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Variation in the essential oil composition of Calendula Officinalis L

- Okoh, Omobola Oluranti

Authors: Okoh, Omobola Oluranti
Date: 2008
Subjects: Calendula (Genus) , Essences and essential oils , Medicinal plants , Calendula officinalis
Language: English
Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Chemistry)
Identifier: vital:11334 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1001150 , Calendula (Genus) , Essences and essential oils , Medicinal plants , Calendula officinalis
Description: Variations in the yield, chemical composition, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties of the essential oils of Rosmarinus officinalis L. cultivated in Alice, Eastern Cape of South Africa over a period of 12 months using the solvent-free microwave extraction and traditional hydrodistillation methods were evaluated. The GC-MS analyses of the essential oils revealed the presence of 33 compounds with 1,8-cineole, a-pinene, camphor, verbenone, bornyl acetate and camphene constituting about 80 percent of the oils throughout the period of investigation, with the solvent-free microwave extraction method generally yielding more of the major components than the hydrodistillation method. Each of the major components of the oils varied in quantity and quality of yield at different periods of the year. The method of extraction and time of harvest are of importance to the quantity and quality of essential oil of Rosmarinus officinalis. Higher amounts of oxygenated monoterpenes such as borneol, camphor, terpene- 4-ol, linalool, a-terpeneol were present in the oil of SFME in comparison with HD. However, HD oil contained more monoterpene hydrocarbons such as a-pinene, camphene, β-pinene, myrcene, a-phellanderene, 1,8-cineole, trans- β-ocimene, γ-teprinene, and cis-sabinene hydrate than SFME extracted oil. Accumulation of monoterpene alcohols and ketones was observed during maturation process of Rosmarinus leaves. Quantitative evaluation of antibacterial activity, minimum inhibitory concentration values were determined using a serial microplate dilution method. The essential oils obtained using both methods of extraction were active against all the bacteria tested at a concentration of 10 mg mL-1. The minimum inhibitory concentrations for the SFME extracted oils ranged between 0.23 and 1.88 mg mL-1, while those of the HD extracted oils varied between 0.94 and 7.5 mg mL-1, thus suggesting that the oil obtained by solvent free microwave extraction was more active against bacteria than the oil obtained through hydrodistillation. The antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity of the obtained oils were tested by means of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH+) assay and β- carotene bleaching test. In the DPPH+ assay, while the free radical scavenging activity of the oil obtained by SFME method showed percentage inhibitions of between 48.8 percent and 67 percent, the HD derived oil showed inhibitions of between 52.2 percent and 65.30 percent at concentrations of 0.33, 0.50 and 1.0 mg mL-1, respectively. In the β-carotene bleaching assay, the percentage inhibition increased with increasing concentration of both oils with a higher antioxidant activity of the oil obtained through the SFME than the HD method. Thin layer chromatography (TLC) was used to analyze the chemical composition of the extracts using three eluent solvent systems of varying polarities i. e. CEF, BEA and EMW and sprayed with vanillin-sulfuric acid. The chemical composition of the different extracts was similar with the exception of methanol and water extracts which had only one or two visible compounds after treating with vanillin-spray reagent. To evaluate the number of antibacterial compounds present in the fractions, bioautography was used against two most important nosocomial microorganisms. S. aureus (Gram positive) and E. coli (Gram negative). Nearly all the crude serial extraction fractions contained compounds that inhibited the growth of E. coli. The hexane extract had the most lines of inhibition followed by ethyl acetate. Bioassay-guided fractionation against E. coli was used to isolate antibacterial compounds. The largest number of antibacterial compounds occurred in the hexane fraction. Furthermore we tried to complete the characterization by extracting and studying other biologically important plant metabolites such as phenolic compounds to evaluate the antioxidant capacity of Rosmarinus extracts
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Date Issued: 2008

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Widowhood and property inheritance in Zimbabwe: experiences of widows in Sikalenge ward, Binga District

- Dube, Misheck

Authors: Dube, Misheck
Date: 2008
Subjects: Widows -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- Zimbabwe , Women -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- Zimbabwe , Inheritance and succession -- Zimbabwe
Language: English
Type: Thesis , Masters , M SW
Identifier: vital:11755 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/200 , Widows -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- Zimbabwe , Women -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- Zimbabwe , Inheritance and succession -- Zimbabwe
Description: Zimbabwean widows need to inherit property when their husbands die. Property, be it material or financial in nature, is a source of sustenance and wealth. Depriving women of property inheritance rights has untold consequences. This study focuses on the property inheritance rights of widows in Zimbabwe in the Sikalenge Ward of Binga District. The aim of the study is to understand how property grabbing affects widows and to find possible solutions and intervention strategies social workers may use. The literature reviewed in the study was drawn from both the legal field and social work to create a link between the fields. The study was shaped by radical feminism for conceptualising property grabbing while the formulated intervention strategies utilised the empowerment model. The study is qualitative in nature using interviews to collect data from ten widows and five social service providers who constitute the total of fifteen participants in the study. Data was analysed qualitatively using interpretive approaches and presentation is textual rather than statistical. The main finding of the study is that widows are still being denied their inheritance rights despite the provision of such rights by the Intestate Succession Laws promulgated in November 1997 by the government of Zimbabwe. Moreover, the widows are not aware of the inheritance laws of Zimbabwe and hence did not seek any professional intervention. The few who attempted the legal process for recourse were not successful. Even though it was minimally attempted, the study established that the main form of failed intervention tried by the women was legal in nature and suggests and emphasises an eminent need for Social Work intervention to supplement legal intervention.
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Date Issued: 2008

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Photovoltaic-powered wireless communication system for rural schools outside national utility grid

- Kaseke, Richmore https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8295-5016

Authors: Kaseke, Richmore https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8295-5016
Date: 2007-02
Subjects: Photovoltaic power systems , Photovoltaic power generation
Language: English
Type: Master's theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/29032 , vital:76492
Description: Access to global information is inarguably one of the key ways of bringing development to any community. In developing worlds, many rural schools lie outside both the Internet Service Provider’s (ISP) cable network and the national utility grid. Rapid developments in information and communication technology (ICT) continue to widen the digital divide between urban and rural schools. In South Africa, although these rural areas are outside the ISP’s cable network, they enjoy excellent mobile (cellular) communications network coverage. Fortunately, leading mobile operators in the country (MTN and Vodacom) have incorporated mobile data packet services into their cellular communication networks since 2002. A stand-alone photovoltaic (PV) system for powering ICT equipment in off grid rural schools was designed and installed; and its performance monitored. Performance of the system was considered in two categories, which are; cost and service performance. In cost performance, return on investment (ROI) and payback period (PB) are the two critical considerations. The PV system designed in this study gave an impressive ROI and PB of 286percent and 5 years, respectively. In order to monitor and evaluate the service performance a data acquisition system (DAS) was designed and installed. Besides proving the potential of PV in powering ICT equipment, results from the DAS also suggested a more efficient way of employing PV as a power source for powering equipment that is based on Switched-Mode Power Supply Units. Concurrent and continuous change in irradiance and temperature result in a four-segment pattern of rising and falling module efficiency throughout the day. Generally, modules produce more energy on cooler sunny days than hotter sunny days. Infrared (IR) Thermography was also used as part of both indoor and outdoor module tests. During indoor tests at pre-deployment stage, IR Thermography showed development of hot spots in mismatched cells of reverse-biased modules. On the outdoors, IR Thermography reiterated the effect of bird droppings on module surfaces byshowing hot spots forming on areas covered by the droppings. For internet connectivity, a customized Mobile Internet Device (MIDevice) was designed, built and tested. The device allows remote computer systems to be connected to the Internet via the already existing mobile communication network using General Packet Radio Services (GPRS). An entire rural school local area network (LAN) can be connected to the Internet via a single MIDevice. An experimental setup was designed in order to monitor and evaluate performance of GPRS in specific and mobile Internet solutions in general. Results obtained proved that GPRS can indeed be a solution for remote Internet connectivity in rural schools. In order to improve performance of GPRS or mobile Internet connections, caching, pop-up blocking and proxy filtering are necessary. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 2007
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Date Issued: 2007-02

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An investigation of the efficacy of the Office of the Auditor-General in ensuring public financial accountability in the Gauteng Province

- Khumalo, Mildred Tariro

Authors: Khumalo, Mildred Tariro
Date: 2007
Subjects: Finance, Public -- South Africa , Budget -- South Africa -- Gauteng , Liability (Law)
Language: English
Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
Identifier: vital:11645 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/283 , Finance, Public -- South Africa , Budget -- South Africa -- Gauteng , Liability (Law)
Description: Increasing accountability is a key element in a wide variety of governance reforms, from national level, public sector restructuring, to anti corruption campaigns and to centralise service delivery at local levels. (Van Wyk, 2002:311). Financial accountability has a major effect on performance issues, and these two combined have implications on democratic accountability. It is obviously a fact that when public officials become accountable, this will have a positive effect on service delivery. The introduction of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) 1999 (Act 1 of 1999) as amended by Act 29 of 1999 adopts an approach to financial management, which emphasises the need for accountability of results by focusing on output and responsibility rather than the rule driven approach of the previous Exchequer Acts. One quickly realises that the PFMA aims to regulate financial management at both National and Provincial levels of government. It directs attention at revenue, expenditure, assets and liabilities and aims to see that these are managed efficiently and effectively. Public finance accountability is increasingly becoming important in the public sector. One means of effecting accountability is through auditing. For this reason the Office of the Auditor -General through the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 1996 (Act 108 of 1996 section 216 (1)) was established to facilitate effective accountability through auditing. The Office of the Auditor -General’s role is by no means minor, for it plays a major role in curbing corruption and acts as a ‘watchdog’ of the nation over public funds. Amidst high mismanagement and misuse of public resources, as well as corruption, especially in developing countries, the major question one asks is how effective the Auditor -General can be in ensuring effective public financial management and accountability within state departments so as to improve service delivery.
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Date Issued: 2007

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Assessment of antibacterial potentials of Garcinia Kola seed extracts and their interactions with antibiotics

- Sibanda, Thulani

Authors: Sibanda, Thulani
Date: 2007
Subjects: Drug resistance in microorganisms , Garcinia , Antibiotics , Medicinal plants
Language: English
Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Microbiology)
Identifier: vital:11242 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/71 , Drug resistance in microorganisms , Garcinia , Antibiotics , Medicinal plants
Description: The antibacterial potency of the extracts of the seed of Garcinia kola (bitter kola) was investigated in this study against a panel of referenced, environmental and clinical bacterial strains. The killing rates of the active extract as well as their potential for combination antibacterial therapy with standard antibiotics were also elucidated using standard procedures. The aqueous and acetone extracts of the seed were screened for activity against 27 bacterial isolates. The aqueous extract exhibited activity mainly against Gram positive organisms with Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 5 mgml-1 – 20 mgml-1, while the acetone extract showed activity against both Gram negative and Gram positive organisms with MIC values ranging from 10 mgml-1 - 0.156 mgml-1. The acetone extract also showed rapid bactericidal activity against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 with a 3.097 Log10 reduction in counts within 4 hours at 0.3125 mgml-1 and a 1.582 Log10 reduction against Proteus vulgaris CSIR 0030 at 5 mgml-1 after 1 hour. In addition, the aqueous, methanol and acetone extracts of the seeds also exhibited activity against four clinical strains of Staphylococcus isolated from wound sepsis specimens. The MIC values for the aqueous extract were 10 mgml-1 for all the isolates while the acetone and methanol extracts had lower values ranging from 0.3125 - 0.625 mgml-1. The acetone extract was strongly bactericidal against Staphylococcus aureus OKOH3 resulting in a 2.70 Log10 reduction in counts at 1.25 mgml-1 within 4 hours of exposure and a complete elimination of the organism after 8 hours. The bactericidal vi activity of the same extract against Staphylococcus aureus OKOH1 was weak, achieving only a 2.92 Log10 reduction in counts at 1.25 mgml-1 (4× MIC) in 24 hours. In the test for interactions between the acetone extract of the seeds and antibiotics, synergistic interactions were observed largely against Gram positive organisms using the FIC indices, (indices of 0.52 - 0.875) with combinations against Gram negatives yielding largely antagonistic interactions (indices of 2.0 to 5.0). Synergy (≥ 1000 times or ≥ 3 Log10 potentiation of the bactericidal activity) against both Gram negative and Gram positive organisms was detected by time kill assays mainly involving the antibiotics tetracycline, chloramphenicol, amoxycillin and penicillin G. Combinations involving erythromycin and ciprofloxacin consistently gave antagonistic or indifferent interactions. We conclude that the acetone extract of Garcinia kola seeds possess strong bactericidal activities against both Gram positive and Gram negative organisms and can be therapeutically useful in the treatment of bacterial infections including the problematic staphylococcal wound infections. In addition, the acetone extract can be a potential source of broad spectrum resistance modifying compounds that can potentially improve the performance of antibiotics in the treatment of drug resistant infections.
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Date Issued: 2007

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Assessment of antibacterial potentials of Garcinia Kola seed extracts and their interactions with antibiotics

- Sibanda, Thulani

Authors: Sibanda, Thulani
Date: 2007
Subjects: Drug resistance in microorganisms , Garcinia , Antibiotics
Language: English
Type: Master's theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/19236 , vital:43038
Description: The antibacterial potency of the extracts of the seed of Garcinia kola (bitter kola) was investigated in this study against a panel of referenced, environmental and clinical bacterial strains. The killing rates of the active extract as well as their potential for combination antibacterial therapy with standard antibiotics were also elucidated using standard procedures. The aqueous and acetone extracts of the seed were screened for activity against 27 bacterial isolates. The aqueous extract exhibited activity mainly against Gram positive organisms with Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 5 mgml-1 – 20 mgml-1, while the acetone extract showed activity against both Gram negative and Gram positive organisms with MIC values ranging from 10 mgml-1 - 0.156 mgml-1. The acetone extract also showed rapid bactericidal activity against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 with a 3.097 Log10 reduction in counts within 4 hours at 0.3125 mgml-1 and a 1.582 Log10 reduction against Proteus vulgaris CSIR 0030 at 5 mgml-1 after 1 hour. In addition, the aqueous, methanol and acetone extracts of the seeds also exhibited activity against four clinical strains of Staphylococcus isolated from wound sepsis specimens. The MIC values for the aqueous extract were 10 mgml-1 for all the isolates while the acetone and methanol extracts had lower values ranging from 0.3125 - 0.625 mgml-1. The acetone extract was strongly bactericidal against Staphylococcus aureus OKOH3 resulting in a 2.70 Log10 reduction in counts at 1.25 mgml-1 within 4 hours of exposure and a complete elimination of the organism after 8 hours. The bactericidal activity of the same extract against Staphylococcus aureus OKOH1 was weak, achieving only a 2.92 Log10 reduction in counts at 1.25 mgml-1 (4× MIC) in 24 hours. In the test for interactions between the acetone extract of the seeds and antibiotics, synergistic interactions were observed largely against Gram positive organisms using the FIC indices, (indices of 0.52 - 0.875) with combinations against Gram negatives yielding largely antagonistic interactions (indices of 2.0 to 5.0). Synergy (≥ 1000 times or ≥ 3 Log10 potentiation of the bactericidal activity) against both Gram negative and Gram positive organisms was detected by time kill assays mainly involving the antibiotics tetracycline, chloramphenicol, amoxycillin and penicillin G. Combinations involving erythromycin and ciprofloxacin consistently gave antagonistic or indifferent interactions. We conclude that the acetone extract of Garcinia kola seeds possess strong bactericidal activities against both Gram positive and Gram negative organisms and can be therapeutically useful in the treatment of bacterial infections including the problematic staphylococcal wound infections. In addition, the acetone extract can be a potential source of broad spectrum resistance modifying compounds that can potentially improve the performance of antibiotics in the treatment of drug resistant infections. , Thesis (MSc)-- Microbiology, University of Fort Hare, 2007
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Date Issued: 2007

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Design and implementation of a network revenue management architecture for marginalised communities

- Tarwireyi, Paul

Authors: Tarwireyi, Paul
Date: 2007
Subjects: Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Computer network architectures -- South Africa -- Design and construction , Computer network protocols -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Design and construction , Revenue management , Computer networks -- Social aspects
Language: English
Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Computer Science)
Identifier: vital:11374 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/72 , Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Computer network architectures -- South Africa -- Design and construction , Computer network protocols -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Design and construction , Revenue management , Computer networks -- Social aspects
Description: Rural Internet connectivity projects aimed at bridging the digital divide have mushroomed across many developing countries. Most of the projects are deployed as community centred projects. In most of the cases the initial deployment of these projects is funded by governments, multilateral institutions and non-governmental organizations. After the initial deployment, financial sustainability remains one of the greatest challenges facing these projects. In the light of this, externally funded ICT4D interventions should just be used for “bootstrapping” purposes. The communities should be “groomed” to take care of and sustain these projects, eliminating as soon as possible a dependency on external funding. This master thesis presents the design and the implementation of a generic architecture for the management of the costs associated with running a computer network connected to the Internet, The proposed system, called the Network Revenue Management System, enables a network to generate revenue, by charging users for the utilization of network resources. The novelty of the system resides in its flexibility and adaptability, which allow the exploration of both conventional and non-conventional billing options, via the use of suitable ‘adapters’. The final goal of the exploration made possible by this system is the establishment of what is regarded as equitable charging in rural, marginalized communities - such as the community in Dwesa, South Africa.
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Date Issued: 2007

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Development of a web-based interface for a wireless sensor network monitoring system

- Gumbo, Sibukele

Authors: Gumbo, Sibukele
Date: 2007
Subjects: Wireless LAN , Sensor networks , Wireless communication systems , Web sites -- Design , User interfaces (Computer systems)
Language: English
Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Computer Science)
Identifier: vital:11372 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/68 , Wireless LAN , Sensor networks , Wireless communication systems , Web sites -- Design , User interfaces (Computer systems)
Description: In the recent past, wireless sensor technology has undergone advancements in its autonomous data collecting aspects, and has become an area worth investigating in relation to structural monitoring applications. The system described in this thesis aims at acquiring, storing and displaying overhead transmission line related data collected from a wireless sensor network. Open source tools were used in its development and implementation. The inherent linearly aligned topology of transmission line monitoring devices is not without shortcomings; hence analysis of linear node placement, hardware and software components was carried out to determine the feasibility of the system. Their limited data processing capabilities has motivated the development of a post processing wireless sensor application in order to present any collected structural data in an understandable format.
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Date Issued: 2007

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Enhancing phosphorus availability in some phosphate fixing soils of the Transkei region, South Africa using goat manure

- Gichangi, Elias Maina

Authors: Gichangi, Elias Maina
Date: 2007
Subjects: Phosphorus in agriculture , Soils -- Phosphorus content , Phosphatic fertilizers , Soils -- Phosphorus content -- South Africa -- Transkei
Language: English
Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Soil Science)
Identifier: vital:11960 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/80 , Phosphorus in agriculture , Soils -- Phosphorus content , Phosphatic fertilizers , Soils -- Phosphorus content -- South Africa -- Transkei
Description: Low availability of soil phosphorus (P) caused by strong sorption of P is a major constraint to agricultural production in most South African soils, particularly those from the high rainfall areas. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate whether combined addition of goat manure with inorganic P fertilizers could enhance P availability in some P fixing soils of the Transkei region, South Africa. The study addressed the following specific objectives (i) to assess P sorption capacities and requirements of selected soils and their relationship with selected soil properties and single point sorption test, (ii) to assess the effects of goat manure and lime addition on P sorption properties of selected P fixing soils (iii) to assess the temporal changes in concentration of inorganic and microbial biomass P fractions following application of inorganic fertilizer P with goat manure in a laboratory incubation experiment, and, (iv) to assess the effects of goat manure application with inorganic phosphate on inorganic and microbial biomass P fractions, P uptake and dry matter yield of maize. Sorption maxima (Smax) of seven soils examined ranged from 192.3 to 909.1 (mg P kg-1) and were highly and positively correlated with sorption affinity constant (r = 0.93, p = 0.01) and organic C (r = 0.71, p = 0.01). The amount of P required for maintaining a soil solution concentration of 0.2 mg P l-1 ranged from 2.1 to 123.5 mg P kg-1 soil. Soils collected from Qweqwe (a Cambisol), Qunu (an Acrisol), Ncihane (a Luvisol) and Bethania (a Ferralsol) had lower external P requirement values and were classified as lower sorbers, whereas soils from Ntlonyana (a Planosol), Chevy Chase (a Ferralsol) and Flagstaff (a Ferralsol) were classified as moderate sorbers. The results suggested that P availability could be compromised in 43 percent iii of the soils studied and that measures to mitigate the adverse effects of P sorption were needed to ensure that P is not a limiting factor to crop production, where such soils are found. Goat manure addition at varying rates (5, 10 and 20 tha-1 dry weight basis) to two of the moderately P fixing soils from Chevy Chase and Flagstaff, reduced P sorption maxima (Smax) compared to the control treatment. Phosphate sorption decreased with increasing amounts of goat manure in both soils but the extent of reduction was greater on Chevy Chase soil than on Flagstaff soil. The relative liming effects of the different rates of goat manure followed the order 20 t GM ha-1 > 10 t GM ha-1 > 5 t GM ha-1. In a separate experiment, addition of inorganic P at varying rates (0, 90, 180, and 360 kg P ha-1) to Flagstaff soil increased labile P fractions (resin P, biomass P and NaHCO3-Pi) and the increases were greater when goat manure was co-applied. The control treatments contained only 17.2 and 27.5 mg P kg-1 of resin extractable P in the un-amended and manure amended treatments, respectively which increased to 118.2 and 122.7 mg P kg-1 on day 28 of incubation. Biomass P concentration was increased from 16.8 to 43.9 mg P kg-1 in P alone treatments but the fraction was greatly enhanced with manure addition, increasing it from 32.6 to 97.7 mg P kg-1. NaOH-Pi was the largest extractable Pi fraction and ranged from 144.3 to 250.6 mg P kg-1 and 107.5 to 213.2 mg P kg-1 in the unamended and manure amended treatments, respectively. Dry matter yield and P uptake by maize grown in the glasshouse were highly and significantly (p = 0.05) correlated with the different P fractions in the soil. The correlations followed the order resin P (r = 0.85) > NaOH-Pi (r = 0.85) > NaHCO3-Pi (r = 0.84) >> biomass P (r = 0.56) for dry matter yield at 6 weeks after planting. At 12 weeks after planting, goat manure had iv highly significant effects on resin P and biomass P but had no effect on NaHCO3-Pi and NaOH–Pi. The combination of biomass P, resin P and NaHCO3-Pi explained 75.8 percent of the variation in dry matter yield of which 63.0 percent of the variation was explained by biomass P alone. The greatest increase in biomass P occurred when added P was co-applied with 5 or 10 tha-1 goat manure. The predictive equation for maize dry matter yield (DM) was: DM (g) = 1.897 biomass P + 0.645 resin P (r = 0.73). Resin P was the fraction that was most depleted due to plant uptake and decreased by 56 to 68 percent between the 6th week and the 12th week of sampling indicating that it played a greater role in supplying plant available P. The results therefore suggested that the use of goat manure may allow resource poor farmers to use lower levels of commercial phosphate fertilizers because of its effect to reduce soil P sorption. In addition, higher increases in biomass P due to manure addition observed at lower rates of added P indicated that goat manure has potential for enhancing bioavailability and fertilizer use efficiency of small inorganic P applications.
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Date Issued: 2007

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Growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality of Nguni, Bonsmara and Angus steers raised on natural pasture

- Muchenje, Voster

Authors: Muchenje, Voster
Date: 2007
Subjects: Cattle -- Feeding and feeds , Cattle -- Growth , Nguni cattle , Aberdeen -- Angus cattle , Bonsmara cattle , Meat industry and trade -- Quality control
Language: English
Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Animal Science)
Identifier: vital:11580 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/199 , Cattle -- Feeding and feeds , Cattle -- Growth , Nguni cattle , Aberdeen -- Angus cattle , Bonsmara cattle , Meat industry and trade -- Quality control
Description: The objective of the current study was to compare tick loads, growth, carcass characteristics and meat quality of Nguni, Bonsmara and Angus steers raised on natural pasture. A total of 30, 7-month old steers each of Bonsmara and Angus, and 40 Nguni steers were kept at the University of Fort Hare Farm till slaughter at 18 months. Monthly weights of the steers were recorded. Carcasses were electrically stimulated. The m. longissimus thoracis et lumborum was sampled for the measurement of meat colour, pH, drip loss, sarcomere length (SL), water holding capacity (WHC), cooking losses, myofibrillar fragmentation length (MFL), Warner Bratzler shear force (WBSF), fatty acid profiles and sensory characteristics of the steers. Urine samples were collected at the slaughter line for the determination of stress hormone concentrations. The Nguni had the lowest tick load (P < 0.05) while the Angus had the highest tick load (P < 0.05). Tick load did not affect the growth rate and carcass characteristics of the steers. Bonsmara and Angus steers had higher (P < 0.05) carcass weight and dressing percentage than the Nguni steers. Meat quality characteristics were similar (P > 0.05) among all the breeds, except that Nguni meat was darker (L*) (P < 0.05) than meat from the other two breeds. The Bonsmara had the highest (P > 0.05) concentrations while the Nguni had the lowest (P > 0.05) concentrations of stress hormones. There were significant (P < 0.05) correlations between WB values of meat aged for two and 21 days in Nguni and Bonsmara, but not in Angus. The correlations among stress responsiveness hormones and meat quality were breed-dependent. Except monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and the n-6/n-3 ratio, fatty acid profiles among the breeds were similar (P > 0.05). Cholesterol levels among the breeds were similar (P > 0.05). The Nguni had the best (P < 0.05) sensory characteristics, such as flavour and tenderness. It can be concluded that while the Nguni is a small framed breed, its meat quality is similar to that of Bonsmara and Angus and has the best meat taste when raised on natural pasture.
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Date Issued: 2007

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Narratives of South African heteroseual relationships: understanding masculine and feminine togetherness

- Tracey, Tiffany

Authors: Tracey, Tiffany
Date: 2007
Subjects: Heterosexuality , Heterosexism , Homosexuality , Gender identity
Language: English
Type: Thesis , Doctoral , D Soc Sc (Psych)
Identifier: vital:11601 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/176 , Heterosexuality , Heterosexism , Homosexuality , Gender identity
Description: Heterosexuality often appears as a monolithic way of being that has been disciplinarily defined as right and natural for all sexual subjects (Foucault, 1979). However, it may also be viewed as a social construction, subject to alteration and variation according to social and historical context. In the following research, the stories of ten couples and from the South African soap opera Isidingo reveal the ways that heteronorms shape togetherness between men and women. In the research a queer stance is used to interrogate the ways that togetherness appears as natural and normal, such that the contingency of such togetherness is revealed. The queer stance was used to unsettle the unquestioned assumption of heteronormativity by interrogating the construction from a political position not included by the norm (Stein & Plummer, 1994). Within the general queer stance the concept of performance has been used to account for the ways in which subjects are able to unsettle normative constraints: Butler’s (1993) conception of repetition, Holzman’s (1991) account of the revolutionary developmental potential of performance, Billig’s (1991) understanding of the rhetorical constructions of everyday philosophers. Further Bakhtin’s (1994) dialogic ontology suggests that utterances, performances and/or narratives Using these theoretical underpinnings, the narratives show how stories of togetherness collude with heteronorms while at the same time existing alongside alternative forms of togetherness. Possibly because norms are broad, overarching constructions, they do not define the entirety of the couples’ tales. Rather moments of resistance and alteration are interwoven with normative themes. This unpredictable ambivalence appears in the couples narratives as the assertion that all relationships are the same, and that all relationships are unique. Couples position themselves within a social network, and this network instructs the couple on heteronormative ways of being together. They also witness normative performances in a way that is similar to the observation of disciplines, suggested by Foucault (1979). Although couples often go with their social network’s observations, the manner in which couples position themselves within this network assists them in arguing for alternatives to heteronorms. Spatial expressions also at times serve to fix togetherness. Homes are structured in line with social constructions of heteronorms. However, couples can and do mould their understandings of their homes, such space is reveal as an intersection between social and individual concerns. Narratives of work again reveal that heteronorms structure but can also be ignored within heterosexual relationships. Couples tell of receiving particular benefits from normative performances, and it is likely that these dividends make it difficult to opt for an altered version of togetherness. At the same time, the gender dualism of a heteronormative division of labour inserts oppression into togetherness, and this may lead couples to seek an unusual way of being together. In these ways, heterosexuality can be read as a multiple and contingent performance, rather than an immovable, unchangeable imperative.
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Date Issued: 2007

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Rural internet connectivity: a development in Dwesa-Cwebe, Eastern Cape, South Africa

- Mandioma, Martin

Authors: Mandioma, Martin
Date: 2007
Subjects: Internet -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
Language: English
Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Computer Science)
Identifier: vital:11376 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/78 , Internet -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
Description: This thesis presents aspects of Internet connectivity in rural South Africa. The work looks at government initiatives being undertaken to connect rural communities to up-to-date information networks. Various projects that seek to connect rural areas of South Africa, as well as other remote areas around the world, are discussed. These projects present many novel ideas that have been successfully used to link rural communities in remote areas with the information age. In particular, wired and wireless access technologies that can be implemented to connect remote communities to the Internet are discussed. A field test utilizing GPRS, VSAT and WiMAX was implemented in Dwesa-Cwebe, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. VSAT proved to offer better Internet connectivity in terms of throughput and latency. WiMAX was then successfully implemented to relay the signal over the remote area of Dwesa-Cwebe, thus effectively providing Internet connectivity to an area with limited cell phone coverage and no telephone lines.
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Date Issued: 2007

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The classification of some fuzzy subgroups of finite groups under a natural equivalence and its extension, with particular emphasis on the number of equivalence classes

- Ndiweni, Odilo

Authors: Ndiweni, Odilo
Date: 2007
Subjects: Fuzzy sets , Maximal functions , Finite groups , Equivalence classes (Set theory)
Language: English
Type: Thesis , Masters , M Sc (Mathematics)
Identifier: vital:11587 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/88 , Fuzzy sets , Maximal functions , Finite groups , Equivalence classes (Set theory)
Description: In this thesis we use the natural equivalence of fuzzy subgroups studied by Murali and Makamba [25] to characterize fuzzy subgroups of some finite groups. We focus on the determination of the number of equivalence classes of fuzzy subgroups of some selected finite groups using this equivalence relation and its extension. Firstly we give a brief discussion on the theory of fuzzy sets and fuzzy subgroups. We prove a few properties of fuzzy sets and fuzzy subgroups. We then introduce the selected groups namely the symmetric group 3 S , dihedral group 4 D , the quaternion group Q8 , cyclic p-group pn G = Z/ , pn qm G = Z/ + Z/ , p q r G Z Z Z n m = / + / + / and pn qm r s G = Z/ + Z/ + Z/ where p,q and r are distinct primes and n,m, s Î N/ . We also present their subgroups structures and construct lattice diagrams of subgroups in order to study their maximal chains. We compute the number of maximal chains and give a brief explanation on how the maximal chains are used in the determination of the number of equivalence classes of fuzzy subgroups. In determining the number of equivalence classes of fuzzy subgroups of a group, we first list down all the maximal chains of the group. Secondly we pick any maximal chain and compute the number of distinct fuzzy subgroups represented by that maximal chain, expressing each fuzzy subgroup in the form of a keychain. Thereafter we pick the next maximal chain and count the number of equivalence classes of fuzzy subgroups not counted in the first chain. We proceed inductively until all the maximal chains have been exhausted. The total number of fuzzy subgroups obtained in all the maximal chains represents the number of equivalence classes of fuzzy subgroups for the entire group, (see sections 3.2.1, 3.2.2, 3.2.6, 3.2.8, 3.2.9, 3.2.15, 3.16 and 3.17 for the case of selected finite groups). We study, establish and prove the formulae for the number of maximal chains for the groups pn qm G = Z/ + Z/ , p q r G Z Z Z n m = / + / + / and pn qm r s G = Z/ + Z/ + Z/ where p,q and r are distinct primes and n,m, s Î N/ . To accomplish this, we use lattice diagrams of subgroups of these groups to identify the maximal chains. For instance, the group pn qm G = Z/ + Z/ would require the use of a 2- dimensional rectangular diagram (see section 3.2.18 and 5.3.5), while for the group pn qm r s G = Z/ + Z/ + Z/ we execute 3- dimensional lattice diagrams of subgroups (see section 5.4.2, 5.4.3, 5.4.4, 5.4.5 and 5.4.6). It is through these lattice diagrams that we identify routes through which to carry out the extensions. Since fuzzy subgroups represented by maximal chains are viewed as keychains, we give a brief discussion on the notion of keychains, pins and their extensions. We present propositions and proofs on why this counting technique is justifiable. We derive and prove formulae for the number of equivalence classes of the groups pn qm G = Z/ + Z/ , p q r G Z Z Z n m = / + / + / and pn qm r s G = Z/ + Z/ + Z/ where p,q and r are distinct primes and n,m, s Î N/ . We give a detailed explanation and illustrations on how this keychain extension principle works in Chapter Five. We conclude by giving specific illustrations on how we compute the number of equivalence classes of a fuzzy subgroup for the group p2 q2 r 2 G = Z/ + Z/ + Z/ from the number of fuzzy subgroups of the group p q r G = Z/ + Z/ + Z/ 1 2 2 . This illustrates a general technique of computing the number of fuzzy subgroups of G = Z/ + Z/ + Z/ from the number of fuzzy subgroups of 1 -1 = / + / + / pn qm r s G Z Z Z . Our illustration also shows two ways of extending from a lattice diagram of 1 G to that of G .
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Date Issued: 2007

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An evaluation of the brand perception of FortHare University amongst Grade 12 learners of the Buffalo City Municipality

- Mtetwa, Webster

Authors: Mtetwa, Webster
Date: 2006-11
Subjects: Branding (Marketing)
Language: English
Type: Honours theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/24509 , vital:63050
Description: The research seeks to determine the overall perception potential students have of the University of Fort Hare. This was done through comparing the university with other nearby universities based on the reputation, image, characteristics of each university and other factors. The research will build brand awareness of the university amongst potential students. It will also publicise and assist the university in initiating strategies meant to inform potential students about the advantages of learning at the University of Fort Hare. The research will also provide reasons as to why students do not intend/intend to register at the University Fort Hare. The reasons behind the students’ perceptions were detected which were attributed to the qualities possessed by the University. Students also reflected that their brand choice was attributed from brand awareness in that, the students were not informed about the qualifications offered by the universities. , Thesis (BCom Hons) -- Faculty of Management and Commerce, 2006
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Date Issued: 2006-11

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