Identification of cis-elements and transacting factors involved in the abiotic stress responses of plants
- Authors: Maclear, Athlee
- Date: 2005 , 2013-06-10
- Subjects: Plants -- Effect of stress on , Proteins -- Analysis , Bioinformatics , DNA , Plant genetics
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4074 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007236 , Plants -- Effect of stress on , Proteins -- Analysis , Bioinformatics , DNA , Plant genetics
- Description: Many stress situations limit plant growth, resulting in crop production difficulties. Population growth, limited availability and over-utilization of arable land, and intolerant crop species have resulted in tremendous strain being placed on agriculturalists to produce enough to sustain the world's population. An understanding of the principles involved in plant resistance to environmental stress will enable scientists to harness these mechanisms to create stress-tolerant crop species, thus increasing crop production, and enabling the farming of previously unproductive land. This research project uses computational and bioinformatics techniques to explore the promoter regions of genes, encoding proteins that are up- or down-regulated in response to specific abiotic stresses, with the aim of identifying common patterns in the cis-elements governing the regulation of these abiotic stress responsive genes. An initial dataset of fifty known genes encoding for proteins reported to be up- or down-regulated in response to plant stresses that result in water-deficit at the cellular level viz. drought, low temperature, and salinity, were identified, and a postgreSQL database created to store relevant information pertaining to these genes and the proteins encoded by them. The genomic DNA was obtained where possible, and the promoter and intron regions identified. The Neural Network Promoter Prediction (NNPP) software package was used to predict the transcription start signal (TSS) and the promoter searching software tool, TESS (Transcription Element Search Software) used to identify known and user-defined cis-elements within the promoter regions of these genes. Currently available promoter prediction software analysis tools are reported to predict one promoter per kilobase of DNA, whilst functional promoters are thought to only occur one in 30-40 kilobases, which indicates that a large perccntage of predictions are likely to be false positives (pedersen et. al., 1999). NNPP was chosen as it was rated as the highest performing promoter prediction software tool by Fickett and Hatzigeorgiou (1997) in a thorough review of eukaryotic promoter prediction algorithms, however results were less than promising as very few predicted TSS were identified in the area 50 bps up- and downstream of the gene start site, where biologically functional TSSs are known to occur (Reese, 2000; Fickett and Hatzigeorgiou, 1997). TESS results seemed to support the hypothesis that drought, low-temperature and high salinity plant stress response proteins have similar as-elements in their promoter regions, and suggested links to various other gene regulation mechanisms viz. gibberellin-, light-, auxin- and development-regulated gene expression, highlighting the vast complexity of plant stress response processes. Although far from conclusive, results provide a valuable basis for future comparative promoter studies that will attempt to deduce possible common transcriptional initiation of abiotic stress response genes. , KMBT_363 , Adobe Acrobat 9.54 Paper Capture Plug-in
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Maclear, Athlee
- Date: 2005 , 2013-06-10
- Subjects: Plants -- Effect of stress on , Proteins -- Analysis , Bioinformatics , DNA , Plant genetics
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4074 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007236 , Plants -- Effect of stress on , Proteins -- Analysis , Bioinformatics , DNA , Plant genetics
- Description: Many stress situations limit plant growth, resulting in crop production difficulties. Population growth, limited availability and over-utilization of arable land, and intolerant crop species have resulted in tremendous strain being placed on agriculturalists to produce enough to sustain the world's population. An understanding of the principles involved in plant resistance to environmental stress will enable scientists to harness these mechanisms to create stress-tolerant crop species, thus increasing crop production, and enabling the farming of previously unproductive land. This research project uses computational and bioinformatics techniques to explore the promoter regions of genes, encoding proteins that are up- or down-regulated in response to specific abiotic stresses, with the aim of identifying common patterns in the cis-elements governing the regulation of these abiotic stress responsive genes. An initial dataset of fifty known genes encoding for proteins reported to be up- or down-regulated in response to plant stresses that result in water-deficit at the cellular level viz. drought, low temperature, and salinity, were identified, and a postgreSQL database created to store relevant information pertaining to these genes and the proteins encoded by them. The genomic DNA was obtained where possible, and the promoter and intron regions identified. The Neural Network Promoter Prediction (NNPP) software package was used to predict the transcription start signal (TSS) and the promoter searching software tool, TESS (Transcription Element Search Software) used to identify known and user-defined cis-elements within the promoter regions of these genes. Currently available promoter prediction software analysis tools are reported to predict one promoter per kilobase of DNA, whilst functional promoters are thought to only occur one in 30-40 kilobases, which indicates that a large perccntage of predictions are likely to be false positives (pedersen et. al., 1999). NNPP was chosen as it was rated as the highest performing promoter prediction software tool by Fickett and Hatzigeorgiou (1997) in a thorough review of eukaryotic promoter prediction algorithms, however results were less than promising as very few predicted TSS were identified in the area 50 bps up- and downstream of the gene start site, where biologically functional TSSs are known to occur (Reese, 2000; Fickett and Hatzigeorgiou, 1997). TESS results seemed to support the hypothesis that drought, low-temperature and high salinity plant stress response proteins have similar as-elements in their promoter regions, and suggested links to various other gene regulation mechanisms viz. gibberellin-, light-, auxin- and development-regulated gene expression, highlighting the vast complexity of plant stress response processes. Although far from conclusive, results provide a valuable basis for future comparative promoter studies that will attempt to deduce possible common transcriptional initiation of abiotic stress response genes. , KMBT_363 , Adobe Acrobat 9.54 Paper Capture Plug-in
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
Implementing the CoSaWoE models in a commercial workflow product
- Authors: Erwee, Carmen
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Computers -- Access control , Workflow , Computer security , Data protection
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9732 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/169 , Computers -- Access control , Workflow , Computer security , Data protection
- Description: Workflow systems have gained popularity not only as a research topic, but also as a key component of Enterprize Resource Planning packages and e- business. Comprehensive workflow products that automate intra- as well inter-organizational information flow are now available for commercial use. Standardization efforts have centered mostly around the interoperability of these systems, however a standard access control model have yet to be adopted. The research community has developed several models for access control to be included as part of workflow functionality. Commercial systems, however, are still implementing access control functionality in a proprietary manner. This dissertation investigates whether a comprehensive model for gain- ing context-sensitive access control, namely CoSAWoE, can be purposefully implemented in a commercial workflow product. Using methods such as an exploratory prototype, various aspects of the model was implemented to gain an understanding of the di±culties developers face when attempting to map the model to existing proprietary software. Oracle Workflow was chosen as an example of a commercial workflow product. An investigtion of the features of this product, together with the prototype, revealed the ability to affect access control in a similar manner to the model: by specifying access control constraints during administration and design, and then enforcing those constraints dynamically during run-time. However, only certain components within these two aspects of the model directly effected the commercial workflow product. It was argued that the first two requirements of context-sensitive access control, order of events and strict least privilege, addressed by the object design, role engineering and session control components of the model, can be simulated if such capabilities are not pertinently available as part of the product. As such, guidelines were provided for how this can be achieved in Oracle Workflow. However, most of the implementation effort focussed on the last requirement of context-sensitive access control, namely separation of duties. The CoSAWoE model proposes SoD administration steps that includes expressing various business rules through a set of conflicting entities which are maintained outside the scope of the workflow system. This component was implemented easily enough through tables which were created with a relational database. Evaluating these conflicts during run-time to control worklist generation proved more di±cult. First, a thorough understanding of the way in which workflow history is maintained was necessary. A re-usable function was developed to prune user lists according to user involvement in previous tasks in the workflow and the conflicts specified for those users and tasks. However, due to the lack of a central access control service, this re- usable function must be included in the appropriate places in the workflow process model. Furthermore, the dissertation utilized a practical example to develop a prototype. This prototype served a dual purpose: firstly, to aid the author's understanding of the features and principles involved, and secondly, to illustrate and explore the implementation of the model as described in the previous paragraphs. In conclusion the dissertation summarized the CoSAWoE model's compo- nents which were found to be product agnostic, directly or indirectly imple- mentable, or not implemented in the chosen workflow product. The lessons learnt and issues surrounding the implementation effort were also discussed before further research in terms of XML documents as data containers for the workfow process were suggested.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Erwee, Carmen
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Computers -- Access control , Workflow , Computer security , Data protection
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9732 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/169 , Computers -- Access control , Workflow , Computer security , Data protection
- Description: Workflow systems have gained popularity not only as a research topic, but also as a key component of Enterprize Resource Planning packages and e- business. Comprehensive workflow products that automate intra- as well inter-organizational information flow are now available for commercial use. Standardization efforts have centered mostly around the interoperability of these systems, however a standard access control model have yet to be adopted. The research community has developed several models for access control to be included as part of workflow functionality. Commercial systems, however, are still implementing access control functionality in a proprietary manner. This dissertation investigates whether a comprehensive model for gain- ing context-sensitive access control, namely CoSAWoE, can be purposefully implemented in a commercial workflow product. Using methods such as an exploratory prototype, various aspects of the model was implemented to gain an understanding of the di±culties developers face when attempting to map the model to existing proprietary software. Oracle Workflow was chosen as an example of a commercial workflow product. An investigtion of the features of this product, together with the prototype, revealed the ability to affect access control in a similar manner to the model: by specifying access control constraints during administration and design, and then enforcing those constraints dynamically during run-time. However, only certain components within these two aspects of the model directly effected the commercial workflow product. It was argued that the first two requirements of context-sensitive access control, order of events and strict least privilege, addressed by the object design, role engineering and session control components of the model, can be simulated if such capabilities are not pertinently available as part of the product. As such, guidelines were provided for how this can be achieved in Oracle Workflow. However, most of the implementation effort focussed on the last requirement of context-sensitive access control, namely separation of duties. The CoSAWoE model proposes SoD administration steps that includes expressing various business rules through a set of conflicting entities which are maintained outside the scope of the workflow system. This component was implemented easily enough through tables which were created with a relational database. Evaluating these conflicts during run-time to control worklist generation proved more di±cult. First, a thorough understanding of the way in which workflow history is maintained was necessary. A re-usable function was developed to prune user lists according to user involvement in previous tasks in the workflow and the conflicts specified for those users and tasks. However, due to the lack of a central access control service, this re- usable function must be included in the appropriate places in the workflow process model. Furthermore, the dissertation utilized a practical example to develop a prototype. This prototype served a dual purpose: firstly, to aid the author's understanding of the features and principles involved, and secondly, to illustrate and explore the implementation of the model as described in the previous paragraphs. In conclusion the dissertation summarized the CoSAWoE model's compo- nents which were found to be product agnostic, directly or indirectly imple- mentable, or not implemented in the chosen workflow product. The lessons learnt and issues surrounding the implementation effort were also discussed before further research in terms of XML documents as data containers for the workfow process were suggested.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
In vitro release of ketoprofen from proprietary and extemporaneously manufactured gels
- Tettey-Amlalo, Ralph Nii Okai
- Authors: Tettey-Amlalo, Ralph Nii Okai
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Transdermal medication , Drug delivery systems , High performance liquid chromatography , Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents , Rheumatoid arthritis -- Treatment
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:3797 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003275 , Transdermal medication , Drug delivery systems , High performance liquid chromatography , Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents , Rheumatoid arthritis -- Treatment
- Description: Ketoprofen is a potent non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug which is used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The oral administration of ketoprofen can cause gastric irritation and adverse renal effects. Transdermal delivery of the drug can bypass gastrointestinal disturbances and provide relatively consistent drug concentrations at the site of administration. The release of ketoprofen from proprietary gel products from three different countries was evaluated by comparing the in vitro release profiles. Twenty extemporaneously prepared ketoprofen gel formulations using Carbopol® polymers were manufactured. The effect of polymer, drug concentration, pH and solvent systems on the in vitro release of ketoprofen from these formulations were investigated. The gels were evaluated for drug content and pH. The release of the drug from all the formulations obeyed the Higuchi principle. Two static FDA approved diffusion cells, namely the modified Franz diffusion cell and the European Pharmacopoeia diffusion cell, were compared by measuring the in vitro release rate of ketoprofen from all the gel formulations through a synthetic silicone membrane. High-performance liquid chromatography and ultraviolet spectrophotometric analytical techniques were both used for the analysis of ketoprofen. The validated methods were employed for the determination of ketoprofen in the sample solutions taken from the receptor fluid. Two of the three proprietary products registered under the same manufacturing license exhibited similar results whereas the third product differed significantly. Among the variables investigated, the vehicle pH and solvent composition were found have the most significant effect on the in vitro release of ketoprofen from Carbopol® polymers. The different grades of Carbopol® polymers showed statistically significantly different release kinetics with respect to lag time. When evaluating the proprietary products, both the modified Franz diffusion cell and the European Pharmacopoeia diffusion cell were deemed adequate although higher profiles were generally obtained from the European Pharmacopoeia diffusion cells. Smoother diffusion profiles were obtained from samples analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography than by ultraviolet spectrophotometry in both diffusion cells. Sample solutions taken from Franz diffusion cells and analysed by ultraviolet spectrophotometry also produced smooth diffusion profiles. Erratic and higher diffusion profiles were observed with samples taken from the European Pharmacopoeia diffusion cell and analysed by ultraviolet spectrophotometry. The choice of diffusion cells and analytical procedure in product development must be weighed against the relatively poor reproducibility as observed with the European Pharmacopoeia diffusion cell.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Tettey-Amlalo, Ralph Nii Okai
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Transdermal medication , Drug delivery systems , High performance liquid chromatography , Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents , Rheumatoid arthritis -- Treatment
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:3797 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003275 , Transdermal medication , Drug delivery systems , High performance liquid chromatography , Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents , Rheumatoid arthritis -- Treatment
- Description: Ketoprofen is a potent non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug which is used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The oral administration of ketoprofen can cause gastric irritation and adverse renal effects. Transdermal delivery of the drug can bypass gastrointestinal disturbances and provide relatively consistent drug concentrations at the site of administration. The release of ketoprofen from proprietary gel products from three different countries was evaluated by comparing the in vitro release profiles. Twenty extemporaneously prepared ketoprofen gel formulations using Carbopol® polymers were manufactured. The effect of polymer, drug concentration, pH and solvent systems on the in vitro release of ketoprofen from these formulations were investigated. The gels were evaluated for drug content and pH. The release of the drug from all the formulations obeyed the Higuchi principle. Two static FDA approved diffusion cells, namely the modified Franz diffusion cell and the European Pharmacopoeia diffusion cell, were compared by measuring the in vitro release rate of ketoprofen from all the gel formulations through a synthetic silicone membrane. High-performance liquid chromatography and ultraviolet spectrophotometric analytical techniques were both used for the analysis of ketoprofen. The validated methods were employed for the determination of ketoprofen in the sample solutions taken from the receptor fluid. Two of the three proprietary products registered under the same manufacturing license exhibited similar results whereas the third product differed significantly. Among the variables investigated, the vehicle pH and solvent composition were found have the most significant effect on the in vitro release of ketoprofen from Carbopol® polymers. The different grades of Carbopol® polymers showed statistically significantly different release kinetics with respect to lag time. When evaluating the proprietary products, both the modified Franz diffusion cell and the European Pharmacopoeia diffusion cell were deemed adequate although higher profiles were generally obtained from the European Pharmacopoeia diffusion cells. Smoother diffusion profiles were obtained from samples analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography than by ultraviolet spectrophotometry in both diffusion cells. Sample solutions taken from Franz diffusion cells and analysed by ultraviolet spectrophotometry also produced smooth diffusion profiles. Erratic and higher diffusion profiles were observed with samples taken from the European Pharmacopoeia diffusion cell and analysed by ultraviolet spectrophotometry. The choice of diffusion cells and analytical procedure in product development must be weighed against the relatively poor reproducibility as observed with the European Pharmacopoeia diffusion cell.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
Incorporating indigenous management in rock art sites in KwaZulu-Natal
- Authors: Ndlovu, Ndukuyakhe
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Rock paintings -- Drakenberg Mountains , Cave paintings -- Drakensberg Mountains , San (African people) -- Art , Art, Prehistoric -- Drakensberg Mountains , Art, Prehistoric -- South Africa , Heritage tourism -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2089 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002652 , Rock paintings -- Drakenberg Mountains , Cave paintings -- Drakensberg Mountains , San (African people) -- Art , Art, Prehistoric -- Drakensberg Mountains , Art, Prehistoric -- South Africa , Heritage tourism -- South Africa
- Description: The majestic mountains of the uKhahlamba Drakensberg, formed many millennia ago were home to the Bushmen[footnote 1] or San people. They lived at these mountains for thousands of years before they were colonised by the Bantu speakers and the Europeans. Academic writings for many years have perpetuated the thinking that Bushman people were largely extinct. The dominance of this view in the academic writings was encouraged by historical evidence that Europeans and Bantu speakers hunted and killed Bushmen over the last several centuries. Researchers argue that the extermination of the Bushmen was because they were less human in the eyes of the foreigners, due to cattle raiding. There is still some element of this thinking amongst today’s academics, although research in the last decade is questioning this thinking. The question of whether descendants do exist is relevant to issues of rights of access to ancestral sacred sites, in particular rock art sites. At present, access to rock art sites is granted on qualification as an authentic fee-paying tourist (or affordability) rather than on group rights to a cultural heritage resource (cultural rights). Based on this, I argue that access to rock art sites is based on qualification rather than by right. This is largely driven by an approach that emphasises the physical conservation and financial sustainability of a site, rather than its spiritual maintenance. It has become clear that the interests in rock art by tourists and Bushman descendants are distinct from each other. Tourists have an aesthetic significance for rock art while Bushmen descendants have a spiritual significance for the paintings. Beyond any doubt, the physically based and financially driven approach has brought new challenges to today’s Bushmen descendants, whom in reaffirming their identities now have a new challenge to overcome. Not only are the rock art sites physically threatened but also they have lost much of their spiritual powers. Their fate lies in the hands of heritage officers who must determine access rights to the painted shelters. Both the National Heritage Resources Act and the KwaZulu-Natal Heritage Act acknowledge living heritage. However, the existence of this heritage is judged against the physical approach to rock art management. If the practises of descendants are perceived to be a threat to the rock art, they will not be approved. The case of the Duma is a classic example. Prior to the ritual ceremony at Game Pass Shelter, Kamberg, they were informed of the minimum standards for opening a rock art site to public and rules of how people should behave while visiting painted shelters. While it was evident that there are problems with the two approaches, the spiritual and physical approach, discussed in the thesis, it is important that solutions are identified. I do not believe that one approach on its own will be good enough, for reasons discussed in the thesis. Instead, the two approaches should be implemented together to compliment each other by identifying common grounds. I provide strategies as to how I believe that such a common ground can be reached. In addition, I provide my own analytical thinking as to how these strategies can be achieved. There is no general consensus over which term is appropriate. Both terms are considered by some academics to be derogatory or pejorative (Chennels 2003). San means vagabond and was given to the Bushmen by Khoi-Khoi people, because they considered themselves of a better social class, as they had domesticated animals and were more sedentary than Bushmen. However, according to WIMSA (Thoma 2003) the word San is derived from the Hai||om language meaning “people who gather”. It is normally written Saan but it has been accepted to write San. In 1993 the San requested to be called San when referred to as an entire group. If one refers to individual people/groups they like to be called by their language and cultural name i.e. Khwe, !Kung, !Xun, Ju|’hoansi, ‡Khomani, N|u, |’Auni, Hai||om, etc In this thesis, Bushmen is a preferred term, because it is a better-known term among the people who are central to this study. It is used without any insulting connotations attached to the term.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Ndlovu, Ndukuyakhe
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Rock paintings -- Drakenberg Mountains , Cave paintings -- Drakensberg Mountains , San (African people) -- Art , Art, Prehistoric -- Drakensberg Mountains , Art, Prehistoric -- South Africa , Heritage tourism -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2089 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002652 , Rock paintings -- Drakenberg Mountains , Cave paintings -- Drakensberg Mountains , San (African people) -- Art , Art, Prehistoric -- Drakensberg Mountains , Art, Prehistoric -- South Africa , Heritage tourism -- South Africa
- Description: The majestic mountains of the uKhahlamba Drakensberg, formed many millennia ago were home to the Bushmen[footnote 1] or San people. They lived at these mountains for thousands of years before they were colonised by the Bantu speakers and the Europeans. Academic writings for many years have perpetuated the thinking that Bushman people were largely extinct. The dominance of this view in the academic writings was encouraged by historical evidence that Europeans and Bantu speakers hunted and killed Bushmen over the last several centuries. Researchers argue that the extermination of the Bushmen was because they were less human in the eyes of the foreigners, due to cattle raiding. There is still some element of this thinking amongst today’s academics, although research in the last decade is questioning this thinking. The question of whether descendants do exist is relevant to issues of rights of access to ancestral sacred sites, in particular rock art sites. At present, access to rock art sites is granted on qualification as an authentic fee-paying tourist (or affordability) rather than on group rights to a cultural heritage resource (cultural rights). Based on this, I argue that access to rock art sites is based on qualification rather than by right. This is largely driven by an approach that emphasises the physical conservation and financial sustainability of a site, rather than its spiritual maintenance. It has become clear that the interests in rock art by tourists and Bushman descendants are distinct from each other. Tourists have an aesthetic significance for rock art while Bushmen descendants have a spiritual significance for the paintings. Beyond any doubt, the physically based and financially driven approach has brought new challenges to today’s Bushmen descendants, whom in reaffirming their identities now have a new challenge to overcome. Not only are the rock art sites physically threatened but also they have lost much of their spiritual powers. Their fate lies in the hands of heritage officers who must determine access rights to the painted shelters. Both the National Heritage Resources Act and the KwaZulu-Natal Heritage Act acknowledge living heritage. However, the existence of this heritage is judged against the physical approach to rock art management. If the practises of descendants are perceived to be a threat to the rock art, they will not be approved. The case of the Duma is a classic example. Prior to the ritual ceremony at Game Pass Shelter, Kamberg, they were informed of the minimum standards for opening a rock art site to public and rules of how people should behave while visiting painted shelters. While it was evident that there are problems with the two approaches, the spiritual and physical approach, discussed in the thesis, it is important that solutions are identified. I do not believe that one approach on its own will be good enough, for reasons discussed in the thesis. Instead, the two approaches should be implemented together to compliment each other by identifying common grounds. I provide strategies as to how I believe that such a common ground can be reached. In addition, I provide my own analytical thinking as to how these strategies can be achieved. There is no general consensus over which term is appropriate. Both terms are considered by some academics to be derogatory or pejorative (Chennels 2003). San means vagabond and was given to the Bushmen by Khoi-Khoi people, because they considered themselves of a better social class, as they had domesticated animals and were more sedentary than Bushmen. However, according to WIMSA (Thoma 2003) the word San is derived from the Hai||om language meaning “people who gather”. It is normally written Saan but it has been accepted to write San. In 1993 the San requested to be called San when referred to as an entire group. If one refers to individual people/groups they like to be called by their language and cultural name i.e. Khwe, !Kung, !Xun, Ju|’hoansi, ‡Khomani, N|u, |’Auni, Hai||om, etc In this thesis, Bushmen is a preferred term, because it is a better-known term among the people who are central to this study. It is used without any insulting connotations attached to the term.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
Increasing competitiveness through the enhancement of logistics processes in the South African automotive industry
- Authors: Njokweni, Thobela
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Business logistics , Automobile industry and trade -- South Africa , Competition, International
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:10939 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/418 , Business logistics , Automobile industry and trade -- South Africa , Competition, International
- Description: Logistics has become one of the automotive industry's most crucial sub-sectors. Previously, logistics had to step aside to make way for production considerations. Today it is regarded as being every bit as crucial as production in the global village. Advancement of logistics in South Africa is crucial because original equipment manufacturers are producing to developed world standards but are having to cope with low developing world logistics standards. The logistics processes that need to be enhanced in order for the South African automotive industry to be more competitive were investigated. To examine the main problem, three sub-problems were identified. The first sub-problem that has been identified dealt with logistics processes that will enhance the competitive advantage of the South African automotive industry. The second sub-problems looked at key logistics opportunities and threats to the environment in which South African motor manufactures trade. They were investigated by assessing the nature of the South African motor manufacturing industry. Finally, the third sub-problem investigated conclusions that can be arrived at concerning the appropriateness and strategic value of the analysis.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Njokweni, Thobela
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Business logistics , Automobile industry and trade -- South Africa , Competition, International
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:10939 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/418 , Business logistics , Automobile industry and trade -- South Africa , Competition, International
- Description: Logistics has become one of the automotive industry's most crucial sub-sectors. Previously, logistics had to step aside to make way for production considerations. Today it is regarded as being every bit as crucial as production in the global village. Advancement of logistics in South Africa is crucial because original equipment manufacturers are producing to developed world standards but are having to cope with low developing world logistics standards. The logistics processes that need to be enhanced in order for the South African automotive industry to be more competitive were investigated. To examine the main problem, three sub-problems were identified. The first sub-problem that has been identified dealt with logistics processes that will enhance the competitive advantage of the South African automotive industry. The second sub-problems looked at key logistics opportunities and threats to the environment in which South African motor manufactures trade. They were investigated by assessing the nature of the South African motor manufacturing industry. Finally, the third sub-problem investigated conclusions that can be arrived at concerning the appropriateness and strategic value of the analysis.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
Inspectors of education's perceptions of female principalship in the Rundu region of Namibia
- Authors: Kawana, Irene
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Women school principals -- Namibia -- Rundu , Educational leadership -- Namibia -- Rundu , Sex discrimination in employment -- Namibia , School supervisors -- Namibia -- Attitudes
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:2006 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1015746
- Description: While women constitute more than 51% of the population and far outnumber men in teaching positions in Namibia, very few occupy positions of leadership. Male candidates are still favoured for top positions, thereby denying women the chance to gain entrance to these positions. One of the reasons for this imbalance seems to be that, in spite of conscious political effort and legislation, women may still be perceived as less effective leaders than men. This research focused on leadership in education, in particular school principals, and explored the perceptions of female principalship held by school inspectors. Three school inspectors from the Rundu Education Region were purposefully selected and interviewed. Inspectors were selected on the grounds of their considerable influence in the selection and appointment of school principals. The study found that these inspectors favour school principals who show commitment to their work, have good interpersonal working relationships, are caring, good listeners, visionary and produce good results. The inspectors attribute female principals’ success to their traditionally perceived characteristics, such as caring leadership and ability to develop good human relations. Instead of perceiving these qualities as professionally negative (as is sometimes argued in the literature) the inspectors see them as indisputable assets to leadership. The respondents acknowledge the cultural stereotyping that may have influenced male attitudes to women in the past, but argue that good leadership is not specific to gender, but part of the qualities a person possesses, regardless of sex. This study concludes that, contrary to what has been reported in many studies, these inspectors perceive women principals as effective – equal to their male counterparts or sometimes even more effective - because they are caring, well organized and good at communicating and establishing relations with others. Though these qualities are different from the traditional masculine qualities which include independence and emotional strength, the respondents recognize and legitimize them as preferred qualities in current effective leadership practice.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Kawana, Irene
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Women school principals -- Namibia -- Rundu , Educational leadership -- Namibia -- Rundu , Sex discrimination in employment -- Namibia , School supervisors -- Namibia -- Attitudes
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:2006 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1015746
- Description: While women constitute more than 51% of the population and far outnumber men in teaching positions in Namibia, very few occupy positions of leadership. Male candidates are still favoured for top positions, thereby denying women the chance to gain entrance to these positions. One of the reasons for this imbalance seems to be that, in spite of conscious political effort and legislation, women may still be perceived as less effective leaders than men. This research focused on leadership in education, in particular school principals, and explored the perceptions of female principalship held by school inspectors. Three school inspectors from the Rundu Education Region were purposefully selected and interviewed. Inspectors were selected on the grounds of their considerable influence in the selection and appointment of school principals. The study found that these inspectors favour school principals who show commitment to their work, have good interpersonal working relationships, are caring, good listeners, visionary and produce good results. The inspectors attribute female principals’ success to their traditionally perceived characteristics, such as caring leadership and ability to develop good human relations. Instead of perceiving these qualities as professionally negative (as is sometimes argued in the literature) the inspectors see them as indisputable assets to leadership. The respondents acknowledge the cultural stereotyping that may have influenced male attitudes to women in the past, but argue that good leadership is not specific to gender, but part of the qualities a person possesses, regardless of sex. This study concludes that, contrary to what has been reported in many studies, these inspectors perceive women principals as effective – equal to their male counterparts or sometimes even more effective - because they are caring, well organized and good at communicating and establishing relations with others. Though these qualities are different from the traditional masculine qualities which include independence and emotional strength, the respondents recognize and legitimize them as preferred qualities in current effective leadership practice.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
Institutional change and ecosystem dynamics in the communal areas around Mt Coke State Forest, Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Cundill, Georgina
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Biodiversity -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Ecosystem management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Natural resources -- Management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Nature conservation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:4746 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006959 , Biodiversity -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Ecosystem management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Natural resources -- Management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Nature conservation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Through a combination of theoretical discussion and case study analysis from two villages in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, this thesis explores the relationship between institutional change and ecosystem dynamics through a multi-scale approach that combines local and scientific knowledge. Several conceptual approaches were combined in this study. These included; the Resilience perspective, the Sustainable Rural Livelihoods approach, the Millennium Assessment framework and principles, and the Environmental Entitlements approach. Various participatory research techniques were employed which combined with GIS technologies, existing data sets, and historical records. Common pool resource areas are social spaces, where local values attached to resources are institutionally mediated, politically nuanced, economically interpreted and historically situated. Political driving forces at various scales have played a disproportionate role in local level institutional functioning in the case study area. In particular, inappropriate state-lead interventions into land use planning have weakened local level institutions, and have reduced the ability of the linked social-ecological system to cope with change and uncertainty. People and ecosystems become more vulnerable when driving forces such as political upheaval, economic depression and drought over-lap. However, rural people are not mere spectators in the face of these driving forces; they respond both reactively and proactively to ensure resilience to change and uncertainty. Ecosystems at Mt Coke play a key role during times of crisis in rural livelihoods. These ecosystems have undergone various short-term cyclical changes largely in response to rainfall fluctuations, and some longer-term changes linked to political events and trends that have affected management practices and local institutions over time. Orthodox ecological interpretations of ecosystem change appear to ignore four key factors identified in this study: 1) the role of institutions in shaping access to resources, 2) the demand for resources in rural livelihoods, 3) the dynamic interaction between social and natural systems, and 4) the interaction between social and natural systems across scales of analysis. The future of common pool resource management lies in the combination of local and scientific knowledge through an adaptive management approach that encourages learning and adaptation in local level institutional structures.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Cundill, Georgina
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Biodiversity -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Ecosystem management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Natural resources -- Management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Nature conservation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:4746 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006959 , Biodiversity -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Ecosystem management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Natural resources -- Management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Nature conservation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Through a combination of theoretical discussion and case study analysis from two villages in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, this thesis explores the relationship between institutional change and ecosystem dynamics through a multi-scale approach that combines local and scientific knowledge. Several conceptual approaches were combined in this study. These included; the Resilience perspective, the Sustainable Rural Livelihoods approach, the Millennium Assessment framework and principles, and the Environmental Entitlements approach. Various participatory research techniques were employed which combined with GIS technologies, existing data sets, and historical records. Common pool resource areas are social spaces, where local values attached to resources are institutionally mediated, politically nuanced, economically interpreted and historically situated. Political driving forces at various scales have played a disproportionate role in local level institutional functioning in the case study area. In particular, inappropriate state-lead interventions into land use planning have weakened local level institutions, and have reduced the ability of the linked social-ecological system to cope with change and uncertainty. People and ecosystems become more vulnerable when driving forces such as political upheaval, economic depression and drought over-lap. However, rural people are not mere spectators in the face of these driving forces; they respond both reactively and proactively to ensure resilience to change and uncertainty. Ecosystems at Mt Coke play a key role during times of crisis in rural livelihoods. These ecosystems have undergone various short-term cyclical changes largely in response to rainfall fluctuations, and some longer-term changes linked to political events and trends that have affected management practices and local institutions over time. Orthodox ecological interpretations of ecosystem change appear to ignore four key factors identified in this study: 1) the role of institutions in shaping access to resources, 2) the demand for resources in rural livelihoods, 3) the dynamic interaction between social and natural systems, and 4) the interaction between social and natural systems across scales of analysis. The future of common pool resource management lies in the combination of local and scientific knowledge through an adaptive management approach that encourages learning and adaptation in local level institutional structures.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
Interest rate behaviour in a more transparent South African monetary policy environment
- Authors: Ballim, Goolam Hoosen
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: South African Reserve Bank , Monetary policy -- South Africa , Banks and banking -- South Africa , Interest rates -- South Africa , South Africa -- Economic policy , South Africa -- Economic conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:1034 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004462 , South African Reserve Bank , Monetary policy -- South Africa , Banks and banking -- South Africa , Interest rates -- South Africa , South Africa -- Economic policy , South Africa -- Economic conditions
- Description: South Africa introduced inflation targeting as a monetary policy framework in 2000. This marked a sizable shift in monetary policy management from the previous "eclectic" approach and the explicit focus on M3 money supply before that. The study appraises the effectiveness of monetary policy under this new dispensation. However, the analysis does not centre on inflation outcomes, which can be a measure of effectiveness because they are the overriding objective of the South African Reserve Bank in effect, it is possible to have a target-friendly inflation rate for a length of time despite monetary policy that is ambiguous and encourages unpredictability in market interest rates. However, persistent policy opaqueness can, over time, damage a favourable inflation scenario. For instance, if the public is unsure about the Reserve Bank's desired inflation target, price setting in the wage and goods markets may eventually produce an inflation outcome that is higher than the Bank may have intended. Rather, this study adjudicates the effectiveness of monetary policy within the context of policy transparency, which is an intrinsic part of the inflation targeting framework. The study looks at the extent to which monetary policy transparency has enhanced both the anticipatory nature of the market's response to policy actions and the force that policy has on all interest rates in the financial system, particularly long-term rates. These concepts are important because through the transmission mechanism of monetary policy, the more deft market participants are at anticipating future Reserve Bank policy the greater the Bank's ability to steady the economy before the actual policy event. With the aid of regression models to estimate the response of market rates to policy changes, the results show that there is significant movement in market rates in anticipation of policy action, rather than on the day of the event or the day after. Indeed, the estimates for market rates movement on the day of and even the day after the policy action are generally minute. For instance, the R157 long-term government bond yield changes by a significant 41 basis points in response to a one percentage point change in the Reserve Bank's benchmark repo rate in the period between the last policy action and the day preceding the current action. In contrast, the R157 bond yield changes by an insignificant 2 basis points on the day of the current repo rate change and about 1 basis point the day after the current change. The results point to a robust relationship between policy transparency and the market's ability to foresee rate action. If this were not the case, it is likely that there would be persistent market surprise and, hence, noticeable movement in interest rates on the day of the rate action and perhaps even the day after. Another important observation is that monetary policy impacts significantly on both short- and long-term market rates. Again, certifying the robustness of monetary policy under the inflation targeting regime
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Ballim, Goolam Hoosen
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: South African Reserve Bank , Monetary policy -- South Africa , Banks and banking -- South Africa , Interest rates -- South Africa , South Africa -- Economic policy , South Africa -- Economic conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:1034 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004462 , South African Reserve Bank , Monetary policy -- South Africa , Banks and banking -- South Africa , Interest rates -- South Africa , South Africa -- Economic policy , South Africa -- Economic conditions
- Description: South Africa introduced inflation targeting as a monetary policy framework in 2000. This marked a sizable shift in monetary policy management from the previous "eclectic" approach and the explicit focus on M3 money supply before that. The study appraises the effectiveness of monetary policy under this new dispensation. However, the analysis does not centre on inflation outcomes, which can be a measure of effectiveness because they are the overriding objective of the South African Reserve Bank in effect, it is possible to have a target-friendly inflation rate for a length of time despite monetary policy that is ambiguous and encourages unpredictability in market interest rates. However, persistent policy opaqueness can, over time, damage a favourable inflation scenario. For instance, if the public is unsure about the Reserve Bank's desired inflation target, price setting in the wage and goods markets may eventually produce an inflation outcome that is higher than the Bank may have intended. Rather, this study adjudicates the effectiveness of monetary policy within the context of policy transparency, which is an intrinsic part of the inflation targeting framework. The study looks at the extent to which monetary policy transparency has enhanced both the anticipatory nature of the market's response to policy actions and the force that policy has on all interest rates in the financial system, particularly long-term rates. These concepts are important because through the transmission mechanism of monetary policy, the more deft market participants are at anticipating future Reserve Bank policy the greater the Bank's ability to steady the economy before the actual policy event. With the aid of regression models to estimate the response of market rates to policy changes, the results show that there is significant movement in market rates in anticipation of policy action, rather than on the day of the event or the day after. Indeed, the estimates for market rates movement on the day of and even the day after the policy action are generally minute. For instance, the R157 long-term government bond yield changes by a significant 41 basis points in response to a one percentage point change in the Reserve Bank's benchmark repo rate in the period between the last policy action and the day preceding the current action. In contrast, the R157 bond yield changes by an insignificant 2 basis points on the day of the current repo rate change and about 1 basis point the day after the current change. The results point to a robust relationship between policy transparency and the market's ability to foresee rate action. If this were not the case, it is likely that there would be persistent market surprise and, hence, noticeable movement in interest rates on the day of the rate action and perhaps even the day after. Another important observation is that monetary policy impacts significantly on both short- and long-term market rates. Again, certifying the robustness of monetary policy under the inflation targeting regime
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
Introducing hippocratic log files for personal privacy control
- Authors: Rutherford, Andrew
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Computer security , Internet -- Security measures
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9743 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/171 , Computer security , Internet -- Security measures
- Description: The rapid growth of the Internet has served to intensify existing privacy concerns of the individual, to the point that privacy is the number one concern amongst Internet users today. Tools exist that can provide users with a choice of anonymity or pseudonymity. However, many Web transactions require the release of personally identifying information, thus rendering such tools infeasible in many instances. Since it is then a given that users are often required to release personal information, which could be recorded, it follows that they require a greater degree of control over the information they release. Hippocratic databases, designed by Agrawal, Kiernan, Srikant, and Xu (2002), aim to give users greater control over information stored in a data- base. Their design was inspired by the medical Hippocratic oath, and makes data privacy protection a fundamental responsibility of the database itself. To achieve the privacy of data, Hippocratic databases are governed by 10 key privacy principles. This dissertation argues, that asides from a few challenges, the 10 prin- ciples of Hippocratic databases can be applied to log ¯les. This argument is supported by presenting a high-level functional view of a Hippocratic log file architecture. This architecture focuses on issues that highlight the con- trol users gain over their personal information that is collected in log files. By presenting a layered view of the aforementioned architecture, it was, fur- thermore, possible to provide greater insight into the major processes that would be at work in a Hippocratic log file implementation. An exploratory prototype served to understand and demonstrate certain of the architectural components of Hippocratic log files. This dissertation, thus, makes a contribution to the ideal of providing users with greater control over their personal information, by proposing the use of Hippocratic logfiles.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Rutherford, Andrew
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Computer security , Internet -- Security measures
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9743 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/171 , Computer security , Internet -- Security measures
- Description: The rapid growth of the Internet has served to intensify existing privacy concerns of the individual, to the point that privacy is the number one concern amongst Internet users today. Tools exist that can provide users with a choice of anonymity or pseudonymity. However, many Web transactions require the release of personally identifying information, thus rendering such tools infeasible in many instances. Since it is then a given that users are often required to release personal information, which could be recorded, it follows that they require a greater degree of control over the information they release. Hippocratic databases, designed by Agrawal, Kiernan, Srikant, and Xu (2002), aim to give users greater control over information stored in a data- base. Their design was inspired by the medical Hippocratic oath, and makes data privacy protection a fundamental responsibility of the database itself. To achieve the privacy of data, Hippocratic databases are governed by 10 key privacy principles. This dissertation argues, that asides from a few challenges, the 10 prin- ciples of Hippocratic databases can be applied to log ¯les. This argument is supported by presenting a high-level functional view of a Hippocratic log file architecture. This architecture focuses on issues that highlight the con- trol users gain over their personal information that is collected in log files. By presenting a layered view of the aforementioned architecture, it was, fur- thermore, possible to provide greater insight into the major processes that would be at work in a Hippocratic log file implementation. An exploratory prototype served to understand and demonstrate certain of the architectural components of Hippocratic log files. This dissertation, thus, makes a contribution to the ideal of providing users with greater control over their personal information, by proposing the use of Hippocratic logfiles.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
Investigating call control using MGCP in conjuction with SIP and H.323
- Authors: Jacobs, Ashley
- Date: 2005 , 2005-03-14
- Subjects: Communication -- Technological innovations , Digital telephone systems , Computer networks , Computer network protocols , Internet telephony
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4631 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006516 , Communication -- Technological innovations , Digital telephone systems , Computer networks , Computer network protocols , Internet telephony
- Description: Telephony used to mean using a telephone to call another telephone on the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), and data networks were used purely to allow computers to communicate. However, with the advent of the Internet, telephony services have been extended to run on data networks. Telephone calls within the IP network are known as Voice over IP. These calls are carried by a number of protocols, with the most popular ones currently being Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and H.323. Calls can be made from the IP network to the PSTN and vice versa through the use of a gateway. The gateway translates the packets from the IP network to circuits on the PSTN and vice versa to facilitate calls between the two networks. Gateways have evolved and are now split into two entities using the master/slave architecture. The master is an intelligent Media Gateway Controller (MGC) that handles the call control and signalling. The slave is a "dumb" Media Gateway (MG) that handles the translation of the media. The current gateway control protocols in use are Megaco/H.248, MGCP and Skinny. These protocols have proved themselves on the edge of the network. Furthermore, since they communicate with the call signalling VoIP protocols as well as the PSTN, they have to be the lingua franca between the two networks. Within the VoIP network, the numbers of call signalling protocols make it difficult to communicate with each other and to create services. This research investigates the use of Gateway Control Protocols as the lowest common denominator between the call signalling protocols SIP and H.323. More specifically, it uses MGCP to investigate service creation. It also considers the use of MGCP as a protocol translator between SIP and H.323. A service was created using MGCP to allow H.323 endpoints to send Short Message Service (SMS) messages. This service was then extended with minimal effort to SIP endpoints. This service investigated MGCP’s ability to handle call control from the H.323 and SIP endpoints. An MGC was then successfully used to perform as a protocol translator between SIP and H.323.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Jacobs, Ashley
- Date: 2005 , 2005-03-14
- Subjects: Communication -- Technological innovations , Digital telephone systems , Computer networks , Computer network protocols , Internet telephony
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4631 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006516 , Communication -- Technological innovations , Digital telephone systems , Computer networks , Computer network protocols , Internet telephony
- Description: Telephony used to mean using a telephone to call another telephone on the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), and data networks were used purely to allow computers to communicate. However, with the advent of the Internet, telephony services have been extended to run on data networks. Telephone calls within the IP network are known as Voice over IP. These calls are carried by a number of protocols, with the most popular ones currently being Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and H.323. Calls can be made from the IP network to the PSTN and vice versa through the use of a gateway. The gateway translates the packets from the IP network to circuits on the PSTN and vice versa to facilitate calls between the two networks. Gateways have evolved and are now split into two entities using the master/slave architecture. The master is an intelligent Media Gateway Controller (MGC) that handles the call control and signalling. The slave is a "dumb" Media Gateway (MG) that handles the translation of the media. The current gateway control protocols in use are Megaco/H.248, MGCP and Skinny. These protocols have proved themselves on the edge of the network. Furthermore, since they communicate with the call signalling VoIP protocols as well as the PSTN, they have to be the lingua franca between the two networks. Within the VoIP network, the numbers of call signalling protocols make it difficult to communicate with each other and to create services. This research investigates the use of Gateway Control Protocols as the lowest common denominator between the call signalling protocols SIP and H.323. More specifically, it uses MGCP to investigate service creation. It also considers the use of MGCP as a protocol translator between SIP and H.323. A service was created using MGCP to allow H.323 endpoints to send Short Message Service (SMS) messages. This service was then extended with minimal effort to SIP endpoints. This service investigated MGCP’s ability to handle call control from the H.323 and SIP endpoints. An MGC was then successfully used to perform as a protocol translator between SIP and H.323.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
Investigation into the biological removal of sulphate from ethanol distillery wastewater using sulphate-reducing prokaryotes
- Authors: Smuts, Lizl
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Sewage -- Purification -- Biological treatment , Prokaryotes , Sulfates , Distilleries -- Waste disposal
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:3941 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004000 , Sewage -- Purification -- Biological treatment , Prokaryotes , Sulfates , Distilleries -- Waste disposal
- Description: Ethanol production wastewater is known to be toxic, and is not easily biodegradable. It also consists of a variety of coloured components adding to the complex composition of this wastewater. Disposal of this wastewater into water courses is not recommended and yet is performed all over the world. Investigation of this wastewater found that there was a high concentration of sulphate which, in the presence of sulphate-reducing prokaryotes can cause sulphide corrosion of cement. The concentration of sulphate in the wastewater was approximately 2770 mg/L. It was also found that the wastewater pH was very low and discharge of the wastewater into the wastewater treatment works caused a negative impact on the overall quality of the final wastewater discharged to sea. It was found using FISH techniques that there were no sulphate-reducing prokaryotes present in the wastewaters but that a sulphate-reducing population existed on the sewer wall. An anaerobic contact process was designed to treat this wastewater targeting sulphate reduction to sulphide, to be converted into elemental sulphur and to increase the wastewater pH. The process did not achieve this aim and only approximately 20-30 % reduction in sulphate from the wastewater was achieved with little to no change in the pH. A 95 % reduction in sulphate concentration was needed in order to reach acceptable discharge limits. Sulphate reduction could not be carried out, even under ideal laboratory conditions. It was found that the barrier causing the digester failure was the high concentration of phenols present in the wastewater (3.3 g/L) together with the production of high concentrations of volatile fatty acids (on average 13 g acetic/L). These two components are known to cause digester failure, especially phenols, and phenols are usually only degraded by fungal species. It was concluded that the wastewater itself was not amenable to this method of biological treatment.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Smuts, Lizl
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Sewage -- Purification -- Biological treatment , Prokaryotes , Sulfates , Distilleries -- Waste disposal
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:3941 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004000 , Sewage -- Purification -- Biological treatment , Prokaryotes , Sulfates , Distilleries -- Waste disposal
- Description: Ethanol production wastewater is known to be toxic, and is not easily biodegradable. It also consists of a variety of coloured components adding to the complex composition of this wastewater. Disposal of this wastewater into water courses is not recommended and yet is performed all over the world. Investigation of this wastewater found that there was a high concentration of sulphate which, in the presence of sulphate-reducing prokaryotes can cause sulphide corrosion of cement. The concentration of sulphate in the wastewater was approximately 2770 mg/L. It was also found that the wastewater pH was very low and discharge of the wastewater into the wastewater treatment works caused a negative impact on the overall quality of the final wastewater discharged to sea. It was found using FISH techniques that there were no sulphate-reducing prokaryotes present in the wastewaters but that a sulphate-reducing population existed on the sewer wall. An anaerobic contact process was designed to treat this wastewater targeting sulphate reduction to sulphide, to be converted into elemental sulphur and to increase the wastewater pH. The process did not achieve this aim and only approximately 20-30 % reduction in sulphate from the wastewater was achieved with little to no change in the pH. A 95 % reduction in sulphate concentration was needed in order to reach acceptable discharge limits. Sulphate reduction could not be carried out, even under ideal laboratory conditions. It was found that the barrier causing the digester failure was the high concentration of phenols present in the wastewater (3.3 g/L) together with the production of high concentrations of volatile fatty acids (on average 13 g acetic/L). These two components are known to cause digester failure, especially phenols, and phenols are usually only degraded by fungal species. It was concluded that the wastewater itself was not amenable to this method of biological treatment.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
Investigation of the effect of selected polypropylene fibres and ultra-fine aggregate on plastic shrinkage cracks on South African roads
- Authors: Kluyts, Grant
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Concrete roads -- South Africa -- Design and construction , Fiber-reinforced concrete , Reinforced concrete -- Cracking , Concrete -- Expansion and contraction , Polypropylene fibers
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9592 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/174 , Concrete roads -- South Africa -- Design and construction , Fiber-reinforced concrete , Reinforced concrete -- Cracking , Concrete -- Expansion and contraction , Polypropylene fibers
- Description: Plastic shrinkage cracks, although not inherently structurally debilitating, expose the reinforcement in low-volume reinforced concrete roads to deleterious substances, which may reduce its effectiveness leading ultimately to structural failure. In un-reinforced low-volume concrete road these cracks appear unsightly and cause the road user an unpleasant riding experience. Many researchers believe that plastic shrinkage crack development remains a concern to the concrete industry, occurring in particularly large–area pours such as low-volume concrete roads, and therefore requires further research to understand their formation and minimization. This study reports findings on the effectiveness of oxyfluorinated polypropylene fibres to control plastic shrinkage cracks, and the effect the addition of ultra-fine material has on the formation and/or propagation of these cracks. Findings indicate that low volume dosages (2 kg/m³), of oxyfluorinated polypropylene fibre significantly reduced the formation of plastic shrinkage cracks under test conditions. Furthermore, that the addition of ultra-fine material in excess of 63 kg/m³ increased the formation and/or development of plastic shrinkage cracks.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Kluyts, Grant
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Concrete roads -- South Africa -- Design and construction , Fiber-reinforced concrete , Reinforced concrete -- Cracking , Concrete -- Expansion and contraction , Polypropylene fibers
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9592 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/174 , Concrete roads -- South Africa -- Design and construction , Fiber-reinforced concrete , Reinforced concrete -- Cracking , Concrete -- Expansion and contraction , Polypropylene fibers
- Description: Plastic shrinkage cracks, although not inherently structurally debilitating, expose the reinforcement in low-volume reinforced concrete roads to deleterious substances, which may reduce its effectiveness leading ultimately to structural failure. In un-reinforced low-volume concrete road these cracks appear unsightly and cause the road user an unpleasant riding experience. Many researchers believe that plastic shrinkage crack development remains a concern to the concrete industry, occurring in particularly large–area pours such as low-volume concrete roads, and therefore requires further research to understand their formation and minimization. This study reports findings on the effectiveness of oxyfluorinated polypropylene fibres to control plastic shrinkage cracks, and the effect the addition of ultra-fine material has on the formation and/or propagation of these cracks. Findings indicate that low volume dosages (2 kg/m³), of oxyfluorinated polypropylene fibre significantly reduced the formation of plastic shrinkage cracks under test conditions. Furthermore, that the addition of ultra-fine material in excess of 63 kg/m³ increased the formation and/or development of plastic shrinkage cracks.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
Isolation, purification and characterization of inulin and fructooligosaccharides from chicorium intybus and inulinase from aspergillus niger
- Mavumengwana, Vuyo Bhongelethu
- Authors: Mavumengwana, Vuyo Bhongelethu
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Aspergillus , Inulin , Chicory -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:3954 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004013 , Aspergillus , Inulin , Chicory -- South Africa
- Description: Inulin is a non-digestible carbohydrate fructan polymer consisting mainly of β (1→2) fructosyl fructose links. Enzymatic hydrolysis of inulin by inulinase results in the production of low D.P (degree of polymerization) oligosaccharides also called fructooligosaccharides(FOS). Isolation of inulin from chicory root (Chicorium intybus) was achieved by first, extraction using deionized water (600C), followed by carbonation (0.1 M Ca(OH)2 and CO2 gas). This was filtered in order to remove the non sugars, thereafter, treated successfully with polyamide 6 powder. A cation exchanger and an anion exchanger were used to further exclude other components such as tannins and pigments. The extracted inulin was quantified using the Somogyi-Nelson colourimetric assay. Chicory root (207 g, 30 % being water) yielded 30 g of the raw extract. A 100 mg of the raw extract was assayed and found to contain 11 % yield of inulin which was 80.2 % in purity and 4 % free fructose. Analysis of the crude and purified inulin extracts on the MALDI TOF spectrometry showed the samples to have a DP of 2 to 22 and 2 to 27 respectively. Maximum inulinase production from Aspergillus niger grown on inulin was observed after 60 hours. The enzyme activity was found to be 1.168 U/ml with a temperature and pH optimum of 30 °C and 7.7 respectively. The enzyme proved to be unstable as it progressively lost its total activity during attempts at purification.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Mavumengwana, Vuyo Bhongelethu
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Aspergillus , Inulin , Chicory -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:3954 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004013 , Aspergillus , Inulin , Chicory -- South Africa
- Description: Inulin is a non-digestible carbohydrate fructan polymer consisting mainly of β (1→2) fructosyl fructose links. Enzymatic hydrolysis of inulin by inulinase results in the production of low D.P (degree of polymerization) oligosaccharides also called fructooligosaccharides(FOS). Isolation of inulin from chicory root (Chicorium intybus) was achieved by first, extraction using deionized water (600C), followed by carbonation (0.1 M Ca(OH)2 and CO2 gas). This was filtered in order to remove the non sugars, thereafter, treated successfully with polyamide 6 powder. A cation exchanger and an anion exchanger were used to further exclude other components such as tannins and pigments. The extracted inulin was quantified using the Somogyi-Nelson colourimetric assay. Chicory root (207 g, 30 % being water) yielded 30 g of the raw extract. A 100 mg of the raw extract was assayed and found to contain 11 % yield of inulin which was 80.2 % in purity and 4 % free fructose. Analysis of the crude and purified inulin extracts on the MALDI TOF spectrometry showed the samples to have a DP of 2 to 22 and 2 to 27 respectively. Maximum inulinase production from Aspergillus niger grown on inulin was observed after 60 hours. The enzyme activity was found to be 1.168 U/ml with a temperature and pH optimum of 30 °C and 7.7 respectively. The enzyme proved to be unstable as it progressively lost its total activity during attempts at purification.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
Knowledge levels of school learners before and after a life skills program on rape and child abuse
- Authors: Britz, Cecelia Adonia
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Rape -- Prevention , Child abuse -- Prevention , School children -- Life skills assessment -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:11017 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/360 , Rape -- Prevention , Child abuse -- Prevention , School children -- Life skills assessment -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Description: Due to the early age at which children are exposed to rape and child abuse, preventative programs should be implemented as early as possible. Schools provide ample opportunity to reach learners of all ages. Educators have regular contact with learners and have a key role to play in the implementation of comprehensive health and education life skills programs. Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) can link up with schools to combat abuse that affects children in South African communities. The Ubuntu Education Fund requested the Health and Development Research Institute (HDRI) of the University of Port Elizabeth to assist with the evaluation of the Mpilo-Lwazi life skills program for grade 6 to 9 learners at 5 primary and 5 secondary schools in the Nelson Mandela Metropole. The schools were selected by non-probability convenience sampling and the learners via simple random sampling. The life skills program addressed issues of HIV/AIDS, STI and rape and child abuse and the requested evaluation encompassed both the quantitative pretest-posttest assessment of knowledge plus a qualitative focus group assessment of perception of the content and presentation of the life skills program. A multiple pretest-post-test quasi-experimental research design was used. This study focused on the quantitative aspect of rape and child abuse and aimed to describe learners’ base line knowledge before receiving education in rape and child abuse life skills programs and acquired knowledge after the program had been implemented. Descriptive statistics were employed to describe the pre and post test information and the Hotelling’s T2 was used to identify variation in profiles. Posthoc t-tests established significant differences between grades. Structured questionnaires were used to achieve the aims of the research. Results of both the quantitative and qualitative findings were collated to be presented to the Ubuntu Education Fund. The results of the study were as follows: ix The results indicated that the overall level of knowledge regarding Rape and Child Abuse among the sample of grade six to nine learners was average. A small increase in knowledge was identified in the post-test. The area most successful for knowledge increase was the section relating to general information on the victims of Rape and Child Abuse. An area where knowledge actually decreased was that on reporting the rape or abuse. Knowledge of rape and child abuse alone is not sufficient to bring about change in behaviour. Changes in beliefs, such as increased awareness that rape and child abuse are prevalent in families and communities, and attitude change are necessary to facilitate the adoption of health-promoting behaviour. Future education efforts need to introduce health educators into the Rape and Child Abuse life skills program at schools in educating the learners. The format of teaching should also take into account the preferred method of presentation indicated by the learners as this would facilitate optimal intake of information.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Britz, Cecelia Adonia
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Rape -- Prevention , Child abuse -- Prevention , School children -- Life skills assessment -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:11017 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/360 , Rape -- Prevention , Child abuse -- Prevention , School children -- Life skills assessment -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Description: Due to the early age at which children are exposed to rape and child abuse, preventative programs should be implemented as early as possible. Schools provide ample opportunity to reach learners of all ages. Educators have regular contact with learners and have a key role to play in the implementation of comprehensive health and education life skills programs. Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) can link up with schools to combat abuse that affects children in South African communities. The Ubuntu Education Fund requested the Health and Development Research Institute (HDRI) of the University of Port Elizabeth to assist with the evaluation of the Mpilo-Lwazi life skills program for grade 6 to 9 learners at 5 primary and 5 secondary schools in the Nelson Mandela Metropole. The schools were selected by non-probability convenience sampling and the learners via simple random sampling. The life skills program addressed issues of HIV/AIDS, STI and rape and child abuse and the requested evaluation encompassed both the quantitative pretest-posttest assessment of knowledge plus a qualitative focus group assessment of perception of the content and presentation of the life skills program. A multiple pretest-post-test quasi-experimental research design was used. This study focused on the quantitative aspect of rape and child abuse and aimed to describe learners’ base line knowledge before receiving education in rape and child abuse life skills programs and acquired knowledge after the program had been implemented. Descriptive statistics were employed to describe the pre and post test information and the Hotelling’s T2 was used to identify variation in profiles. Posthoc t-tests established significant differences between grades. Structured questionnaires were used to achieve the aims of the research. Results of both the quantitative and qualitative findings were collated to be presented to the Ubuntu Education Fund. The results of the study were as follows: ix The results indicated that the overall level of knowledge regarding Rape and Child Abuse among the sample of grade six to nine learners was average. A small increase in knowledge was identified in the post-test. The area most successful for knowledge increase was the section relating to general information on the victims of Rape and Child Abuse. An area where knowledge actually decreased was that on reporting the rape or abuse. Knowledge of rape and child abuse alone is not sufficient to bring about change in behaviour. Changes in beliefs, such as increased awareness that rape and child abuse are prevalent in families and communities, and attitude change are necessary to facilitate the adoption of health-promoting behaviour. Future education efforts need to introduce health educators into the Rape and Child Abuse life skills program at schools in educating the learners. The format of teaching should also take into account the preferred method of presentation indicated by the learners as this would facilitate optimal intake of information.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
Making meaning, making a home: students watching Generations
- Authors: O'Shea, Catherine Mary
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Generations (Television program) , Students, Black -- South Africa -- Attitudes , Television soap operas -- South Africa , Cross-cultural studies -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3479 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002934 , Generations (Television program) , Students, Black -- South Africa -- Attitudes , Television soap operas -- South Africa , Cross-cultural studies -- South Africa
- Description: This thesis is a reception analysis using qualitative interviews to investigate black students' watching of a South African soap opera, Generations, taking into account the context of a largely white South African university campus. The findings of this study are that students find pleasure in talking about Generations and hold seemingly contradictory views on whether it is 'realistic' or not. The analysis concludes that watching Generations does serve to affirm these students' black identity, since there is a particular need to do so on a campus where black students witness and experience racial discrimination.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: O'Shea, Catherine Mary
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Generations (Television program) , Students, Black -- South Africa -- Attitudes , Television soap operas -- South Africa , Cross-cultural studies -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3479 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002934 , Generations (Television program) , Students, Black -- South Africa -- Attitudes , Television soap operas -- South Africa , Cross-cultural studies -- South Africa
- Description: This thesis is a reception analysis using qualitative interviews to investigate black students' watching of a South African soap opera, Generations, taking into account the context of a largely white South African university campus. The findings of this study are that students find pleasure in talking about Generations and hold seemingly contradictory views on whether it is 'realistic' or not. The analysis concludes that watching Generations does serve to affirm these students' black identity, since there is a particular need to do so on a campus where black students witness and experience racial discrimination.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
Marine biotechnology : evaluation and development of methods for the discovery of natural products from fungi
- Authors: Pather, Simisha
- Date: 2005 , 2013-06-18
- Subjects: Marine biotechnology , Marine fungi -- South Africa , Natural products -- South Africa , Marine plants -- South Africa , Marine metabolites -- South Africa , Cancer -- Treatment , DNA
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:3839 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007652 , Marine biotechnology , Marine fungi -- South Africa , Natural products -- South Africa , Marine plants -- South Africa , Marine metabolites -- South Africa , Cancer -- Treatment , DNA
- Description: One of the major impediments in the development of marine natural products is the provision of biologically active natural products in sufficient quantity for complete pharmacological evaluation, clinical trials and eventual commercial production. Marine microorganisms show great promise in providing a renewable source of biologically active natural products. The main aim of this study was to develop and evaluate methods for the isolation, identification and cultivation of marine fungi from the South African marine environment for the production of biologically active secondary metabolites. Twenty-four species of fungi were isolated from marine algae collected from the intertidal zone near Port Alfred, South Africa. The fungi were cultivated in small-scale under static and agitated conditions and their crude intra- and extracellular organic extracts were screened by ¹H NMR and a series of bioassays. Using this as a basis, one isolate was selected for further study. By analyses of the lTS1 region of the ribosomal DNA, the fungal isolate was identified as a marine-derived isolate of Eurotium rubrum (Aspergillus ruber). Although E. rubrum has been isolated from the marine environment, no investigations have been undertaken to determine the adaptation of these isolates to the marine environment. In order to optimise productivity, creativity and incubation time, the fungus was cultivated in small-scale using a variety of carbon (glucose, fructose, lactose, sucrose, marmitol and maltose) and nitrogen sources (ammonium tartrate, urea, peptone and yeast extract). An HPLC-DAD method was developed to assess the metabolic creativity and productivity under different fermentation conditions. Distinctive variations in the range and yield of metabolites produced as well as morphology and growth time were observed. The crude extracts from all fermentations were combined and six known compounds were isolated by reversed-phase chromatography and their structures elucidated by spectroscopic techniques. The known compounds were fIavoglaucin, aspergin, isodihydroauroglaucin, isotetrahydroauroglaucin, neoechinuline A and physcion. Neoechinuline A, isodihydroauroglaucin and isotetrahydroauroglaucin showed activity against oesophageal and cervical cancer cell lines.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Pather, Simisha
- Date: 2005 , 2013-06-18
- Subjects: Marine biotechnology , Marine fungi -- South Africa , Natural products -- South Africa , Marine plants -- South Africa , Marine metabolites -- South Africa , Cancer -- Treatment , DNA
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:3839 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007652 , Marine biotechnology , Marine fungi -- South Africa , Natural products -- South Africa , Marine plants -- South Africa , Marine metabolites -- South Africa , Cancer -- Treatment , DNA
- Description: One of the major impediments in the development of marine natural products is the provision of biologically active natural products in sufficient quantity for complete pharmacological evaluation, clinical trials and eventual commercial production. Marine microorganisms show great promise in providing a renewable source of biologically active natural products. The main aim of this study was to develop and evaluate methods for the isolation, identification and cultivation of marine fungi from the South African marine environment for the production of biologically active secondary metabolites. Twenty-four species of fungi were isolated from marine algae collected from the intertidal zone near Port Alfred, South Africa. The fungi were cultivated in small-scale under static and agitated conditions and their crude intra- and extracellular organic extracts were screened by ¹H NMR and a series of bioassays. Using this as a basis, one isolate was selected for further study. By analyses of the lTS1 region of the ribosomal DNA, the fungal isolate was identified as a marine-derived isolate of Eurotium rubrum (Aspergillus ruber). Although E. rubrum has been isolated from the marine environment, no investigations have been undertaken to determine the adaptation of these isolates to the marine environment. In order to optimise productivity, creativity and incubation time, the fungus was cultivated in small-scale using a variety of carbon (glucose, fructose, lactose, sucrose, marmitol and maltose) and nitrogen sources (ammonium tartrate, urea, peptone and yeast extract). An HPLC-DAD method was developed to assess the metabolic creativity and productivity under different fermentation conditions. Distinctive variations in the range and yield of metabolites produced as well as morphology and growth time were observed. The crude extracts from all fermentations were combined and six known compounds were isolated by reversed-phase chromatography and their structures elucidated by spectroscopic techniques. The known compounds were fIavoglaucin, aspergin, isodihydroauroglaucin, isotetrahydroauroglaucin, neoechinuline A and physcion. Neoechinuline A, isodihydroauroglaucin and isotetrahydroauroglaucin showed activity against oesophageal and cervical cancer cell lines.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
Military strategy and it's [i.e.] its use in competitive strategy with reference to the Nelson Mandela Metropole automotive industry
- Authors: Fouché, Craig
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Strategic planning -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Metropole , Automobile industry and trade -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Metropole , Competition
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8542 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/177 , Strategic planning -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Metropole , Automobile industry and trade -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Metropole , Competition
- Description: Presently in the South African automotive industry competition is becoming more fierce. It is becoming more important for companies to concentrate on thier competitive strategies to ensure that they remain competitive in this industry. Military strategy techniques have always been successful in defeating an anemy opponent. An enemy in a military sense could be considered as a competitor in a business sense. There is currently a potential for an improvement of the competitive strategies that South African organisations, in particular the South African automotive industry uses to remain competitive. Military strategists such as Sun Tzu and Carl von Clausewitz have provided valuable strategy theories and philosophies to many military institutions. Military strategies such as Attrition and Maneuver have long been used by these institutions in battle to defeat the enemy. Military strategies could provide the edge that companies ranging from manufacturers, suppliers of components and dealerships need, to remain competitive in the automotive industry.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Fouché, Craig
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Strategic planning -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Metropole , Automobile industry and trade -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Metropole , Competition
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8542 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/177 , Strategic planning -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Metropole , Automobile industry and trade -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Metropole , Competition
- Description: Presently in the South African automotive industry competition is becoming more fierce. It is becoming more important for companies to concentrate on thier competitive strategies to ensure that they remain competitive in this industry. Military strategy techniques have always been successful in defeating an anemy opponent. An enemy in a military sense could be considered as a competitor in a business sense. There is currently a potential for an improvement of the competitive strategies that South African organisations, in particular the South African automotive industry uses to remain competitive. Military strategists such as Sun Tzu and Carl von Clausewitz have provided valuable strategy theories and philosophies to many military institutions. Military strategies such as Attrition and Maneuver have long been used by these institutions in battle to defeat the enemy. Military strategies could provide the edge that companies ranging from manufacturers, suppliers of components and dealerships need, to remain competitive in the automotive industry.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2005
Motopomo: the historical-theoretical background to contemporary graphic design practices
- Authors: Economou, Inge
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Graphic arts , Graphic arts -- 20th century , Modernism (Art)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:10764 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/179 , Graphic arts , Graphic arts -- 20th century , Modernism (Art)
- Description: This study proposes to illustrate that the twentieth century passage from modernity to postmodernity, with its induction of socio-cultural development and attitudinal change, exists as a fundamental means of informing the character of contemporary graphic design practice1. Today, in contrast to the intentions of this study, many appraisals of graphic design work would seem to place too much emphasis on the analyses and evaluation of the stylistic character of creative practices and not enough on the theoretical, historical and attitudinal issues surrounding them. As such, this study attempts to reveal the meaning and moreover the relevance of philosophical, social, cultural and critical theory for contemporary, postmodern graphic design practices. This is done in order to provide graphic designers with a reflective awareness of the structure of the cultural context within which they work, and takes into account twentieth century cultural theory and twentieth century, western graphic design practice, within the framework of the passage from modernity to postmodernity.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Economou, Inge
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Graphic arts , Graphic arts -- 20th century , Modernism (Art)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:10764 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/179 , Graphic arts , Graphic arts -- 20th century , Modernism (Art)
- Description: This study proposes to illustrate that the twentieth century passage from modernity to postmodernity, with its induction of socio-cultural development and attitudinal change, exists as a fundamental means of informing the character of contemporary graphic design practice1. Today, in contrast to the intentions of this study, many appraisals of graphic design work would seem to place too much emphasis on the analyses and evaluation of the stylistic character of creative practices and not enough on the theoretical, historical and attitudinal issues surrounding them. As such, this study attempts to reveal the meaning and moreover the relevance of philosophical, social, cultural and critical theory for contemporary, postmodern graphic design practices. This is done in order to provide graphic designers with a reflective awareness of the structure of the cultural context within which they work, and takes into account twentieth century cultural theory and twentieth century, western graphic design practice, within the framework of the passage from modernity to postmodernity.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
Optimising the material distribution process for the southern region of Telkom SA
- Authors: Naicker, Kosalin Ganasen
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Business logistics -- South Africa , Telecommunication -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8547 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/407 , Business logistics -- South Africa , Telecommunication -- South Africa
- Description: Most government owned telecommunication operators across the world have to deal with a number of regulatory, technology and service challenges, as the industry is liberalised in co-ordinance with worldwide trends. Telkom SA will be facing a number of strategic challenges that will test its ability to survive as a telecommunications company over the next number of years. To remain competitive, Telkom must develop strategies to assure survival in a competitive environment. To assure the long-term survival of Telkom SA when moving into a competitive environment, the organisation must build a sustainable competitive advantage. In the face of increasingly fierce competition, the adoption of collaborative alliances between firms is becoming more and more common and the adoption of a world-class supply chain will be an ideal scenario for Telkom SA. A worldclass supply chain goes beyond the scope of the internal operations of an organisation, therefore the material distribution process was chosen for this study, which involved the internal operations in the organisation. The study included the availability of material up to the transportation of the material to the staging areas. The aim of this research was to identify the inefficiencies of the material distribution process of the Southern Region of Telkom SA to become worldclass. A quantitative technique was used to identify the inefficiencies. It was found that the availability and transportation of material were the inefficient categories, preventing the customer to receive the product or service on time. Communication, inaccurate forecasting and inefficient transportation of material were some of the reasons for not delivering material on time. Some of the recommendations included developing a model that could overcome the current inefficiencies in transportation, improving the communication channels, training and the development of employees at all levels.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Naicker, Kosalin Ganasen
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Business logistics -- South Africa , Telecommunication -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8547 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/407 , Business logistics -- South Africa , Telecommunication -- South Africa
- Description: Most government owned telecommunication operators across the world have to deal with a number of regulatory, technology and service challenges, as the industry is liberalised in co-ordinance with worldwide trends. Telkom SA will be facing a number of strategic challenges that will test its ability to survive as a telecommunications company over the next number of years. To remain competitive, Telkom must develop strategies to assure survival in a competitive environment. To assure the long-term survival of Telkom SA when moving into a competitive environment, the organisation must build a sustainable competitive advantage. In the face of increasingly fierce competition, the adoption of collaborative alliances between firms is becoming more and more common and the adoption of a world-class supply chain will be an ideal scenario for Telkom SA. A worldclass supply chain goes beyond the scope of the internal operations of an organisation, therefore the material distribution process was chosen for this study, which involved the internal operations in the organisation. The study included the availability of material up to the transportation of the material to the staging areas. The aim of this research was to identify the inefficiencies of the material distribution process of the Southern Region of Telkom SA to become worldclass. A quantitative technique was used to identify the inefficiencies. It was found that the availability and transportation of material were the inefficient categories, preventing the customer to receive the product or service on time. Communication, inaccurate forecasting and inefficient transportation of material were some of the reasons for not delivering material on time. Some of the recommendations included developing a model that could overcome the current inefficiencies in transportation, improving the communication channels, training and the development of employees at all levels.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
Perceptions relating to students performance in small business management at further education and training colleges
- Authors: Kiewiets, Winifred Margaret
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Small business -- Management -- Study and teaching -- South Africa , College teachers -- South Africa -- Attitudes , College students -- Rating of -- South Africa , College students -- South Africa -- Attitudes
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:9558 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/463 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1011916 , Small business -- Management -- Study and teaching -- South Africa , College teachers -- South Africa -- Attitudes , College students -- Rating of -- South Africa , College students -- South Africa -- Attitudes
- Description: The perceptions of both students and teachers are vital to improve performance and to ensure a positive teaching and learning climate at a college. This study examines the perceptions of staff at three recently merged campuses and students regarding student performance. The research focuses specifically on the performance of students registered for the Small Business Management N3 and NSC (National Senior Certificate) curriculum. A combination of quantitative and qualitative research methods was employed to investigate the desired result. Staff teaching the subject (Small Business Management) were given semi-structured interviews, while students who are currently studying the subject were given questionnaires to complete. Data was collected and analysed. This study reveals amongst other findings that management in FET institutions needs to take cognisance of the perceptions of staff and students regarding the improvement of student performance. Opinions, attitudes, insights and recommendations expressed concerning student performance can help institutions improve their culture of teaching and learning.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Kiewiets, Winifred Margaret
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Small business -- Management -- Study and teaching -- South Africa , College teachers -- South Africa -- Attitudes , College students -- Rating of -- South Africa , College students -- South Africa -- Attitudes
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:9558 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/463 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1011916 , Small business -- Management -- Study and teaching -- South Africa , College teachers -- South Africa -- Attitudes , College students -- Rating of -- South Africa , College students -- South Africa -- Attitudes
- Description: The perceptions of both students and teachers are vital to improve performance and to ensure a positive teaching and learning climate at a college. This study examines the perceptions of staff at three recently merged campuses and students regarding student performance. The research focuses specifically on the performance of students registered for the Small Business Management N3 and NSC (National Senior Certificate) curriculum. A combination of quantitative and qualitative research methods was employed to investigate the desired result. Staff teaching the subject (Small Business Management) were given semi-structured interviews, while students who are currently studying the subject were given questionnaires to complete. Data was collected and analysed. This study reveals amongst other findings that management in FET institutions needs to take cognisance of the perceptions of staff and students regarding the improvement of student performance. Opinions, attitudes, insights and recommendations expressed concerning student performance can help institutions improve their culture of teaching and learning.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005