0.78mg/mL respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between extracts (methanol, acetone, ethanol, ethyl acetate) and the control antibiotic (ciprofloxacin) (P> 0.05). Qualitative phytochemical analysis confirmed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, steroids, tannins and flavonoids in the methanol, acetone,ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts. The results demonstrate that H. africana may contain compounds with therapeutic potentials which can be lead molecules for semi-synthesis of new drugs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
Cattle manure, scalping and soil wetness effects on some physical properties of a hardsetting soil and associated early maize growth
- Authors: Nciizah, Adornis Dakarai
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Soil formation , Crops and soils , Manures , Soil mechanics , Soil moisture , Soil stabilization , Soil penetration test
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Crop Science)
- Identifier: vital:11861 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/349 , Soil formation , Crops and soils , Manures , Soil mechanics , Soil moisture , Soil stabilization , Soil penetration test
- Description: Most soils in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa are shallow and are low in organic matter. Therefore these soils are structurally fragile and highly susceptible to inherent degradative processes like hardsetting. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of cattle manure, scalping and soil wetness on aggregate stability, penetration resistance and early maize growth in hardsetting soils. Glasshouse and field studies were conducted to determine the effect of cattle manure on aggregate stability and penetration resistance of freshly exposed topsoils by scalping at 0, 10 and 20 cm depths. In the glasshouse cattle manure was applied at 0 and 20 Mg/ha and matric suction was kept at ~ 30 and ~ 400 kPa; contrasting high and low soil wetness. Three soils were put in pots and arranged in a randomized complete block 3 2 2 factorial design. The field study was done at the University of Fort Hare research farm and the treatments were arranged in a split-plot complete randomized design with three replications. Scalping treatment was the main plot whilst the quantity of the cattle manure applied was the sub plot. Cattle manure increased mean weight diameter (MWD) by between 48% and 71% under glasshouse and between 18% and 33% under field conditions, depending on the soil wetting rate. Cattle manure reduced MWD when the soil under field condition was subjected to mechanical shaking. Soil penetration resistance decreased linearly, with increasing soil wetness but it rapidly increased with increase in matric suction up to ~200 kPa and thereafter the rate of increase reduced. In the glasshouse, all treatments had no significant effects on shoot dry weight but low matric suction increased root dry weight by 133%. Interaction of cattle manure and low matric suction reduced shoot length by 6%, shoot fresh weight by 25%, root surface area by 36%, root length by 5% and root fresh weight by 29% compared to the control. In contrast, application of cattle manure and high matric suction increased shoot length by 37%, shoot fresh weight by 136%, root surface area by 159%, root length by 94% and root fresh weight by 119%. In the field, cattle manure application increased root length density and shoot dry matter by 26% and 30% respectively. Cattle manure improved the stability of aggregates of the hardsetting soil under rapid or slow water intake conditions experienced during rainfall or irrigation. However, under field conditions cattle manure acted as a deflocculant and decreased the stability of aggregates when mechanical stress was applied. The effectiveness of cattle manure in improving maize growth in hardsetting soils was determined by matric suction.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Nciizah, Adornis Dakarai
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Soil formation , Crops and soils , Manures , Soil mechanics , Soil moisture , Soil stabilization , Soil penetration test
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Crop Science)
- Identifier: vital:11861 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/349 , Soil formation , Crops and soils , Manures , Soil mechanics , Soil moisture , Soil stabilization , Soil penetration test
- Description: Most soils in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa are shallow and are low in organic matter. Therefore these soils are structurally fragile and highly susceptible to inherent degradative processes like hardsetting. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of cattle manure, scalping and soil wetness on aggregate stability, penetration resistance and early maize growth in hardsetting soils. Glasshouse and field studies were conducted to determine the effect of cattle manure on aggregate stability and penetration resistance of freshly exposed topsoils by scalping at 0, 10 and 20 cm depths. In the glasshouse cattle manure was applied at 0 and 20 Mg/ha and matric suction was kept at ~ 30 and ~ 400 kPa; contrasting high and low soil wetness. Three soils were put in pots and arranged in a randomized complete block 3 2 2 factorial design. The field study was done at the University of Fort Hare research farm and the treatments were arranged in a split-plot complete randomized design with three replications. Scalping treatment was the main plot whilst the quantity of the cattle manure applied was the sub plot. Cattle manure increased mean weight diameter (MWD) by between 48% and 71% under glasshouse and between 18% and 33% under field conditions, depending on the soil wetting rate. Cattle manure reduced MWD when the soil under field condition was subjected to mechanical shaking. Soil penetration resistance decreased linearly, with increasing soil wetness but it rapidly increased with increase in matric suction up to ~200 kPa and thereafter the rate of increase reduced. In the glasshouse, all treatments had no significant effects on shoot dry weight but low matric suction increased root dry weight by 133%. Interaction of cattle manure and low matric suction reduced shoot length by 6%, shoot fresh weight by 25%, root surface area by 36%, root length by 5% and root fresh weight by 29% compared to the control. In contrast, application of cattle manure and high matric suction increased shoot length by 37%, shoot fresh weight by 136%, root surface area by 159%, root length by 94% and root fresh weight by 119%. In the field, cattle manure application increased root length density and shoot dry matter by 26% and 30% respectively. Cattle manure improved the stability of aggregates of the hardsetting soil under rapid or slow water intake conditions experienced during rainfall or irrigation. However, under field conditions cattle manure acted as a deflocculant and decreased the stability of aggregates when mechanical stress was applied. The effectiveness of cattle manure in improving maize growth in hardsetting soils was determined by matric suction.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
Characterization of village chicken health and management practices in the Amatola Basin of the Eastern Cape Province of South Afrrica
- Nyoni, Njongenhle Mhlanhlandlela Bernard
- Authors: Nyoni, Njongenhle Mhlanhlandlela Bernard
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Chickens -- Diseases , Chickens -- Health , Chickens -- Parasites , Chickens -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Animal Science)
- Identifier: vital:11804 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/561 , Chickens -- Diseases , Chickens -- Health , Chickens -- Parasites , Chickens -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Characterization of village chicken phealth and management practices in the Amatola Basin of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa By Njongenhle M. B. NYONI The majority of rural households in South Africa own village chickens which contribute significantly to their livelihoods. However, limited research has been conducted to characterize, understand and develop village chicken production in South Africa. This hinders the designing and implementation of village chicken-based developmental programmes that will benefit farmers in rural areas. Thus, it is imperative to initiate studies to describe village chicken production. This study was conducted to characterize village chicken production in Amatola Basin of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Baseline information was gathered using a questionnaire survey of 81 identified from 7 out of 13 villages using snowball sampling technique. Consequently, 20 households were selected to participate in a monitoring study (from July 2010 to June 2011) through purposive sampling. Most (60%) chicken flocks were owned by women and mainly raised to meet household food requirements. Some (28.4%) farmers occasionally sold cocks and hens to neighbours, at an average price of R50 (USD7.55) per bird, as a way of culling their flocks and generating income. However, village chickens were mainly kept for food security rather than for their terminal benefit of cash. Although, all chicken flocks were produced under the scavenging feeding system, most (96%) flocks were provided with supplementary feed and drinking water. A majority (93.8%) of households also provided some form of shelter for their chickens. The mean cock to hen to chick ratio was 1:5:15. On average, iii each household owned 17 (±2 S.E.M.) chickens, and hens had 3.3 clutches per annum. Chicks hatched and chickens received as gifts represented the flock entries, while exits included mortality, consumption, sales and gifts or donations, in that order. Generally, both exits and entries were more pronounced in the summer season than in other seasons. Most (81.5%) farmers experienced chicken losses due to predation and health related problems. Parasitism ranked high amongst the village chicken health challenges. During monitoring, the endoprasites identified included nematodes, cestodes and protozoa. Coccidia were the most prevalent endoparasites. The chickens were also infested with a variety of ectoparasites namely: mites, lice, fleas and ticks. The sticktight flea Echidnophaga gallinacean was the most prevalent species. Although ectoparasite infestations were most pronounced in summer, almost all chickens harbored one or more of these parasites throughout the study period. The prevalence and intensity of parasite infestations were significantly (P<0.05) higher in the summer season compared to the other seasons. This was followed by the autumn, spring and winter seasons, respectively. The majority (77.5%) of farmers resorted to alternative remedies, mostly medicinal plants, for treating diseases and controlling parasites. Medicinal plants were used because they were locally available, cheap and perceived to be effective. Therefore, village chicken production in the rural Eastern Cape Province is characterised by several challenges which counter the significant role chickens play in the livelihood of rural households.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Nyoni, Njongenhle Mhlanhlandlela Bernard
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Chickens -- Diseases , Chickens -- Health , Chickens -- Parasites , Chickens -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Animal Science)
- Identifier: vital:11804 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/561 , Chickens -- Diseases , Chickens -- Health , Chickens -- Parasites , Chickens -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Characterization of village chicken phealth and management practices in the Amatola Basin of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa By Njongenhle M. B. NYONI The majority of rural households in South Africa own village chickens which contribute significantly to their livelihoods. However, limited research has been conducted to characterize, understand and develop village chicken production in South Africa. This hinders the designing and implementation of village chicken-based developmental programmes that will benefit farmers in rural areas. Thus, it is imperative to initiate studies to describe village chicken production. This study was conducted to characterize village chicken production in Amatola Basin of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Baseline information was gathered using a questionnaire survey of 81 identified from 7 out of 13 villages using snowball sampling technique. Consequently, 20 households were selected to participate in a monitoring study (from July 2010 to June 2011) through purposive sampling. Most (60%) chicken flocks were owned by women and mainly raised to meet household food requirements. Some (28.4%) farmers occasionally sold cocks and hens to neighbours, at an average price of R50 (USD7.55) per bird, as a way of culling their flocks and generating income. However, village chickens were mainly kept for food security rather than for their terminal benefit of cash. Although, all chicken flocks were produced under the scavenging feeding system, most (96%) flocks were provided with supplementary feed and drinking water. A majority (93.8%) of households also provided some form of shelter for their chickens. The mean cock to hen to chick ratio was 1:5:15. On average, iii each household owned 17 (±2 S.E.M.) chickens, and hens had 3.3 clutches per annum. Chicks hatched and chickens received as gifts represented the flock entries, while exits included mortality, consumption, sales and gifts or donations, in that order. Generally, both exits and entries were more pronounced in the summer season than in other seasons. Most (81.5%) farmers experienced chicken losses due to predation and health related problems. Parasitism ranked high amongst the village chicken health challenges. During monitoring, the endoprasites identified included nematodes, cestodes and protozoa. Coccidia were the most prevalent endoparasites. The chickens were also infested with a variety of ectoparasites namely: mites, lice, fleas and ticks. The sticktight flea Echidnophaga gallinacean was the most prevalent species. Although ectoparasite infestations were most pronounced in summer, almost all chickens harbored one or more of these parasites throughout the study period. The prevalence and intensity of parasite infestations were significantly (P<0.05) higher in the summer season compared to the other seasons. This was followed by the autumn, spring and winter seasons, respectively. The majority (77.5%) of farmers resorted to alternative remedies, mostly medicinal plants, for treating diseases and controlling parasites. Medicinal plants were used because they were locally available, cheap and perceived to be effective. Therefore, village chicken production in the rural Eastern Cape Province is characterised by several challenges which counter the significant role chickens play in the livelihood of rural households.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
Climate change adaptation and economic valuation of local pig genetic resources in communal production systems of South Africa
- Authors: Madzimure, James
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Swine -- Breeding -- South Africa , Swine -- Feeding and feeds -- South Africa , Swine -- Genetics , Swine -- Nutrition -- Requirements , Climate change mitigation -- Environmental aspects , Swine -- Diseases -- South Africa , Commons -- Conservation --South Africa , Natural resources, Communal -- Management , Genotype-environment interaction -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Animal Science)
- Identifier: vital:11805 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/427 , Swine -- Breeding -- South Africa , Swine -- Feeding and feeds -- South Africa , Swine -- Genetics , Swine -- Nutrition -- Requirements , Climate change mitigation -- Environmental aspects , Swine -- Diseases -- South Africa , Commons -- Conservation --South Africa , Natural resources, Communal -- Management , Genotype-environment interaction -- South Africa
- Description: The broad objective of the study was to determine the economic value of local pigs in marketand subsistence-oriented production systems in communal areas of Southern Africa. Data were collected from 288 households to investigate farmer perceptions, effects on pig production and handling of disease outbreaks such as classical swine fever (CSF) in market- and subsistenceoriented production systems. The utilisation of local pigs in these market- and subsistenceoriented production systems in improving people‟s welfare was evaluated. Climate change was identified by farmers in these production systems as a major constraint to pig production hence an experiment was carried out in the hottest season to determine diurnal heat-related physiological and behavioural responses in Large White (LW) and South African local pigs. The same genotypes were used to determine effects of diurnal heat-related stress on their growth performance. Choice experiment was done to determine farmer preferences for local pig traits and implicit prices for these traits in CSF-affected and unaffected areas that were under subsistence- and market-oriented production systems. In this experiment, the importance of heat tolerance was assessed relative to other productive and climate change adaptation traits. Significantly more pigs were culled in the CSF-affected areas that were market-oriented (8.0 ± 1.76) than subsistence-oriented (4.1 ± 1.00) production system. The risk of parasites and disease challenges was high in subsistence-oriented production system and coastal areas. In both production systems, CSF was perceived as destructive since the culling of pigs affected pork availability and income generation. The high risk of disease outbreaks and threat of climate change caused farmers in subsistence-oriented production system to select local pigs for their adaptive traits while those in the market-oriented production system focused on productive imported pigs. Farmers (83 %) indicated that they wanted pig genotypes that were adapted to climate change effects such as hot conditions. Local pigs were found to have superior heat tolerance over LW pigs (P < 0.05) in terms of lower heart rate and skin surface temperature. Frequency per day and duration for behavioural heat loss activities such as wallowing, sleeping in a prostrate posture and sprawling in slurry were also lower (P < 0.05) for local than LW pigs. The superiority of heat tolerance of local over LW pigs was further confirmed by their uncompromised growth performance under high diurnal temperatures. The Pearson‟s product moment correlation coefficient between temperature and feed conversion ratio for LW pigs was strongly positive (r = 0.50; P < 0.001) unlike the weak and positive correlation for local pigs (r = 0.20; P < 0.05). There was a quadratic relationship between temperature and average daily gain (ADG) for both pig genotypes. The regression coefficients for ADG were higher (P < 0.001) for LW than local pigs. It was concluded that at high ambient temperatures, performance of local pigs was less compromised than for LW pigs. Although local pigs were found to be heat tolerant, results of choice experiment showed that this trait was not selected for relative to other traits. Keeping pigs that required bought-in feeds, fell sick often and produced low pork quality (eating quality based on farmer perceptions) negatively affected farmers‟ livelihoods more in subsistence- than market-oriented production system. Farmers in market-oriented production system derived more benefit from productive traits such as heavier slaughter weights and large litter size than subsistence-oriented farmers. Under the subsistence-oriented production system, farmers in CSF-affected areas placed high prices on adaptive traits than the unaffected areas. Subsistence-oriented farmers who were affected by CSF wanted a total compensation price of R10 944.00 (USD1563.43) for keeping a pig genotype with unfavourable traits when compared to R4235.00 (USD605.00) for their CSF-unaffected counterparts. Implicit prices for traits could not be determined for market-oriented production system. It was concluded that farmers in CSFaffected areas placed high economic values on pig traits than farmers from the CSF-unaffected areas. The findings suggest that adapted local pigs can be promoted in subsistence-oriented production systems while productive imported pigs and their crosses with local pigs can be kept in market-oriented production systems.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Madzimure, James
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Swine -- Breeding -- South Africa , Swine -- Feeding and feeds -- South Africa , Swine -- Genetics , Swine -- Nutrition -- Requirements , Climate change mitigation -- Environmental aspects , Swine -- Diseases -- South Africa , Commons -- Conservation --South Africa , Natural resources, Communal -- Management , Genotype-environment interaction -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Animal Science)
- Identifier: vital:11805 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/427 , Swine -- Breeding -- South Africa , Swine -- Feeding and feeds -- South Africa , Swine -- Genetics , Swine -- Nutrition -- Requirements , Climate change mitigation -- Environmental aspects , Swine -- Diseases -- South Africa , Commons -- Conservation --South Africa , Natural resources, Communal -- Management , Genotype-environment interaction -- South Africa
- Description: The broad objective of the study was to determine the economic value of local pigs in marketand subsistence-oriented production systems in communal areas of Southern Africa. Data were collected from 288 households to investigate farmer perceptions, effects on pig production and handling of disease outbreaks such as classical swine fever (CSF) in market- and subsistenceoriented production systems. The utilisation of local pigs in these market- and subsistenceoriented production systems in improving people‟s welfare was evaluated. Climate change was identified by farmers in these production systems as a major constraint to pig production hence an experiment was carried out in the hottest season to determine diurnal heat-related physiological and behavioural responses in Large White (LW) and South African local pigs. The same genotypes were used to determine effects of diurnal heat-related stress on their growth performance. Choice experiment was done to determine farmer preferences for local pig traits and implicit prices for these traits in CSF-affected and unaffected areas that were under subsistence- and market-oriented production systems. In this experiment, the importance of heat tolerance was assessed relative to other productive and climate change adaptation traits. Significantly more pigs were culled in the CSF-affected areas that were market-oriented (8.0 ± 1.76) than subsistence-oriented (4.1 ± 1.00) production system. The risk of parasites and disease challenges was high in subsistence-oriented production system and coastal areas. In both production systems, CSF was perceived as destructive since the culling of pigs affected pork availability and income generation. The high risk of disease outbreaks and threat of climate change caused farmers in subsistence-oriented production system to select local pigs for their adaptive traits while those in the market-oriented production system focused on productive imported pigs. Farmers (83 %) indicated that they wanted pig genotypes that were adapted to climate change effects such as hot conditions. Local pigs were found to have superior heat tolerance over LW pigs (P < 0.05) in terms of lower heart rate and skin surface temperature. Frequency per day and duration for behavioural heat loss activities such as wallowing, sleeping in a prostrate posture and sprawling in slurry were also lower (P < 0.05) for local than LW pigs. The superiority of heat tolerance of local over LW pigs was further confirmed by their uncompromised growth performance under high diurnal temperatures. The Pearson‟s product moment correlation coefficient between temperature and feed conversion ratio for LW pigs was strongly positive (r = 0.50; P < 0.001) unlike the weak and positive correlation for local pigs (r = 0.20; P < 0.05). There was a quadratic relationship between temperature and average daily gain (ADG) for both pig genotypes. The regression coefficients for ADG were higher (P < 0.001) for LW than local pigs. It was concluded that at high ambient temperatures, performance of local pigs was less compromised than for LW pigs. Although local pigs were found to be heat tolerant, results of choice experiment showed that this trait was not selected for relative to other traits. Keeping pigs that required bought-in feeds, fell sick often and produced low pork quality (eating quality based on farmer perceptions) negatively affected farmers‟ livelihoods more in subsistence- than market-oriented production system. Farmers in market-oriented production system derived more benefit from productive traits such as heavier slaughter weights and large litter size than subsistence-oriented farmers. Under the subsistence-oriented production system, farmers in CSF-affected areas placed high prices on adaptive traits than the unaffected areas. Subsistence-oriented farmers who were affected by CSF wanted a total compensation price of R10 944.00 (USD1563.43) for keeping a pig genotype with unfavourable traits when compared to R4235.00 (USD605.00) for their CSF-unaffected counterparts. Implicit prices for traits could not be determined for market-oriented production system. It was concluded that farmers in CSFaffected areas placed high economic values on pig traits than farmers from the CSF-unaffected areas. The findings suggest that adapted local pigs can be promoted in subsistence-oriented production systems while productive imported pigs and their crosses with local pigs can be kept in market-oriented production systems.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
Cover crop biomass production and effects on weeds and soil fertility in a maize-based conservation agriculture system
- Authors: Muzangwa, Lindah
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Cover crops -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Biomass energy -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Weeds -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Soil fertility -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Corn -- Yields -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Crop Science)
- Identifier: vital:11862 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/484 , Cover crops -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Biomass energy -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Weeds -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Soil fertility -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Corn -- Yields -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Low cover crop biomass production is a major obstacle to the success of conservation agriculture currently promoted as panacea to the inherent problem of soil erosion and loss of soil productivity in the Eastern Cape (EC). Therefore, this study evaluated cover crop management strategies for optimizing biomass production for better soil cover, soil nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertility, weed control and maize yields. The strategies tested are cover crop bicultures, selection of an adapted lupin cultivar and seeding rate, and the feasibility of rain fed winter cover cropping. The cover crop experiments were carried in rotation with summer maize between the winter of 2009 and summer of 2010/2011. Biculture trial was carried out by seeding oat (Avena sativa) and vetch (Vicia dasycarpa) at three mixture ratios and as sole crops under irrigation. On a separate irrigated trial, two lupin cultivars (Lupinus angustifolius var Mandelup & Qualinock) were seeded to a range of seeding rate, 40 to 220 kg ha-1. To study the feasibility of rain fed winter cover cropping, oat, vetch, rye (Lolium multiflorum), barley (Hordeum vulgare), radish (Raphanus sativa) and triticale (Triticale secale) were relayed into a maize crop in February, March and April of 2010. The irrigated trials were followed with SC701 maize cultivar, whilst the rain fed trial was followed with DKC61-25 maize cultivar. Bicultures gave higher cover crop biomass than sole vetch, increasing with an increase in the oat component of the mixture. Increased N and P uptake was observed with bicultures compared to sole oat, however, the levels were comparable to sole vetch. Sole vetch increased soil inorganic N and P at maize planting, whilst the slow decomposition by sole oat residue resulted in mineral lock up. Bicultured cover crop residues had intermediate decomposition rates and resulted in optimum levels of inorganic N and P for prolonged periods compared to sole crops. Weed suppression by the bicultures was comparable to sole cover crops. Biculturing technology significantly (P<0.05) increased maize grain yield compared to sole oat and the yields were comparable to those from sole vetch. For lupins, 206 kg ha-1 seeding rate gave the optimum biomass yield. Weed dry weights in both cover crop and maize crop decreased with an increase in lupin biomass. Comparable soil total N and inorganic P values at maize planting, were observed from plots planted to 120, 180 and 220 kg ha-1. Maize grain yield increased with an increase in lupin seeding rate. The study on rain fed winter cover cropping had most cover crop species’ biomass decreasing with each delay in planting except for radish, which increased. Vetch produced the highest amounts of biomass from February and March planting whilst radish had the highest biomass in April planting. The two species resulted in the greatest N improvement compared to the other species. Regardless of the grazing, the grass specie residues managed to persist to the next cropping season and the residue remaining were comparable to that of radish and vetch. Late-planted cover crops had the greatest residue remaining than early-planted, as a result, April planted cover crops provided better weed suppression than March and April planted. Vetch provided the highest maize grain yield (4005 kg ha-1) whilst all other species tested had comparable grain yields. The results suggested that bicultures could be grown to give sufficient biomass for both weed suppression and soil fertility improvement. Furthermore, increasing lupin plant densities improve its function as a cover crop with respect to weed suppression, soil fertility improvement and maize yields. The study also showed that for dry land systems, February and March planted vetch and April planted radish can provide the greatest biomass and maize yield improvement.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Muzangwa, Lindah
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Cover crops -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Biomass energy -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Weeds -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Soil fertility -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Corn -- Yields -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Crop Science)
- Identifier: vital:11862 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/484 , Cover crops -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Biomass energy -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Weeds -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Soil fertility -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Corn -- Yields -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Low cover crop biomass production is a major obstacle to the success of conservation agriculture currently promoted as panacea to the inherent problem of soil erosion and loss of soil productivity in the Eastern Cape (EC). Therefore, this study evaluated cover crop management strategies for optimizing biomass production for better soil cover, soil nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertility, weed control and maize yields. The strategies tested are cover crop bicultures, selection of an adapted lupin cultivar and seeding rate, and the feasibility of rain fed winter cover cropping. The cover crop experiments were carried in rotation with summer maize between the winter of 2009 and summer of 2010/2011. Biculture trial was carried out by seeding oat (Avena sativa) and vetch (Vicia dasycarpa) at three mixture ratios and as sole crops under irrigation. On a separate irrigated trial, two lupin cultivars (Lupinus angustifolius var Mandelup & Qualinock) were seeded to a range of seeding rate, 40 to 220 kg ha-1. To study the feasibility of rain fed winter cover cropping, oat, vetch, rye (Lolium multiflorum), barley (Hordeum vulgare), radish (Raphanus sativa) and triticale (Triticale secale) were relayed into a maize crop in February, March and April of 2010. The irrigated trials were followed with SC701 maize cultivar, whilst the rain fed trial was followed with DKC61-25 maize cultivar. Bicultures gave higher cover crop biomass than sole vetch, increasing with an increase in the oat component of the mixture. Increased N and P uptake was observed with bicultures compared to sole oat, however, the levels were comparable to sole vetch. Sole vetch increased soil inorganic N and P at maize planting, whilst the slow decomposition by sole oat residue resulted in mineral lock up. Bicultured cover crop residues had intermediate decomposition rates and resulted in optimum levels of inorganic N and P for prolonged periods compared to sole crops. Weed suppression by the bicultures was comparable to sole cover crops. Biculturing technology significantly (P<0.05) increased maize grain yield compared to sole oat and the yields were comparable to those from sole vetch. For lupins, 206 kg ha-1 seeding rate gave the optimum biomass yield. Weed dry weights in both cover crop and maize crop decreased with an increase in lupin biomass. Comparable soil total N and inorganic P values at maize planting, were observed from plots planted to 120, 180 and 220 kg ha-1. Maize grain yield increased with an increase in lupin seeding rate. The study on rain fed winter cover cropping had most cover crop species’ biomass decreasing with each delay in planting except for radish, which increased. Vetch produced the highest amounts of biomass from February and March planting whilst radish had the highest biomass in April planting. The two species resulted in the greatest N improvement compared to the other species. Regardless of the grazing, the grass specie residues managed to persist to the next cropping season and the residue remaining were comparable to that of radish and vetch. Late-planted cover crops had the greatest residue remaining than early-planted, as a result, April planted cover crops provided better weed suppression than March and April planted. Vetch provided the highest maize grain yield (4005 kg ha-1) whilst all other species tested had comparable grain yields. The results suggested that bicultures could be grown to give sufficient biomass for both weed suppression and soil fertility improvement. Furthermore, increasing lupin plant densities improve its function as a cover crop with respect to weed suppression, soil fertility improvement and maize yields. The study also showed that for dry land systems, February and March planted vetch and April planted radish can provide the greatest biomass and maize yield improvement.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
Desegregation and socio-spatial integration in residential suburbs in East London, South Africa (1993-2008)
- Authors: Bwalya, John
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: City planning -- South Africa -- East London , Apartheid -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Migration, Internal -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Geography)
- Identifier: vital:11504 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/336 , City planning -- South Africa -- East London , Apartheid -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Migration, Internal -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: This study used integration as the overarching conceptual framework to investigate socio-spatial integration in post-apartheid South Africa. The study adopted the embedded case study design to investigate the spatial and social aspects of integration in former white residential suburbs in East London, South Africa. Recognising that integration occurred in different registers, this study used data from the South African Property Transfer Guide (SAPTG) database to investigate spatial-temporal integration in East London‟s residential suburbs from 1993 to 2008. A total of 21,683 residential property transfers were reviewed in 46 suburbs, and transfers to Blacks were identified. The residential property transfers were mapped to identify the nature of spatial integration. To investigate social integration, in-depth personal interviews were conducted on a purposively drawn sample of residents in the three case study suburbs of Southernwood, Cambridge and Gonubie. The interviews focused on three proxy indicators of social capital at neighbourhood level. The results of the study showed that post-apartheid spatial integration in East London closely followed the class-based residential template. Contrary to predictions prior to, and following apartheid‟s demise, the study showed that spatial integration occurred without racial conflicts. The study also found that social integration in the residential suburbs reflected the neighbourhood context and personal preferences, and was highly fluid. Although feelings of racial distance were evident, there were also indications of social cohesion, which were dynamic and uneven in time and space. Based on the data and the dialectical nature of spatial and social integration, the study concluded that fragmentation and integration are likely to continue coexisting in the South African city.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Bwalya, John
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: City planning -- South Africa -- East London , Apartheid -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Migration, Internal -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Geography)
- Identifier: vital:11504 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/336 , City planning -- South Africa -- East London , Apartheid -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Migration, Internal -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: This study used integration as the overarching conceptual framework to investigate socio-spatial integration in post-apartheid South Africa. The study adopted the embedded case study design to investigate the spatial and social aspects of integration in former white residential suburbs in East London, South Africa. Recognising that integration occurred in different registers, this study used data from the South African Property Transfer Guide (SAPTG) database to investigate spatial-temporal integration in East London‟s residential suburbs from 1993 to 2008. A total of 21,683 residential property transfers were reviewed in 46 suburbs, and transfers to Blacks were identified. The residential property transfers were mapped to identify the nature of spatial integration. To investigate social integration, in-depth personal interviews were conducted on a purposively drawn sample of residents in the three case study suburbs of Southernwood, Cambridge and Gonubie. The interviews focused on three proxy indicators of social capital at neighbourhood level. The results of the study showed that post-apartheid spatial integration in East London closely followed the class-based residential template. Contrary to predictions prior to, and following apartheid‟s demise, the study showed that spatial integration occurred without racial conflicts. The study also found that social integration in the residential suburbs reflected the neighbourhood context and personal preferences, and was highly fluid. Although feelings of racial distance were evident, there were also indications of social cohesion, which were dynamic and uneven in time and space. Based on the data and the dialectical nature of spatial and social integration, the study concluded that fragmentation and integration are likely to continue coexisting in the South African city.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
Developing a help-desk system for a multi-purpose ICT platform in a marginalised setting
- Authors: Makombe, Farai
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Computer industry -- Customer services , Rural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Case-based reasoning , Telecommunication -- Technological innovations
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Computer Science)
- Identifier: vital:11381 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/315 , Computer industry -- Customer services , Rural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Case-based reasoning , Telecommunication -- Technological innovations
- Description: Attempts to bridge the digital divide between urban and rural Information and Communications Technology (ICT) users have led to the deployment of ICT platforms in remote rural areas. This puts an increased demand for skilled support in rural ICT platforms to assist users in resolving technical problems that they face on a daily basis. A web based help desk system is developed and implemented to allow knowledge sharing and collaboration amongst users and experts as a way of ensuring the technical sustainability of the Siyakhula Living Lab, a remote rural based Information and Communications Technology (ICT4D) intervention. The research describes the use of Transactional and Innovation & Creative knowledge management strategies and their associated applications such as case-based reasoning (CBR) methods and collaborative knowledge approaches to develop a help desk support system for a geographically distributed multipurpose ICT centre in Dwesa, a rural remote area in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The system implemented in this study has been validated for functional adequacy and usability within the Siyakhula Living Lab. The results of the evaluation are presented in this thesis to provide the initial validation of the effectiveness of the help desk system. Keywords: ICT4D, ICT, Case-Based Reasoning; Collaborative Knowledge, Technical Sustainability, Help Desk Systems, Siyakhula Living Lab Forums, Issue Tracking, Rural Users, South Africa
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Makombe, Farai
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Computer industry -- Customer services , Rural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Case-based reasoning , Telecommunication -- Technological innovations
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Computer Science)
- Identifier: vital:11381 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/315 , Computer industry -- Customer services , Rural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Case-based reasoning , Telecommunication -- Technological innovations
- Description: Attempts to bridge the digital divide between urban and rural Information and Communications Technology (ICT) users have led to the deployment of ICT platforms in remote rural areas. This puts an increased demand for skilled support in rural ICT platforms to assist users in resolving technical problems that they face on a daily basis. A web based help desk system is developed and implemented to allow knowledge sharing and collaboration amongst users and experts as a way of ensuring the technical sustainability of the Siyakhula Living Lab, a remote rural based Information and Communications Technology (ICT4D) intervention. The research describes the use of Transactional and Innovation & Creative knowledge management strategies and their associated applications such as case-based reasoning (CBR) methods and collaborative knowledge approaches to develop a help desk support system for a geographically distributed multipurpose ICT centre in Dwesa, a rural remote area in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The system implemented in this study has been validated for functional adequacy and usability within the Siyakhula Living Lab. The results of the evaluation are presented in this thesis to provide the initial validation of the effectiveness of the help desk system. Keywords: ICT4D, ICT, Case-Based Reasoning; Collaborative Knowledge, Technical Sustainability, Help Desk Systems, Siyakhula Living Lab Forums, Issue Tracking, Rural Users, South Africa
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
Development of an M-Payment system prototype for a marginalized region (Dwesa case study)
- Authors: Mpofu, Handsome C
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Digital divide -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Electronic commerce -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Mobile communication systems -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Home banking services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Computer Science)
- Identifier: vital:11387 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/458 , Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Digital divide -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Electronic commerce -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Mobile communication systems -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Home banking services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Wireless technologies, such as Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) and Wireless Fidelity (WiFi), are making it easier to provide the much needed telecommunications infrastructure in marginalized areas worldwide. These technologies enable the rapid deployment of network services as well as their redistribution throughout these marginalized areas. The ability to bring Internet connectivity to previously underserviced and marginalized areas has the potential to leap-frog socio-economic development and improve participation in the global knowledge economy. This study investigated how wireless access technologies, such as WiMAX and WiFi, can be integrated and used to deliver ubiquitous distributed Internet connectivity with increased capillarity in rural areas. The research was undertaken within an ICT for Development (ICT4D) intervention called Siyakhula Living Lab (SLL) which is based in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The research further eliminated the accessibility constraints associated with long distances and remoteness from the Digital Access Nodes (DANs) and provided increased penetration in the network in contrast to the traditional Telecentre model which has been used extensively in ICT4D interventions. This was achieved by deploying WiFi hotspots around the DANs and extending the existing SLL WiMAX backbone to increase the network footprint to neighboring communities. The technical result of the research has been the provision of increased capillarity on the network and service redistribution throughout the entire Dwesa community. Consequently, this has given local community members an opportunity to access network services easily and ubiquitously. Finally, the research investigated and presented the benefits of such wireless network deployment configurations on ICT4D activities in marginalized areas.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Mpofu, Handsome C
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Digital divide -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Electronic commerce -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Mobile communication systems -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Home banking services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Computer Science)
- Identifier: vital:11387 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/458 , Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Digital divide -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Electronic commerce -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Mobile communication systems -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Home banking services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Wireless technologies, such as Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) and Wireless Fidelity (WiFi), are making it easier to provide the much needed telecommunications infrastructure in marginalized areas worldwide. These technologies enable the rapid deployment of network services as well as their redistribution throughout these marginalized areas. The ability to bring Internet connectivity to previously underserviced and marginalized areas has the potential to leap-frog socio-economic development and improve participation in the global knowledge economy. This study investigated how wireless access technologies, such as WiMAX and WiFi, can be integrated and used to deliver ubiquitous distributed Internet connectivity with increased capillarity in rural areas. The research was undertaken within an ICT for Development (ICT4D) intervention called Siyakhula Living Lab (SLL) which is based in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The research further eliminated the accessibility constraints associated with long distances and remoteness from the Digital Access Nodes (DANs) and provided increased penetration in the network in contrast to the traditional Telecentre model which has been used extensively in ICT4D interventions. This was achieved by deploying WiFi hotspots around the DANs and extending the existing SLL WiMAX backbone to increase the network footprint to neighboring communities. The technical result of the research has been the provision of increased capillarity on the network and service redistribution throughout the entire Dwesa community. Consequently, this has given local community members an opportunity to access network services easily and ubiquitously. Finally, the research investigated and presented the benefits of such wireless network deployment configurations on ICT4D activities in marginalized areas.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
Development of isiXhosa text-to-speech modules to support e-Services in marginalized rural areas
- Authors: Mhlana, Siphe
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Xhosa language -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Text processing (Computer science) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Literacy -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Digital divide -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Mobile communication systems -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Transmission of texts -- Data processing , Electronic publishing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Computer Science)
- Identifier: vital:11388 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/495 , Xhosa language -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Text processing (Computer science) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Literacy -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Digital divide -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Mobile communication systems -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Transmission of texts -- Data processing , Electronic publishing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Information and Communication Technology (ICT) projects are being initiated and deployed in marginalized areas to help improve the standard of living for community members. This has lead to a new field, which is responsible for information processing and knowledge development in rural areas, called Information and Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D). An ICT4D projects has been implemented in a marginalized area called Dwesa; this is a rural area situated in the wild coast of the former homelandof Transkei, in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. In this rural community there are e-Service projects which have been developed and deployed to support the already existent ICT infrastructure. Some of these projects include the e-Commerce platform, e-Judiciary service, e-Health and e-Government portal. Although these projects are deployed in this area, community members face a language and literacy barrier because these services are typically accessed through English textual interfaces. This becomes a challenge because their language of communication is isiXhosa and some of the community members are illiterate. Most of the rural areas consist of illiterate people who cannot read and write isiXhosa but can only speak the language. This problem of illiteracy in rural areas affects both the youth and the elderly. This research seeks to design, develop and implement software modules that can be used to convert isiXhosa text into natural sounding isiXhosa speech. Such an application is called a Text-to-Speech (TTS) system. The main objective of this research is to improve ICT4D eServices’ usability through the development of an isiXhosa Text-to-Speech system. This research is undertaken within the context of Siyakhula Living Lab (SLL), an ICT4D intervention towards improving the lives of rural communities of South Africa in an attempt to bridge the digital divide. Thedeveloped TTS modules were subsequently tested to determine their applicability to improve eServices usability. The results show acceptable levels of usability as having produced audio utterances for the isiXhosa Text-To-Speech system for marginalized areas.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Mhlana, Siphe
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Xhosa language -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Text processing (Computer science) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Literacy -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Digital divide -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Mobile communication systems -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Transmission of texts -- Data processing , Electronic publishing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Computer Science)
- Identifier: vital:11388 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/495 , Xhosa language -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Text processing (Computer science) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Literacy -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Digital divide -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Mobile communication systems -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Transmission of texts -- Data processing , Electronic publishing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Information and Communication Technology (ICT) projects are being initiated and deployed in marginalized areas to help improve the standard of living for community members. This has lead to a new field, which is responsible for information processing and knowledge development in rural areas, called Information and Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D). An ICT4D projects has been implemented in a marginalized area called Dwesa; this is a rural area situated in the wild coast of the former homelandof Transkei, in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. In this rural community there are e-Service projects which have been developed and deployed to support the already existent ICT infrastructure. Some of these projects include the e-Commerce platform, e-Judiciary service, e-Health and e-Government portal. Although these projects are deployed in this area, community members face a language and literacy barrier because these services are typically accessed through English textual interfaces. This becomes a challenge because their language of communication is isiXhosa and some of the community members are illiterate. Most of the rural areas consist of illiterate people who cannot read and write isiXhosa but can only speak the language. This problem of illiteracy in rural areas affects both the youth and the elderly. This research seeks to design, develop and implement software modules that can be used to convert isiXhosa text into natural sounding isiXhosa speech. Such an application is called a Text-to-Speech (TTS) system. The main objective of this research is to improve ICT4D eServices’ usability through the development of an isiXhosa Text-to-Speech system. This research is undertaken within the context of Siyakhula Living Lab (SLL), an ICT4D intervention towards improving the lives of rural communities of South Africa in an attempt to bridge the digital divide. Thedeveloped TTS modules were subsequently tested to determine their applicability to improve eServices usability. The results show acceptable levels of usability as having produced audio utterances for the isiXhosa Text-To-Speech system for marginalized areas.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
Differential expression and regulation of sucrose transporters in rice (Orzya sativa L, cv Nipponbare) during environmental stress conditions
- Authors: Ibraheem, Omodele
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Crops -- Effect of stress on , Plant molecular genetics , Gene expression , Sucrose , Rice
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Biochemistry)
- Identifier: vital:11249 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/330 , Crops -- Effect of stress on , Plant molecular genetics , Gene expression , Sucrose , Rice
- Description: Plant productivity is greatly affected by environmental stresses such as drought, salinity and insect herbivory. Plants respond and adapt to these stresses by exhibiting physiological as well as biochemical changes at the cellular and molecular levels in order to survive. Expression of a variety of genes which encode numerous membrane transporters have been demonstrated to be induced by these stresses in a variety of plants. The nutritional status of plants is controlled by these transporters, which are regulated by the transcription of the corresponding genes. In spite of these adverse stress effects on agricultural yield, only a few studies have focused on gene transcriptional and translational regulation of membrane transporters during environmental stress situations. Rice, like other plants, contains a number of sucrose transporters encoded by a family of genes. However, detailed knowledge of their roles, localization and regulation during environmental stress conditions is lacking. Bioinformatic tools were used to identify putative cis-acting regulatory elements that may be involved in the regulation of rice and Arabidopsis thaliana sucrose transporters. The possible cis-acting regulatory elements were predicted by scanning genomic sequences 1.5 kbp upstream of the sucrose transporter genes translational start sites, using Plant CARE, PLACE and Genomatix Matinspector professional data bases. Several cis-acting regulatory elements that are associated with plant development, plant hormonal regulation and stress response were identified, and were present in varying frequencies within the 1.5 kbp of 5′ regulatory region. The putative cis-acting regulatory elements that possibly are involved in the expression and regulation of sucrose transporter gene families in rice and Arabidopsis thaliana during cellular development or environmental stress conditions were identified as: A-box, RY, CAT, Pyrimidine-box, Sucrose-box, ABRE, ARF, ERE, GARE, Me-JA, ARE, DRE, GA-motif, GATA, GT-1, MYC, MYB, W-box, and I-box. Expression analysis was used to elucidate the role of rice (Oryza sativa L. cv Nipponbare) sucrose transporter (OsSUT) genes during drought and salinity treatments of three week old rice plants ( at four leaf stage) over a 10 days. Among the five rice OsSUT genes identified, only OsSUT2 was observed to be progressively up-regulated during drought and salinity treatments, while OsSUT1, OsSUT4 and OsSUT5 were expressed at low levels, and OsSUT3 showed no detectable transcript expression. Sucrose transport will be essential to meet the cellular energy demands and also for osmoprotectant activities during drought and salinity stresses. It therefore indicates that OsSUT2 which facilitates transport of sucrose from photosynthetic cells will be III essential for rice plants to cope with drought and salinity stresses, and cultivars with a higher OsSUT2 expression should be able to tolerate these environmental stresses better. The role of OsSUT in assimilate transport during rusty plum aphids (Hysteroneura setariae; Thomas) infestation on the leaves of three week old rice (Orzya sativa L. cv Nipponbare) cultivar plants, over a time-course of 1 to 10 days of treatments, was also examined by combination of gene expression and β-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene analysis. Real Time PCR analysis of the five OsSUT genes revealed that the expression of OsSUT1 was progressively up-regulated during the course of aphid infestation. OsSUT2 and OsSUT4 expression were comparatively low in both the control and treated plants. OsSUT5 showed no clear difference in transcript expression in both control and treated plants, while no detectable transcript expression of OsSUT3 could be found. The up-regulation of OsSUT1 gene was verified at protein level by western blot analysis in both the control and treated plants. OsSUT1 protein expression was found to increase with time during aphid infestation. A similar trend was noticeable in the control plants, however at a lower expression level. These demonstrate that the cellular expression of OsSUT1is regulated by both developmental and environmental factors. OsSUT1-promoter:::GUS reporter gene expression was observed within the vascular parenchyma and/or companion cells associated with phloem sieve elements of the large and small bundles in the phloem tissues of the flag leaf blade regions where feeding aphids were confined, which progressively increased with time of infestation. It is suggested that OsSUT1 may primarily play an essential role in phloem transport of assimilate to wounded tissues from adjacent health tissues or may be involved in the retrieval of assimilate back into the phloem to minimize loss caused by the infestation. Some OsSUT1-promoter:::GUS expression was also found in the metaxylem at 10 days after infestation, which could signify a recovery system in which sucrose lost into the xylem as a result of aphids feeding are retrieved back into the phloem through the vascular parenchyma. This was supported by the exposure of cut ends of matured OsSUT1-promoter:::GUS rice plant leaf to 2% sucrose solution. OsSUT1-promoter:::GUS expression was observed within the protoxylem, xylem and phloem parenchyma tissues. This indicates that sucrose translocating within the xylem tissues are retrieved into the phloem via the OsSUT1 localized within the parenchyma tissues. In conclusion, the differential expression and regulation of rice (Orzya sativa L. cv Nipponbare) sucrose transporters as reported here suggest that OsSUT2 and OsSUT1 were constitutively expressed compared to other rice sucrose transporters during drought and salinity, and rusty plum aphids (Hysteroneura setariae; Thomas) infestation stresses respectively. Thus, the expression and regulation of the sucrose transporters could be related to the physiological and nutritional requirements of the cells during plant developmental or environmental stress state that allows their differential expression.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Ibraheem, Omodele
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Crops -- Effect of stress on , Plant molecular genetics , Gene expression , Sucrose , Rice
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Biochemistry)
- Identifier: vital:11249 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/330 , Crops -- Effect of stress on , Plant molecular genetics , Gene expression , Sucrose , Rice
- Description: Plant productivity is greatly affected by environmental stresses such as drought, salinity and insect herbivory. Plants respond and adapt to these stresses by exhibiting physiological as well as biochemical changes at the cellular and molecular levels in order to survive. Expression of a variety of genes which encode numerous membrane transporters have been demonstrated to be induced by these stresses in a variety of plants. The nutritional status of plants is controlled by these transporters, which are regulated by the transcription of the corresponding genes. In spite of these adverse stress effects on agricultural yield, only a few studies have focused on gene transcriptional and translational regulation of membrane transporters during environmental stress situations. Rice, like other plants, contains a number of sucrose transporters encoded by a family of genes. However, detailed knowledge of their roles, localization and regulation during environmental stress conditions is lacking. Bioinformatic tools were used to identify putative cis-acting regulatory elements that may be involved in the regulation of rice and Arabidopsis thaliana sucrose transporters. The possible cis-acting regulatory elements were predicted by scanning genomic sequences 1.5 kbp upstream of the sucrose transporter genes translational start sites, using Plant CARE, PLACE and Genomatix Matinspector professional data bases. Several cis-acting regulatory elements that are associated with plant development, plant hormonal regulation and stress response were identified, and were present in varying frequencies within the 1.5 kbp of 5′ regulatory region. The putative cis-acting regulatory elements that possibly are involved in the expression and regulation of sucrose transporter gene families in rice and Arabidopsis thaliana during cellular development or environmental stress conditions were identified as: A-box, RY, CAT, Pyrimidine-box, Sucrose-box, ABRE, ARF, ERE, GARE, Me-JA, ARE, DRE, GA-motif, GATA, GT-1, MYC, MYB, W-box, and I-box. Expression analysis was used to elucidate the role of rice (Oryza sativa L. cv Nipponbare) sucrose transporter (OsSUT) genes during drought and salinity treatments of three week old rice plants ( at four leaf stage) over a 10 days. Among the five rice OsSUT genes identified, only OsSUT2 was observed to be progressively up-regulated during drought and salinity treatments, while OsSUT1, OsSUT4 and OsSUT5 were expressed at low levels, and OsSUT3 showed no detectable transcript expression. Sucrose transport will be essential to meet the cellular energy demands and also for osmoprotectant activities during drought and salinity stresses. It therefore indicates that OsSUT2 which facilitates transport of sucrose from photosynthetic cells will be III essential for rice plants to cope with drought and salinity stresses, and cultivars with a higher OsSUT2 expression should be able to tolerate these environmental stresses better. The role of OsSUT in assimilate transport during rusty plum aphids (Hysteroneura setariae; Thomas) infestation on the leaves of three week old rice (Orzya sativa L. cv Nipponbare) cultivar plants, over a time-course of 1 to 10 days of treatments, was also examined by combination of gene expression and β-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene analysis. Real Time PCR analysis of the five OsSUT genes revealed that the expression of OsSUT1 was progressively up-regulated during the course of aphid infestation. OsSUT2 and OsSUT4 expression were comparatively low in both the control and treated plants. OsSUT5 showed no clear difference in transcript expression in both control and treated plants, while no detectable transcript expression of OsSUT3 could be found. The up-regulation of OsSUT1 gene was verified at protein level by western blot analysis in both the control and treated plants. OsSUT1 protein expression was found to increase with time during aphid infestation. A similar trend was noticeable in the control plants, however at a lower expression level. These demonstrate that the cellular expression of OsSUT1is regulated by both developmental and environmental factors. OsSUT1-promoter:::GUS reporter gene expression was observed within the vascular parenchyma and/or companion cells associated with phloem sieve elements of the large and small bundles in the phloem tissues of the flag leaf blade regions where feeding aphids were confined, which progressively increased with time of infestation. It is suggested that OsSUT1 may primarily play an essential role in phloem transport of assimilate to wounded tissues from adjacent health tissues or may be involved in the retrieval of assimilate back into the phloem to minimize loss caused by the infestation. Some OsSUT1-promoter:::GUS expression was also found in the metaxylem at 10 days after infestation, which could signify a recovery system in which sucrose lost into the xylem as a result of aphids feeding are retrieved back into the phloem through the vascular parenchyma. This was supported by the exposure of cut ends of matured OsSUT1-promoter:::GUS rice plant leaf to 2% sucrose solution. OsSUT1-promoter:::GUS expression was observed within the protoxylem, xylem and phloem parenchyma tissues. This indicates that sucrose translocating within the xylem tissues are retrieved into the phloem via the OsSUT1 localized within the parenchyma tissues. In conclusion, the differential expression and regulation of rice (Orzya sativa L. cv Nipponbare) sucrose transporters as reported here suggest that OsSUT2 and OsSUT1 were constitutively expressed compared to other rice sucrose transporters during drought and salinity, and rusty plum aphids (Hysteroneura setariae; Thomas) infestation stresses respectively. Thus, the expression and regulation of the sucrose transporters could be related to the physiological and nutritional requirements of the cells during plant developmental or environmental stress state that allows their differential expression.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011