Assessment of the prevalence of faecal coliforms and Escherichia coli o157:h7 in the final effluents of two wastewater treatment plants in Amahlathi Local Municipality of Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
- Authors: Ajibade, Adefisoye Martins
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Sewage disposal plants , Escherichia coli -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Escherichia coli O157:H7 , Escherichia coli , Effluent quality -- Testing , Whole effluent toxicity testing , Water -- Purification
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Microbiology)
- Identifier: vital:11283 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1016166 , Sewage disposal plants , Escherichia coli -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Escherichia coli O157:H7 , Escherichia coli , Effluent quality -- Testing , Whole effluent toxicity testing , Water -- Purification
- Description: The production of final effluents that meet discharged requirements and guidelines remain a major challenge particularly in the developing world with the resultant problem of surface water pollution. This study assessed the physicochemical and microbiological qualities of two wastewater treatment works in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa in terms of the prevalence of faecal coliforms and Escherichia coli O157:H7 over a five month period. All physicochemical and microbiological analyses were carried out using standard methods. Data were collected in triplicates and analysed statistically using IBM SPSS version 20.0. The ranges of some of the physicochemical parameters that complied with set guidelines include pH (6.7 – 7.6), TDS (107 – 171 mg/L), EC (168 – 266 μS/cm), Temperature (15 – 24oC), NO3- (0 – 8.2 mg/L), NO2- (0.14 – 0.71 mg/L) and PO4 (1.05 – 4.50 mg/L). Others including Turbidity (2.64 – 58.00 NTU), Free Cl (0.13 – 0.65 mg/L), DO (2.20 – 8.48 mg/L), BOD (0.13 – 6.85 mg/L) and COD (40 – 482 mg/L) did not comply with set guidelines. The microbiological parameters ranged 0 – 2.7 × 104 CFU/100 ml for FC and 0 – 9.3 × 103 for EHEC CFU/100 ml, an indication of non-compliance with set guidelines. Preliminary identification of 40 randomly selected presumptive enterohemorrhagic E. coli isolates by Gram’s staining and oxidase test shows 100% (all 40 selected isolates) to be Gram positive while 90% (36 randomly selected isolates) were oxidase negative. Statistical correlation between the physicochemical and the microbiological parameters were generally weak except in the case of free chlorine and DO where they showed inverse correlation with the microbiological parameters. The recovery of EHEC showed the inefficiency of the treatment processes to effectively inactivate the bacteria, and possibly other pathogenic bacteria that may be present in the treated wastewater. The assessment suggested the need for proper monitoring and a review of the treatment procedures used at these treatment works.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Ajibade, Adefisoye Martins
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Sewage disposal plants , Escherichia coli -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Escherichia coli O157:H7 , Escherichia coli , Effluent quality -- Testing , Whole effluent toxicity testing , Water -- Purification
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Microbiology)
- Identifier: vital:11283 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1016166 , Sewage disposal plants , Escherichia coli -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Escherichia coli O157:H7 , Escherichia coli , Effluent quality -- Testing , Whole effluent toxicity testing , Water -- Purification
- Description: The production of final effluents that meet discharged requirements and guidelines remain a major challenge particularly in the developing world with the resultant problem of surface water pollution. This study assessed the physicochemical and microbiological qualities of two wastewater treatment works in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa in terms of the prevalence of faecal coliforms and Escherichia coli O157:H7 over a five month period. All physicochemical and microbiological analyses were carried out using standard methods. Data were collected in triplicates and analysed statistically using IBM SPSS version 20.0. The ranges of some of the physicochemical parameters that complied with set guidelines include pH (6.7 – 7.6), TDS (107 – 171 mg/L), EC (168 – 266 μS/cm), Temperature (15 – 24oC), NO3- (0 – 8.2 mg/L), NO2- (0.14 – 0.71 mg/L) and PO4 (1.05 – 4.50 mg/L). Others including Turbidity (2.64 – 58.00 NTU), Free Cl (0.13 – 0.65 mg/L), DO (2.20 – 8.48 mg/L), BOD (0.13 – 6.85 mg/L) and COD (40 – 482 mg/L) did not comply with set guidelines. The microbiological parameters ranged 0 – 2.7 × 104 CFU/100 ml for FC and 0 – 9.3 × 103 for EHEC CFU/100 ml, an indication of non-compliance with set guidelines. Preliminary identification of 40 randomly selected presumptive enterohemorrhagic E. coli isolates by Gram’s staining and oxidase test shows 100% (all 40 selected isolates) to be Gram positive while 90% (36 randomly selected isolates) were oxidase negative. Statistical correlation between the physicochemical and the microbiological parameters were generally weak except in the case of free chlorine and DO where they showed inverse correlation with the microbiological parameters. The recovery of EHEC showed the inefficiency of the treatment processes to effectively inactivate the bacteria, and possibly other pathogenic bacteria that may be present in the treated wastewater. The assessment suggested the need for proper monitoring and a review of the treatment procedures used at these treatment works.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Diet and microhabitat use of the woodland dormouse Graphiurus murinus at the Great Fish River Reserve, Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Lamani, Siviwe
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Zoology)
- Identifier: vital:11797 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1019854
- Description: The diet of the woodland dormouse Graphiurus murinus was studied in a riverine Combretum forest at the Great Fish River Reserve (Eastern Cape, South Africa). Food remains were collected seasonally from a maximum of 45 different nest boxes between December 2010 and November 2011. An overall mean of 1.32 ± 0.51 food categories (range 1–4) were identified in each nest box used as “larder” during the year. Dietary diversity and standardized diet breadth were low to intermediate, with a peak in summer and a nadir in winter. In terms of percentage occurrence, arthropods were dominant (99%) in all seasons, followed by molluscs (16%) and fruits (14%). When relative percentage occurrence and percentage weight were considered, arthropods were still dominant, but a slight decrease was observed in summer. Besides spiders (order Araneae), nine arthropod families were found in the diet of the woodland dormouse; Tenebrionidae (40%), Spirostreptidae (30%), Carabidae (15%) and Blattidae (14%) were the most dominant families in terms of percentage weight. Grewia robusta and Ziziphus mucronata were the only fruit species present in the diet. Pianka’s diet overlap indices were very high (>0.93), indicating that the diet of the woodland dormouse was similar between pairs of seasons. This study also investigated whether woodland dormice Graphiurus murinus positively select or avoid specific microhabitat types or structures, and whether a set of predictor variables related to microhabitat characteristics can explain the presence and rates of visits to specific trapping stations. Trapping was conducted seasonally, over 5 days, between June 2011 and April 2012. A grid of 96 stations (16 rows × 6 lines) was established. Trap stations were set at 10-m intervals. At each station two Sherman traps were placed. The 192 traps were distributed relatively equitably among four height categories (0–0.5 m, 0.51–1 m, 1.01–1.5 m, and 1.51–2.5 m). On average, trapping success was 4.70 ± 4.17 dormice per 100 traps. Dormice were trapped at an average height of 136 ± 64 cm, which was significantly higher than the average height at which traps were set (99 ± 75 cm). Bonferroni Z tests indicated that dormice positively selected areas with high canopy cover and connectivity, possibly to decrease predation risk. Generalized Linear Models showed that trap use and numbers of visits and different animals caught were positively associated with a high arboreal connectivity, hence supporting the hypothesis that woodland dormice may depend on wooden “corridors” for their movements.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Lamani, Siviwe
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Zoology)
- Identifier: vital:11797 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1019854
- Description: The diet of the woodland dormouse Graphiurus murinus was studied in a riverine Combretum forest at the Great Fish River Reserve (Eastern Cape, South Africa). Food remains were collected seasonally from a maximum of 45 different nest boxes between December 2010 and November 2011. An overall mean of 1.32 ± 0.51 food categories (range 1–4) were identified in each nest box used as “larder” during the year. Dietary diversity and standardized diet breadth were low to intermediate, with a peak in summer and a nadir in winter. In terms of percentage occurrence, arthropods were dominant (99%) in all seasons, followed by molluscs (16%) and fruits (14%). When relative percentage occurrence and percentage weight were considered, arthropods were still dominant, but a slight decrease was observed in summer. Besides spiders (order Araneae), nine arthropod families were found in the diet of the woodland dormouse; Tenebrionidae (40%), Spirostreptidae (30%), Carabidae (15%) and Blattidae (14%) were the most dominant families in terms of percentage weight. Grewia robusta and Ziziphus mucronata were the only fruit species present in the diet. Pianka’s diet overlap indices were very high (>0.93), indicating that the diet of the woodland dormouse was similar between pairs of seasons. This study also investigated whether woodland dormice Graphiurus murinus positively select or avoid specific microhabitat types or structures, and whether a set of predictor variables related to microhabitat characteristics can explain the presence and rates of visits to specific trapping stations. Trapping was conducted seasonally, over 5 days, between June 2011 and April 2012. A grid of 96 stations (16 rows × 6 lines) was established. Trap stations were set at 10-m intervals. At each station two Sherman traps were placed. The 192 traps were distributed relatively equitably among four height categories (0–0.5 m, 0.51–1 m, 1.01–1.5 m, and 1.51–2.5 m). On average, trapping success was 4.70 ± 4.17 dormice per 100 traps. Dormice were trapped at an average height of 136 ± 64 cm, which was significantly higher than the average height at which traps were set (99 ± 75 cm). Bonferroni Z tests indicated that dormice positively selected areas with high canopy cover and connectivity, possibly to decrease predation risk. Generalized Linear Models showed that trap use and numbers of visits and different animals caught were positively associated with a high arboreal connectivity, hence supporting the hypothesis that woodland dormice may depend on wooden “corridors” for their movements.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Spirit possession and social panic: Amakhosi possession and behaviour among learners in selected schools in Mdantsane Township
- Authors: Meveni, Siphiwo Douglas
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Spirit possession -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Cults -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Soc Sc (Anthropology)
- Identifier: vital:11775 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1018564 , Spirit possession -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Cults -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: This research sought to investigate the phenomenon of strange behaviour related to spirit possession called amakhosi in Mdantsane Township in East London in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. This spirit phenomenon has recently been prevalent in Township schools in the Eastern and Western Cape Provinces where school children were said to be possessed by a spirit which caused them to demonstrate a strange kind of destructive behaviour. These occurrences were also reported in the newspapers and community radio stations. All these media communications reported that teachers, parents and community leaders were increasingly concerned over a growing trend wherein children purchase muti called amakhosi which makes them to behave mysteriously and at times climbed school walls with their bear hands and at time becoming violent to the extent of threatening other learners and educators. The informants included community members, learners and educators. In a mainly qualitative research method, empirical data was collected from five selected high schools by means of observations, individual interviews and group discussions. The main aim of this study was to better understand this amakhosi phenomenon and to determine whether it is a spiritual, drug related or a social phenomenon. The findings of the study suggested that amakhosi possession is partly a spiritual phenomenon and should not be overlooked as it can result into serious crimes leading to death just like in the recent cases of satanic killing reported among the youth in South Africa. Secondly, there is also a strong element of drug abuse among the youth associated with amakhosi rituals. Lastly, amakhosi is more than just a spiritual issue. It is a socio-economic problem which mostly involves the youth who are struggling in identifying their roles and positions in the post apartheid South Africa. The main recommendation is that the amakhosi phenomenon needs a „wholistic‟ approach and not to just intervention by involvement of prayers and traditional healers.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Meveni, Siphiwo Douglas
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Spirit possession -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Cults -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Soc Sc (Anthropology)
- Identifier: vital:11775 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1018564 , Spirit possession -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Cults -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: This research sought to investigate the phenomenon of strange behaviour related to spirit possession called amakhosi in Mdantsane Township in East London in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. This spirit phenomenon has recently been prevalent in Township schools in the Eastern and Western Cape Provinces where school children were said to be possessed by a spirit which caused them to demonstrate a strange kind of destructive behaviour. These occurrences were also reported in the newspapers and community radio stations. All these media communications reported that teachers, parents and community leaders were increasingly concerned over a growing trend wherein children purchase muti called amakhosi which makes them to behave mysteriously and at times climbed school walls with their bear hands and at time becoming violent to the extent of threatening other learners and educators. The informants included community members, learners and educators. In a mainly qualitative research method, empirical data was collected from five selected high schools by means of observations, individual interviews and group discussions. The main aim of this study was to better understand this amakhosi phenomenon and to determine whether it is a spiritual, drug related or a social phenomenon. The findings of the study suggested that amakhosi possession is partly a spiritual phenomenon and should not be overlooked as it can result into serious crimes leading to death just like in the recent cases of satanic killing reported among the youth in South Africa. Secondly, there is also a strong element of drug abuse among the youth associated with amakhosi rituals. Lastly, amakhosi is more than just a spiritual issue. It is a socio-economic problem which mostly involves the youth who are struggling in identifying their roles and positions in the post apartheid South Africa. The main recommendation is that the amakhosi phenomenon needs a „wholistic‟ approach and not to just intervention by involvement of prayers and traditional healers.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Assessment of the incidence of E.coli in Tyume and Buffalo rivers in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa
- Authors: Koba, Siziwe
- Date: 2013
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Microbiology)
- Identifier: vital:11272 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1006889
- Description: Waterborne diseases are among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in developing countries and every year around 2.2 million people die due to basic hygiene related diseases like coliform diarrhoea. Universal access to safe drinking water and sanitation has been promoted as an essential step in reducing these preventable diseases (Tambekar and Banginwar, 2005; Patil, 2004; Charan, 2004). Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli are one of the most important etiologic agents of acute diarrhea and represent a major public health problem in developing countries like South Africa The present study was conducted between August 2010 and July 2011 to investigate the prevalence and distribution of virulent E. coli strains from water samples collected from Tyume and Buffalo River, located in Eastern Cape Province of South Africa using conventional microbiological methods and PCR analysis. Twelve Water samples were collected from three different sites of the rivers, viz; upstream, middle stream and the downstream of the dam. E.coli was isolated by the membrane filtration method on mFC. A total of 374 isolates from both rivers were identified by convenctional microbiological techniques. For both Buffalo and Tyume River, A large proportion (87 and 114, respectively) of the isolates from the mid stream samples satisfied the identification characteristics for E. coli (blue colonies on MFC agar and violet/purple colonies on Chromocult agar) and thus revealing high levels contamination when compared to isolates from the downstream (55 and 47) and the upstream (30 and 31) All the isolates that satisfied the primary identification stage were subjected to PCR. DNA was extracted using the boiling method and then the DNA was used as a template for PCR. Specific PCR analysis was performed on all E. coli isolates to amplify the alr gene that codes for alanine racemase Out and of the 202 isolates amplified for Tyume river, 70 (35 percent) were positively identified as E. coli since they possessed the alr gene fragment. and out of the 172 isolates amplified from Buffalo River, 80(47 percent) were also positively identified as E. coli. For both Tyume and Buffalo River, the highest prevalence was observed midstream (39 percent and 56 pecent respectively). The identified E. coli were further characterized into different pathotypes. Amplification of the shig gene, LT gene, EaeA gene, Eagg gene and the ST gene were used to detect pathogenic E.coli. In Tyume River, Genes of ETEC (lt or st) were detected in 21/70 (30 percent); Gene of EPEC (eae) was detected in 14/70 specimens (35 percent); Genes of EAEC (Eagg) was detected in 14/70(35 percent) and genes of EIEC (shig) were detected in 11/70(16 percent). In Buffalo River, no DEC was recovered upstream and downstream of the river. EAEC (8 percent) was the only pathotypes recovered midstream of the river. Strains of all five E. coli categories showed high-level resistance to ampicillin, tetracycline, cotrimoxazole, and chloramphenicol but were highly susceptible to quinolones, aminoglycosides, and novobiocin. The highest resistance (100 percent) amongst the isolates was observed to ampicillin by EAEC, Heat Labile (ETEC) and EIEC, followed by 87.5 percent by EAEC to carbenicillin. The highest susceptibility was to quinolones (100 percent) by all the four categories of E.coli. The screening for antibiotic resistance genes revealed the absence of SHV, CTMX and TetC genes as they were not detected in any of the E.coli isolates. However, TEM genes were observed in 80 percent of the isolates. Integron conserved segment was detected in these same organisms in the same proportion as TEM
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Koba, Siziwe
- Date: 2013
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Microbiology)
- Identifier: vital:11272 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1006889
- Description: Waterborne diseases are among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in developing countries and every year around 2.2 million people die due to basic hygiene related diseases like coliform diarrhoea. Universal access to safe drinking water and sanitation has been promoted as an essential step in reducing these preventable diseases (Tambekar and Banginwar, 2005; Patil, 2004; Charan, 2004). Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli are one of the most important etiologic agents of acute diarrhea and represent a major public health problem in developing countries like South Africa The present study was conducted between August 2010 and July 2011 to investigate the prevalence and distribution of virulent E. coli strains from water samples collected from Tyume and Buffalo River, located in Eastern Cape Province of South Africa using conventional microbiological methods and PCR analysis. Twelve Water samples were collected from three different sites of the rivers, viz; upstream, middle stream and the downstream of the dam. E.coli was isolated by the membrane filtration method on mFC. A total of 374 isolates from both rivers were identified by convenctional microbiological techniques. For both Buffalo and Tyume River, A large proportion (87 and 114, respectively) of the isolates from the mid stream samples satisfied the identification characteristics for E. coli (blue colonies on MFC agar and violet/purple colonies on Chromocult agar) and thus revealing high levels contamination when compared to isolates from the downstream (55 and 47) and the upstream (30 and 31) All the isolates that satisfied the primary identification stage were subjected to PCR. DNA was extracted using the boiling method and then the DNA was used as a template for PCR. Specific PCR analysis was performed on all E. coli isolates to amplify the alr gene that codes for alanine racemase Out and of the 202 isolates amplified for Tyume river, 70 (35 percent) were positively identified as E. coli since they possessed the alr gene fragment. and out of the 172 isolates amplified from Buffalo River, 80(47 percent) were also positively identified as E. coli. For both Tyume and Buffalo River, the highest prevalence was observed midstream (39 percent and 56 pecent respectively). The identified E. coli were further characterized into different pathotypes. Amplification of the shig gene, LT gene, EaeA gene, Eagg gene and the ST gene were used to detect pathogenic E.coli. In Tyume River, Genes of ETEC (lt or st) were detected in 21/70 (30 percent); Gene of EPEC (eae) was detected in 14/70 specimens (35 percent); Genes of EAEC (Eagg) was detected in 14/70(35 percent) and genes of EIEC (shig) were detected in 11/70(16 percent). In Buffalo River, no DEC was recovered upstream and downstream of the river. EAEC (8 percent) was the only pathotypes recovered midstream of the river. Strains of all five E. coli categories showed high-level resistance to ampicillin, tetracycline, cotrimoxazole, and chloramphenicol but were highly susceptible to quinolones, aminoglycosides, and novobiocin. The highest resistance (100 percent) amongst the isolates was observed to ampicillin by EAEC, Heat Labile (ETEC) and EIEC, followed by 87.5 percent by EAEC to carbenicillin. The highest susceptibility was to quinolones (100 percent) by all the four categories of E.coli. The screening for antibiotic resistance genes revealed the absence of SHV, CTMX and TetC genes as they were not detected in any of the E.coli isolates. However, TEM genes were observed in 80 percent of the isolates. Integron conserved segment was detected in these same organisms in the same proportion as TEM
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
The impact of economic growth on unemployment in South Africa: 1994 -2012
- Authors: Handson, Banda
- Date: 2013
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Com
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/884 , vital:26506
- Description: One of the most pressing problems facing the South African economy is unemployment, which has been erratic over the past few years. This study examined the impact of economic growth on unemployment, using quarterly time series data for South Africa for the period 1994 to 2012. Johansen Co-integration reflected that there is stable and one significant long run relationship between unemployment and the explanatory variables that is economic growth (GDP), budget deficit (BUG), real effective exchange rate (REER) and labour productivity (LP). The study utilized Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) to determine the effects of macroeconomic variables thus REER, LP, GDP and BUG on unemployment in South Africa. The results of VECM indicated that LP has a negative long run impact on unemployment whilst GDP, BUG and REER have positive impact. The study resulted in the following policy recommendation: South African government should re-direct its spending towards activities that directly and indirectly promote creation of employment and decent jobs; a conducive environment and flexible labour market policies or legislations without impediments to employment creation should be created; and lastly government should prioritise industries that promote labour intensive. All this will help in absorbing large pools of the unemployed population thereby reducing unemployment in South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Handson, Banda
- Date: 2013
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Com
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/884 , vital:26506
- Description: One of the most pressing problems facing the South African economy is unemployment, which has been erratic over the past few years. This study examined the impact of economic growth on unemployment, using quarterly time series data for South Africa for the period 1994 to 2012. Johansen Co-integration reflected that there is stable and one significant long run relationship between unemployment and the explanatory variables that is economic growth (GDP), budget deficit (BUG), real effective exchange rate (REER) and labour productivity (LP). The study utilized Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) to determine the effects of macroeconomic variables thus REER, LP, GDP and BUG on unemployment in South Africa. The results of VECM indicated that LP has a negative long run impact on unemployment whilst GDP, BUG and REER have positive impact. The study resulted in the following policy recommendation: South African government should re-direct its spending towards activities that directly and indirectly promote creation of employment and decent jobs; a conducive environment and flexible labour market policies or legislations without impediments to employment creation should be created; and lastly government should prioritise industries that promote labour intensive. All this will help in absorbing large pools of the unemployed population thereby reducing unemployment in South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
An evaluation of the implementation of capacity building strategies in the provision of health services in the central region of Malawi
- Authors: Chowawa, Rosemary Shanice
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Medical care -- Malawi , Public health -- Malawi , Health services accessibility -- Malawi , Community development -- Malawi , Strategic planning -- Malawi , Human services -- Malawi , Administration , Capacity -- Capacity building , Efficiency -- Effectiveness , Management -- Public administration , Organising -- Planning , Policy making
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: vital:11673 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007122 , Medical care -- Malawi , Public health -- Malawi , Health services accessibility -- Malawi , Community development -- Malawi , Strategic planning -- Malawi , Human services -- Malawi , Administration , Capacity -- Capacity building , Efficiency -- Effectiveness , Management -- Public administration , Organising -- Planning , Policy making
- Description: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the impact of implementing capacity building strategies on the provision of health services in the central region of Malawi. The study intended to determine why a lack of quality services is still prevailing in the health services in the central region despite implementing capacity building strategies aimed at improving the delivery of health services. In addition to this, to come up with recommendations to improve the implementation of the existing capacity building strategies so that the implementation results in the intended impact, that is efficient and effective provision of health services in the central region of Malawi. The studies reviewed what various scholars have written on capacity building in order to ground capacity building in Public Administration and provide the study with a conceptual, theoretical and legislative framework. This enabled the researcher to describe the nature and place of capacity building in Public Administration. It was evident from the review that the implementation of capacity building strategies is a systematic process which requires that chief officials follow all the steps in order to effectively and efficiently implement the capacity building strategies so that the intended impact is achieved. In this regard, capacity building is a management function which requires that chief officials play an enabling role by providing the necessary resources (both human and financial) and policies that support the implementation of capacity building strategies. The study used both quantitative and qualitative research methods whereby thirty-five respondents composed of political office-bearers and chief officials from Lilongwe, Dedza, Mchinji and Dowa districts and Ministry of Health Headquarters in the central region of Malawi were given self-administered questionnaires to complete. Face-to-face interviews and document analysis were also used as research methods. The intention was to determine the problems that are being experienced in the implementation of the existing capacity building strategies and find out if the strategies are resulting in the intended impact. The study findings confirmed that there are indeed problems being experienced in the implementation of the existing capacity building strategies, namely: inadequate human and financial resources, corruption, political interference, lack of consultation with stakeholders and lack of political will to make sure that the implementation of the capacity building strategies is effectively and efficiently done. It was also revealed that the implementation of the existing capacity building strategies is impacting negatively on the provision of health services in the central region of Malawi, hence indicating a need to change in approach. The study concludes that in order for the capacity building strategies to achieve the intended impact there is a need to broaden the scope of the legal framework on health capacity building strategies in Malawi, enforce the use of performance standards and improve the operational framework to gain efficiencies and effectiveness from current investments in capacity building.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Chowawa, Rosemary Shanice
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Medical care -- Malawi , Public health -- Malawi , Health services accessibility -- Malawi , Community development -- Malawi , Strategic planning -- Malawi , Human services -- Malawi , Administration , Capacity -- Capacity building , Efficiency -- Effectiveness , Management -- Public administration , Organising -- Planning , Policy making
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: vital:11673 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007122 , Medical care -- Malawi , Public health -- Malawi , Health services accessibility -- Malawi , Community development -- Malawi , Strategic planning -- Malawi , Human services -- Malawi , Administration , Capacity -- Capacity building , Efficiency -- Effectiveness , Management -- Public administration , Organising -- Planning , Policy making
- Description: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the impact of implementing capacity building strategies on the provision of health services in the central region of Malawi. The study intended to determine why a lack of quality services is still prevailing in the health services in the central region despite implementing capacity building strategies aimed at improving the delivery of health services. In addition to this, to come up with recommendations to improve the implementation of the existing capacity building strategies so that the implementation results in the intended impact, that is efficient and effective provision of health services in the central region of Malawi. The studies reviewed what various scholars have written on capacity building in order to ground capacity building in Public Administration and provide the study with a conceptual, theoretical and legislative framework. This enabled the researcher to describe the nature and place of capacity building in Public Administration. It was evident from the review that the implementation of capacity building strategies is a systematic process which requires that chief officials follow all the steps in order to effectively and efficiently implement the capacity building strategies so that the intended impact is achieved. In this regard, capacity building is a management function which requires that chief officials play an enabling role by providing the necessary resources (both human and financial) and policies that support the implementation of capacity building strategies. The study used both quantitative and qualitative research methods whereby thirty-five respondents composed of political office-bearers and chief officials from Lilongwe, Dedza, Mchinji and Dowa districts and Ministry of Health Headquarters in the central region of Malawi were given self-administered questionnaires to complete. Face-to-face interviews and document analysis were also used as research methods. The intention was to determine the problems that are being experienced in the implementation of the existing capacity building strategies and find out if the strategies are resulting in the intended impact. The study findings confirmed that there are indeed problems being experienced in the implementation of the existing capacity building strategies, namely: inadequate human and financial resources, corruption, political interference, lack of consultation with stakeholders and lack of political will to make sure that the implementation of the capacity building strategies is effectively and efficiently done. It was also revealed that the implementation of the existing capacity building strategies is impacting negatively on the provision of health services in the central region of Malawi, hence indicating a need to change in approach. The study concludes that in order for the capacity building strategies to achieve the intended impact there is a need to broaden the scope of the legal framework on health capacity building strategies in Malawi, enforce the use of performance standards and improve the operational framework to gain efficiencies and effectiveness from current investments in capacity building.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Evaluation of various proteomic techniques to identify proteins involved in cereal stress responses to aphid infestation
- Authors: Nqumla, Ntombekhaya
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Aphids , Wheat , Plant proteomics , Rice
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Biochemistry)
- Identifier: vital:11270 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1004572 , Aphids , Wheat , Plant proteomics , Rice
- Description: All plants are exposed to abiotic and biotic stresses and have developed intricate signalling responses to survive. They respond to cell-structure disruption caused by herbivore probing and feeding by the formation of callose. Callose is a linear homopolymer made up of β-1,3-linked glucose residues with some β-1,6-branches. Plant responses to abiotic or biotic stress share events such as phosphorylation, membrane depolarization, calcium influx and the release of reactive oxygen species such as hydrogen peroxide. These events lead to the up-regulation of several pathways leading to biosynthesis of signalling molecules such as salicylic acid, jasmonate, abscisic acid and ethylene pathways. The aim of this study was to determine the most suitable proteomic approach for identifying proteins and signalling pathways involved in cereal response to aphid infestation. An in silico approach was first evaluated in which the 5ʹ upstream regulatory region of proteins belonging to the family of callose synthases was scanned for cis-regulatory elements in order to identify which callose synthases are possibly expressed in plants during biotic or abiotic stresses. Bioinformatics tools were used in the identification of twelve Arabidopsis and ten rice callose synthase coding regions. Genome sequences for rice and Arabidopsis were scanned for the 2000 bp 5ʹ region upstream of the start codon of each callose synthase coding region. PlantCare, PLACE and Athena software were used to identify putative cis-regulatory elements present in the 2000 bp 5ʹ upstream sequences. The majority of cis-acting elements identified were involved in drought and high temperature responses and only one cis-acting element was involved in wound stress. These results therefore indicated a probable role for plant callose synthases in drought stress responses rather than in biotic stress responses. Genevestigator analysis of Arabidopsis results of micro-array experiments indicated that AtGSL10 is highly up-regulated, with AtGSL1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11 and 12 showing medium up-regulation and AtGSL2, 4 and 9 no up-regulation during aphid infestation of Arabidopsis plants, implicating a possible role for AtGSL10 in the plant response to aphid infestation. An LC/MS/MS approach was used to identify specific signalling pathways involved in wheat resistance or stress response to aphid infestation. Eight proteins were identified as being up-regulated during aphid feeding in wheat, and 11 proteins were identified as possibly involved in the wheat resistance mechanism against aphid infestation. Several proteins were also identified as constitutively expressed proteins, during normal conditions and aphid infestation. Most pathways identified with proteins up-regulated in the resistance mechanisms of TugelaDN plants, were related to energy metabolism and located in the chloroplast. Evaluation of two dimensional gel electrophoresis to identify phosphoproteins differentially regulated in wheat during aphid infestation, revealed the up-regulation of three proteins namely photosystem II oxygen-evolving complex protein 2, HVUNKNOWN from Hordeum vulgare subsp vulgare and HSKERAT9 NID from Homo sapiens. Additional 57 proteins were partially identified as involved in the stress response but due to low protein levels, the percentage of matching peptides to these proteins was below the required confidence level. Although these protein identifications were below the confidence level, it is interesting to note that several of the proteins are known stress response proteins, and therefore could serve as potential targets for future investigations. In conclusion, the down and up-regulation of wheat proteins after aphid feeding reported in this study suggest that several signalling pathways are involved in the cereal stress response to aphid feeding. In silico approaches require knowledge or identification of potential proteins whereas 2D and LC/MS can identify numerous proteins still unknown to be involved in specific stress responses. The 2D approach is also limited in that the proteins of interest may be in low abundance and therefore not detected in the gels due to the presence of high abundant proteins. Therefore the best approach to identify proteins and signalling pathways involved in the stress response of wheat to aphid infestation, is the LC/MS/MS approach, as this proved to be the most sensitive and robust, identifying the most proteins with a high degree of confidence.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Nqumla, Ntombekhaya
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Aphids , Wheat , Plant proteomics , Rice
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Biochemistry)
- Identifier: vital:11270 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1004572 , Aphids , Wheat , Plant proteomics , Rice
- Description: All plants are exposed to abiotic and biotic stresses and have developed intricate signalling responses to survive. They respond to cell-structure disruption caused by herbivore probing and feeding by the formation of callose. Callose is a linear homopolymer made up of β-1,3-linked glucose residues with some β-1,6-branches. Plant responses to abiotic or biotic stress share events such as phosphorylation, membrane depolarization, calcium influx and the release of reactive oxygen species such as hydrogen peroxide. These events lead to the up-regulation of several pathways leading to biosynthesis of signalling molecules such as salicylic acid, jasmonate, abscisic acid and ethylene pathways. The aim of this study was to determine the most suitable proteomic approach for identifying proteins and signalling pathways involved in cereal response to aphid infestation. An in silico approach was first evaluated in which the 5ʹ upstream regulatory region of proteins belonging to the family of callose synthases was scanned for cis-regulatory elements in order to identify which callose synthases are possibly expressed in plants during biotic or abiotic stresses. Bioinformatics tools were used in the identification of twelve Arabidopsis and ten rice callose synthase coding regions. Genome sequences for rice and Arabidopsis were scanned for the 2000 bp 5ʹ region upstream of the start codon of each callose synthase coding region. PlantCare, PLACE and Athena software were used to identify putative cis-regulatory elements present in the 2000 bp 5ʹ upstream sequences. The majority of cis-acting elements identified were involved in drought and high temperature responses and only one cis-acting element was involved in wound stress. These results therefore indicated a probable role for plant callose synthases in drought stress responses rather than in biotic stress responses. Genevestigator analysis of Arabidopsis results of micro-array experiments indicated that AtGSL10 is highly up-regulated, with AtGSL1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11 and 12 showing medium up-regulation and AtGSL2, 4 and 9 no up-regulation during aphid infestation of Arabidopsis plants, implicating a possible role for AtGSL10 in the plant response to aphid infestation. An LC/MS/MS approach was used to identify specific signalling pathways involved in wheat resistance or stress response to aphid infestation. Eight proteins were identified as being up-regulated during aphid feeding in wheat, and 11 proteins were identified as possibly involved in the wheat resistance mechanism against aphid infestation. Several proteins were also identified as constitutively expressed proteins, during normal conditions and aphid infestation. Most pathways identified with proteins up-regulated in the resistance mechanisms of TugelaDN plants, were related to energy metabolism and located in the chloroplast. Evaluation of two dimensional gel electrophoresis to identify phosphoproteins differentially regulated in wheat during aphid infestation, revealed the up-regulation of three proteins namely photosystem II oxygen-evolving complex protein 2, HVUNKNOWN from Hordeum vulgare subsp vulgare and HSKERAT9 NID from Homo sapiens. Additional 57 proteins were partially identified as involved in the stress response but due to low protein levels, the percentage of matching peptides to these proteins was below the required confidence level. Although these protein identifications were below the confidence level, it is interesting to note that several of the proteins are known stress response proteins, and therefore could serve as potential targets for future investigations. In conclusion, the down and up-regulation of wheat proteins after aphid feeding reported in this study suggest that several signalling pathways are involved in the cereal stress response to aphid feeding. In silico approaches require knowledge or identification of potential proteins whereas 2D and LC/MS can identify numerous proteins still unknown to be involved in specific stress responses. The 2D approach is also limited in that the proteins of interest may be in low abundance and therefore not detected in the gels due to the presence of high abundant proteins. Therefore the best approach to identify proteins and signalling pathways involved in the stress response of wheat to aphid infestation, is the LC/MS/MS approach, as this proved to be the most sensitive and robust, identifying the most proteins with a high degree of confidence.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Studies on bioflocculant production by a consortium of two bacterial species belonging to the Methylobacterium and Actinobacterium genera
- Authors: Ntsaluba, Luvuyo
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Flocculation , Actinobacteria , Methylobacterium , Water -- Purification
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Microbiology)
- Identifier: vital:11266 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/482 , Flocculation , Actinobacteria , Methylobacterium , Water -- Purification
- Description: Bioflocculants produced by two identified bacteria: Actinobacterium sp. Mayor and Methylobacterium sp. Obi were investigated with regard to their physicochemical and flocculating characteristics. The two strains were later combined to form a consortium for further studies. The optimum culture conditions for the bioflocculant production were similar for all strains except in the case of Actinobacterium sp. Mayor and the consortium, where glucose was replaced by sodium carbonate as a carbon source. Multi-nitrogen source was the best nitrogen source compare to individual sources for both strains. The divalent cation, Ca2+ proved to be a better flocculating activity stimulus for all produced bioflocculants in this study. The optimum flocculating activities obtained for both individual strains and the consortium were all at alkaline pH. The yield of purified bioflocculant produced by the consortium was 8.203 g/l, while 4.190 g/l and 4.610 g/l were recovered for single strains of Actinobacterium sp. Mayor and Methylobacterium sp. Obi respectively. Further characterization of pure bioflocculants revealed that a bioflocculant dosage of 0.3 mg/ml resulted in the highest flocculating activity for both individual strains while 1.0 mg/ml of the bioflocculant produced by the consortium was required to enhance maximum flocculating efficiency. These bioflocculants proved to be all thermo stable at a temperature range of 20 to 900°C with a heating rate of 10oC/min under a constant flow of nitrogen gas. The presence of functional groups normally required for bioflocculation such as hydroxyl, carboxyl and amino was also detected. The findings of this study suggest that the producedbioflocculants can be utilized as excellent substitutes for harmful synthetic flocculants in both water and wastewater treatments as well as in other industrial applications.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Ntsaluba, Luvuyo
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Flocculation , Actinobacteria , Methylobacterium , Water -- Purification
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Microbiology)
- Identifier: vital:11266 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/482 , Flocculation , Actinobacteria , Methylobacterium , Water -- Purification
- Description: Bioflocculants produced by two identified bacteria: Actinobacterium sp. Mayor and Methylobacterium sp. Obi were investigated with regard to their physicochemical and flocculating characteristics. The two strains were later combined to form a consortium for further studies. The optimum culture conditions for the bioflocculant production were similar for all strains except in the case of Actinobacterium sp. Mayor and the consortium, where glucose was replaced by sodium carbonate as a carbon source. Multi-nitrogen source was the best nitrogen source compare to individual sources for both strains. The divalent cation, Ca2+ proved to be a better flocculating activity stimulus for all produced bioflocculants in this study. The optimum flocculating activities obtained for both individual strains and the consortium were all at alkaline pH. The yield of purified bioflocculant produced by the consortium was 8.203 g/l, while 4.190 g/l and 4.610 g/l were recovered for single strains of Actinobacterium sp. Mayor and Methylobacterium sp. Obi respectively. Further characterization of pure bioflocculants revealed that a bioflocculant dosage of 0.3 mg/ml resulted in the highest flocculating activity for both individual strains while 1.0 mg/ml of the bioflocculant produced by the consortium was required to enhance maximum flocculating efficiency. These bioflocculants proved to be all thermo stable at a temperature range of 20 to 900°C with a heating rate of 10oC/min under a constant flow of nitrogen gas. The presence of functional groups normally required for bioflocculation such as hydroxyl, carboxyl and amino was also detected. The findings of this study suggest that the producedbioflocculants can be utilized as excellent substitutes for harmful synthetic flocculants in both water and wastewater treatments as well as in other industrial applications.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Implementing a robust, cost effective, e-commerce platform for a disadvantaged community of the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Njeje, Sicelo Given
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Computer network architectures -- South Africa -- Design and construction , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Internet marketing , Business enterprises -- Computer networks , Electronic commerce
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Computer Science)
- Identifier: vital:11373 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/75 , Computer network architectures -- South Africa -- Design and construction , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Internet marketing , Business enterprises -- Computer networks , Electronic commerce
- Description: The development of electronic commerce (e-commerce) is the most visible business use of the World Wide Web. The primary goal of an e-commerce site is to sell goods and services online. This project deals with developing an e-commerce platform for marginalized communities of the Eastern Cape region, South Africa. An online “shopping mall” to support the marketing of art and crafts from disadvantaged communities is presented, with Linux-Apache-MySQL-PHP (LAMP) as the development environment. Free and Open Source Software has been chosen to develop the virtual shopping mall system because the use of Open Source allows easy localization and extensions to the system developed and long term sustainability, as the source code is available. Also, it might start a “virtuous” circle, whereby young members of the communities hosting art and craft makers become involved in maintenance, and then production, of software systems. One important design constraint from the e-commerce platform presented in this thesis is the possibility for the art and craft makers to manage their shops directly, from the initial loading of their wares to the day-to-day maintenance, such as changes of price or items. The user requirement elicitation and initial field testing were conducted in Dwesa, an area on the wild coast, South Africa. The system currently comprising two shops is live at the time of writing this thesis at www.dwesa.com.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Njeje, Sicelo Given
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Computer network architectures -- South Africa -- Design and construction , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Internet marketing , Business enterprises -- Computer networks , Electronic commerce
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Computer Science)
- Identifier: vital:11373 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/75 , Computer network architectures -- South Africa -- Design and construction , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Internet marketing , Business enterprises -- Computer networks , Electronic commerce
- Description: The development of electronic commerce (e-commerce) is the most visible business use of the World Wide Web. The primary goal of an e-commerce site is to sell goods and services online. This project deals with developing an e-commerce platform for marginalized communities of the Eastern Cape region, South Africa. An online “shopping mall” to support the marketing of art and crafts from disadvantaged communities is presented, with Linux-Apache-MySQL-PHP (LAMP) as the development environment. Free and Open Source Software has been chosen to develop the virtual shopping mall system because the use of Open Source allows easy localization and extensions to the system developed and long term sustainability, as the source code is available. Also, it might start a “virtuous” circle, whereby young members of the communities hosting art and craft makers become involved in maintenance, and then production, of software systems. One important design constraint from the e-commerce platform presented in this thesis is the possibility for the art and craft makers to manage their shops directly, from the initial loading of their wares to the day-to-day maintenance, such as changes of price or items. The user requirement elicitation and initial field testing were conducted in Dwesa, an area on the wild coast, South Africa. The system currently comprising two shops is live at the time of writing this thesis at www.dwesa.com.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
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