In-beam spectroscopy of ⁷²Ge
- Authors: Henninger, Katharine Rose
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Nuclear shapes , Hyperfine structure
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5559 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018233
- Description: The high-spin states of the nucleus ⁷²Ge were populated via the ⁷°Zn(a,2n)⁷²Ge fusion-evaporation reaction at a beam-energy of 30 MeV. The ')'-decays were observed with the AFRODITE spectrometer array at iThemba LABS (Faure, South Africa). Twenty-seven new transitions, 18 new levels and 2 new bands were added to the ⁷²Ge level scheme, and several corrections were made to t he previously-known level scheme. Transitions were characterised using Directional Correlation from Oriented states (DCO) and polarisation measurements, and spin-parity assignments were made for 7 new levels. Spin and parity were also reassigned to a previously-known structure. One of the new bands was ident ified as part of an octupole-vibrational band. No tetrahedral states were observed in the scheme despite N = 40 and Z = 32 having been identified as tetrahedral magic numbers. The meaning of the new 14⁺ yrast level for the underlying structure of the ground state band is discussed
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Henninger, Katharine Rose
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Nuclear shapes , Hyperfine structure
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5559 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018233
- Description: The high-spin states of the nucleus ⁷²Ge were populated via the ⁷°Zn(a,2n)⁷²Ge fusion-evaporation reaction at a beam-energy of 30 MeV. The ')'-decays were observed with the AFRODITE spectrometer array at iThemba LABS (Faure, South Africa). Twenty-seven new transitions, 18 new levels and 2 new bands were added to the ⁷²Ge level scheme, and several corrections were made to t he previously-known level scheme. Transitions were characterised using Directional Correlation from Oriented states (DCO) and polarisation measurements, and spin-parity assignments were made for 7 new levels. Spin and parity were also reassigned to a previously-known structure. One of the new bands was ident ified as part of an octupole-vibrational band. No tetrahedral states were observed in the scheme despite N = 40 and Z = 32 having been identified as tetrahedral magic numbers. The meaning of the new 14⁺ yrast level for the underlying structure of the ground state band is discussed
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Study South Africa
- International Education Association of South Africa (IEASA), Jooste, Nico
- Authors: International Education Association of South Africa (IEASA) , Jooste, Nico
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Education, Higher -- South Africa , Universities and colleges -- South Africa , Technical Institutes -- South Africa , Vocational guidance -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/64928 , vital:28637 , ISBN 9780620542661
- Description: [Extract from article by Ms Merle Hodges]: A recent article points to the feeling of alienation that students feel when studying away from home. It seeks to address the problem by establishing a range of fora where foreign students can feel more ‘at home’. It encourages host students to be more willing to accommodate these ‘outsiders’ in order to boost the reputation of the institution. Most of these initiatives are slightly patronising, but obviously well-meant. The overriding sense behind the article is that international students, within higher education institutions, are a benevolent burden. International students should be looked after, because universities are generally maternal (they are someone’s alma mater after all), places of kindness (they literally give away knowledge) and generally care for others (community outreach is fundamental to most universities). More importantly, international students – in places like the USA and UK – generate additional funding in an environment where government and federal funding is drying up. But what if four out of every ten students in the world who graduated were from China and India? In the next eight years? That genial inconvenience now becomes an imperative. These are the predictions by such august organisations as The British Council and the education branch of the OECD. It is also anticipated that these countries will not be in a position to educate this number of students internally. Which, in turn, suggests that there will be mass outflows at the undergraduate level and, by sheer dint of numbers, also means that internationalisation is heading towards a compounding acceleration in numbers. Where then does internationalisation stand? It will no longer be an altruistic add-on, but core business to the lifeblood of the universities across the globe. As far back as 1994, Jane Knight understood internationalisation as a phenomenon that would have a profound impact on the functions and structures of the university. “Internationalization,” she points out, “is the process of integrating an international, intercultural, global outlook into the major functions of a university – teaching, SRC, and service functions.” Over the past year arguments have been made that suggest that global shifts in student demographics are not the ‘province’ of South African higher education and that our obligation is to focus internally, on poverty alleviation and job creation. This argument misses the point. The free flow of academics and students – especially the large number of postgraduate students from other countries already at our institutions – are working with our academics on solving exactly these kinds of problems. IEASA is no longer only about the 60 000 students who migrate to our shores annually. It’s about what they learn and the diverse experiences that they will go through; experiences that will change them for life and will inevitably bring them to a different understanding of the world that we, collectively, are presently fashioning. , 12th Edition
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: International Education Association of South Africa (IEASA) , Jooste, Nico
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Education, Higher -- South Africa , Universities and colleges -- South Africa , Technical Institutes -- South Africa , Vocational guidance -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/64928 , vital:28637 , ISBN 9780620542661
- Description: [Extract from article by Ms Merle Hodges]: A recent article points to the feeling of alienation that students feel when studying away from home. It seeks to address the problem by establishing a range of fora where foreign students can feel more ‘at home’. It encourages host students to be more willing to accommodate these ‘outsiders’ in order to boost the reputation of the institution. Most of these initiatives are slightly patronising, but obviously well-meant. The overriding sense behind the article is that international students, within higher education institutions, are a benevolent burden. International students should be looked after, because universities are generally maternal (they are someone’s alma mater after all), places of kindness (they literally give away knowledge) and generally care for others (community outreach is fundamental to most universities). More importantly, international students – in places like the USA and UK – generate additional funding in an environment where government and federal funding is drying up. But what if four out of every ten students in the world who graduated were from China and India? In the next eight years? That genial inconvenience now becomes an imperative. These are the predictions by such august organisations as The British Council and the education branch of the OECD. It is also anticipated that these countries will not be in a position to educate this number of students internally. Which, in turn, suggests that there will be mass outflows at the undergraduate level and, by sheer dint of numbers, also means that internationalisation is heading towards a compounding acceleration in numbers. Where then does internationalisation stand? It will no longer be an altruistic add-on, but core business to the lifeblood of the universities across the globe. As far back as 1994, Jane Knight understood internationalisation as a phenomenon that would have a profound impact on the functions and structures of the university. “Internationalization,” she points out, “is the process of integrating an international, intercultural, global outlook into the major functions of a university – teaching, SRC, and service functions.” Over the past year arguments have been made that suggest that global shifts in student demographics are not the ‘province’ of South African higher education and that our obligation is to focus internally, on poverty alleviation and job creation. This argument misses the point. The free flow of academics and students – especially the large number of postgraduate students from other countries already at our institutions – are working with our academics on solving exactly these kinds of problems. IEASA is no longer only about the 60 000 students who migrate to our shores annually. It’s about what they learn and the diverse experiences that they will go through; experiences that will change them for life and will inevitably bring them to a different understanding of the world that we, collectively, are presently fashioning. , 12th Edition
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Sexual abuse within the context of public education
- Authors: Strydom, Jeanette
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Sexual harassment in education -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Students -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- South Africa , Child sexual abuse by teachers , School violence -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: vital:10238 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1012156 , Sexual harassment in education -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Students -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- South Africa , Child sexual abuse by teachers , School violence -- South Africa
- Description: The South African Constitution is considered as supreme law. This piece of legislation overrides all others and states in section 28(2): “A child’s best interests are of paramount importance in every matter concerning the child”. This emphasises the significance of the right of the child in South African law, by stating that children are to be protected at all cost. This section of the constitution forms the basis of this thesis with regards to the child and the protections that are to be afforded to them in instances of sexual abuse by educators. In the last several years there has been an increase in the number of cases reported on the sexual abuse, rape, violence and harassment of learners by members of the schooling community. The statistics prove that sexual violence in the schooling system in South Africa is rampant and furthermore indicate that young girls and boys are not as safe as they deserve to be. A teacher or educator is a professional, who is to act in a professional manner at all times – in the course and scope of their employment as educators. When a parent leaves its child at school for the day the educators are acting in loco parentis – in place of parent – thus these children are to be protected, nurtured and cared for in the correct manner. Sexual abuse of a learner by an educator is a gross contravention of South African legislation, the South African Council of Educators (SACE) code of conduct as well as international codes by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the United Nations (UN) and other conventions. It is therefore fitting that any perpetrator of such violence, disrespect and transgression is to be punished quickly and harshly. Educators who abuse children are to immediately be removed from the school system through dismissal and also be tried criminally. These offenders should also be added to the SACE sexual offenders’ database which needs to be open to the Department of Education (DOE) and more importantly the general public – allowing parents to make the best possible decisions when putting their children in schools, thus ensuring their safety. However, throughout this process the rights of the child are to be protected and regarded with prevailing sensitivity, and their innocence is to be sheltered from any further psychological and emotional harm caused due to the abuse. The South African Professional Society on the Abuse of Children (SAPSAC) argues that a constitutional injunction is powerless to protect a child from being victimised and traumatised by criminal activity.1 All the more should it be incumbent upon the criminal law and criminal procedure and upon the courts, their functionaries and practitioners who regulate its procedure and apply its principles to “protect children from abuse and (to) maximise opportunities for them to lead productive and happy lives … (and to) … create positive conditions for repair to take place”. The thesis that follows, using the principles summarised here, aims to: define sexual abuse of the child, the legal position in South Africa in relation to the sexual abuse of children and case law. Recommendations will then be made and a code of good practice will be established on how to deal with educators who sexually abuse their learners promptly, effectively – without causing any further harm to the child in question.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Strydom, Jeanette
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Sexual harassment in education -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Students -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- South Africa , Child sexual abuse by teachers , School violence -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: vital:10238 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1012156 , Sexual harassment in education -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Students -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- South Africa , Child sexual abuse by teachers , School violence -- South Africa
- Description: The South African Constitution is considered as supreme law. This piece of legislation overrides all others and states in section 28(2): “A child’s best interests are of paramount importance in every matter concerning the child”. This emphasises the significance of the right of the child in South African law, by stating that children are to be protected at all cost. This section of the constitution forms the basis of this thesis with regards to the child and the protections that are to be afforded to them in instances of sexual abuse by educators. In the last several years there has been an increase in the number of cases reported on the sexual abuse, rape, violence and harassment of learners by members of the schooling community. The statistics prove that sexual violence in the schooling system in South Africa is rampant and furthermore indicate that young girls and boys are not as safe as they deserve to be. A teacher or educator is a professional, who is to act in a professional manner at all times – in the course and scope of their employment as educators. When a parent leaves its child at school for the day the educators are acting in loco parentis – in place of parent – thus these children are to be protected, nurtured and cared for in the correct manner. Sexual abuse of a learner by an educator is a gross contravention of South African legislation, the South African Council of Educators (SACE) code of conduct as well as international codes by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the United Nations (UN) and other conventions. It is therefore fitting that any perpetrator of such violence, disrespect and transgression is to be punished quickly and harshly. Educators who abuse children are to immediately be removed from the school system through dismissal and also be tried criminally. These offenders should also be added to the SACE sexual offenders’ database which needs to be open to the Department of Education (DOE) and more importantly the general public – allowing parents to make the best possible decisions when putting their children in schools, thus ensuring their safety. However, throughout this process the rights of the child are to be protected and regarded with prevailing sensitivity, and their innocence is to be sheltered from any further psychological and emotional harm caused due to the abuse. The South African Professional Society on the Abuse of Children (SAPSAC) argues that a constitutional injunction is powerless to protect a child from being victimised and traumatised by criminal activity.1 All the more should it be incumbent upon the criminal law and criminal procedure and upon the courts, their functionaries and practitioners who regulate its procedure and apply its principles to “protect children from abuse and (to) maximise opportunities for them to lead productive and happy lives … (and to) … create positive conditions for repair to take place”. The thesis that follows, using the principles summarised here, aims to: define sexual abuse of the child, the legal position in South Africa in relation to the sexual abuse of children and case law. Recommendations will then be made and a code of good practice will be established on how to deal with educators who sexually abuse their learners promptly, effectively – without causing any further harm to the child in question.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Self-perceived professional identity of pharmacy educators
- Authors: Burton, Susan
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Academic identity , Communities of practice , Identity (Philosophical concept) , Pharmacy -- Study and teaching , Pharmacy
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:10139 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1008352 , Academic identity , Communities of practice , Identity (Philosophical concept) , Pharmacy -- Study and teaching , Pharmacy
- Description: The philosophy of pharmaceutical care, which defines a patient-centred approach to practice, has been embraced and upheld by national and international pharmaceutical organisations for two decades. However, pharmacists have been slow to change their practice and implement a pharmaceutical care approach. It has been suggested that amongst other factors, short-comings in pharmaceutical education have contributed to this reluctance of the profession to transform practice. Efforts to address these short-comings in pharmaceutical education have focused on the curriculum and pedagogic practices, and not on the pharmacy educators themselves. Palmer (1998) asserts that “good teaching cannot be reduced to technique; good teaching comes from the identity and integrity of the teacher”. In essence, "we teach who we are" and good teachers have one common trait: “a strong sense of personal identity that infuses their work”. This study identified, described and analysed the self-perceived professional identities of pharmacy educators within the South African context. This included ascertaining factors and contexts which contributed to participants’ self-perception of their professional identity. In an effort to understand the influence the educators have on practice and on changing practice and vice-versa, the attitudes, beliefs and behaviours of participants regarding the philosophy and practice of pharmaceutical care, and pharmaceutical education were also explored. Situated within a constructivist-interpretive, qualitative paradigm and making use of methodological triangulation, this study was conducted in three phases, each employing a different qualitative method to collect data. The first phase made use of narrative analysis to gain an in-depth understanding of pharmacy educators’ perceived professional identities and to explore how their experiences, across various contexts, have formed their professional identities. In-depth individual narrative interviews were used to provide a forum in which the participants could reflect upon and tell their professional life-story. This phase of the study also made use of the exploration of metaphors to further investigate the participants’ professional identity and, more particularly, their images of themselves as “teacher” and role model for students. A maximum variation, purposeful sampling approach was used to recruit eight pharmacy academics - one from each school or faculty of pharmacy in South Africa, as participants in this phase of the study. The second and third phases explored more widely, the insights gained from the first phase and the formation of professional identity, attitudes, beliefs and practices of pharmacy educators in South Africa. Two focus groups were employed during the second phase and the study sample was broadened to include a further ten pharmacy educators. In the third phase, a purpose-designed, qualitative questionnaire was used to extend the study sample to all pharmacy educators in South Africa. A convenience sampling approach was used in both the second and third phases of the study. Thematic analysis and interpretation of the narrative interview and focus group transcripts and the questionnaire responses were conducted using qualitative data analysis software – Atlas.ti®. A multiplicity of self-perceived professional identities was described. However, all of these were multi-faceted and could be situated on a continuum between pharmacist identity on one end and academic identity on the other. In addition, six key determinants were recognised as underpinning the participants’ self-perception of their professional identity. These included three structural determinants: expected role; knowledge base; and practice, and three determinants relating to the emotional dimensions and agency of professional identity: professional status; passions; and satisfiers. The professional identity of the participants had been formed through membership of multiple pharmacy-related communities of practice and continued to be sustained through a nexus of multi-membership. There was extensive support by the participants for the concept of pharmaceutical care; however, it did not impact extensively on their role as pharmacy educators. Furthermore, many expressed concern around the use of the term ‘pharmaceutical care’: its definition; its lack of penetration into, and implementation within the practice environment; and even its relevance to the South African healthcare context. Many of the participants perceived the professional development of future pharmacists to be integral to their role as educators, and was often their source of greatest professional satisfaction. However, concern was also expressed at the dissonance that students were perceived to experience, sometimes, because of the incongruities that they are taught and what they experience in practice. This study has afforded pharmacy educators in South Africa an opportunity to understand better “who” they are as professionals, and to reflect on their role as educators and as role models for future pharmacist. Moreover, the findings contribute to a collective understanding of the professional identity of pharmacy educators and socialisation of pharmacy students into the profession. The insights and recommendations emerging from the study have the potential to make academic pharmacy a more attractive career choice which may have positive implications for the future attraction and retention of pharmacists to academic posts within universities.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Burton, Susan
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Academic identity , Communities of practice , Identity (Philosophical concept) , Pharmacy -- Study and teaching , Pharmacy
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:10139 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1008352 , Academic identity , Communities of practice , Identity (Philosophical concept) , Pharmacy -- Study and teaching , Pharmacy
- Description: The philosophy of pharmaceutical care, which defines a patient-centred approach to practice, has been embraced and upheld by national and international pharmaceutical organisations for two decades. However, pharmacists have been slow to change their practice and implement a pharmaceutical care approach. It has been suggested that amongst other factors, short-comings in pharmaceutical education have contributed to this reluctance of the profession to transform practice. Efforts to address these short-comings in pharmaceutical education have focused on the curriculum and pedagogic practices, and not on the pharmacy educators themselves. Palmer (1998) asserts that “good teaching cannot be reduced to technique; good teaching comes from the identity and integrity of the teacher”. In essence, "we teach who we are" and good teachers have one common trait: “a strong sense of personal identity that infuses their work”. This study identified, described and analysed the self-perceived professional identities of pharmacy educators within the South African context. This included ascertaining factors and contexts which contributed to participants’ self-perception of their professional identity. In an effort to understand the influence the educators have on practice and on changing practice and vice-versa, the attitudes, beliefs and behaviours of participants regarding the philosophy and practice of pharmaceutical care, and pharmaceutical education were also explored. Situated within a constructivist-interpretive, qualitative paradigm and making use of methodological triangulation, this study was conducted in three phases, each employing a different qualitative method to collect data. The first phase made use of narrative analysis to gain an in-depth understanding of pharmacy educators’ perceived professional identities and to explore how their experiences, across various contexts, have formed their professional identities. In-depth individual narrative interviews were used to provide a forum in which the participants could reflect upon and tell their professional life-story. This phase of the study also made use of the exploration of metaphors to further investigate the participants’ professional identity and, more particularly, their images of themselves as “teacher” and role model for students. A maximum variation, purposeful sampling approach was used to recruit eight pharmacy academics - one from each school or faculty of pharmacy in South Africa, as participants in this phase of the study. The second and third phases explored more widely, the insights gained from the first phase and the formation of professional identity, attitudes, beliefs and practices of pharmacy educators in South Africa. Two focus groups were employed during the second phase and the study sample was broadened to include a further ten pharmacy educators. In the third phase, a purpose-designed, qualitative questionnaire was used to extend the study sample to all pharmacy educators in South Africa. A convenience sampling approach was used in both the second and third phases of the study. Thematic analysis and interpretation of the narrative interview and focus group transcripts and the questionnaire responses were conducted using qualitative data analysis software – Atlas.ti®. A multiplicity of self-perceived professional identities was described. However, all of these were multi-faceted and could be situated on a continuum between pharmacist identity on one end and academic identity on the other. In addition, six key determinants were recognised as underpinning the participants’ self-perception of their professional identity. These included three structural determinants: expected role; knowledge base; and practice, and three determinants relating to the emotional dimensions and agency of professional identity: professional status; passions; and satisfiers. The professional identity of the participants had been formed through membership of multiple pharmacy-related communities of practice and continued to be sustained through a nexus of multi-membership. There was extensive support by the participants for the concept of pharmaceutical care; however, it did not impact extensively on their role as pharmacy educators. Furthermore, many expressed concern around the use of the term ‘pharmaceutical care’: its definition; its lack of penetration into, and implementation within the practice environment; and even its relevance to the South African healthcare context. Many of the participants perceived the professional development of future pharmacists to be integral to their role as educators, and was often their source of greatest professional satisfaction. However, concern was also expressed at the dissonance that students were perceived to experience, sometimes, because of the incongruities that they are taught and what they experience in practice. This study has afforded pharmacy educators in South Africa an opportunity to understand better “who” they are as professionals, and to reflect on their role as educators and as role models for future pharmacist. Moreover, the findings contribute to a collective understanding of the professional identity of pharmacy educators and socialisation of pharmacy students into the profession. The insights and recommendations emerging from the study have the potential to make academic pharmacy a more attractive career choice which may have positive implications for the future attraction and retention of pharmacists to academic posts within universities.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Welcome Address of the Vice‐Chancellor of Rhodes University, Dr Saleem Badat, to First‐Year students
- Authors: Badat, Saleem
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: vital:7592 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006583
- Description: From introduction: Our first purpose is to produce knowledge, so that we can better understand our natural and social worlds and also enrich our scientific and cultural heritage. The second purpose of a university is to disseminate knowledge and to develop critical and creative minds. Our goals, yours and ours, must be for you to think imaginatively, ‘effectively and critically;’ to ‘achieve depth in some field of knowledge;’ to appreciate how we ‘gain knowledge and understanding of the universe, of society, and of ourselves;’ to have ‘a broad knowledge of other cultures and other times;’ to critique ideas and views and construct alternatives, and to communicate cogently, orally and in writing. Our final purpose as a university is to undertake community engagement, whether this is as part of academic courses or your voluntary participation in community projects organized by our Community Engagement Office.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Welcome Address of the Vice‐Chancellor of Rhodes University, Dr Saleem Badat, to First‐Year students
- Authors: Badat, Saleem
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: vital:7592 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006583
- Description: From introduction: Our first purpose is to produce knowledge, so that we can better understand our natural and social worlds and also enrich our scientific and cultural heritage. The second purpose of a university is to disseminate knowledge and to develop critical and creative minds. Our goals, yours and ours, must be for you to think imaginatively, ‘effectively and critically;’ to ‘achieve depth in some field of knowledge;’ to appreciate how we ‘gain knowledge and understanding of the universe, of society, and of ourselves;’ to have ‘a broad knowledge of other cultures and other times;’ to critique ideas and views and construct alternatives, and to communicate cogently, orally and in writing. Our final purpose as a university is to undertake community engagement, whether this is as part of academic courses or your voluntary participation in community projects organized by our Community Engagement Office.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
A structural and functional specification of a SCIM for service interaction management and personalisation in the IMS
- Authors: Tsietsi, Mosiuoa Jeremia
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Internet Protocol multimedia subsystem , Internet Protocol multimedia subsystem -- Specifications , Long-Term Evolution (Telecommunications) , European Telecommunications Standards Institute , Wireless communication systems , Multimedia communications
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4606 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004864 , Internet Protocol multimedia subsystem , Internet Protocol multimedia subsystem -- Specifications , Long-Term Evolution (Telecommunications) , European Telecommunications Standards Institute , Wireless communication systems , Multimedia communications
- Description: The Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) is a component of the 3G mobile network that has been specified by standards development organisations such as the 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) and ETSI (European Telecommunication Standards Institute). IMS seeks to guarantee that the telecommunication network of the future provides subscribers with seamless access to services across disparate networks. In order to achieve this, it defines a service architecture that hosts application servers that provide subscribers with value added services. Typically, an application server bundles all the functionality it needs to execute the services it delivers, however this view is currently being challenged. It is now thought that services should be synthesised from simple building blocks called service capabilities. This decomposition would facilitate the re-use of service capabilities across multiple services and would support the creation of new services that could not have originally been conceived. The shift from monolithic services to those built from service capabilities poses a challenge to the current service model in IMS. To accommodate this, the 3GPP has defined an entity known as a service capability interaction manager (SCIM) that would be responsible for managing the interactions between service capabilities in order to realise complex services. Some of these interactions could potentially lead to undesirable results, which the SCIM must work to avoid. As an added requirement, it is believed that the network should allow policies to be applied to network services which the SCIM should be responsible for enforcing. At the time of writing, the functional and structural architecture of the SCIM has not yet been standardised. This thesis explores the current serv ice architecture of the IMS in detail. Proposals that address the structure and functions of the SCIM are carefully compared and contrasted. This investigation leads to the presentation of key aspects of the SCIM, and provides solutions that explain how it should interact with service capabilities, manage undesirable interactions and factor user and network operator policies into its execution model. A modified design of the IMS service layer that embeds the SCIM is subsequently presented and described. The design uses existing IMS protocols and requires no change in the behaviour of the standard IMS entities. In order to develop a testbed for experimental verification of the design, the identification of suitable software platforms was required. This thesis presents some of the most popular platforms currently used by developers such as the Open IMS Core and OpenSER, as well as an open source, Java-based, multimedia communication platform called Mobicents. As a precursor to the development of the SCIM, a converged multimedia service is presented that describes how a video streaming application that is leveraged by a web portal was implemented for an IMS testbed using Mobicents components. The Mobicents SIP Servlets container was subsequently used to model an initial prototype of the SCIM, using a mUlti-component telephony service to illustrate the proposed service execution model. The design focuses on SIP-based services only, but should also work for other types of IMS application servers as well.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Tsietsi, Mosiuoa Jeremia
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Internet Protocol multimedia subsystem , Internet Protocol multimedia subsystem -- Specifications , Long-Term Evolution (Telecommunications) , European Telecommunications Standards Institute , Wireless communication systems , Multimedia communications
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4606 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004864 , Internet Protocol multimedia subsystem , Internet Protocol multimedia subsystem -- Specifications , Long-Term Evolution (Telecommunications) , European Telecommunications Standards Institute , Wireless communication systems , Multimedia communications
- Description: The Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) is a component of the 3G mobile network that has been specified by standards development organisations such as the 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) and ETSI (European Telecommunication Standards Institute). IMS seeks to guarantee that the telecommunication network of the future provides subscribers with seamless access to services across disparate networks. In order to achieve this, it defines a service architecture that hosts application servers that provide subscribers with value added services. Typically, an application server bundles all the functionality it needs to execute the services it delivers, however this view is currently being challenged. It is now thought that services should be synthesised from simple building blocks called service capabilities. This decomposition would facilitate the re-use of service capabilities across multiple services and would support the creation of new services that could not have originally been conceived. The shift from monolithic services to those built from service capabilities poses a challenge to the current service model in IMS. To accommodate this, the 3GPP has defined an entity known as a service capability interaction manager (SCIM) that would be responsible for managing the interactions between service capabilities in order to realise complex services. Some of these interactions could potentially lead to undesirable results, which the SCIM must work to avoid. As an added requirement, it is believed that the network should allow policies to be applied to network services which the SCIM should be responsible for enforcing. At the time of writing, the functional and structural architecture of the SCIM has not yet been standardised. This thesis explores the current serv ice architecture of the IMS in detail. Proposals that address the structure and functions of the SCIM are carefully compared and contrasted. This investigation leads to the presentation of key aspects of the SCIM, and provides solutions that explain how it should interact with service capabilities, manage undesirable interactions and factor user and network operator policies into its execution model. A modified design of the IMS service layer that embeds the SCIM is subsequently presented and described. The design uses existing IMS protocols and requires no change in the behaviour of the standard IMS entities. In order to develop a testbed for experimental verification of the design, the identification of suitable software platforms was required. This thesis presents some of the most popular platforms currently used by developers such as the Open IMS Core and OpenSER, as well as an open source, Java-based, multimedia communication platform called Mobicents. As a precursor to the development of the SCIM, a converged multimedia service is presented that describes how a video streaming application that is leveraged by a web portal was implemented for an IMS testbed using Mobicents components. The Mobicents SIP Servlets container was subsequently used to model an initial prototype of the SCIM, using a mUlti-component telephony service to illustrate the proposed service execution model. The design focuses on SIP-based services only, but should also work for other types of IMS application servers as well.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Environmental health work methods and procedures for the surveillance and control of cholera in the KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa
- Authors: Bigara, Ana Doherty
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Avian influenza -- Eastern Cape -- South Africa -- Prevention , Environmental health -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9836 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1016073
- Description: The aim of this study was to develop a standardised set of Environmental-Health work methods and procedures, with the purpose of contributing to the effective surveillance and control of Cholera in the KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa. The researcher followed a qualitative research design, which was explorative, descriptive, inductive and deductive by nature. The methods of data collection were documentary research and focus-group interviews. A documentary research approach was employed as the primary method of data collection for the study. The researcher has used semi-structured questions to obtain relevant information from the participants in the focus groups. The purpose of using semi-structured questions in the focus groups was to draw on their knowledge and experience of communicable disease surveillance and control in relation to Cholera, as well as to ascertain their views on the role of the Environmental-Health Practitioners in the Communicable - Disease Outbreak- Response Teams at the three different spheres of government. The process of qualitative data analysis was followed. This was based on data reduction and interpretation; and it was conducted as an activity simultaneously with data collection, data interpretation (coding) and narrative writing. The information obtained from the analysed data assisted in the development of the environmentalhealth work methods and procedures for the surveillance and control of Cholera in the KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa. In this study, firstly, the epidemiology of Cholera was described and analysed against the background of its manifestation in South Africa. Secondly, the national health care system, with specific reference to the place and role of environmental health practitioners at national, provincial and municipal spheres – in relation to Cholera surveillance and control – was analysed. Thirdly, the relevant research that has been done globally has been analysed against the background of the findings of the above, together with work methods and procedures to be used by environmental-health practitioners during the surveillance and control of Cholera in the KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. These include, inter alia: Work methods and procedures for Cholera case investigation; Work methods and procedures for sanitary investigations; and Work methods and procedures for identifying the sources of contamination in environmental waters. Finally, the conclusion and limitations was presented, and appropriate recommendations were made. These include: he need to educate all role - players, on the recent developments in the identification of Vibrio cholerae from environmental surface waters; Communication systems should be developed that allow the Director: Environmental Health to communicate urgent environmental health information directly to the Minister of Health; he training of environmental-health practitioners on detailed work methods and procedures for the surveillance and control of Cholera; and the existing national Cholera control guidelines need to be updated to include relevant environmental health situations when emergencies arise.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Bigara, Ana Doherty
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Avian influenza -- Eastern Cape -- South Africa -- Prevention , Environmental health -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9836 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1016073
- Description: The aim of this study was to develop a standardised set of Environmental-Health work methods and procedures, with the purpose of contributing to the effective surveillance and control of Cholera in the KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa. The researcher followed a qualitative research design, which was explorative, descriptive, inductive and deductive by nature. The methods of data collection were documentary research and focus-group interviews. A documentary research approach was employed as the primary method of data collection for the study. The researcher has used semi-structured questions to obtain relevant information from the participants in the focus groups. The purpose of using semi-structured questions in the focus groups was to draw on their knowledge and experience of communicable disease surveillance and control in relation to Cholera, as well as to ascertain their views on the role of the Environmental-Health Practitioners in the Communicable - Disease Outbreak- Response Teams at the three different spheres of government. The process of qualitative data analysis was followed. This was based on data reduction and interpretation; and it was conducted as an activity simultaneously with data collection, data interpretation (coding) and narrative writing. The information obtained from the analysed data assisted in the development of the environmentalhealth work methods and procedures for the surveillance and control of Cholera in the KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa. In this study, firstly, the epidemiology of Cholera was described and analysed against the background of its manifestation in South Africa. Secondly, the national health care system, with specific reference to the place and role of environmental health practitioners at national, provincial and municipal spheres – in relation to Cholera surveillance and control – was analysed. Thirdly, the relevant research that has been done globally has been analysed against the background of the findings of the above, together with work methods and procedures to be used by environmental-health practitioners during the surveillance and control of Cholera in the KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. These include, inter alia: Work methods and procedures for Cholera case investigation; Work methods and procedures for sanitary investigations; and Work methods and procedures for identifying the sources of contamination in environmental waters. Finally, the conclusion and limitations was presented, and appropriate recommendations were made. These include: he need to educate all role - players, on the recent developments in the identification of Vibrio cholerae from environmental surface waters; Communication systems should be developed that allow the Director: Environmental Health to communicate urgent environmental health information directly to the Minister of Health; he training of environmental-health practitioners on detailed work methods and procedures for the surveillance and control of Cholera; and the existing national Cholera control guidelines need to be updated to include relevant environmental health situations when emergencies arise.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
The past and present limnology of the Soetendalsvlei wetlands, Agulhas coast, South Africa
- Authors: Gordon, Nuette
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Limnology -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:10619 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1009430 , Limnology -- South Africa
- Description: As climatic conditions continue to change globally, there is a need to assess past environmental change in relation to changing water balance, temperature and sea-level. By understanding the extent of past environmental change, and how anthropogenic impacts have affected ecosystems, better and more accurate future predictions of change can be made. Through the use of the sedimentary record within coastal wetlands, geochemical, (organic content and stable isotopes) and biological (diatoms) proxies were utilised to determine; (i) the baseline water quality record for Soetendalsvlei, one of only a few coastal lakes in South Africa, (ii) the effect of agriculture and mouth manipulation of the Heuningnes Estuary on the microalgae ecology and (iii) the link between palaeo-salinity and trophic status on a regional basis between Soetendalsvlei and Groenvlei, situated 320 km apart. Present water quality and phytoplankton biomass and community structure were assessed for Soetendalsvlei and its associated wetlands, Voëlvlei and Waskraalsvlei to determine the current health of these systems and to obtain modern diatom analogues to be used in the palaeolimnological reconstruction of the coastal lake. Diatoms were not dominant during this study period. Chlorophytes and flagellates were the dominant phytoplankton groups throughout the different wetlands. With the exception of Voëlvlei, the wetlands were all in good health, although SRP concentrations were within the eutrophic to hypertrophic range and are cause for concern. In Voëlvlei, phytoplankton biomass was within the eutrophic range with chlorophyll a concentrations ranging between 20 – 400 ug.l-1 Cyanobacteria, a further indicator of eutrophic conditions, were dominant during the warmer summer periods. Rainfall and freshwater inflow had a significant effect on the biomass and composition of the phytoplankton and acted as a resetting mechanism for all the wetlands as water quality conditions improved thereafter. Comparisons of the water quality and phytoplankton community between the upper reaches of the Heuningnes Estuary and Soetendalsvlei, indicated that artificial breaching of the estuary mouth significantly impacted the connectivity between these two systems, with marine intrusion extending into the upper reaches, while freshwater conditions dominate in the coastal lake. Unfortunately for the palaeolimnological study diatom preservation was poor, however, geochemistry and stable isotope analyses did provide adequate evidence of marine transgression (~8000 yr BP and 4000-2000 yr BP) and regression events comparable to other South African sea-level models developed for the east and west coast. High organic matter content (i.e. higher trophic state) and estuarine POC (C4 vegetation) were associated with periods of marine regression, i.e. increased freshwater, whereas marine transgression events were associated with low organic content and marine POC and DOC. This is comparable to studies conducted in Uruguay (South America) where palaeo-salinity was related to trophic status, i.e. increased freshwater input was associated with high nutrients. Comparisons of the palaeo-record with recorded historical occurrences of droughts and floods, also provided a means of assessing the sedimentary record and to infer anthropogenic impacts after 1850 AD. Overall it can be concluded that coastal lakes of both continents in the Southern Hemisphere displayed similar trophic responses to sea-level fluctuations during the Holocene. This adds valuable information to global sea-level change models.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Gordon, Nuette
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Limnology -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:10619 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1009430 , Limnology -- South Africa
- Description: As climatic conditions continue to change globally, there is a need to assess past environmental change in relation to changing water balance, temperature and sea-level. By understanding the extent of past environmental change, and how anthropogenic impacts have affected ecosystems, better and more accurate future predictions of change can be made. Through the use of the sedimentary record within coastal wetlands, geochemical, (organic content and stable isotopes) and biological (diatoms) proxies were utilised to determine; (i) the baseline water quality record for Soetendalsvlei, one of only a few coastal lakes in South Africa, (ii) the effect of agriculture and mouth manipulation of the Heuningnes Estuary on the microalgae ecology and (iii) the link between palaeo-salinity and trophic status on a regional basis between Soetendalsvlei and Groenvlei, situated 320 km apart. Present water quality and phytoplankton biomass and community structure were assessed for Soetendalsvlei and its associated wetlands, Voëlvlei and Waskraalsvlei to determine the current health of these systems and to obtain modern diatom analogues to be used in the palaeolimnological reconstruction of the coastal lake. Diatoms were not dominant during this study period. Chlorophytes and flagellates were the dominant phytoplankton groups throughout the different wetlands. With the exception of Voëlvlei, the wetlands were all in good health, although SRP concentrations were within the eutrophic to hypertrophic range and are cause for concern. In Voëlvlei, phytoplankton biomass was within the eutrophic range with chlorophyll a concentrations ranging between 20 – 400 ug.l-1 Cyanobacteria, a further indicator of eutrophic conditions, were dominant during the warmer summer periods. Rainfall and freshwater inflow had a significant effect on the biomass and composition of the phytoplankton and acted as a resetting mechanism for all the wetlands as water quality conditions improved thereafter. Comparisons of the water quality and phytoplankton community between the upper reaches of the Heuningnes Estuary and Soetendalsvlei, indicated that artificial breaching of the estuary mouth significantly impacted the connectivity between these two systems, with marine intrusion extending into the upper reaches, while freshwater conditions dominate in the coastal lake. Unfortunately for the palaeolimnological study diatom preservation was poor, however, geochemistry and stable isotope analyses did provide adequate evidence of marine transgression (~8000 yr BP and 4000-2000 yr BP) and regression events comparable to other South African sea-level models developed for the east and west coast. High organic matter content (i.e. higher trophic state) and estuarine POC (C4 vegetation) were associated with periods of marine regression, i.e. increased freshwater, whereas marine transgression events were associated with low organic content and marine POC and DOC. This is comparable to studies conducted in Uruguay (South America) where palaeo-salinity was related to trophic status, i.e. increased freshwater input was associated with high nutrients. Comparisons of the palaeo-record with recorded historical occurrences of droughts and floods, also provided a means of assessing the sedimentary record and to infer anthropogenic impacts after 1850 AD. Overall it can be concluded that coastal lakes of both continents in the Southern Hemisphere displayed similar trophic responses to sea-level fluctuations during the Holocene. This adds valuable information to global sea-level change models.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Farmers` perceptions of livestock feeding and rangeland management: dynamics of soil, forage and cattle blood serum mineral levels in two communal areas of the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Gwelo, Farai Alice
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Range management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Animal feeding -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Livestock -- Breeding -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Communal rangelands -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Pasture Science)
- Identifier: vital:11581 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1006785 , Range management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Animal feeding -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Livestock -- Breeding -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Communal rangelands -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: This study was conducted to determine livestock production, rangeland management and the mineral levels of soils, grass and cattle blood serum in two communal areas (Kwezana and Dikidikana). A total of 77 farmers from both Kwezana and Dikidikana were interviewed to determine farmers’ perceptions. Soil and grass sampling was done at three sites in each communal area. Soil and grass samples were analysed for N, Ca, Mg, K, P, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn and Bo. Three, two and half year old Nguni heifers were randomly selected from each communal area and blood samples were collected for the analysis of Ca, Mg, K, Cu and Fe. Soil, grass and blood samples were all collected in two seasons (winter and summer). The results of the study revealed that feed availability was the major constraint in livestock production as indicated by 83 percent of thefarmers at Kwezana and 88 percent at Dikidikana. At both villages less than 20 percent practiced supplementation and grazing management. From both villages, 83 percent of the farmers did not know the forage species preferred by their cattle. The second study revealed significant seasonal variations in soil N in both study areas while forage N exhibited seasonal variations (P<0.05) only at Dikidikana. Spatial variation (P<0.05) in soil Mn was apparent in both seasons at Dikidikana and in summer at Kwezana. At Dikidikana forage P varied (P<0.05) both seasonally and spatially. In both study areas, there was a positive correlation (P<0.05) between soil and forage levels of Cu and Zn. The blood serum of animals from both study areas had higher (P<0.05) K and Na in winter than in summer. Farmers do not understand the composition of their rangelands but are concerned about cattle nutrition during winter. Indeed the mineral status of soils, forages and Nguni cattle blood serum tend to vary not only seasonally but also spatially. There is need therefore to assist the farmers to understand these changes in order to find ways of managing the rangelands in a way that will manipulate both seasonal and spatial variations in soil nutrients for the benefit of the grazing livestock. Further research is required to determine the digestibility of the forages and the amount of energy available from these forages for the grazing livestock.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Gwelo, Farai Alice
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Range management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Animal feeding -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Livestock -- Breeding -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Communal rangelands -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Pasture Science)
- Identifier: vital:11581 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1006785 , Range management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Animal feeding -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Livestock -- Breeding -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Communal rangelands -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: This study was conducted to determine livestock production, rangeland management and the mineral levels of soils, grass and cattle blood serum in two communal areas (Kwezana and Dikidikana). A total of 77 farmers from both Kwezana and Dikidikana were interviewed to determine farmers’ perceptions. Soil and grass sampling was done at three sites in each communal area. Soil and grass samples were analysed for N, Ca, Mg, K, P, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn and Bo. Three, two and half year old Nguni heifers were randomly selected from each communal area and blood samples were collected for the analysis of Ca, Mg, K, Cu and Fe. Soil, grass and blood samples were all collected in two seasons (winter and summer). The results of the study revealed that feed availability was the major constraint in livestock production as indicated by 83 percent of thefarmers at Kwezana and 88 percent at Dikidikana. At both villages less than 20 percent practiced supplementation and grazing management. From both villages, 83 percent of the farmers did not know the forage species preferred by their cattle. The second study revealed significant seasonal variations in soil N in both study areas while forage N exhibited seasonal variations (P<0.05) only at Dikidikana. Spatial variation (P<0.05) in soil Mn was apparent in both seasons at Dikidikana and in summer at Kwezana. At Dikidikana forage P varied (P<0.05) both seasonally and spatially. In both study areas, there was a positive correlation (P<0.05) between soil and forage levels of Cu and Zn. The blood serum of animals from both study areas had higher (P<0.05) K and Na in winter than in summer. Farmers do not understand the composition of their rangelands but are concerned about cattle nutrition during winter. Indeed the mineral status of soils, forages and Nguni cattle blood serum tend to vary not only seasonally but also spatially. There is need therefore to assist the farmers to understand these changes in order to find ways of managing the rangelands in a way that will manipulate both seasonal and spatial variations in soil nutrients for the benefit of the grazing livestock. Further research is required to determine the digestibility of the forages and the amount of energy available from these forages for the grazing livestock.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
An investigation into the challenges faced by children as victims of HIV/AIDS with reference to the Nyandeni area in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Kanyemba, Patricia
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: HIV -- Positive children
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Sw
- Identifier: vital:18477 , http://hdl.handle.net/11260/d1007756
- Description: The aim of the study was to delineate, discuss and analyze major challenges that affect children between the ages of 13 and 18 in the Nyandeni area due to HIV/AIDS. This exploratory study was also performed to identify the categories of children made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS. One of the objectives was to provide a descriptive and analytical interpretation of the day to day experiences of children affected by HIV/AIDS. In shaping the sample size, 50 respondents were selected from three wards (2, 3 and 16) of the Nyandeni Local Municipality in the Nyandeni area in the Eastern Cape.The researcher made use of the interview technique to collect data from the respondents. In analysing data, the researcher made use of the quantitative and qualitative measures.The outcome of the study points out that HIV/AIDS is the major threat to children and that there is a significant increase in number of child headed families as a result of HIV/AIDS.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Kanyemba, Patricia
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: HIV -- Positive children
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Sw
- Identifier: vital:18477 , http://hdl.handle.net/11260/d1007756
- Description: The aim of the study was to delineate, discuss and analyze major challenges that affect children between the ages of 13 and 18 in the Nyandeni area due to HIV/AIDS. This exploratory study was also performed to identify the categories of children made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS. One of the objectives was to provide a descriptive and analytical interpretation of the day to day experiences of children affected by HIV/AIDS. In shaping the sample size, 50 respondents were selected from three wards (2, 3 and 16) of the Nyandeni Local Municipality in the Nyandeni area in the Eastern Cape.The researcher made use of the interview technique to collect data from the respondents. In analysing data, the researcher made use of the quantitative and qualitative measures.The outcome of the study points out that HIV/AIDS is the major threat to children and that there is a significant increase in number of child headed families as a result of HIV/AIDS.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Statistical tools for consolidation of energy demand forecasts
- Authors: Motsomi, Abel Pholo
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Power resources -- Forecasting , Energy conservation -- Standards , Electric utilities
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10573 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1011578 , Power resources -- Forecasting , Energy conservation -- Standards , Electric utilities
- Description: The electricity market in the South African economy uses specialised instruments in forecast-ing the energy load to be delivered. The current status quo operates with several forecasters from different offices, departments or businesses predicting for different purposes. This be-comes a challenge to derive a consolidated forecast. This study has attempted to develop a consolidating instrument that will merge all the forecasts from different offices, departments or businesses into one so-called ‘official forecast’. Such an instrument should be able to predict with accuracy the anticipated usage or demand. Article [18] examined patterns across G7 countries and forecasters to establish whether the present bias reflects the inefficient use of information, or whether it reflects a rational re- sponse to financial, reputation and other incentives operating for forecasters. This bias is particularly true for any electricity utility as forecasting is undertaken by different divisions; therefore each division has its own incentives. For instance, the generation division will tend to overstate their forecasts so as that there is no possibility of a shortage, whereas distri- bution (sales) might understate so as to give the impression of being profitable when more units are sold to consumers. Thus, the study attempts to rectify this bias by employing statistical tools in consolidating these forecasts. The results presented in this paper propose a newly developed procedure of consolidating energy demand forecasts from different users and accounting for different time horizons. Predicting for the short-term and long-term involves different measuring tools, which is one aspect of prediction this paper tackles.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Motsomi, Abel Pholo
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Power resources -- Forecasting , Energy conservation -- Standards , Electric utilities
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10573 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1011578 , Power resources -- Forecasting , Energy conservation -- Standards , Electric utilities
- Description: The electricity market in the South African economy uses specialised instruments in forecast-ing the energy load to be delivered. The current status quo operates with several forecasters from different offices, departments or businesses predicting for different purposes. This be-comes a challenge to derive a consolidated forecast. This study has attempted to develop a consolidating instrument that will merge all the forecasts from different offices, departments or businesses into one so-called ‘official forecast’. Such an instrument should be able to predict with accuracy the anticipated usage or demand. Article [18] examined patterns across G7 countries and forecasters to establish whether the present bias reflects the inefficient use of information, or whether it reflects a rational re- sponse to financial, reputation and other incentives operating for forecasters. This bias is particularly true for any electricity utility as forecasting is undertaken by different divisions; therefore each division has its own incentives. For instance, the generation division will tend to overstate their forecasts so as that there is no possibility of a shortage, whereas distri- bution (sales) might understate so as to give the impression of being profitable when more units are sold to consumers. Thus, the study attempts to rectify this bias by employing statistical tools in consolidating these forecasts. The results presented in this paper propose a newly developed procedure of consolidating energy demand forecasts from different users and accounting for different time horizons. Predicting for the short-term and long-term involves different measuring tools, which is one aspect of prediction this paper tackles.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
The impact of capital flows on real exchange rates in South Africa
- Authors: Mishi, Syden
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Capital movements -- South Africa , Economic development -- South Africa , Foreign exchange -- South Africa , Interest rates -- South Africa , Currency question -- South Africa , Saving and investment -- South Africa , Free trade -- South Africa , Anti-inflationary policies -- South Africa , Cointegration -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Com
- Identifier: vital:11466 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007089 , Capital movements -- South Africa , Economic development -- South Africa , Foreign exchange -- South Africa , Interest rates -- South Africa , Currency question -- South Africa , Saving and investment -- South Africa , Free trade -- South Africa , Anti-inflationary policies -- South Africa , Cointegration -- South Africa
- Description: The neoclassical theory suggests that free flows of external capital should be equilibrating and thereby facilitating smoothening of an economy's consumption or production patterns. South Africa has a very low savings rate, making it highly dependent on capital inflows which create instability and volatility in global markets. A policy dilemma is undoubtedly evident: capital inflows help to cater for the domestic low savings and at the same time the inflows pose instability, a threat on competitiveness and volatility challenges to the same economy due to their impact on exchange rates. The question is: are all forms of capital flows equally destabilizing? Since studies based on South Africa considered only the relationship between aggregate capital flows and real exchange rate, modelling individual components of capital flows could enlighten policy formulation even further. The composition of the flows and their effects on the composition of aggregate demand determine the evolution of real exchange rate response to surges in capital flows. Through co-integration and vector error correction modelling techniques applied to South African data between 1990 and 2010, the study found out that foreign portfolio investment exerts the greatest appreciation effect on the South African real exchange rate, followed by other investment and finally foreign direct investment. Thus the impact of capital flows on real exchange rate in South Africa differs by type of capital. This presents varied policy implications.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Mishi, Syden
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Capital movements -- South Africa , Economic development -- South Africa , Foreign exchange -- South Africa , Interest rates -- South Africa , Currency question -- South Africa , Saving and investment -- South Africa , Free trade -- South Africa , Anti-inflationary policies -- South Africa , Cointegration -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Com
- Identifier: vital:11466 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007089 , Capital movements -- South Africa , Economic development -- South Africa , Foreign exchange -- South Africa , Interest rates -- South Africa , Currency question -- South Africa , Saving and investment -- South Africa , Free trade -- South Africa , Anti-inflationary policies -- South Africa , Cointegration -- South Africa
- Description: The neoclassical theory suggests that free flows of external capital should be equilibrating and thereby facilitating smoothening of an economy's consumption or production patterns. South Africa has a very low savings rate, making it highly dependent on capital inflows which create instability and volatility in global markets. A policy dilemma is undoubtedly evident: capital inflows help to cater for the domestic low savings and at the same time the inflows pose instability, a threat on competitiveness and volatility challenges to the same economy due to their impact on exchange rates. The question is: are all forms of capital flows equally destabilizing? Since studies based on South Africa considered only the relationship between aggregate capital flows and real exchange rate, modelling individual components of capital flows could enlighten policy formulation even further. The composition of the flows and their effects on the composition of aggregate demand determine the evolution of real exchange rate response to surges in capital flows. Through co-integration and vector error correction modelling techniques applied to South African data between 1990 and 2010, the study found out that foreign portfolio investment exerts the greatest appreciation effect on the South African real exchange rate, followed by other investment and finally foreign direct investment. Thus the impact of capital flows on real exchange rate in South Africa differs by type of capital. This presents varied policy implications.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
The feasibility of monetary integration within the SADC region
- Authors: Nindi, Angelique Gugulethu
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Southern African Development Community Monetary policy -- Africa, Southern Macroeconomics Africa, Southern -- Economic policy
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:1021 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002756
- Description: The Southern African Development Community (SADC) aims to have a regional central bank by 2016 and a common currency by 2018. The member states are at the early stages of the process of regional economic integration, having launched a free trade area in 2008. Monetary integration is an advanced stage of regional economic integration that requires progressive changes in the participating countries. The purpose of this study is to determine the feasibility of monetary integration within the SADC countries and hence, provide policy recommendations to guide the integration process. To accomplish this, the study analyses the extent to which the member states meet the criteria for an optimum currency area (OCA) as well as the degree to which their economies are converging. The study finds that the main macroeconomic objectives of SADC countries differ due to a difference in the relative importance of monetary policy instruments in member states, which influences each country’s commitment towards achieving the macroeconomic convergence targets and harmonising policies. A more appropriate approach to macroeconomic convergence would be to allow for variable speed, geometry and depth in each country as premature adherence to convergence targets could prevent a harmonisation of the economies in the future and possibly destabilise the union. In addition, the study investigates the importance and similarities of the monetary aggregate channel, the interest rate channel, the exchange rate channel and the credit channel in the transmission of monetary policy using VAR analysis. This is important when considering monetary integration because differences in transmission mechanisms can result in asymmetric behaviour between member states, which in turn will prevent harmonisation of their economies. The results of the analysis suggest that SADC member states display asymmetries in their responses to monetary policy shocks as well as the relative importance of transmission mechanisms. In addition, the results suggest that national monetary policy is generally inefficient in determining economic performance in the member states. Furthermore, the study finds that the failure to meet the OCA criteria implies that the SADC member states will respond asymmetrically to shocks within a monetary union. With no effective alternative adjustment mechanisms in place, the effects of the shocks will endure in union members and possibly widen existing cyclical variation. Hence, monetary integration would not result in harmonisation of the economies of member states. It is therefore, concluded that the SADC countries were not suitable for monetary integration at present.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Nindi, Angelique Gugulethu
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Southern African Development Community Monetary policy -- Africa, Southern Macroeconomics Africa, Southern -- Economic policy
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:1021 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002756
- Description: The Southern African Development Community (SADC) aims to have a regional central bank by 2016 and a common currency by 2018. The member states are at the early stages of the process of regional economic integration, having launched a free trade area in 2008. Monetary integration is an advanced stage of regional economic integration that requires progressive changes in the participating countries. The purpose of this study is to determine the feasibility of monetary integration within the SADC countries and hence, provide policy recommendations to guide the integration process. To accomplish this, the study analyses the extent to which the member states meet the criteria for an optimum currency area (OCA) as well as the degree to which their economies are converging. The study finds that the main macroeconomic objectives of SADC countries differ due to a difference in the relative importance of monetary policy instruments in member states, which influences each country’s commitment towards achieving the macroeconomic convergence targets and harmonising policies. A more appropriate approach to macroeconomic convergence would be to allow for variable speed, geometry and depth in each country as premature adherence to convergence targets could prevent a harmonisation of the economies in the future and possibly destabilise the union. In addition, the study investigates the importance and similarities of the monetary aggregate channel, the interest rate channel, the exchange rate channel and the credit channel in the transmission of monetary policy using VAR analysis. This is important when considering monetary integration because differences in transmission mechanisms can result in asymmetric behaviour between member states, which in turn will prevent harmonisation of their economies. The results of the analysis suggest that SADC member states display asymmetries in their responses to monetary policy shocks as well as the relative importance of transmission mechanisms. In addition, the results suggest that national monetary policy is generally inefficient in determining economic performance in the member states. Furthermore, the study finds that the failure to meet the OCA criteria implies that the SADC member states will respond asymmetrically to shocks within a monetary union. With no effective alternative adjustment mechanisms in place, the effects of the shocks will endure in union members and possibly widen existing cyclical variation. Hence, monetary integration would not result in harmonisation of the economies of member states. It is therefore, concluded that the SADC countries were not suitable for monetary integration at present.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Factors affecting survivorship of loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) sea turtles of South Africa
- Authors: De Wet, Anje
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Loggerhead turtle -- South Africa , Leatherback turtle -- South Africa , Sea turtles -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10686 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1007900 , Loggerhead turtle -- South Africa , Leatherback turtle -- South Africa , Sea turtles -- South Africa
- Description: Loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) sea turtles as well as their eggs and hatchlings have been protected on their nesting beach in South Africa (SA) since 1963. Both nesting populations were expected to show similar trends in recovery following the application of identical protection and conservation measures. The loggerhead nesting population has responded favourably to these protection efforts. In contrast, the leatherback nesting population showed an initial increase but is currently stable. The reason for this difference in response is thought to be due to differential offshore mortality of these two species. This prompted an investigation into the different sources of sea turtle mortality in the South Western Indian Ocean (SWIO). Specific aims were to identify and quantify sources of loggerhead and leatherback mortality on nesting beaches as well as in the oceans. Reasonable survivorship at all age classes is important to ensure recruitment of new nesting individuals into sea turtle populations. Mortality of nests, eggs per nest and hatchlings were quantified over two seasons for the loggerheads and leatherbacks nesting in SA. The beach was patrolled on foot to encounter and record females emerging from the ocean and later, hatchlings from their nests. The nests were then monitored during the incubation period and excavated once hatched. The fates of 925 nests were determined during these two nesting seasons (2009/2010 and 2010/2011). The main source of loggerhead and leatherback nest destruction was predation (8.6 percent and 15.7 percent respectively) followed by nest erosion (2.2 percent and 6.3 percent respectively). Overall nest success was high but higher for loggerheads (89 percent) than for leatherbacks (78 percent). The main cause of egg mortality for both species was early developmental arrest, followed by predation by ants and ghost crabs. Hatchlings en route to the sea were almost exclusively predated by ghost crabs (4.2 percent of emerged loggerhead hatchlings and 3.2 percent of emerged leatherback hatchlings). It appears that both species benefit from the coastal conservation efforts. When sea turtles leave the nesting beach, either as hatchlings or adults, conservation and monitoring becomes more difficult and sea turtles are exposed to a multitude of threats, including anthropogenic threats. Age classes tend to be spatially separated due to different habitat and dietary requirements. The type of threat sea turtles are exposed to thus depends on the current age class. Offshore sources of mortality in the SWIO were identified and where possible loggerhead and leatherback mortality was quantified and mapped spatially. Loggerheads were mostly exposed to and had the highest mortality in the artisanal fisheries in the SWIO (> 1000 per annum), inshore trawling (ca. 41 per annum), shark nets (protective gill nets) (21.6 ± 6.7 per annum) and the pelagic longline fishery (5.0 ± 4.4 per annum). In contrast, leatherbacks with a pelagic lifestyle, were mostly exposed to pelagic longline fisheries (7.8 ± 7.8 per annum). A spatial analysis of fishing activities indicated that leatherback home ranges overlapped 41percent with pelagic longline fishing activity in the SA EEZ, whereas the overlap between pelagic longliners and loggerhead home ranges was 29 percent. The quantified sources of mortality provide some explanation for the trend in the loggerhead nesting population but not the trend in the leatherback nesting population. Hatchling survivorship to adulthood was estimated to determine the viability of the two nesting populations as well as to determine whether offshore mortality was responsible for the difference in recovery of the two populations. Loggerhead hatchling survivorship to adulthood was estimated at between 2 and 10 per 1000 hatchlings, the minimum requirement for an increasing population. The adopted sophisticated model shows that leatherbacks have a survival rate of 5 to 10 per 1 000 hatchlings. However, this suggests that the population is increasing, but the leatherback population is stable. Perhaps the age to maturity of SA leatherbacks is greater than 12 years, or fisheries-related mortality affects younger age classes than initially thought. It is therefore recommended that the turtle monitoring area is extended to include other potential nesting grounds. In addition, observer or monitoring programs for commercial as well as artisanal fisheries needs to be extended throughout the SWIO to quantify sea turtle mortality. Ultimately a comprehensive multi-regional approach is required for the conservation of these highly migratory species.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: De Wet, Anje
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Loggerhead turtle -- South Africa , Leatherback turtle -- South Africa , Sea turtles -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10686 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1007900 , Loggerhead turtle -- South Africa , Leatherback turtle -- South Africa , Sea turtles -- South Africa
- Description: Loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) sea turtles as well as their eggs and hatchlings have been protected on their nesting beach in South Africa (SA) since 1963. Both nesting populations were expected to show similar trends in recovery following the application of identical protection and conservation measures. The loggerhead nesting population has responded favourably to these protection efforts. In contrast, the leatherback nesting population showed an initial increase but is currently stable. The reason for this difference in response is thought to be due to differential offshore mortality of these two species. This prompted an investigation into the different sources of sea turtle mortality in the South Western Indian Ocean (SWIO). Specific aims were to identify and quantify sources of loggerhead and leatherback mortality on nesting beaches as well as in the oceans. Reasonable survivorship at all age classes is important to ensure recruitment of new nesting individuals into sea turtle populations. Mortality of nests, eggs per nest and hatchlings were quantified over two seasons for the loggerheads and leatherbacks nesting in SA. The beach was patrolled on foot to encounter and record females emerging from the ocean and later, hatchlings from their nests. The nests were then monitored during the incubation period and excavated once hatched. The fates of 925 nests were determined during these two nesting seasons (2009/2010 and 2010/2011). The main source of loggerhead and leatherback nest destruction was predation (8.6 percent and 15.7 percent respectively) followed by nest erosion (2.2 percent and 6.3 percent respectively). Overall nest success was high but higher for loggerheads (89 percent) than for leatherbacks (78 percent). The main cause of egg mortality for both species was early developmental arrest, followed by predation by ants and ghost crabs. Hatchlings en route to the sea were almost exclusively predated by ghost crabs (4.2 percent of emerged loggerhead hatchlings and 3.2 percent of emerged leatherback hatchlings). It appears that both species benefit from the coastal conservation efforts. When sea turtles leave the nesting beach, either as hatchlings or adults, conservation and monitoring becomes more difficult and sea turtles are exposed to a multitude of threats, including anthropogenic threats. Age classes tend to be spatially separated due to different habitat and dietary requirements. The type of threat sea turtles are exposed to thus depends on the current age class. Offshore sources of mortality in the SWIO were identified and where possible loggerhead and leatherback mortality was quantified and mapped spatially. Loggerheads were mostly exposed to and had the highest mortality in the artisanal fisheries in the SWIO (> 1000 per annum), inshore trawling (ca. 41 per annum), shark nets (protective gill nets) (21.6 ± 6.7 per annum) and the pelagic longline fishery (5.0 ± 4.4 per annum). In contrast, leatherbacks with a pelagic lifestyle, were mostly exposed to pelagic longline fisheries (7.8 ± 7.8 per annum). A spatial analysis of fishing activities indicated that leatherback home ranges overlapped 41percent with pelagic longline fishing activity in the SA EEZ, whereas the overlap between pelagic longliners and loggerhead home ranges was 29 percent. The quantified sources of mortality provide some explanation for the trend in the loggerhead nesting population but not the trend in the leatherback nesting population. Hatchling survivorship to adulthood was estimated to determine the viability of the two nesting populations as well as to determine whether offshore mortality was responsible for the difference in recovery of the two populations. Loggerhead hatchling survivorship to adulthood was estimated at between 2 and 10 per 1000 hatchlings, the minimum requirement for an increasing population. The adopted sophisticated model shows that leatherbacks have a survival rate of 5 to 10 per 1 000 hatchlings. However, this suggests that the population is increasing, but the leatherback population is stable. Perhaps the age to maturity of SA leatherbacks is greater than 12 years, or fisheries-related mortality affects younger age classes than initially thought. It is therefore recommended that the turtle monitoring area is extended to include other potential nesting grounds. In addition, observer or monitoring programs for commercial as well as artisanal fisheries needs to be extended throughout the SWIO to quantify sea turtle mortality. Ultimately a comprehensive multi-regional approach is required for the conservation of these highly migratory species.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
μCloud : a P2P cloud platform for computing service provision
- Authors: Fouodji Tasse, Ghislain
- Date: 2012 , 2012-08-22
- Subjects: Cloud computing , Peer-to-peer architecture (Computer networks) , Computer architecture , Computer service industry
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4663 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006669 , Cloud computing , Peer-to-peer architecture (Computer networks) , Computer architecture , Computer service industry
- Description: The advancements in virtualization technologies have provided a large spectrum of computational approaches. Dedicated computations can be run on private environments (virtual machines), created within the same computer. Through capable APIs, this functionality is leveraged for the service we wish to implement; a computer power service (CPS). We target peer-to-peer systems for this service, to exploit the potential of aggregating computing resources. The concept of a P2P network is mostly known for its expanded usage in distributed networks for sharing resources like content files or real-time data. This study adds computing power to the list of shared resources by describing a suitable service composition. Taking into account the dynamic nature of the platform, this CPS provision is achieved using a self stabilizing clustering algorithm. So, the resulting system of our research is based around a hierarchical P2P architecture and offers end-to-end consideration of resource provisioning and reliability. We named this system μCloud and characterizes it as a self-provisioning cloud service platform. It is designed, implemented and presented in this dissertation. Eventually, we assessed our work by showing that μCloud succeeds in providing user-centric services using a P2P computing unit. With this, we conclude that our system would be highly beneficial in both small and massively deployed environments. , KMBT_223 , Adobe Acrobat 9.51 Paper Capture Plug-in
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Fouodji Tasse, Ghislain
- Date: 2012 , 2012-08-22
- Subjects: Cloud computing , Peer-to-peer architecture (Computer networks) , Computer architecture , Computer service industry
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4663 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006669 , Cloud computing , Peer-to-peer architecture (Computer networks) , Computer architecture , Computer service industry
- Description: The advancements in virtualization technologies have provided a large spectrum of computational approaches. Dedicated computations can be run on private environments (virtual machines), created within the same computer. Through capable APIs, this functionality is leveraged for the service we wish to implement; a computer power service (CPS). We target peer-to-peer systems for this service, to exploit the potential of aggregating computing resources. The concept of a P2P network is mostly known for its expanded usage in distributed networks for sharing resources like content files or real-time data. This study adds computing power to the list of shared resources by describing a suitable service composition. Taking into account the dynamic nature of the platform, this CPS provision is achieved using a self stabilizing clustering algorithm. So, the resulting system of our research is based around a hierarchical P2P architecture and offers end-to-end consideration of resource provisioning and reliability. We named this system μCloud and characterizes it as a self-provisioning cloud service platform. It is designed, implemented and presented in this dissertation. Eventually, we assessed our work by showing that μCloud succeeds in providing user-centric services using a P2P computing unit. With this, we conclude that our system would be highly beneficial in both small and massively deployed environments. , KMBT_223 , Adobe Acrobat 9.51 Paper Capture Plug-in
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
An exploration into self-extending systems in early literacy in English of Grade One isiXhosa speaking learners
- O'Donoghue, Elizabeth Lindsay
- Authors: O'Donoghue, Elizabeth Lindsay
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: English language -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- Foreign speakers -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Second language acquisition -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Second language acquisition -- Ability testing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Language and languages -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- Foreign speakers -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Competence and performance (Linguistics) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Literacy -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Reading (Elementary) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Children -- Writing -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Reading Recovery®
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1532 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003414
- Description: The purpose of this research was to explore the ways in which a small, purposefully sampled group of Grade One isiXhosa-speaking children began the process of becoming literate in English as their second language. The research looked specifically for evidence of strategic behaviours in reading and writing which, according to Clay (200 I, 2005), form the foundation for self-extending systems and have the potential to accelerate learning. The research was guided by the principles of Clay's early intervention Reading and Writing Recovery. By Clay's definition, self-extending systems are literacy processing systems that work, that is, they enable children to continue to learn to read by reading and to write by writing. Within this context, the research explored the role of oral language in learning to read and write in English. Consideration was given to the potential for transfer of the principles that underlie Reading Recovery to South African mainstream classrooms in an attempt to raise literacy outcomes for all. This is a particularly urgent need in South Africa where many attempts to tum around poor trajectories of literacy learning do not seem to have the desired long term effects. The results of the research showed that the children began to actively engage in their English literacy learning within a network of strategies, primarily motivated by making meaning of their texts. The findings of the research suggested that a mismatch of needs and instructional procedures was evident here in this formative stage of second language literacy learning. The results suggested that children who were already educationally at risk for a multitude of reasons, were being set back even further by instructional approaches that were unresponsive to their linguistic needs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: O'Donoghue, Elizabeth Lindsay
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: English language -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- Foreign speakers -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Second language acquisition -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Second language acquisition -- Ability testing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Language and languages -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- Foreign speakers -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Competence and performance (Linguistics) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Literacy -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Reading (Elementary) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Children -- Writing -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Reading Recovery®
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1532 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003414
- Description: The purpose of this research was to explore the ways in which a small, purposefully sampled group of Grade One isiXhosa-speaking children began the process of becoming literate in English as their second language. The research looked specifically for evidence of strategic behaviours in reading and writing which, according to Clay (200 I, 2005), form the foundation for self-extending systems and have the potential to accelerate learning. The research was guided by the principles of Clay's early intervention Reading and Writing Recovery. By Clay's definition, self-extending systems are literacy processing systems that work, that is, they enable children to continue to learn to read by reading and to write by writing. Within this context, the research explored the role of oral language in learning to read and write in English. Consideration was given to the potential for transfer of the principles that underlie Reading Recovery to South African mainstream classrooms in an attempt to raise literacy outcomes for all. This is a particularly urgent need in South Africa where many attempts to tum around poor trajectories of literacy learning do not seem to have the desired long term effects. The results of the research showed that the children began to actively engage in their English literacy learning within a network of strategies, primarily motivated by making meaning of their texts. The findings of the research suggested that a mismatch of needs and instructional procedures was evident here in this formative stage of second language literacy learning. The results suggested that children who were already educationally at risk for a multitude of reasons, were being set back even further by instructional approaches that were unresponsive to their linguistic needs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
An exploration of ethical conduct in the South African public sector: a case of the Eastern Cape Department of Education
- Authors: Gwanzura, Owen
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Human capital -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Responsibility -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Political corruption -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Ethics -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Fraud -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Leadership -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Human services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Civil service -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Eastern Cape -- South Africa -- Economic conditions , Accountability , Auditor-General , Code of Conduct , Corruption , Eastern Cape Department of Education , Ethical Conduct , Unethical Conduct
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: vital:11672 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007121 , Human capital -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Responsibility -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Political corruption -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Ethics -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Fraud -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Leadership -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Human services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Civil service -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Eastern Cape -- South Africa -- Economic conditions , Accountability , Auditor-General , Code of Conduct , Corruption , Eastern Cape Department of Education , Ethical Conduct , Unethical Conduct
- Description: The Eastern Cape Department of Education has become like a problem child in the Republic of South Africa. It is a cause for concern to both the provincial and national government. This is a department where service delivery is problematic. Schools are not built or renovated and children are taught in dilapidated structures or sometimes under trees. Hardly a week passes without the department making the headlines in the media for the wrong reasons. It is widely accepted that the department is dysfunctional and education is in a crisis. The department has emerged as the number one culprit of engaging in corrupt activities in the province. Public officials in the department have been identified as being at the helm of these corrupt activities. In the 200/10 financial year, the Auditor General issued a disclaimer to the department and highlighted a lack of direction, accountability and a total breakdown of internal control systems and supply chain management within the department. Numerous fraud risk indicators were identified during the audit and underlined by findings that are indicative of fraud and corruption within the department. This unfortunate state of affairs is contrary to the requirements of section 195(1) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa which provides for the democratic values and principles governing public administration including inter alia, that: A high standard of professional ethics must be promoted and maintained. Efficient, economic and effective use of resources must be promoted. Public administration must be accountable. This raises several questions about the ethical fitness of public officials in the department as the custodians of the public resources and trust. Though several reasons abound for this unfavourable state of affairs in the department, the researcher has singled out unethical conduct by public officials in the department and its impact on service delivery. The approach followed in this research was to analyse the 2009/10 Department of Education Annual Report and the 2009/10 Auditor General’s Report to the Eastern Cape Department of Education. The analysis confirmed the existence and occurrence of multiple cases of unethical conduct in the department. At the end scientific recommendations are proposed to alleviate this ill.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Gwanzura, Owen
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Human capital -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Responsibility -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Political corruption -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Ethics -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Fraud -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Leadership -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Human services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Civil service -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Eastern Cape -- South Africa -- Economic conditions , Accountability , Auditor-General , Code of Conduct , Corruption , Eastern Cape Department of Education , Ethical Conduct , Unethical Conduct
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: vital:11672 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007121 , Human capital -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Responsibility -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Political corruption -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Ethics -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Fraud -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Leadership -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Human services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Civil service -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Eastern Cape -- South Africa -- Economic conditions , Accountability , Auditor-General , Code of Conduct , Corruption , Eastern Cape Department of Education , Ethical Conduct , Unethical Conduct
- Description: The Eastern Cape Department of Education has become like a problem child in the Republic of South Africa. It is a cause for concern to both the provincial and national government. This is a department where service delivery is problematic. Schools are not built or renovated and children are taught in dilapidated structures or sometimes under trees. Hardly a week passes without the department making the headlines in the media for the wrong reasons. It is widely accepted that the department is dysfunctional and education is in a crisis. The department has emerged as the number one culprit of engaging in corrupt activities in the province. Public officials in the department have been identified as being at the helm of these corrupt activities. In the 200/10 financial year, the Auditor General issued a disclaimer to the department and highlighted a lack of direction, accountability and a total breakdown of internal control systems and supply chain management within the department. Numerous fraud risk indicators were identified during the audit and underlined by findings that are indicative of fraud and corruption within the department. This unfortunate state of affairs is contrary to the requirements of section 195(1) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa which provides for the democratic values and principles governing public administration including inter alia, that: A high standard of professional ethics must be promoted and maintained. Efficient, economic and effective use of resources must be promoted. Public administration must be accountable. This raises several questions about the ethical fitness of public officials in the department as the custodians of the public resources and trust. Though several reasons abound for this unfavourable state of affairs in the department, the researcher has singled out unethical conduct by public officials in the department and its impact on service delivery. The approach followed in this research was to analyse the 2009/10 Department of Education Annual Report and the 2009/10 Auditor General’s Report to the Eastern Cape Department of Education. The analysis confirmed the existence and occurrence of multiple cases of unethical conduct in the department. At the end scientific recommendations are proposed to alleviate this ill.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
A production function for cricket: the South African perspective
- Brock, Kelsey, Fraser, Gavin, Botha, Ferdi
- Authors: Brock, Kelsey , Fraser, Gavin , Botha, Ferdi
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/396007 , vital:69143 , xlink:href="https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC124240"
- Description: Production functions are common to any productive activity. Although it may not appear obvious, cricket is no different. Production functions in cricket provide a wide range of information, utilised to enhance efficiency and maximize match success. Given these benefits, this study involved the derivation of a production function for the South African SuperSport Series and an analysis of technical efficiency. An econometric analysis was conducted on data from the 2004-2011 cricket seasons and it was concluded that the most optimal strategy for South African teams involved a combination of attacking batting and defensive bowling. Furthermore, South African teams had a relatively low variable substitutability and a high degree of technical efficiency.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Brock, Kelsey , Fraser, Gavin , Botha, Ferdi
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/396007 , vital:69143 , xlink:href="https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC124240"
- Description: Production functions are common to any productive activity. Although it may not appear obvious, cricket is no different. Production functions in cricket provide a wide range of information, utilised to enhance efficiency and maximize match success. Given these benefits, this study involved the derivation of a production function for the South African SuperSport Series and an analysis of technical efficiency. An econometric analysis was conducted on data from the 2004-2011 cricket seasons and it was concluded that the most optimal strategy for South African teams involved a combination of attacking batting and defensive bowling. Furthermore, South African teams had a relatively low variable substitutability and a high degree of technical efficiency.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Spatio-temporal ecology of the yellow mongoose Cynictis penicillata in the Great Fish River Reserve (Eastern Cape, South Africa)
- Authors: Mbatyoti, Owen A
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Carnivorous animals -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Spatial behavior -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Great Fish River Reserve (South Africa) , Mongooses -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Zoology)
- Identifier: vital:11792 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1006856 , Carnivorous animals -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Spatial behavior -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Great Fish River Reserve (South Africa) , Mongooses -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Very little is known about the spatio-temporal ecology of the yellow mongoose Cynictis penicillata, despite this small carnivore being widely distributed in the southern African subregion. Until the present study, activity patterns and daily movement distances had only been investigated over a single season, and information on home range sizes was only available from a few populations. Here, I aimed at determining the activity patterns and the space use of yellow mongooses over the different seasons of the year in the Great Fish River Reserve (Eastern Cape, South Africa). In addition, I tested some predictions related to environmental factors (variations in photoperiod, climatic conditions and food availability over the year), as well as life cycle (reproduction) and morphological and physiological characteristics (sexual dimorphism and thermoregulatory aspects associated to the possession of an elongated body). From September 2005 to August 2011, spatio-temporal data were collected through 102 continuous tracking sessions (84 during the day and 18 during the night) of 12 adult individuals (seven males and five females) fitted with motion-sensor radio-collars. Additional data were obtained through semi-continuous tracking sessions and random locations. Yellow mongooses were essentially diurnal and crepuscular. Activity levels averaged 57 percent during the day (n = 11,807 fixes) and only 11 percent at night (n = 3,623 fixes). Yellow mongooses emerged from their burrows on average (± SD) 85 ± 62 min after sunrise (range: –11 to +369 min) and returned 21 ± 84 min before sunset (range: –518 to +225 min). The duration of the daily activity period varied between 12 min and 15 h 36 min, with a mean of 9 h 28 min. Both sexes exhibited some overground activity after sunset, but this was most pronounced in males than in females. Nocturnal activity outside the activity period was generally restricted to short underground bouts of activity occurring at anytime of the night. Diurnal resting, with up to 11 bouts per activity period, occurred in 98.8 percent of activity periods. Overall, yellow mongooses were active during 68 ± 17 percent of the time spent outside the burrow. Photoperiod acted as a zeitgeber and activity was negatively affected by adverse climatic conditions (very hot or conversely low temperatures, rain, wet soil) and probably low terrestrial arthropod activity/availability. No intersexual difference in activity levels was found, although the higher body mass of males (on average 16 oercent) implies higher metabolic demands. The total home range size (MCP 100 percent ) averaged 0.55 ± 0.65 km2 (range: 0.10–2.36 km2) and the related total perimeter measured on average 2.80 ± 1.71 km (range: 1.17–7.36 km). Male home ranges were on average more than twice large than those of females, but this difference did not reach statistical significance. However, males had larger daily home ranges (0.13 ± 0.15 km2) than females (0.05 ± 0.05 km2). In addition, daily movement distances of males were longer (1.99 ± 1.07 km) than those of females (1.29 ± 0.66 km). Males also travelled at a faster speed (0.29 ± 0.13 km/h) than females (0.18 ± 0.07 km/h). Overall, sex clearly appeared to play a role in the spatial ecology of yellow mongooses, but the underlying explanation does not seem to be linked to sexual dimorphism (body mass) or reproductive activity. Whilst the role of food availability on the space use of yellow mongooses is unclear, it is likely that low temperatures negatively affect yellow mongoose movements, as they do for their activity levels.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Mbatyoti, Owen A
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Carnivorous animals -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Spatial behavior -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Great Fish River Reserve (South Africa) , Mongooses -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Zoology)
- Identifier: vital:11792 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1006856 , Carnivorous animals -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Spatial behavior -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Great Fish River Reserve (South Africa) , Mongooses -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Very little is known about the spatio-temporal ecology of the yellow mongoose Cynictis penicillata, despite this small carnivore being widely distributed in the southern African subregion. Until the present study, activity patterns and daily movement distances had only been investigated over a single season, and information on home range sizes was only available from a few populations. Here, I aimed at determining the activity patterns and the space use of yellow mongooses over the different seasons of the year in the Great Fish River Reserve (Eastern Cape, South Africa). In addition, I tested some predictions related to environmental factors (variations in photoperiod, climatic conditions and food availability over the year), as well as life cycle (reproduction) and morphological and physiological characteristics (sexual dimorphism and thermoregulatory aspects associated to the possession of an elongated body). From September 2005 to August 2011, spatio-temporal data were collected through 102 continuous tracking sessions (84 during the day and 18 during the night) of 12 adult individuals (seven males and five females) fitted with motion-sensor radio-collars. Additional data were obtained through semi-continuous tracking sessions and random locations. Yellow mongooses were essentially diurnal and crepuscular. Activity levels averaged 57 percent during the day (n = 11,807 fixes) and only 11 percent at night (n = 3,623 fixes). Yellow mongooses emerged from their burrows on average (± SD) 85 ± 62 min after sunrise (range: –11 to +369 min) and returned 21 ± 84 min before sunset (range: –518 to +225 min). The duration of the daily activity period varied between 12 min and 15 h 36 min, with a mean of 9 h 28 min. Both sexes exhibited some overground activity after sunset, but this was most pronounced in males than in females. Nocturnal activity outside the activity period was generally restricted to short underground bouts of activity occurring at anytime of the night. Diurnal resting, with up to 11 bouts per activity period, occurred in 98.8 percent of activity periods. Overall, yellow mongooses were active during 68 ± 17 percent of the time spent outside the burrow. Photoperiod acted as a zeitgeber and activity was negatively affected by adverse climatic conditions (very hot or conversely low temperatures, rain, wet soil) and probably low terrestrial arthropod activity/availability. No intersexual difference in activity levels was found, although the higher body mass of males (on average 16 oercent) implies higher metabolic demands. The total home range size (MCP 100 percent ) averaged 0.55 ± 0.65 km2 (range: 0.10–2.36 km2) and the related total perimeter measured on average 2.80 ± 1.71 km (range: 1.17–7.36 km). Male home ranges were on average more than twice large than those of females, but this difference did not reach statistical significance. However, males had larger daily home ranges (0.13 ± 0.15 km2) than females (0.05 ± 0.05 km2). In addition, daily movement distances of males were longer (1.99 ± 1.07 km) than those of females (1.29 ± 0.66 km). Males also travelled at a faster speed (0.29 ± 0.13 km/h) than females (0.18 ± 0.07 km/h). Overall, sex clearly appeared to play a role in the spatial ecology of yellow mongooses, but the underlying explanation does not seem to be linked to sexual dimorphism (body mass) or reproductive activity. Whilst the role of food availability on the space use of yellow mongooses is unclear, it is likely that low temperatures negatively affect yellow mongoose movements, as they do for their activity levels.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
The saga of South African POWs in Angola, 1975-82
- Authors: Baines, Gary F
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/69882 , vital:29592 , http://dx.doi.org/10.5787/40-2-999
- Description: This article narrates the story of nine soldiers captured during and shortly after Operation Savannah, the codename for the South African Defence Force invasion of Angola in 1975–6. Eight of these soldiers were captured in Angola in three separate incidents by Angolan and/or Cuban forces, whereas the last was abducted from northern Namibia by SWAPO (the South West Africa Peoples’ Organisation). The article then provides a chronological account of the sequels to this story that interweaves a number of threads: first, the account relates the South African government’s attempts to suppress press coverage of these stories for fear of the political ‘fall-out’ that the matter might cause amongst the white electorate and in case it jeopardised secret negotiations to secure the release of the prisoners; and second, it uncovers the role played by intermediaries, especially the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), in the sensitive and fraught negotiation process. It will be shown that the South African authorities adopted divergent approaches when dealing with SWAPO and the Angolans/Cubans to secure the release of prisoners of war (POWs). This is because the South African authorities regarded the former as involved in an internal insurrection whereas the latter were members of the military forces of sovereign states. Accordingly, they paid lip service to the Geneva Conventions in the case of Angolan and Cuban POWs but treated captured SWAPO cadres as ‘terrorists’ or ‘criminals’.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Baines, Gary F
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/69882 , vital:29592 , http://dx.doi.org/10.5787/40-2-999
- Description: This article narrates the story of nine soldiers captured during and shortly after Operation Savannah, the codename for the South African Defence Force invasion of Angola in 1975–6. Eight of these soldiers were captured in Angola in three separate incidents by Angolan and/or Cuban forces, whereas the last was abducted from northern Namibia by SWAPO (the South West Africa Peoples’ Organisation). The article then provides a chronological account of the sequels to this story that interweaves a number of threads: first, the account relates the South African government’s attempts to suppress press coverage of these stories for fear of the political ‘fall-out’ that the matter might cause amongst the white electorate and in case it jeopardised secret negotiations to secure the release of the prisoners; and second, it uncovers the role played by intermediaries, especially the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), in the sensitive and fraught negotiation process. It will be shown that the South African authorities adopted divergent approaches when dealing with SWAPO and the Angolans/Cubans to secure the release of prisoners of war (POWs). This is because the South African authorities regarded the former as involved in an internal insurrection whereas the latter were members of the military forces of sovereign states. Accordingly, they paid lip service to the Geneva Conventions in the case of Angolan and Cuban POWs but treated captured SWAPO cadres as ‘terrorists’ or ‘criminals’.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012