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News for action: a critical case study of Yes! magazine

  • Authors: Hosford-Israel, Carly
  • Date: 2021
  • Subjects: Yes! (Bainbridge Island, WA) , Magazines -- United States -- History and criticism , Journalistic ethics , Journalism -- Social aspects -- United States , Journalism -- Objectivity , Mass media -- Ownership -- United STates , Publishers and publishing -- United States
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/170822 , vital:41963
  • Description: Coming out of more than a century of concern over the commercialization and monopolization of media ownership, this study highlights some areas of opportunity for alternative media in the United States. Holding an ideal of participatory democracy, driven by an educated electorate, the research considers an example of US media action, Ye s ! magazine, from the perspective of alternative media and social movement theories. As alternative media are most generally a response to the mainstream model which acts in the interests of profit rather than public participation in politics, this thesis will cover not only democratic responsibility, but also mainstream media ownership and organization when considering the current manifestation of Ye s ! magazine. Inspired by a frustration with the concentration of mainstream media ownership, and consequently journalistic homogenization, this research explores opportunities for democratic media divergence and contestation. After 18 years of publication, Ye s ! was chosen as an ideal candidate for research due to its sustainability and longevity as one such critical media organization. Through in-depth interviews with Yes! personnel, and ideological analysis of Yes! articles, the following case study research explores the complexities that construct Ye s ! magazine, a corporately independent publication from Bainbridge Island, Washington.
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  • Date Issued: 2021

Parametrised gains for direction-dependent calibration

  • Authors: Russeeaeon, Cyndie
  • Date: 2021
  • Subjects: Radio astronomy , Radio inferometers , Radio inferometers -- Calibration
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/172400 , vital:42196
  • Description: Calibration in radio interferometry describes the process of estimating and correcting for instrumental errors from data. Direction-Dependent (DD) calibration entails correcting for corruptions which vary across the sky. For small field of view observations, DD corruptions can be ignored but for wide fild observations, it is crucial to account for them. Traditional maximum likelihood calibration is not necessarily efficient in low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) scenarios and this can lead to ovefitting. This can bias continuum subtraction and hence, restrict the spectral line studies. Since DD effects are expected to vary smoothly across the sky, the gains can be parametrised as a smooth function of the sky coordinates. Hence, we implement a solver where the atmosphere is modelled using a time-variant 2-dimensional phase screen with an arbitrary known frequency dependence. We assume arbitrary linear basis functions for the gains over the phase screen. The implemented solver is ptimised using the diagonal approximation of the Hessian as shown in previous studies. We present a few simulations to illustrate the performance of the solver.
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  • Date Issued: 2021

Policy and practice of inclusive education for mainstream secondary teachers supporting learners with physical disabilities in the Lower Shire, Malawi

  • Authors: De Souza, Ben
  • Date: 2021
  • Subjects: Children with disabilities -- Education (Secondary) -- Malawi , Children with disabilities -- Education -- Government policy -- Malawi , Children with disabilities -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- Malawi , Inclusive education -- Malawi , Teachers -- Training of -- Malawi , High School teachers -- Malawi -- Attitudes
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/171254 , vital:42038
  • Description: The Government of Malawi and its education partners are currently implementing the National Education Policy (2016) and the National Strategy on Inclusive Education (2017-2021). My study explored how mainstream secondary teachers interpret policies and strategies, and transition to the practice of supporting learners with physical disabilities. Previous studies revealed policy-to-practice disparities in the Malawian inclusive secondary education but did not proffer teacher-oriented strategies that can mitigate the disparities and enhance inclusive education. My study argued that effective strategies that could lessen policy-to-practice mismatches and advance inclusive education primarily rest with mainstream teachers, as they mediate policy and practice. This study drew on Clough and Corbett’s disability studies critique and Urie Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological systems perspective to form theoretical and analytical frameworks for understanding the problem and discussing the findings. The study generated primary data from the Lower Shire districts of Chikwawa and Nsanje in Malawi. Thirty-three teachers, randomly selected from four schools, responded to questionnaires. In-depth, face to face interviews were conducted with purposely selected teachers from the same four schools. The study also generated secondary data from a review of policy documents. The findings showed that policy directives are shifting inclusive education from social perspectives to political perspectives, whereby mainstream teachers regard national policies and strategies as political responses to demands for inclusion. The findings further showed that teachers’ practices are moving away from the provision of special needs to the promotion of inclusive needs, whereby inclusive education benefits all learners. The study found that some teachers are resisting inclusive education, and would like learners with physical disabilities to return to special schools, thus controverting policy directives. As a way forward, this study recommended that future policy formulation and implementation in the Malawian mainstream secondary education should consider the bioecological systems approach, whereby policymakers systematically interact with the mainstream secondary teachers to improve their perspectives, competencies and practices on inclusive education.
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  • Date Issued: 2021

Synthesis, spectroscopic and nonlinear optical properties of asymmetric A3B type phthalocyanine complexes

  • Authors: Mugeza, Rhulani Donney
  • Date: 2021
  • Subjects: Spectrum analysis , Mass spectrometry , Phthalocyanines
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/171667 , vital:42108
  • Description: This work reports on the synthesis of symmetrical and asymmetrical A 3 B type metal free, cobalt and zinc Phthalocyanines (Pc) .A wide range of spectroscopic techniques such as Uv - visible absorption (UV), magnetic circular dichroism (MCD), mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy and time correlated single photo n counting spectroscopy (TCSPC) have been used to study the spectroscopic properties of the phthalocyanine complexes. The Z - scan technique was used to comparatively investigate the nonlinear absorption coefficient ( 휷 ) and the nonlinear refraction index ( 풏 ퟐ ) of the synthesized complexes. The following trend was obtained for the synthesized Pc’s in terms of the 휷 values 7.25 × 10 − 10 ( 4b ) > 3.76 × 10 − 10 ( 4a ) > 3.52 × 10 − 10 ( 4c ) > 2.29 × 10 − 10 ( 3c ) > 1.68 × 10 − 10 ( 3a ) > 1.65 × 10 − 10 ( 3b ) mW - 1 . The 휷 values trend of synthesized Pc complexes show that the asymmetrical A 3 B type metal free, cobalt and zinc Pc complexes ( 4a , 4b and 4c ) have larger 휷 values as compared to the octa - substituted symmetrical metal free, cobalt and zinc Pc complexes ( 3a , 3b and 3c ) which is attributed to the low symmetry of the Pc complexes. The five - level model rate equations were used to determine the two photon absorption, excited state absorption and ground state absorption cross sections of the synthesized complexes. The z inc A 3 B type asymmetrical Pc complexes gave the largest two photon absorption and 휎 푒 / 휎 푔 ratio values. This Pc complex could be used in future work to enhance the nonlinear response further by introducing nanomaterials and converting the Pc complex to a binuclear Pc. This work also reports on the density functional theory (DFT) calculations o f dipolar/octupolar contributions in order to study the first order hyperpolarizability of the synthesized Pc complexes.
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  • Date Issued: 2021

The changing nature of work: understanding precarity and the gendered individualisation of risk in post-apartheid South Africa

  • Authors: Mhlana, Siviwe
  • Date: 2021
  • Subjects: Precarious employment , Labor supply -- South Africa , Labor supply -- Statistics -- South Africa , Precarious employment -- South Africa , Informal sector (Economics) -- Employees -- South Africa , Women employees -- South Africa , Women temporary employees -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/172146 , vital:42170
  • Description: Against the backdrop of workplace restructuring globally, post-Apartheid South Africa is experiencing consistently high levels of unemployment, the deterioration of employment security, and limited improvements in earnings. This trend in the proliferation of low-paid, unstable and otherwise insecure employment has given rise to a segment of the literature that is centred on the growing precariousness of work in a number of different contexts. This thesis reviews empirical work on the changing nature of labour-intensive production in the past two decades, with particular focus on the trends in non-standard, informal and precarious employment. Further, the thesis examines the shift in the gender structure of South Africa’s manufacturing sector and how it affects the share in the benefits of employment, particularly with regard to social reproduction. In so doing, the thesis expands the critical theoretical narrative about the challenges of labour under neoliberalism by providing an intersectional perspective of precarious work in post- Apartheid South Africa.
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  • Date Issued: 2021

The effect of habitat and spatial management on reef fish in an established marine protected area

  • Authors: Dames, Vivienne Abigail
  • Date: 2021
  • Subjects: iSimangaliso Wetland Park (South Africa) -- Management , Reef fishes -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Baited remote underwater stereo-video systems (stereo-BRUVs) , Marine parks and reserves -- Monitoring -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Fish populations -- Measurement
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/171150 , vital:42024
  • Description: The persistence of harvested fish populations in the Anthropocene will be determined, above all, by how they respond to the interacting effects of climate change and fisheries exploitation. Predicting how populations will respond to both these threats is essential for any adaptive and sustainable management strategy. The response of fish populations to climate change is underpinned by physiological rates and tolerances, and emerging evidence suggests there may be physiological-based selection in capture fisheries. By quantifying important physiological rates of a model species, the endemic seabream, Chrysoblephus laticeps, across ecologically relevant thermal gradients and from populations subjected to varying intensities of commercial exploitation, this thesis aimed to 1) provide the first physiologically grounded climate resilience assessment for a South African linefish species, and 2) elucidate whether exploitation can drive populations to less physiologically resilient states in response to climate change. To identify physiologically limiting sea temperatures and to determine if exploitation alters physiological trait distributions, an intermittent flow respirometry experiment was used to test the metabolic response of spatially protected and exploited populations of C. laticeps to acute thermal variability. Exploited populations showed reduced metabolic phenotype diversity, fewer high-performance aerobic scope phenotypes, and a significantly lower aerobic scope curve across all test temperatures. Although both populations maintained a relatively high aerobic scope across a wide thermal range, their metabolic rates were compromised when extreme cold events were simulated (8 °C), suggesting that predicted future increases in upwelling frequency and intensity may be the primary limiting factor in a more thermally variable future ocean. The increment widths of annuli in the otoliths of C. laticeps from contemporary and historic collections were measured, as a proxy for the annual growth rate of exploited and protected populations. Hierarchical mixed models were used to partition growth variation within and among individuals and ascribe growth to intrinsic and extrinsic effects. The best model for the protected population indicated that the growth response of C. laticeps was poorer during years characterised by a high cumulative upwelling intensity, and better during years characterised by higher mean autumn sea surface temperatures. The exploited population growth chronology was too short to identify an extrinsic growth driver. The growth results again highlight the role of thermal variability in modulating the response of C. laticeps to its ambient environment and indicate that the predicted increases in upwelling frequency and intensity may constrain future growth rates of this species. A metabolic index (ϕ), representing the ratio of O2 supply to demand at various temperatures and oxygen concentrations, was estimated for exploited and protected populations of C. laticeps and used to predict future distribution responses. There was no difference in the laboratory calibrations of ϕ between populations, and all data was subsequently combined into a single piecewise (12 °C) calibrated ϕ model. To predict the distribution of C. laticeps, ϕ was projected across a high-resolution ocean model of the South African coastal zone, and a species distribution model implemented using the random forest algorithm and C. laticeps occurrence points. The future distribution of C. laticeps was estimated by predicting trained models across ocean model projections up to 2100. The best predictor of C. laticeps’ current distribution was minimum monthly ϕ and future predictions indicated only a slight range contraction on either edge of C. laticeps’ distribution by 2100. In order to provide policy makers, currently developing climate change management frameworks for South Africa’s ocean, with a usable output, the results of all research chapters were combined into a marine spatial model. The spatial model identified areas where C. laticeps is predicted to be resilient to climate change in terms of physiology, growth and distribution responses, which can then be prioritised for adaptation measures, such as spatial protection from exploitation. While these results are specific to C. laticeps, the methodology developed to identify areas of climate resilience has broad applications across taxa. From a global perspective, perhaps the most salient points to consider from this case study are the evidence of selective exploitation on physiological traits and the importance of environmental variability, rather than long-term mean climate changes, in affecting organism performance. These ideas are congruent with the current paradigm shift in how we think of the ocean, selective fisheries, and how they relate to organism climate resilience.
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  • Date Issued: 2021

The impact of labour legislation on selected small firms in Mbombela (Nelspruit)

  • Authors: Dlamini, Sikhulile Blessing
  • Date: 2021
  • Subjects: Labor laws and legislation -- South Africa , Small business -- Law and legislation-- South Afric , Small business -- South Africa -- Mbombela -- Case studies
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSocSci
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/170781 , vital:41959
  • Description: This study uses the theoretical framework of industrial relations pluralism, to study and analyse the impacts of labour legislation on six small firms (employing less than 50 workers) based in Mbombela (formerly Nelspruit), Mpumalanga province, South Africa. The analysis is based on the viewpoints of six managers and how they see the impacts of labour legislation on their respective firms. The analysis is aided by utilising theory and literature to make sense of the manager perspectives on the topic. Also, utilising a qualitative research design to collect and analyse the data, the study presents diverse findings in terms of how the participants perceived and experienced certain types of legislation. Some managers believed that the benefits of labour legislation outweighed the costs. While others believed the exact opposite. At an overall level, the study revealed that most of the participants were not as severely affected by labour legislation as might be expected; given the scarcity of resources in most small firms. This was partly because of various coping strategies and practices (mostly involving the use of informal procedures) that were adopted by the firms. Also, some small firms who aimed at expanding their businesses strategised to adopt some formal procedures and practices in order to easily absorb labour legislation and subsequently mordenise their businesses in the process. While a few firms persisted with more informal customs as they appeared cost-effective and necessary in their particular market positioning.
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  • Date Issued: 2021

The invasion ecology of Pontederia cordata L. (Pontederiaceae) in South Africa

  • Authors: Wansell, Sage Nora-Lee
  • Date: 2021
  • Subjects: Plant invsions -- South AFrica , Invasive plants -- Ecology -- South Africa , Pontederiaceae -- South AFrica
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/172433 , vital:42200
  • Description: Pontederia cordata L. (Pontederiaceae) is a tristylous invasive macrophyte – originating from North and South America – that has caused detrimental environmental, agricultural and socio-economic impacts in South Africa (SA). This novel study investigates the invasive ecology of P. cordata in SA by determining population genetics, pollination ecology and floral traits. Preliminary field surveys suggest that only one of three tristylous forms of P. cordata is invading SA and no seeds have been observed in any invasive populations. This study therefore determined the population genetics, mode of spread of P. cordata in SA and possible reasons for the lack of seed production, as well as providing suggestions for future control and management strategies. Inter Simple Sequence Repeats of leaf samples from invasive populations in SA and the native range of the United States of America (USA) were performed to determine the population genetics of P. cordata. The clarification of population structure of an alien invasive plant can provide insight into founder effects, introduction events and modes of spread and is important for the development of management plans such as biological control. Results from the genetic analyses indicated that P. cordata populations have low genetic diversity within and amongst invasive populations in comparison to native populations. This suggests that high gene flow and sexual reproduction is not present in invasive populations, and that only a single or very few introductory events have occurred in SA. Furthermore, invasive P. cordata populations shared the highest genetic similarity with native samples from Belle Haven, Virginia, USA, and thus further sampling and future genetic surveys should be conducted in this area to identify source populations to survey for potential biological control agents. Following these findings, I investigated whether sexual reproduction and seed production is absent from invasive P. cordata populations in SA as speculated. Floral traits from populations throughout all the invaded provinces were measured and, along with pollen grain measurements, it was determined that only short-morphed plants are present in SA. It was speculated that the absence of native pollinators in the invasive range may be responsible for the absence of sexual reproduction. However, a pollination study confirmed the presence of generalist insect pollinators. Thereafter, artificial pollination experiments on 8 865 flowers were conducted to determine whether an incompatibility system was present which prevented seed production. No seeds were produced and it was concluded that illegitimate pollination of the short-morphed plants prevented seed production and rhizomes are responsible for the invasion of P. cordata throughout SA. The implications of these findings and possible management strategies such as biological control is discussed in Chapter 4. These findings suggest that control programmes should target the plants rhizomes to prevent and reduce spread. Preventing the introduction of medium- and long-morphed plants into SA is crucial to prevent P. cordata from producing seeds and intensifying invasion further through both asexual and sexual spread.
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  • Date Issued: 2021

The potential conflict of interest associated with the management of Rosa rubiginos L. (Rosehip) in South Africa

  • Authors: Westwood, Timothy
  • Date: 2021
  • Subjects: Invasive plants -- South Africa , Biological invasions -- Economic aspects , Rose hips -- Economic aspects -- South Africa , Roses -- South Africa , Rose culture -- Economic aspects -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MCom
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/172458 , vital:42204
  • Description: Rosa rubiginosa L. is a category 1b invasive plant species in South Africa and must be controlled according to NEM:BA. However, R. rubiginosa has the potential to provide economic benefit in South Africa due to the expanding market for the shrubs fruit, rosehips. The shrub is not permitted to be cultivated in South Africa due to legislation, limiting the economic potential as the rosehips are only able to be collected from wild R. rubiginosa shrubs. In order to expand the rosehip market in South Africa a downgrade or removal of R. rubiginosa from the invasive species list would be required, as wild harvest is limited. This study aims to assess the benefits and cost associated with R. rubiginosa in order to determine whether the legislation should be altered allowing for the cultivation of the shrub in South Africa. Due to the limited literature surrounding R. rubiginosa three different questionnaires and a case study were used in order to assess the benefits and negatives associated with the shrub. Experts in the field of invasion biology were surveyed to bridge the gap in the R. rubiginosa literature. Landowners, where the shrub is abundant, were surveyed to determine the negative impacts of R. rubiginosa. Rosehip companies were surveyed in order to determine the current size and potential of the R. rubiginosa (rosehip) market. The case study looked at how a rosehip company would benefit if R. rubiginosa was allowed to be cultivated in South Africa. The study found R. rubiginosa to have great economic potential and market growth, with very little negative economic impact. The case study showed that one rosehip company would grow from 1500 tons of raw rosehip to 20 000 tons if cultivation was allowed, resulting in a growth in turnover from R57 million to R760 million ($1=R14.8). The findings in the study show that R. rubiginosa does not significantly affect landowners where it is abundant. Therefore, it is suggested that a change to the legislation should be considered allowing for the cultivation of R. rubiginosa should be implemented.
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  • Date Issued: 2021

The relationship between organisational leadership and job satisfaction of three generational age groups in a school context

  • Authors: Haasbroek, Juan Gert Diedericks
  • Date: 2021
  • Subjects: Educational leadership -- South Africa , High Schools -- Administration -- South Africa -- Western Cape , Management , High school teachers -- South Africa -- Western Cape -- Case studies , High school teachers -- South Africa -- Western Cape -- Job satisfaction , High school teachers -- South Africa -- Western Cape -- Attitudes
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/170802 , vital:41961
  • Description: With multiple generations in education, there are different leadership styles preferred by schoolteachers that affect their job satisfaction (Cufaude and Riemersma, 1999:1-3). Schools should ensure that leadership works toward satisfied teachers to reach sustainable organisational performance. The resource-based view argues that organisations should look within the organisation, particularly human resources, to find sources that lead to improved organisational performance (Jurevicius, 2013:1). Therefore, organisations should equip themselves with the required leadership style(s) to meet employee expectations. Furthermore, it is imperative to look at different generations within the school’s context, as it will strengthen or weaken the relationship between organisational leadership and job satisfaction. The study adopted a quantitative approach, using the Multiple Leadership Questionnaire and the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire as instruments for collecting primary data. The population consists of high school teachers in the Eden District, Western Cape that work at affluent schools, which are declared as quantile 4 and 5 model schools. There is a total of 13 high schools that fall within this specification with a total population of 220 teachers. In total, 111 questionnaires were distributed, of which 73 were returned. Sixty-eight were considered usable. Both sample parameters specified by the research instruments were met. The primary purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between leadership within the organisation (referring to transformational, transactional, and passive-avoidant organisational leadership styles) and employee job satisfaction of high school teachers in the Eden District. Different generations, from the age group perspective, is composed as a moderating variable in the relationship between organisational leadership and job satisfaction. The empirical study established that the independent variables, the leadership styles employed by the organisation, are directly related to employee job satisfaction. Of the three independent variables, transformational leadership and, to a lesser extent, transactional leadership proved to have a positive association with job satisfaction. In contrast, passive-avoidant leadership has a negative relationship with job satisfaction. It is also established that the relationship is stronger or weaker based on generations, positioning generations from the age group perspective as satisfactory moderator. It was found that Millennials prefer the transactional leadership style as this will strengthen the relationship between organisational leadership and job satisfaction. Baby Boomers prefer transformational leadership for the greatest positivity. To a lesser extent, transactional leadership will also contribute to the relationship’s strength between organisational leadership and job satisfaction. Generation X is indifferent to transactional or transformational leadership.
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  • Date Issued: 2021

The views of amakrwala on the meaning of umqombothi and commercial alcohol use during the initiation ceremonies

  • Authors: Mavimbela, Mzoli
  • Date: 2021
  • Subjects: Youth -- Alcohol use , Alcoholism -- South Africa , Alcoholism -- Psychological aspects , Initiation rites -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , Degree
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60862 , vital:68801
  • Description: Ulwaluko or initiation ceremony is one of the most important ceremonies practiced by the amaXhosa ethnic group to mark male adolescents’ transition from boyhood to manhood. Every young Xhosa male is anticipated to undergo this ceremony in order to be respected and be viewed as a true man by the society. There is a dearth of literature on amakrwala’s views regarding the meaning of traditional beer (umqombothi) and commercial alcohol (brandy or beer) use during the initiation ceremony. Thus, this study addresses this gap, as it adds to the existing spectrum of knowledge on the meaning of alcohol use during the amaXhosa initiation process. The socio-cultural theory was selected as the theoretical framework for the study. This study took a qualitative nature which was exploratory-descriptive and contextual in design employing a non-probability purposive-criterion based technique to sample 16 identified amaXhosa adult males between the ages of 18 to 24 years who recently went through the initiation ceremony. Sixteen individual semi-structured telephonic interviews were conducted. Data collected was analysed using thematic data analysis. Various data verification strategies were employed to ensure trustworthiness. Research ethics applicable to this study were guided by the principles contained in the Belmont report (1979). The findings showed that during the amaXhosa initiation ceremony both commercial alcohol and umqombothi played significant but different roles during each stage of the ceremony. The majority of amakrwala viewed umqombothi as a significant beer for ancestors to divinely bless isiko while brandy and beer were viewed as sweets or beers for fun which accompanied umqombothi. Brandy and beer were viewed as beers required by abafana teaching amakrwala manhood in the lighthouses. Thus, negative behaviours portrayed by abafana during imigidi after drinking alcohol were viewed as a great concern by amakrwala. 7 Alcohol use in ulwaluko was viewed as good by the amakrwala but they emphasized that there should be guidelines that monitor responsible drinking.
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  • Date Issued: 2021

Towards the development of a pro-environmental strategy for improving catch-and-release behaviour in recreational fisheries – a case study on a competitive South African angling body

  • Authors: Mannheim, Samantha L
  • Date: 2021
  • Subjects: Fishing -- Environmental aspects -- South Africa , Fishing -- South Africa , Fishers -- Attitudes -- South Africa , Fishers -- Attitudes -- South Africa -- Cast studies , Fishes -- Conservation -- South Africa , Rock and Surf Super Pro League , Southern African Fisheries Ecology Research Lab
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/171862 , vital:42133
  • Description: Catch-and-release (C&R) is becoming increasingly popular in recreational fisheries with the potential to contribute towards conserving the oceans limited fish stocks. Several studies have highlighted high rates of mortality and many sub-lethal effects which ultimately have a negative impact on fish population viability. With poorly developed handling practices, the fish that are released suffer the consequences of physical and physiological stress and do not always survive, thus making the ethics of C&R fishing questionable. Many studies have contributed to our understanding of the factors that influence the fate of fish released by anglers. Despite this, few interventions have been able to improve angler C&R behaviour. Pro-environmental behavioural strategies however hold some potential for improving angler C&R behaviour. To test their potential, we partnered with the South African Rock and Surf Super Pro League (RASSPL Africa), the biggest exclusively C&R competitive shore-based angling league in South Africa. The first two years (2013 and 2014) of the partnership were purely focused on building trust and relationships and making observations on angler behaviour. In 2015, we collected baseline data on angler behaviour and fish health during the RASSPL national fishing competition. This was followed by comparable data collection at the following two national competitions in 2016 and 2017 after the introduction of a combination of pro- environmental behaviour interventions, including rule changes, improving angler knowledge, behavioural modelling, rewards, penalties and feedback to improve C&R behaviour. There were significant improvements in angler behaviour, including a decline in total air exposure from 101.93s ± 64.34 in 2015 to 77.37s ± 60.52 in 2017 (F(2,618) = 9.27, P < 0.01), and the time taken for an angler to place their fish into a bucket declined from 105.86s ± 69.47 in 2015 to 23.05s ± 24.13 in 2017 (F(2,556) = 158.71, P < 0.01). There were also improvements in the health of the fish, with a decline in the blood lactate concentration and mean reflex action mortality predictor (RAMP’s) scores for the dominant species, Diplodus capensis (lactate – 9.46 ± 3.80 mmol.l-1 in 2015 and 6.69 ± 2.99 mmol.l-1 in 2017, RAMP – 0.28 ± 0.22 in 2015 and 0.19 ± 0.17 in 2017), and Haploblapharus fuscus (lactate – 4.25 ± 1.89 mmol.l-1 in 2015 and 1.76 ± 0.78 mmol.l-1in 2017, RAMP – 0.15 ± 0.18 in 2015 and 0 ± 0 in 2017). In 2018, surveys were conducted to gain insight into angler demographics and external (social, economic, cultural and institutional) and internal factors (knowledge and awareness, motivations, attitudes and perceptions) associated with the RASSPL anglers. Surveys were also designed to assist in identifying what components were key drivers behind the angler’s behavioural changes. The demographic characteristics of RASSPL anglers were not dissimilar from the general recreational angling public in South Africa, suggesting that this kind of intervention may have potential at a broader scale. In terms of the drivers of behavioural change, the surveys revealed that 68% of respondents strongly agreed that the structural rule changes contributed to their improved behaviour. This was followed by the educational presentations (66% of the respondents) and modelling / demonstrative videos (59% of the respondents). The conservation prizes were considered less effective, with only 27% of anglers strongly agreeing that this intervention improved their C&R behaviour. Overall this study has demonstrated that it is possible to improve the C&R behaviour of anglers in a competitive setting, with the most effective component of the intervention being the use of rule changes (structural approach). These findings suggest that proenvironmental strategies hold potential for improving the C&R behaviour of anglers and the health of released fishes. It is suggested that interventions to improve C&R behaviour should aim to develop long-term relationships, and implement a broad range of well communicated strategies based on reliable data and sound rationality. Key words: marine shore-based fisheries; community engagement; pro- environmental behaviour; behavioural intervention.
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  • Date Issued: 2021

The design of a modal interchange in Korsten, Port Elizabeth: santuary for the urban nomad

  • Authors: Magwabeni, Mpho
  • Date: 202015
  • Subjects: Transportation buildings -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth -- Designs and plans Terminals (Transportation) -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth -- Designs and plans , Commuting -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MArch
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/41258 , vital:36424
  • Description: The inception of this treatise is derived simply from the identification of the current inefficient public transportation facilities in Nelson Mandela Bay. This is especially experienced in the Korsten precinct as there is a scattering of transport nodes and none of them can be particularly identified as the key transport node in the fabric. With the 2010 World Cup behind us and many infrastructures such as the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium working as urban anchor of activity, the question still at hand is how the issue of integration between commuters and transportation can be addressed. This sets the scene for the application of an architectural resolution through the design of a transport interchange of the Korsten region. At present there are two functional informal taxi ranks that service the commuters of Korsten; the primary informal taxi node located on Attwell Street and the secondary informal taxi node on Cottrell Street. Currently they operate independently providing a service to people from different destinations, for instance Kleiner and Kempton Park. The first concern that arises is the proximity of the two taxi ranks in respect of the surrounding urban landscape. For these taxi nodes to be of service to the urban nomad they must be positioned in a more concentrated location to integrate efficiently with the urban fabric. Secondly, a thorough investigation into the informal trade is necessary to ascertain how it can enhance the street life and keep the edges activated and integrated. This treatise proposes the integration of the two independent taxi nodes with the proposed BRT system that has been implemented by the NMBM. This amalgamation would strengthen the urban landscape and create a place for the urban nomad. According to an article by Ian Ollis (2013) there is a dire need for accessible, affordable mass transport across South Africa .The bus rapid transit system was supposed to cure this woe, but implementation has been slow and mismanaged, especially in municipalities like Nelson Mandela Bay.
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  • Date Issued: 202015

A drug utilisation review of lithium at a public sector psychiatric hospital

  • Authors: Mapfumo, Charlotte
  • Date: 2020-04
  • Subjects: Lithium -- Therapeutic use , Psychiatric hospitals -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Drug utilization , Psychiatric hospital care , Manic-depressive illness , Lithium -- Toxicology , Drug monitoring
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , M.Pharm
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/150541 , vital:38983
  • Description: Bipolar disorder (BD) is a common mental condition that affects about 60 million people globally. Lithium is among the drugs of choice used to treat BD and other affective disorders such as schizoaffective disorder (SD). Lithium is a mood stabiliser with antimanic, antidepressant and anti-suicidal properties. Lithium has complex mechanisms of action and a narrow therapeutic index (NTI). Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is a vital component of lithium therapy due to its NTI. Lithium toxicity can occur at therapeutic levels and is characterised by symptoms such as blurred vision and convulsions. Lithium interacts with a number of drugs resulting in lithium toxicity or diminished effects of lithium. Symptoms of lithium toxicity range from abdominal pain, convulsions and death. Lithium use is associated with serious adverse effects on renal and thyroid function. Other adverse effects include tremor and weight gain. Monitoring of lithium serum levels, renal and thyroid function are therefore recommended for patients on lithium therapy. Monitoring of these parameters assists in the early detection of any problems associated with lithium use. The metabolic monitoring of lithium is vital due to the adverse effect profile of lithium and the current South African Standard Treatment Guidelines Hospital level: Adults, do not have any recommendations for the monitoring of metabolic parameters. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) may be used and adapted for the South African setting. Aim and Objectives: The general aim of the study was to conduct a drug utilisation review (DUR) on lithium through investigating its prescribing and monitoring patterns in both inpatients and outpatients at Fort England Hospital. Methodology: The study was in the form of a retrospective DUR. Data was collected from 40 files (n=40) of patients who were on treatment with lithium between 1 January 2017-31 December 2017 at Fort England Hospital. The data was collected retrospectively for both in- and outpatients. Compliance of the monitoring requirements with both South African and international guidelines was analysed. Results and Discussion: In 87.50% (n=37) of the cases, patients had been on lithium therapy before 2017 with most patients (n=13; 37.50%) being maintained on 500 mg of lithium. Non-compliance with the South African and NICE guidelines for renal baseline monitoring was 65.00% (n=26) in both guidelines. Non-compliance for baseline thyroid monitoring was 70.00% (n=28) for both guidelines. There was non-compliance in 45.00% (n=18) of the cases for lithium serum level monitoring for both guidelines. Non-compliance with follow-up renal monitoring was 47.50% (n=19) for both guidelines. Compliance with the NICE guidelines for follow-up metabolic monitoring was 67.50% (n=27). Conclusion: There was non-compliance in most cases leaving room for clinical improvement in the monitoring of lithium. Healthcare professionals should be educated on the recommended monitoring guidelines to promote the rational use of lithium in South Africa. Pharmacists should be more involved in the TDM of lithium to promote its safe and effective use.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2020-04

Application of quality by design to the manufacture of a multiparticulate prednisone dosage form

  • Authors: Manda, Arthur
  • Date: 2020-04
  • Subjects: Drugs -- Quality control , Drugs -- Design -- Quality control , Drugs -- Dosage forms , Drug development -- Quality control , Pharmaceutical industry -- Quality control , Prednisone , High throughput screening (Drug development)
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc (Pharmacy)
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/117986 , vital:34583
  • Description: For many years, quality by testing was the only approach to guarantee quality of drug products before the Food and Drug Administration launched the concept of current Good Manufacturing Practice. In order to gain more knowledge of the manufacturing process, a new system known as Quality by Design was introduced into the pharmaceutical industry. Quality by Design is based on thorough understanding of how materials, process parameters and interaction thereof impact final product quality. Quality by Design is a systematic approach to product development which ensures that quality is built into a product during product development and not just tested into it. The aim of Quality by Design is to achieve optimum product quality with consistent dosage form performance and minimal risk of failure in patients. The objective of these studies was to implement a Quality by Design approach to establish a design space for the development and manufacture of a safe, effective and stable multi-partite solid oral dosage form for prednisone as an alternative to currently marketed prednisone formulations. Multi-particulate dosage forms offer significant advantages over conventional technologies. In addition to lowering the incidence of gastrointestinal irritation they exhibit a reduced risk of dose dumping and a large surface area which favours dissolution. Furthermore, their free flowing nature facilitates reproducible capsule filling and consequently uniformity of dosing. Different multi-particulate dosage forms exist however a multiple-unit pellet system was investigated during these studies. Quality by Design principles were used to develop and establish a reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatographic method for quantifying prednisone from solid oral dosage forms. A Central Composite Design was used to generate multivariate experiments and to investigate the impact of input variables on the quality and performance of the analytical method. The optimized method was validated according to International Council for Harmonization guidelines and was found to be linear, precise, accurate and specific for the quantitation of prednisone. Pre-formulation studies were conducted and included the assessment of particle size, particle shape, powder flow properties and compatibility studies. Carr’s index, Hausner ratio and the Angle of Repose were used to evaluate powder flow properties and results generated from all studies suggest the need for adding a glidant and lubricant to improve pellet flow. The images generated from Scanning Electron Microscopy were used to analyze particle shape and size. Differential Scanning Calorimetry and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy were used to evaluate API-excipient compatibility. All excipients investigated were found to be compatible with prednisone and suitable for formulation development studies. Extrusion-spheronization was used to manufacture prednisone pellets. Extrusion-spheronization is a multi-step process involving many factors. Quality risk management tools particularly an Ishikawa Fishbone (cause and effect) diagram and failure mode and effects analysis were used to narrow down potentially significant factors to a reasonable number that could be investigated experimentally. Risk priority numbers were used to quantify risk and factors above a set threshold value were considered to be of high risk. A total of eleven risk factors were identified as high. A Plackett-Burman study was conducted to narrow down the eleven high risk factors to identify the most impactful factors viz., microcrystalline cellulose content, sodium starch glycolate content, extrusion speed and spheronization time. Evaluation of four factors was carried over to optimization studies using a Box-Behnken Design and following identifaction of the optimum process settings and excipient content a design space for the manufacture of a multi-partite dosage form containing prednisone was established.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2020-04

Effects of organic and inorganic pollutants on the quality of river water and evaluation of possible negative effects on human health in the Eastern Cape Province

  • Authors: Vumazonke, Sesethu
  • Date: 2020-04
  • Subjects: Uncatalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: thesis , text , Masters , MSc (Pharmacy)
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/164727 , vital:41158
  • Description: Thesis (MSc)--Rhodes University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutics, 2020
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2020-04

Evaluating the prescribing and management practices of clozapine at a public sector psychiatric hospital

  • Authors: Mukoko, Vimbisai Millicent
  • Date: 2020-04
  • Subjects: Clozapine , Schizophrenia -- Chemotherapy , Schizophrenia -- South Africa -- Treatment
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , M.Pharm
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/123266 , vital:35422
  • Description: Approximately one percent (1%) of the South African population suffers from schizophrenia. Clozapine has proven to be more effective than conventional antipsychotics in the treatment of schizophrenia, particularly in alleviating positive symptoms. Clozapine is primarily indicated for treatment-resistant schizophrenia due to its severe adverse effect profile. The prescribing guidelines recommend a trial of at least two different antipsychotic drugs before the initiation of clozapine. At least one should be a non-clozapine second generation antipsychotic. Compared to other atypical antipsychotics, clozapine poses the greatest risk of causing a haematological event, such as neutropenia and agranulocytosis. Agranulocytosis (estimated prevalence of 1.3%) is a life-threatening adverse effect. Common adverse effects include weight gain and metabolic syndrome, hypersalivation and constipation. These can also predispose the patient to co-morbid diseases which further complicate their current diagnosis. Haematological and metabolic monitoring is paramount throughout the duration of clozapine therapy. International (NICE guidelines, Clozapine REMS, and Maudsley prescribing guidelines) and national (South African STGs, SASOP treatment guidelines and the SAMF) guidelines recommend these monitoring patterns to assist with the prevention and management of the adverse effects of clozapine.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2020-04

Evaluating the prescribing and management practices of venlafaxine at a public sector psychiatric hospital

  • Authors: Naidu, Bavika
  • Date: 2020-04
  • Subjects: Venlafaxine , Anxiety disorcers -- Treatment , Depression, Mental -- Treatment
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , M.Pharm
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/123200 , vital:35414
  • Description: Neuropsychiatric conditions have been ranked third in South Africa according to some of the most recent reviews of disease burden, following human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome and other infectious diseases (Bateman, 2012:70; South African Depression and Anxiety Group, 2018). For depressive disorders, the conventional selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (e.g. fluoxetine), are common first-step treatments due to their relatively low toxicity and high tolerability (Rush et al., 2006:1231). The class of selective noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (e.g. venlafaxine) is relatively new on the market. The first SNRI to be marketed in the United States was venlafaxine immediate-release (IR). It was approved by the United States FDA in 1993 (Sansone and Sansone, 2014:37) and was soon followed by the introduction of a micro-encapsulated extended-release (XR) formulation in 1997. Currently there is no published or readily available information concerning the prescribing and management patterns of venlafaxine as well as the incidence and types of adverse effects experienced by patients in the public health sector of South Africa besides the established increased in blood pressure.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2020-04

Preparation, characterization and optimization of carbamazepine based pellets prepared by extrusion-spheronization technique

Science engagement with school learners for microbial quality testing of water in Makhanda

  • Authors: Nqowana, Thandiswa
  • Date: 2020-04
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc (Pharmacy)
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/124754 , vital:35677
  • Description: Expected release date-April 2022
  • Full Text: false
  • Date Issued: 2020-04
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