An ethnographic exploration of black lesbians rape survivors’ access to support services in Cape Town South Africa
- Wilson, Kaythrine Esther Jacqueline
- Authors: Wilson, Kaythrine Esther Jacqueline
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/232646 , vital:50010
- Description: Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Humanities, Sociology, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
- Authors: Wilson, Kaythrine Esther Jacqueline
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/232646 , vital:50010
- Description: Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Humanities, Sociology, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
An evaluation of osteoarthritis rehabilitative practices within a South African multidisciplinary rehabilitation setting
- Authors: Gilchrist, Robynne Claire
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Osteoarthritis --Physical therapy --South Africa , Osteoarthritis –Patients--Treatment --South Africa , Medical rehabilitation
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/55278 , vital:51441
- Description: A multifaceted condition such as osteoarthritis is ideally suited in the realm of multidisciplinary management which focuses on holistic patient care. Literature has identified a bio-psycho-social approach to osteoarthritis management, however a lack of adherence to evidence-based guidelines is a concern previously found in the South African healthcare system. Aim: To evaluate and describe osteoarthritis rehabilitative practices among clinical and rehabilitative practitioners within a South African setting, thereby identifying current trends within a multidisciplinary rehabilitation landscape. Methods: A descriptive research methodology with a cross-sectional study design and a convenience sampling technique was used. The target population consisted of practitioners located within the South African public and private healthcare sectors. The professions included biokinetics, dietetics, general medicine, occupational therapy, personal training, pharmacy, physiotherapy, psychology and specialised medicine. A self-administered, online questionnaire surveyed practitioners’ management modalities, patient referral trends and views on multidisciplinary management. Descriptive data were presented as means (95 CIs) for categorical data and mean ± standard deviation for normally distributed data. Data were assessed for normality using the Shapiro-Wilk test. Significant results Conclusion: Practitioners recognised the value of a multidisciplinary approach, however the implementation of such an approach was fragmented. This disjointed management was facilitated by referral systems that do not fit with the theory of a bio-psycho-social approach. Poor communication among the different healthcare professions and practitioners may have exacerbated disjointed management. This study aimed to contribute to the mutual appreciation of the different professions in the multidisciplinary team and prevent trespassing on the roles of other professions by disseminating guidelines to facilitate the translation of evidence-based recommendations into clinical practice for the benefit of the osteoarthritis patient. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, Human Movement Science, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
- Authors: Gilchrist, Robynne Claire
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Osteoarthritis --Physical therapy --South Africa , Osteoarthritis –Patients--Treatment --South Africa , Medical rehabilitation
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/55278 , vital:51441
- Description: A multifaceted condition such as osteoarthritis is ideally suited in the realm of multidisciplinary management which focuses on holistic patient care. Literature has identified a bio-psycho-social approach to osteoarthritis management, however a lack of adherence to evidence-based guidelines is a concern previously found in the South African healthcare system. Aim: To evaluate and describe osteoarthritis rehabilitative practices among clinical and rehabilitative practitioners within a South African setting, thereby identifying current trends within a multidisciplinary rehabilitation landscape. Methods: A descriptive research methodology with a cross-sectional study design and a convenience sampling technique was used. The target population consisted of practitioners located within the South African public and private healthcare sectors. The professions included biokinetics, dietetics, general medicine, occupational therapy, personal training, pharmacy, physiotherapy, psychology and specialised medicine. A self-administered, online questionnaire surveyed practitioners’ management modalities, patient referral trends and views on multidisciplinary management. Descriptive data were presented as means (95 CIs) for categorical data and mean ± standard deviation for normally distributed data. Data were assessed for normality using the Shapiro-Wilk test. Significant results Conclusion: Practitioners recognised the value of a multidisciplinary approach, however the implementation of such an approach was fragmented. This disjointed management was facilitated by referral systems that do not fit with the theory of a bio-psycho-social approach. Poor communication among the different healthcare professions and practitioners may have exacerbated disjointed management. This study aimed to contribute to the mutual appreciation of the different professions in the multidisciplinary team and prevent trespassing on the roles of other professions by disseminating guidelines to facilitate the translation of evidence-based recommendations into clinical practice for the benefit of the osteoarthritis patient. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, Human Movement Science, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
An evolutionary algorithm approach to ecological optimal control problems
- Authors: Westcott-Rose, Amy
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Mathematical optimization -- South africa , Evolutionary programming (Computer science)
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/55544 , vital:52812
- Description: There are several challenges associated with applying conventional (hereafter classic) optimal control (OC) methods to ecological optimal control problems (OCPs). Conditions required by these methods, including differentiability and convexity, for example, are not always met, and ecological problems do not always adhere to solvable OCP formulations. Moreover, mathematically optimal solutions do not always translate to optimal ecological strategies in practice. Despite this, alternative OC approaches are relatively under-explored. Evolutionary algorithms (EAs) circumvent many of the complex aspects of classic OC methods and have been successfully applied to diverse OCPs. Nevertheless, EAs have sel dom been applied to ecological OCPs. The viability of an EA approach to ecological OCPs was therefore investigated in the current study, facilitated by four case studies of increasing complexity and a genetic algorithm (GA) as a representative EA approach. To ascertain the accuracy of a GA approach, comparisons between a GA and classic OC methods were conducted in the first three case studies. The GA generated near-optima in these comparisons, comparable to the corresponding classical solutions, whilst avoiding non-trivial mathematical theory. Supported by these results, an unconventional OCP, that arguably cannot be solved using classic OC methods, was formulated in the fourth case study, and solved using a GA approach. The resulting solution was feasible and further conformed with strategies found to be successful in practice. Additionally, the GA approach was rela tively simple to apply in all case studies. These collective outcomes of demonstrated the viability of a GA as an OC method in eco logical OCPs, thereby supporting the use of an EA approach as an alternative to classic OC methods in ecological OCPs. The feasibility of an EA approach to atypical OCPs was further demonstrated, which may act to increase realism in OC applications. Further investigation in this regard is thus warranted by this study. , Thesis (MS) -- Faculty of Science, Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
- Authors: Westcott-Rose, Amy
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Mathematical optimization -- South africa , Evolutionary programming (Computer science)
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/55544 , vital:52812
- Description: There are several challenges associated with applying conventional (hereafter classic) optimal control (OC) methods to ecological optimal control problems (OCPs). Conditions required by these methods, including differentiability and convexity, for example, are not always met, and ecological problems do not always adhere to solvable OCP formulations. Moreover, mathematically optimal solutions do not always translate to optimal ecological strategies in practice. Despite this, alternative OC approaches are relatively under-explored. Evolutionary algorithms (EAs) circumvent many of the complex aspects of classic OC methods and have been successfully applied to diverse OCPs. Nevertheless, EAs have sel dom been applied to ecological OCPs. The viability of an EA approach to ecological OCPs was therefore investigated in the current study, facilitated by four case studies of increasing complexity and a genetic algorithm (GA) as a representative EA approach. To ascertain the accuracy of a GA approach, comparisons between a GA and classic OC methods were conducted in the first three case studies. The GA generated near-optima in these comparisons, comparable to the corresponding classical solutions, whilst avoiding non-trivial mathematical theory. Supported by these results, an unconventional OCP, that arguably cannot be solved using classic OC methods, was formulated in the fourth case study, and solved using a GA approach. The resulting solution was feasible and further conformed with strategies found to be successful in practice. Additionally, the GA approach was rela tively simple to apply in all case studies. These collective outcomes of demonstrated the viability of a GA as an OC method in eco logical OCPs, thereby supporting the use of an EA approach as an alternative to classic OC methods in ecological OCPs. The feasibility of an EA approach to atypical OCPs was further demonstrated, which may act to increase realism in OC applications. Further investigation in this regard is thus warranted by this study. , Thesis (MS) -- Faculty of Science, Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
An exploration of burnout among health Professions academics employed in Health sciences faculties at a south African university
- Authors: Burger, Jeanine
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Health care personnel -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58665 , vital:59979
- Description: The label of ‘stress factories’ is becoming a way to collectively refer to higher education institutions due to the changing academic landscape. Academics within health professions face key stressors related to excessive workloads, and insufficient resources resulting in burnout. Some of the most pertinent consequences of burnout include deterioration in physical and mental health, incline in absenteeism and a negative impact on the well-being and performance of students, patients, and organisations. There is a lack of research conducted on health professions academics in South Africa. The overall aim of this study was, therefore, to explore burnout among health professions academic staff who worked within the Community and Health Sciences (CHS) and Dentistry faculties (collectively referred to as Health sciences faculties) at a historically disadvantaged university. The study adopted an online survey design. Participants were selected using simple random sampling. Frequency tables were used to summarise and describe the participants, while correlation analysis was used to test associative relationships. ANOVA was used to test group differences and Scheffé tests were used for posthoc analysis. Ethics clearance was obtained from the Bio-Medical Research Ethics Committee of UWC. Permission to conduct the study was given by the Registrar of UWC. Informed consent was sought from participants for their voluntary participation. Their identities were kept anonymous and responses confidential. Overall findings from the current study indicated that this sample of Health Professional Academics (HPAs) experienced moderate to high levels of burnout, as measured by the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory. No demographic factors were found to correlate with the total score of burnout. Two variables were significantly related to exhaustion, namely the level of qualification and whether participants were studying at the time of completing the survey. Furthermore, nurses and participants currently studying towards a PhD reported significantly higher levels of burnout than the rest of the sample of HPAs. The impact of this study shows HPAs’ experience of moderate to high levels of burnout require interventions to decrease job demands and increase job resources. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
- Authors: Burger, Jeanine
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Health care personnel -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58665 , vital:59979
- Description: The label of ‘stress factories’ is becoming a way to collectively refer to higher education institutions due to the changing academic landscape. Academics within health professions face key stressors related to excessive workloads, and insufficient resources resulting in burnout. Some of the most pertinent consequences of burnout include deterioration in physical and mental health, incline in absenteeism and a negative impact on the well-being and performance of students, patients, and organisations. There is a lack of research conducted on health professions academics in South Africa. The overall aim of this study was, therefore, to explore burnout among health professions academic staff who worked within the Community and Health Sciences (CHS) and Dentistry faculties (collectively referred to as Health sciences faculties) at a historically disadvantaged university. The study adopted an online survey design. Participants were selected using simple random sampling. Frequency tables were used to summarise and describe the participants, while correlation analysis was used to test associative relationships. ANOVA was used to test group differences and Scheffé tests were used for posthoc analysis. Ethics clearance was obtained from the Bio-Medical Research Ethics Committee of UWC. Permission to conduct the study was given by the Registrar of UWC. Informed consent was sought from participants for their voluntary participation. Their identities were kept anonymous and responses confidential. Overall findings from the current study indicated that this sample of Health Professional Academics (HPAs) experienced moderate to high levels of burnout, as measured by the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory. No demographic factors were found to correlate with the total score of burnout. Two variables were significantly related to exhaustion, namely the level of qualification and whether participants were studying at the time of completing the survey. Furthermore, nurses and participants currently studying towards a PhD reported significantly higher levels of burnout than the rest of the sample of HPAs. The impact of this study shows HPAs’ experience of moderate to high levels of burnout require interventions to decrease job demands and increase job resources. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
An ICT framework to support a patient-centric approach in public healthcare : A case study of Malawi
- Authors: Pankomera, Richard
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Technological innovations -- Malawi
- Language: English
- Type: Doctor's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58462 , vital:59285
- Description: The proliferation of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) worldwide has enhanced the amelioration of the quality of healthcare services. There is evidence that the adoption of electronic health (e-health) and mobile health (m-health) technologies has transformed the healthcare domain by improving the efficiency of healthcare service delivery. Digitising health ecosystems has culminated in increased access to healthcare services, even for remote rural areas. The application of ICTs in the healthcare sector has reduced the overall costs of healthcare services. However, developing countries, such as Malawi, face a plethora of challenges in implementing ICT initiatives in the public health sector. Although Malawi deploys several e-health systems, most are fragmented and, therefore, not interoperable. In addition, many m-health interventions are still in the pilot phase, and the Government does not manage them centrally. These challenges are further exacerbated by a lack of appropriate policy and regulatory framework, insufficient human capacity and development, inadequate financial resources, and poor ICT governance in the public healthcare sector. Furthermore, the current provider-centred approach to healthcare service delivery does not fully meet the needs of health consumers. It is, therefore, not surprising that the dearth of an ICT framework for patient-centric healthcare services has made coordination and management of ICT interventions less sustainable, less health consumer-centric and less cost-effective. Unlike the provider-centred approach, patient-centric healthcare empowers health consumers with health information to control their own health and well-being. A patient-centric healthcare approach provides treatment and care to health consumers based on their preferences, values, and beliefs. It is, therefore, cost-effective as it takes a preventive approach rather than a curative one. An ICT framework is proposed to support patient-centric healthcare services in the public healthcare sector in Malawi. A comprehensive literature review and analysis was succinctly conducted to gain an understanding of the Malawi health landscape and patient healthcare approaches. Semi-structured interviews were also undertaken to solicit information from various key v stakeholders such as policymakers, software developers, health consumers, and healthcare providers. Design science research paradigm coupled with pragmatism was then followed to develop the ICT framework, which will ultimately support patient-centric healthcare services in the public sector in Malawi. This methodology assists in solving social problems in a specific context by providing technology-based solutions in the form of an artefact. Experts in various disciplines domiciled in Malawi validated the ICT framework, as an artefact, for its relevance and applicability. The results showed that the framework is appropriate and relevant in the public healthcare sector in Malawi. This study contributes to design science research methodology as it addressed the improvement quadrant described by Gregor and Hevner. It also contributes to the existing body of knowledge by providing a design science artefact in the form of an ICT framework. It is envisaged that the proposed ICT framework will assist the Ministry of Health and other key stakeholders in providing quality patient-centric healthcare services in the public healthcare in Malawi. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment, and Technology, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
An ICT framework to support a patient-centric approach in public healthcare : A case study of Malawi
- Authors: Pankomera, Richard
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Technological innovations -- Malawi
- Language: English
- Type: Doctor's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58462 , vital:59285
- Description: The proliferation of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) worldwide has enhanced the amelioration of the quality of healthcare services. There is evidence that the adoption of electronic health (e-health) and mobile health (m-health) technologies has transformed the healthcare domain by improving the efficiency of healthcare service delivery. Digitising health ecosystems has culminated in increased access to healthcare services, even for remote rural areas. The application of ICTs in the healthcare sector has reduced the overall costs of healthcare services. However, developing countries, such as Malawi, face a plethora of challenges in implementing ICT initiatives in the public health sector. Although Malawi deploys several e-health systems, most are fragmented and, therefore, not interoperable. In addition, many m-health interventions are still in the pilot phase, and the Government does not manage them centrally. These challenges are further exacerbated by a lack of appropriate policy and regulatory framework, insufficient human capacity and development, inadequate financial resources, and poor ICT governance in the public healthcare sector. Furthermore, the current provider-centred approach to healthcare service delivery does not fully meet the needs of health consumers. It is, therefore, not surprising that the dearth of an ICT framework for patient-centric healthcare services has made coordination and management of ICT interventions less sustainable, less health consumer-centric and less cost-effective. Unlike the provider-centred approach, patient-centric healthcare empowers health consumers with health information to control their own health and well-being. A patient-centric healthcare approach provides treatment and care to health consumers based on their preferences, values, and beliefs. It is, therefore, cost-effective as it takes a preventive approach rather than a curative one. An ICT framework is proposed to support patient-centric healthcare services in the public healthcare sector in Malawi. A comprehensive literature review and analysis was succinctly conducted to gain an understanding of the Malawi health landscape and patient healthcare approaches. Semi-structured interviews were also undertaken to solicit information from various key v stakeholders such as policymakers, software developers, health consumers, and healthcare providers. Design science research paradigm coupled with pragmatism was then followed to develop the ICT framework, which will ultimately support patient-centric healthcare services in the public sector in Malawi. This methodology assists in solving social problems in a specific context by providing technology-based solutions in the form of an artefact. Experts in various disciplines domiciled in Malawi validated the ICT framework, as an artefact, for its relevance and applicability. The results showed that the framework is appropriate and relevant in the public healthcare sector in Malawi. This study contributes to design science research methodology as it addressed the improvement quadrant described by Gregor and Hevner. It also contributes to the existing body of knowledge by providing a design science artefact in the form of an ICT framework. It is envisaged that the proposed ICT framework will assist the Ministry of Health and other key stakeholders in providing quality patient-centric healthcare services in the public healthcare in Malawi. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment, and Technology, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
An information privacy compliance model based on configurable software objects
- Authors: Kandeh, Agbor Takang
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Software protection , Software configuration management
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58374 , vital:59052
- Description: South Africa’s Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), Act 4 of 2013 requires that organisations enforce information privacy rules in technology systems handling personally identifiable information (PII). This is in line with other national and regional information privacy legislations across the world. However, the absence of a coherent way to implement this legislation, in the form of software objects in technology systems, has created a gap in organisations around the world. To bridge this gap, this thesis proposes a compliance model based on a conceptual framework, a design framework, and a software-based prototype. The objective of this model is to test how best to enforce information privacy regulations in technology systems handling personally identifiable information. The proposed conceptual framework views information privacy compliance as a context-driven reality enforced by configurable software objects. To refine the conceptual framework, a design framework and a software-based prototype was developed using the design science research methodology as the theoretical construct and the UML ontology language and object-oriented programming paradigms as the underpinning practical construct. This prototype will assist organisational stakeholders in understanding and visualising the theoretical and practical constructs of handling personally identifiable information as software objects in technology systems. The design and implementation of this prototype resulted in some practical and theoretical recommendations. These include the adoption of a decision model notation (DMN) as a formal standard to manage privacy rules and the creation of a context-aware privacy compliance zone (CAP). However, the main contribution of this thesis is a reusable conceptual and contextual design framework and a prototype through which POPIA rules, or those of any similar information privacy law, such as the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), can be encapsulated into software objects used in technology systems to ease compliance with information privacy regulations. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment, and Technology, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
- Authors: Kandeh, Agbor Takang
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Software protection , Software configuration management
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58374 , vital:59052
- Description: South Africa’s Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), Act 4 of 2013 requires that organisations enforce information privacy rules in technology systems handling personally identifiable information (PII). This is in line with other national and regional information privacy legislations across the world. However, the absence of a coherent way to implement this legislation, in the form of software objects in technology systems, has created a gap in organisations around the world. To bridge this gap, this thesis proposes a compliance model based on a conceptual framework, a design framework, and a software-based prototype. The objective of this model is to test how best to enforce information privacy regulations in technology systems handling personally identifiable information. The proposed conceptual framework views information privacy compliance as a context-driven reality enforced by configurable software objects. To refine the conceptual framework, a design framework and a software-based prototype was developed using the design science research methodology as the theoretical construct and the UML ontology language and object-oriented programming paradigms as the underpinning practical construct. This prototype will assist organisational stakeholders in understanding and visualising the theoretical and practical constructs of handling personally identifiable information as software objects in technology systems. The design and implementation of this prototype resulted in some practical and theoretical recommendations. These include the adoption of a decision model notation (DMN) as a formal standard to manage privacy rules and the creation of a context-aware privacy compliance zone (CAP). However, the main contribution of this thesis is a reusable conceptual and contextual design framework and a prototype through which POPIA rules, or those of any similar information privacy law, such as the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), can be encapsulated into software objects used in technology systems to ease compliance with information privacy regulations. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment, and Technology, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
An investigating of the causes of conflict in the department of employment and labour in Port Elizabeth
- Authors: Dlwati, Siphesihle
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Port Elizabeth (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/55346 , vital:51914
- Description: The public sector in South Africa accounts for a huge amount of the public service jobs and it has been learnt that there is also a considerable amount of dysfunctional conflict that affects the public sector. The main aim of this study is to investigate the causes of conflict in the public sector, with specific reference to the department of Employment and Labour, in Port Elizabeth. The research objectives were as follows; firstly, to investigate the causes of conflict or potential conflict at the department of Employment and Labour in Port Elizabeth. Secondly, the research sought to ascertain government employees’ approach to conflict and how it affects their performance (management and subordinates) with specific reference to the department of Employment and Labour, in Port Elizabeth. Thirdly, the research also sought to come up with the recommendations with the view to address conflict or what might be causing conflict at the department of Employment and Labour in Port Elizabeth. Workplace conflict was used in this study as a conceptual framework to understand conflict in the department of Employment and Labour, in Port Elizabeth. The research has followed a qualitative approach to gather data. Using a purposive selection sampling technique, 12 semi-structured interviews were conducted with employees of the department of Employment and Labour, in Port Elizabeth. Ethical considerations were adhered to throughout the course of the study. The findings of this study have revealed that lack of consultation or lack of an inclusive or participative approach in dealing with matters is regarded as the main cause of conflict within the studied organisation. The organisations lack conflict management skills. This study can be of benefit to the organisation, in that its recommendations can assist the organisation place more attention on improving its conflict management skills, which may help reduce the negative impacts of unmanaged conflicts. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Governmental and Social Sciences, 2022
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2022-04
- Authors: Dlwati, Siphesihle
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Port Elizabeth (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/55346 , vital:51914
- Description: The public sector in South Africa accounts for a huge amount of the public service jobs and it has been learnt that there is also a considerable amount of dysfunctional conflict that affects the public sector. The main aim of this study is to investigate the causes of conflict in the public sector, with specific reference to the department of Employment and Labour, in Port Elizabeth. The research objectives were as follows; firstly, to investigate the causes of conflict or potential conflict at the department of Employment and Labour in Port Elizabeth. Secondly, the research sought to ascertain government employees’ approach to conflict and how it affects their performance (management and subordinates) with specific reference to the department of Employment and Labour, in Port Elizabeth. Thirdly, the research also sought to come up with the recommendations with the view to address conflict or what might be causing conflict at the department of Employment and Labour in Port Elizabeth. Workplace conflict was used in this study as a conceptual framework to understand conflict in the department of Employment and Labour, in Port Elizabeth. The research has followed a qualitative approach to gather data. Using a purposive selection sampling technique, 12 semi-structured interviews were conducted with employees of the department of Employment and Labour, in Port Elizabeth. Ethical considerations were adhered to throughout the course of the study. The findings of this study have revealed that lack of consultation or lack of an inclusive or participative approach in dealing with matters is regarded as the main cause of conflict within the studied organisation. The organisations lack conflict management skills. This study can be of benefit to the organisation, in that its recommendations can assist the organisation place more attention on improving its conflict management skills, which may help reduce the negative impacts of unmanaged conflicts. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Governmental and Social Sciences, 2022
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2022-04
An investigation of Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) to enhance community development in Mount Ayliff village
- Authors: Pindo, Abongile
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Expanded Public Works Programme , Public works -- South Africa , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58146 , vital:58613
- Description: Lack of community development which includes poverty, unemployment and inequality is still prevalent in South Africa, even after the country has gained its independency in April 1994. South Africa has the highest unemployment and poverty rate, especially in rural areas like Mount Ayliff. This high unemployment, inequality and poverty within the country is an indication that the government is not doing enough in terms of dealing with these triple challenges. The South African government has introduced numerous development and economic policies, programmes and strategies to address unemployment, poverty and enhance community development. These initiatives include Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP), Growth, Employment and Redistribution (GEAR), National Growth Plan (NGP), National Development Plan (NDP) and the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP). The EPWP’s vision is to enhance community development in South African communities through temporary employment and skills development for unemployed youth. EPWP has been unemployment relief in many communities and has employed over five million people since its introduction. This study aims to investigate the role played by the EPWP to enhance community development and employment creation in Mount Ayliff Village. The study followed a qualitative descriptive approach, where secondary sources of data were reviewed to address the research objectives and questions. The main research findings are that the EPWP has played a significant role in enhancing community development in Mount Ayliff Village through provision of employment opportunities, development projects, introducing and empowering youth with skills and training for future permanent employment. Based on the findings, the study recommends that there must be frequent monitoring and evaluation of the EPWP projects to ensure that its goal is achieved and guidelines for recruitment of participants are followed. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic science, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
- Authors: Pindo, Abongile
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Expanded Public Works Programme , Public works -- South Africa , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58146 , vital:58613
- Description: Lack of community development which includes poverty, unemployment and inequality is still prevalent in South Africa, even after the country has gained its independency in April 1994. South Africa has the highest unemployment and poverty rate, especially in rural areas like Mount Ayliff. This high unemployment, inequality and poverty within the country is an indication that the government is not doing enough in terms of dealing with these triple challenges. The South African government has introduced numerous development and economic policies, programmes and strategies to address unemployment, poverty and enhance community development. These initiatives include Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP), Growth, Employment and Redistribution (GEAR), National Growth Plan (NGP), National Development Plan (NDP) and the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP). The EPWP’s vision is to enhance community development in South African communities through temporary employment and skills development for unemployed youth. EPWP has been unemployment relief in many communities and has employed over five million people since its introduction. This study aims to investigate the role played by the EPWP to enhance community development and employment creation in Mount Ayliff Village. The study followed a qualitative descriptive approach, where secondary sources of data were reviewed to address the research objectives and questions. The main research findings are that the EPWP has played a significant role in enhancing community development in Mount Ayliff Village through provision of employment opportunities, development projects, introducing and empowering youth with skills and training for future permanent employment. Based on the findings, the study recommends that there must be frequent monitoring and evaluation of the EPWP projects to ensure that its goal is achieved and guidelines for recruitment of participants are followed. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic science, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
Antecedents to employee engagement in a Selected quick-service chain in South Africa:
- Authors: Venter, Erasmus Johannes
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Fast food restaurants , Restaurants--Employees
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58246 , vital:58781
- Description: The Quick-Service Restaurant (QSR) industry in South Africa is highly competitive with various local and international brands competing for market share. The importance of a differentiated customer experience is crucial to gain market share in such a competitive marketplace. The most important element of an excellent restaurant experience remains friendly and hospitable staff according to a customer experience survey conducted. It was established that customers’ attitude towards the brand is dependent on the level of engagement and commitment of the restaurant’s employees (Deloitte, 2017a, p.7). In the fight for market share most corporate budgets are focused on digital and customer investments, as is currently the trend globally. Unfortunately this results in inadequate investment in programmes that is focussed on employee engagement and commitment. Employee engagement is still considered a Human Resources (HR) issue by many corporates who fail to realise that employee engagement is a strategic imperative for workplace satisfaction and optimal profit realisation. The study has provided insights into the antecedents to employee engagement specific to the Quick-Service Restaurant (QSR) industry and highlighted the important role of leadership in inspiring employee engagement. The study answered the research questions by conducting a literature review and data analysis by means of descriptive and inferential statistics. It was confirmed that leadership empowering behaviours, organisational and team factors, being customer focussed and organisational interventions and activities have a significant influence on employee engagement. The study further provides a better understanding of the required leadership empowering behaviours that inspires employee engagement. This knowledge can be used to further develop leaders and managers in understanding their roles in creating an environment conducive to higher levels of employee engagement. The findings of the study provided a solution to a management problem and made a contribution to the field of understanding the antecedents to employee engagement in the Quick-Service Restaurant (QSR) industry. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic science, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
- Authors: Venter, Erasmus Johannes
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Fast food restaurants , Restaurants--Employees
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58246 , vital:58781
- Description: The Quick-Service Restaurant (QSR) industry in South Africa is highly competitive with various local and international brands competing for market share. The importance of a differentiated customer experience is crucial to gain market share in such a competitive marketplace. The most important element of an excellent restaurant experience remains friendly and hospitable staff according to a customer experience survey conducted. It was established that customers’ attitude towards the brand is dependent on the level of engagement and commitment of the restaurant’s employees (Deloitte, 2017a, p.7). In the fight for market share most corporate budgets are focused on digital and customer investments, as is currently the trend globally. Unfortunately this results in inadequate investment in programmes that is focussed on employee engagement and commitment. Employee engagement is still considered a Human Resources (HR) issue by many corporates who fail to realise that employee engagement is a strategic imperative for workplace satisfaction and optimal profit realisation. The study has provided insights into the antecedents to employee engagement specific to the Quick-Service Restaurant (QSR) industry and highlighted the important role of leadership in inspiring employee engagement. The study answered the research questions by conducting a literature review and data analysis by means of descriptive and inferential statistics. It was confirmed that leadership empowering behaviours, organisational and team factors, being customer focussed and organisational interventions and activities have a significant influence on employee engagement. The study further provides a better understanding of the required leadership empowering behaviours that inspires employee engagement. This knowledge can be used to further develop leaders and managers in understanding their roles in creating an environment conducive to higher levels of employee engagement. The findings of the study provided a solution to a management problem and made a contribution to the field of understanding the antecedents to employee engagement in the Quick-Service Restaurant (QSR) industry. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic science, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
Appropriation or appreciation: assessing cultural adoption in terms of diverse conceptions of otherness
- Authors: Manona, Lungelo Samkelo
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: cultural appropriation , Fashion--Moral and ethical aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/55657 , vital:53404
- Description: Reciprocal, cross-cultural adoption of “symbols, artefacts, rituals, genres, and/or technologies” (Rogers 2006: 477) is an everyday phenomenon in today’s highly mediated popular culture. Increasingly, however, instances of cultural adoption are coming under the spotlight of media scrutiny, and are generating public outcry, as alleged forms of exploitative ‘cultural appropriation’. In an overly easy counter-argument it may be insisted rather that cultural adoption is a form of affirmative ‘cultural appreciation’. The question arises of how cultural theorists, as well as media practitioners and media consumers may usefully assess contentions instances of cultural adoption. How does a person decide whether an instance of cultural adoption is unacceptable ‘cultural appropriation’ or acceptable ‘cultural appreciation’? It is especially important to answer this question with regard to postcolonial societies (such as South Africa), where ingrained power imbalances make it easy for instances of cultural adoption to silence, exploit, misrepresent, or offend and in this way “exacerbate inequality and marginalization” (Matthes 2018: 1003). By contrast, affirmation of cultural identity and cultural heritage through respectful cultural adoption can play a significant role in fostering social cohesion. This study aims, firstly, to address the theoretical problem of how to assess contentious instances of cultural adoption, by contributing to the development of a systematic, but non-binary, theoretical framework, that will help cultural theorists and others to justify critical assessments regarding cultural adoption and make recommendations about whether or not they should be condoned. Secondly, it aims to test the application of this theoretical framework through the critical analysis of a selected instance of cultural adoption. The study is situated in the field of cultural studies, which falls within the broader domain of media studies. The research is cross-disciplinary in nature. A preliminary literature review supports the research hypothesis that a systematic theoretical framework for justifying critical assessments regarding cultural adoption can be developed from the complex concept of ‘Otherness’. Text-based, theoretical research will be conducted to elaborate on this proposed framework. Further, media products will be critically analysed in terms of this framework, to test and potentially modify it. No interviews will be conducted, and no ethics clearance is needed for this research. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Media and Communication, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
- Authors: Manona, Lungelo Samkelo
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: cultural appropriation , Fashion--Moral and ethical aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/55657 , vital:53404
- Description: Reciprocal, cross-cultural adoption of “symbols, artefacts, rituals, genres, and/or technologies” (Rogers 2006: 477) is an everyday phenomenon in today’s highly mediated popular culture. Increasingly, however, instances of cultural adoption are coming under the spotlight of media scrutiny, and are generating public outcry, as alleged forms of exploitative ‘cultural appropriation’. In an overly easy counter-argument it may be insisted rather that cultural adoption is a form of affirmative ‘cultural appreciation’. The question arises of how cultural theorists, as well as media practitioners and media consumers may usefully assess contentions instances of cultural adoption. How does a person decide whether an instance of cultural adoption is unacceptable ‘cultural appropriation’ or acceptable ‘cultural appreciation’? It is especially important to answer this question with regard to postcolonial societies (such as South Africa), where ingrained power imbalances make it easy for instances of cultural adoption to silence, exploit, misrepresent, or offend and in this way “exacerbate inequality and marginalization” (Matthes 2018: 1003). By contrast, affirmation of cultural identity and cultural heritage through respectful cultural adoption can play a significant role in fostering social cohesion. This study aims, firstly, to address the theoretical problem of how to assess contentious instances of cultural adoption, by contributing to the development of a systematic, but non-binary, theoretical framework, that will help cultural theorists and others to justify critical assessments regarding cultural adoption and make recommendations about whether or not they should be condoned. Secondly, it aims to test the application of this theoretical framework through the critical analysis of a selected instance of cultural adoption. The study is situated in the field of cultural studies, which falls within the broader domain of media studies. The research is cross-disciplinary in nature. A preliminary literature review supports the research hypothesis that a systematic theoretical framework for justifying critical assessments regarding cultural adoption can be developed from the complex concept of ‘Otherness’. Text-based, theoretical research will be conducted to elaborate on this proposed framework. Further, media products will be critically analysed in terms of this framework, to test and potentially modify it. No interviews will be conducted, and no ethics clearance is needed for this research. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Media and Communication, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
Assessing the economic impact and legal standing of expropriation of land without compensation policy and the effects on farm investment of selected farmers in South Africa
- Authors: Buthelezi, Sithabiso
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Land tenure , Economic impact analysis
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/57557 , vital:58073
- Description: South Africa’s agricultural sector is still labour- intensive and with South Africa’s high unemployment levels, this sector becomes crucial for employment creation. Moreover, the sector assists in eradicating poverty and ensuring food security. The African National Congress (ANC) has introduced the Draft Constitution Eighteenth Amendment Bill, 2019 in the National Assembly. The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure issued a notice indicating the government’s intention to introduce the Expropriation Bill, 2020 in the National Assembly for debate. After these Bills were issued, there has been a debate in the public, including legal and economic scholars about the potential impact that these policy proposals will have on investment, specifically the agricultural industry. This treatise investigates the potential impact of expropriation of land without compensation on farm investment and assess the legality of the policy. The supporting theoretical literature in this treatise is the property rights theory, efficiency theories and transactional costs theory. The study used various cases and interpretations of legislation across different jurisdictions, to assess the legality of this policy. To test the impact of expropriation of land on farm investment, the study uses a survey collected from 22 farmers, registered with the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) who responded to the request to participate. Once collected, the data were coded and analysed through the Stata statistical package. The results from descriptive statistics show that several independent variables that were included in the model had an influence on investment decisions. The study also found that the influence of title deeds differs between rural and semiurban dwellers. Semi-urban dwellers are likely to regard their property as insecure without title deeds, whereas rural dwellers indicated strong security of tenure despite staying on leased land. The study also found that the influence of collateral credit differs between small and commercial farmers. Some small farmers, who had collateral assets, did not use it when seeking credit or were denied even after using it. That is due to other factors such as cash flow and affordability. These factors, combined with the low value of collateral assets for small farmers prevent them from accessing additional credit. The results from the regression analysis revealed that certain independent variables have an influence on the dependent variable (farm investment). The regression vi | P a g e analysis results also prove that there is a significant positive correlation between the security of tenure and farm investment. However, the results from the respondents show that the proposed policy (expropriation of land without compensation) has not decreased their security of tenure as yet. The majority of respondents reported knowing about the policy, but still indicated that they intend to increase their farm investment in the coming three years. Therefore, there is no evidence that the proposed legislation had a negative impact on planned investment from a data analysis perspective. However, planned investments are decreased because of the current policy uncertainty. Those participants who indicated that they will decrease their investment, did so because they were not sure if their property will be targeted or not. This policy uncertainty is the source of disinvestment. Government should finalise this policy. It must be clear, indicate the circumstances under which someone’s property will be targeted. This is likely to put everyone at ease and be certain if their property will be expropriated or not. Government should be cautious of putting a policy that is not definite enough and leaves the final decisions to the court to determine the amount to be paid as compensation, as is currently the case. This court-determined compensation increases transactions costs and also creates uncertainty because one does not know how much are they entitled to until the final court determination. This contributes to policy uncertainty and procrastination on investment. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
- Authors: Buthelezi, Sithabiso
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Land tenure , Economic impact analysis
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/57557 , vital:58073
- Description: South Africa’s agricultural sector is still labour- intensive and with South Africa’s high unemployment levels, this sector becomes crucial for employment creation. Moreover, the sector assists in eradicating poverty and ensuring food security. The African National Congress (ANC) has introduced the Draft Constitution Eighteenth Amendment Bill, 2019 in the National Assembly. The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure issued a notice indicating the government’s intention to introduce the Expropriation Bill, 2020 in the National Assembly for debate. After these Bills were issued, there has been a debate in the public, including legal and economic scholars about the potential impact that these policy proposals will have on investment, specifically the agricultural industry. This treatise investigates the potential impact of expropriation of land without compensation on farm investment and assess the legality of the policy. The supporting theoretical literature in this treatise is the property rights theory, efficiency theories and transactional costs theory. The study used various cases and interpretations of legislation across different jurisdictions, to assess the legality of this policy. To test the impact of expropriation of land on farm investment, the study uses a survey collected from 22 farmers, registered with the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) who responded to the request to participate. Once collected, the data were coded and analysed through the Stata statistical package. The results from descriptive statistics show that several independent variables that were included in the model had an influence on investment decisions. The study also found that the influence of title deeds differs between rural and semiurban dwellers. Semi-urban dwellers are likely to regard their property as insecure without title deeds, whereas rural dwellers indicated strong security of tenure despite staying on leased land. The study also found that the influence of collateral credit differs between small and commercial farmers. Some small farmers, who had collateral assets, did not use it when seeking credit or were denied even after using it. That is due to other factors such as cash flow and affordability. These factors, combined with the low value of collateral assets for small farmers prevent them from accessing additional credit. The results from the regression analysis revealed that certain independent variables have an influence on the dependent variable (farm investment). The regression vi | P a g e analysis results also prove that there is a significant positive correlation between the security of tenure and farm investment. However, the results from the respondents show that the proposed policy (expropriation of land without compensation) has not decreased their security of tenure as yet. The majority of respondents reported knowing about the policy, but still indicated that they intend to increase their farm investment in the coming three years. Therefore, there is no evidence that the proposed legislation had a negative impact on planned investment from a data analysis perspective. However, planned investments are decreased because of the current policy uncertainty. Those participants who indicated that they will decrease their investment, did so because they were not sure if their property will be targeted or not. This policy uncertainty is the source of disinvestment. Government should finalise this policy. It must be clear, indicate the circumstances under which someone’s property will be targeted. This is likely to put everyone at ease and be certain if their property will be expropriated or not. Government should be cautious of putting a policy that is not definite enough and leaves the final decisions to the court to determine the amount to be paid as compensation, as is currently the case. This court-determined compensation increases transactions costs and also creates uncertainty because one does not know how much are they entitled to until the final court determination. This contributes to policy uncertainty and procrastination on investment. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
Assessing the technologies transforming the logistics Industry in Nelson Mandela Bay
- Authors: Ruiters, Byron
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Business logistics -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58168 , vital:58616
- Description: Supply chain disruptions such as those emanating from the current Covid 19 pandemic have made the logistics industry to undergo fast and unprecedented change. In such unpredictable times, innovation and technology adoption has emerged as one of the major trends and key solutions to lead the way for the future of logistics. This is also because a successful and efficient logistics strategy requires the use of technology, as well as the strategic value derived from a firm's capacity. This in turn enables firms to recognise possibilities and challenges resulting from technological advancement in order to attain long-term competitiveness. The industry is implementing these technologies with caution in order to provide faster, cheaper, more dependable and long-term supply. This study sought to investigate whether Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB) is keeping up with the current logistics technology trends and systems that are transforming logistics firms in South Africa, the African continent and the rest of the world. To achieve this primary objective, the study also sought to achieve the following sub-objectives, namely: to identify the logistics technologies transforming logistics firms in NMB; to assess the role of logistics technologies affecting logistics firms in NMB. The study also sought to ascertain the challenges of using logistics technologies transforming the logistics firms in NMB; and examine the effect of logistics technology adoption and use on business performance of logistics firms in NMB. The study used an online closed-ended questionnaire distributed via google forms to collect primary data from a sample of 132 respondents across all the logistics firms (which consisted of warehousing, transport and packaging firms) in NMB. The study targeted those respondents involved in the management of the targeted logistics firms. The empirical results show that technology use in logistics firms has advanced a lot to vehicle tracking, packaging, inventory control, and communication systems, as well as robotics among logistics firms in NMB. The results also identified logistics technologies such as the Internet of Things, Robotic Process automation, Digital Supply Chain Twins, Vendor managed system and RFID as some of the major technologies currently transforming the logistics firms in NMB. The study found that many challenges exist with logistics technology adoption, and cited lack of investment towards logistics technology; the fear of iii losing jobs as people get replaced by technology such as machines and robots; high logistics costs as some of the major challenges. More so, the study results reveal that logistics technology adoption and use play a positive and significant role in logistics firms. The study further reports a significant and positive effect of logistics technology adoption and use on business performance of logistics firms. This study concludes that though still at infancy stage, logistics firms in NMB are keeping upbreast with the current logistics technological trends. The study suggests that firms need to speed up the adoption of the needed logistics technologies available to their respective business in order to remain efficient and effective. , Thesis (MA) --Faculty of Business and Economic science, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
- Authors: Ruiters, Byron
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Business logistics -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58168 , vital:58616
- Description: Supply chain disruptions such as those emanating from the current Covid 19 pandemic have made the logistics industry to undergo fast and unprecedented change. In such unpredictable times, innovation and technology adoption has emerged as one of the major trends and key solutions to lead the way for the future of logistics. This is also because a successful and efficient logistics strategy requires the use of technology, as well as the strategic value derived from a firm's capacity. This in turn enables firms to recognise possibilities and challenges resulting from technological advancement in order to attain long-term competitiveness. The industry is implementing these technologies with caution in order to provide faster, cheaper, more dependable and long-term supply. This study sought to investigate whether Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB) is keeping up with the current logistics technology trends and systems that are transforming logistics firms in South Africa, the African continent and the rest of the world. To achieve this primary objective, the study also sought to achieve the following sub-objectives, namely: to identify the logistics technologies transforming logistics firms in NMB; to assess the role of logistics technologies affecting logistics firms in NMB. The study also sought to ascertain the challenges of using logistics technologies transforming the logistics firms in NMB; and examine the effect of logistics technology adoption and use on business performance of logistics firms in NMB. The study used an online closed-ended questionnaire distributed via google forms to collect primary data from a sample of 132 respondents across all the logistics firms (which consisted of warehousing, transport and packaging firms) in NMB. The study targeted those respondents involved in the management of the targeted logistics firms. The empirical results show that technology use in logistics firms has advanced a lot to vehicle tracking, packaging, inventory control, and communication systems, as well as robotics among logistics firms in NMB. The results also identified logistics technologies such as the Internet of Things, Robotic Process automation, Digital Supply Chain Twins, Vendor managed system and RFID as some of the major technologies currently transforming the logistics firms in NMB. The study found that many challenges exist with logistics technology adoption, and cited lack of investment towards logistics technology; the fear of iii losing jobs as people get replaced by technology such as machines and robots; high logistics costs as some of the major challenges. More so, the study results reveal that logistics technology adoption and use play a positive and significant role in logistics firms. The study further reports a significant and positive effect of logistics technology adoption and use on business performance of logistics firms. This study concludes that though still at infancy stage, logistics firms in NMB are keeping upbreast with the current logistics technological trends. The study suggests that firms need to speed up the adoption of the needed logistics technologies available to their respective business in order to remain efficient and effective. , Thesis (MA) --Faculty of Business and Economic science, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and substance abuse: prevalence and effect of past pharmacotherapy in young adults
- Authors: Coetze, Corne
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder , Substance abuse
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58783 , vital:60121
- Description: Background: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) frequently occurs in patients with SUD. Several studies demonstrated that ADHD constitutes a significant risk factor for the development of SUDs and suggest that childhood ADHD pharmacotherapy might help prevent the development of SUD. Furthermore, substance use patterns seem to differ between individuals with and without ADHD. Aim: The primary aim of this study was to establish the prevalence of ADHD in SUD in a South African treatment-seeking population, substance use patterns, and to determine the effect of past pharmacotherapy on later life’s functional impairment in adult ADHD treatment-seeking patients with a SUD. Method: Adult treatment-seeking SUD patients (n=360) were recruited from rehabilitation facilities and screened using the ADHD Self-Report Scale Symptom Checklist (ASRS-v1.1). ADHD diagnosis was confirmed (n=52) by the Diagnostic-Interview for ADHD in Adults (DIVA 2.0). Adults with ADHD without SUD (n=48) were recruited from clinicians, retail pharmacies and the general public. Life-time substance use was assessed using a self-report questionnaire. Tobacco use was assessed by the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND). ADHD-related functional impairment was assessed by the Weiss Functional Impairment Rating Scale (WFIRS). Information on present and life-time use of ADHD medication was obtained. Clinical outcomes between those with and without a history of pharmacotherapy were compared. Results: ADHD is highly prevalent in South African adult treatment-seeking SUD patients. High rates of untreated and unrecognised ADHD were found. Individuals with SUD+ADHD were significantly associated with higher tobacco use. Data indicated increased levels of cannabis consumption among SUD+ADHD individuals, especially among SUD+ADHD females. Furthermore, we found that patients with ADHD were significantly associated with polysubstance use. Our results showed a history of childhood ADHD pharmacotherapy to be associated with less functional ADHD-related impairment across all functional domains and a decreased risk for substance use in later life. Abstract Conclusion: High rates of untreated and unrecognised ADHD were found among treatment-seeking SUD patients. ADHD patients appeared to self-medicate to cope with their symptoms. Childhood ADHD pharmacotherapy might be associated with a decreased risk for substance use in adulthood and lower ADHD-related impairment. Despite study limitations, these findings underline the importance of early ADHD detection and treatment, which might prevent substance use. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
- Authors: Coetze, Corne
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder , Substance abuse
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58783 , vital:60121
- Description: Background: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) frequently occurs in patients with SUD. Several studies demonstrated that ADHD constitutes a significant risk factor for the development of SUDs and suggest that childhood ADHD pharmacotherapy might help prevent the development of SUD. Furthermore, substance use patterns seem to differ between individuals with and without ADHD. Aim: The primary aim of this study was to establish the prevalence of ADHD in SUD in a South African treatment-seeking population, substance use patterns, and to determine the effect of past pharmacotherapy on later life’s functional impairment in adult ADHD treatment-seeking patients with a SUD. Method: Adult treatment-seeking SUD patients (n=360) were recruited from rehabilitation facilities and screened using the ADHD Self-Report Scale Symptom Checklist (ASRS-v1.1). ADHD diagnosis was confirmed (n=52) by the Diagnostic-Interview for ADHD in Adults (DIVA 2.0). Adults with ADHD without SUD (n=48) were recruited from clinicians, retail pharmacies and the general public. Life-time substance use was assessed using a self-report questionnaire. Tobacco use was assessed by the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND). ADHD-related functional impairment was assessed by the Weiss Functional Impairment Rating Scale (WFIRS). Information on present and life-time use of ADHD medication was obtained. Clinical outcomes between those with and without a history of pharmacotherapy were compared. Results: ADHD is highly prevalent in South African adult treatment-seeking SUD patients. High rates of untreated and unrecognised ADHD were found. Individuals with SUD+ADHD were significantly associated with higher tobacco use. Data indicated increased levels of cannabis consumption among SUD+ADHD individuals, especially among SUD+ADHD females. Furthermore, we found that patients with ADHD were significantly associated with polysubstance use. Our results showed a history of childhood ADHD pharmacotherapy to be associated with less functional ADHD-related impairment across all functional domains and a decreased risk for substance use in later life. Abstract Conclusion: High rates of untreated and unrecognised ADHD were found among treatment-seeking SUD patients. ADHD patients appeared to self-medicate to cope with their symptoms. Childhood ADHD pharmacotherapy might be associated with a decreased risk for substance use in adulthood and lower ADHD-related impairment. Despite study limitations, these findings underline the importance of early ADHD detection and treatment, which might prevent substance use. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
Automated machine learning plankton taxonomy pipeline
- Authors: Du Toit, Ian Charles
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: machine learning , Plankton -- Ecology
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58363 , vital:59003
- Description: Plankton taxonomy is considered a multi-class classification problem. The current state-of-the-art developments in machine learning and phytoplankton taxonomy, such as MorphoCluster, include using a convolutional neural network as a feature extractor and Hierarchical Density-Based Clustering for the classification of plankton and identification of outliers. These convolutional feature extraction algorithms achieved accuracies of 0.78 during the classification process. However, these feature extraction models are trained on clean datasets. They perform very well when analysing previously encountered and well-defined classes but do not perform well when tested on raw datasets expected in field deployment. Raw plankton datasets are unbalanced; whereas some classes only have one or two samples, others can have thousands. They also exhibit many inter-class similarities with significant size differences. The data can also be in the form of low-resolution, noisy images. Phytoplankton species are also highly biodiverse, meaning that there is always a higher chance of a network encountering unknown sample types. Some samples, such as the various body parts of organisms, are easily confused with the species itself. Marine experts classifying plankton tend to group ambiguous samples according to the highest order to which they are confident they belong. This system leads to a dataset containing conflicting classes and forces the feature extraction network to overfit when training. This research aims to address these spatial issues and present a feature extraction methodology built upon existing research and novel concepts. The proposed algorithm uses feature extraction methods designed around real-world sample sets and offers an alternative approach to optimizing the features extracted and supplied to the clustering algorithm. The proposed feature extraction methods achieved scores of 0.821 when tested on the same datasets as the general feature extractor. The algorithm also consists of Auxiliary SoftMax classification branches which indicate the class prediction obtained by the feature extraction models. These branches allow for autonomous labelling of the clusters formed during the HDBSCAN algorithm being performed on the extracted features. This results in a fully automated semi-supervised plankton taxonomy pipeline which achieves a classification score of 0.775 on a real-life sample set. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment, and Technology, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
- Authors: Du Toit, Ian Charles
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: machine learning , Plankton -- Ecology
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58363 , vital:59003
- Description: Plankton taxonomy is considered a multi-class classification problem. The current state-of-the-art developments in machine learning and phytoplankton taxonomy, such as MorphoCluster, include using a convolutional neural network as a feature extractor and Hierarchical Density-Based Clustering for the classification of plankton and identification of outliers. These convolutional feature extraction algorithms achieved accuracies of 0.78 during the classification process. However, these feature extraction models are trained on clean datasets. They perform very well when analysing previously encountered and well-defined classes but do not perform well when tested on raw datasets expected in field deployment. Raw plankton datasets are unbalanced; whereas some classes only have one or two samples, others can have thousands. They also exhibit many inter-class similarities with significant size differences. The data can also be in the form of low-resolution, noisy images. Phytoplankton species are also highly biodiverse, meaning that there is always a higher chance of a network encountering unknown sample types. Some samples, such as the various body parts of organisms, are easily confused with the species itself. Marine experts classifying plankton tend to group ambiguous samples according to the highest order to which they are confident they belong. This system leads to a dataset containing conflicting classes and forces the feature extraction network to overfit when training. This research aims to address these spatial issues and present a feature extraction methodology built upon existing research and novel concepts. The proposed algorithm uses feature extraction methods designed around real-world sample sets and offers an alternative approach to optimizing the features extracted and supplied to the clustering algorithm. The proposed feature extraction methods achieved scores of 0.821 when tested on the same datasets as the general feature extractor. The algorithm also consists of Auxiliary SoftMax classification branches which indicate the class prediction obtained by the feature extraction models. These branches allow for autonomous labelling of the clusters formed during the HDBSCAN algorithm being performed on the extracted features. This results in a fully automated semi-supervised plankton taxonomy pipeline which achieves a classification score of 0.775 on a real-life sample set. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment, and Technology, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
Be more than a bystander, break the silence on violence: a discursive analysis of student responses to anti-rape poster campaigns
- Authors: Skae, Shannon Lalla Rookh
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Women Violence against South Africa , Women college students Violence against South Africa , Women college students Abuse of South Africa , College students Attitudes , Sex crimes Prevention , Anti-rape movement South Africa , Bystander effect South Africa , Rape culture South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's thesis , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/232866 , vital:50033
- Description: University students are a population vulnerable to sex and gender-based violence (SGBV). The use of alcohol is prominent in university life and is argued to contribute significantly to SGBV in South Africa and worldwide. Interventions to reduce SGBV at South African universities are thus a relevant social concern. One increasingly popular approach to addressing SGBV on university campuses is the bystander intervention. The bystander intervention goes to the cause of SGBV by targeting peer acceptance as the primary foundation supporting rape; arguing that witnesses to SGBV can be empowered to interrupt potential SGBV situations. The aim of this thesis was to investigate student responses to anti-rape intervention campaigns of various kinds. Different theories were examined, and this research then proceeded from a social constructionist theoretical perspective, which was relevant as it is about what individuals say, the societies formed, the rules made, the language used to pass on knowledge and the interactions experienced with others and how they all form the reality people inhabit. The study focused on the individual constructions and talk about the posters and the discursive positions he or she took up in relation to them, which is what social constructionism is interested in, as it is concerned with the language and talk people use and how these are molded by society. Forty five student volunteer participants were shown two examples of anti-rape poster campaigns (one using the bystander approach and the other not), and were asked to respond to a structured open-ended questionnaire. Responses to the questionnaire were subjected to Foucauldian Discourse Analysis (FDA). The analysis revealed the ways in which the constructions of sexual violence, perpetrators and victims in the poster campaigns shaped and limited participant responses and talk about SGBV in different ways, according to which of the two posters were being responded to. Key findings of this study showed that the bystander intervention poster produced more positive change in response to dominant discursive constructions in relation to the SGBV poster than did the non-bystander intervention poster. This means the establishment of the potential for success of the bystander intervention in helping to prevent SGBV in a South African context. , Thesis (MA) -- Humanities, Psychology, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
- Authors: Skae, Shannon Lalla Rookh
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Women Violence against South Africa , Women college students Violence against South Africa , Women college students Abuse of South Africa , College students Attitudes , Sex crimes Prevention , Anti-rape movement South Africa , Bystander effect South Africa , Rape culture South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's thesis , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/232866 , vital:50033
- Description: University students are a population vulnerable to sex and gender-based violence (SGBV). The use of alcohol is prominent in university life and is argued to contribute significantly to SGBV in South Africa and worldwide. Interventions to reduce SGBV at South African universities are thus a relevant social concern. One increasingly popular approach to addressing SGBV on university campuses is the bystander intervention. The bystander intervention goes to the cause of SGBV by targeting peer acceptance as the primary foundation supporting rape; arguing that witnesses to SGBV can be empowered to interrupt potential SGBV situations. The aim of this thesis was to investigate student responses to anti-rape intervention campaigns of various kinds. Different theories were examined, and this research then proceeded from a social constructionist theoretical perspective, which was relevant as it is about what individuals say, the societies formed, the rules made, the language used to pass on knowledge and the interactions experienced with others and how they all form the reality people inhabit. The study focused on the individual constructions and talk about the posters and the discursive positions he or she took up in relation to them, which is what social constructionism is interested in, as it is concerned with the language and talk people use and how these are molded by society. Forty five student volunteer participants were shown two examples of anti-rape poster campaigns (one using the bystander approach and the other not), and were asked to respond to a structured open-ended questionnaire. Responses to the questionnaire were subjected to Foucauldian Discourse Analysis (FDA). The analysis revealed the ways in which the constructions of sexual violence, perpetrators and victims in the poster campaigns shaped and limited participant responses and talk about SGBV in different ways, according to which of the two posters were being responded to. Key findings of this study showed that the bystander intervention poster produced more positive change in response to dominant discursive constructions in relation to the SGBV poster than did the non-bystander intervention poster. This means the establishment of the potential for success of the bystander intervention in helping to prevent SGBV in a South African context. , Thesis (MA) -- Humanities, Psychology, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
Birthing process preparedness of first-time mothers in the public obstetric units of the Nelson Mandela Bay health district (NMBHD).
- Authors: Dlamini, Xolani
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Birthparents , Nelson Mandela Bay Health District
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58815 , vital:60126
- Description: The birthing process is a challenging, unpredictable yet a beautiful life event for birthing women, requiring reasonable birthing process preparedness on birthing woman to enhance her cooperation during the birthing process. Often first-time mothers lack their own frame of reference regarding the birthing process to improve their birthing process preparedness. As an alternative they are reliant on that of other people with birthing process experiences or on what they are told by midwives. The purpose of this study was to understand how was the preparedness of the birthing process of first-time mothers in the public obstetric units of the NMBHD. Thus, an indication of how ready were they, when the labour started. The objectives of the study were as follows, to: • explore and describe the birthing process preparedness of first-time mothers in the public obstetric units of the NMBHD and • formulate recommendations for midwives and nurse managers that would aid them in facilitating the birthing process preparedness of first-time mothers in public obstetric units in the NMBHD. The study adopted a qualitative research design with exploratory, descriptive and contextual approach. The research population were first-time mothers who had booked and delivered in any of the obstetric units in the NMBHD. The convenience, non-probability sampling methods were used in selecting the first-time mothers who met the inclusion criteria. Envisaged sample size was 21 participants but also depending on data saturation. Sixteen participants were ultimately interviewed but only fifteen of those interviews were used. The data collection method used was one-on-one semi-structured interviews which were captured on a digital voice-recorder. The thematic method of data analysis was used to analyse data from the interviews. Three main themes emerged from the data analysis: • Theme 1: Participants shared their experiences regarding the birthing process and their birthing process preparedness. • Theme 2: Participants expressed having had varied experiences from factors that had influenced their birthing preparedness. iv • Theme 3: Participants provided suggestions for midwives to facilitate their birthing process preparedness. Recommendations were made for midwives and managers, nursing education, research and limitations of the study were outlined. To comply with trustworthiness, this study adopted Lincoln and Guba’s Model of trustworthiness. The ethical principles that guided this study with human participants were the principles of respect for persons, beneficence, non-maleficence and justice. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
- Authors: Dlamini, Xolani
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Birthparents , Nelson Mandela Bay Health District
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58815 , vital:60126
- Description: The birthing process is a challenging, unpredictable yet a beautiful life event for birthing women, requiring reasonable birthing process preparedness on birthing woman to enhance her cooperation during the birthing process. Often first-time mothers lack their own frame of reference regarding the birthing process to improve their birthing process preparedness. As an alternative they are reliant on that of other people with birthing process experiences or on what they are told by midwives. The purpose of this study was to understand how was the preparedness of the birthing process of first-time mothers in the public obstetric units of the NMBHD. Thus, an indication of how ready were they, when the labour started. The objectives of the study were as follows, to: • explore and describe the birthing process preparedness of first-time mothers in the public obstetric units of the NMBHD and • formulate recommendations for midwives and nurse managers that would aid them in facilitating the birthing process preparedness of first-time mothers in public obstetric units in the NMBHD. The study adopted a qualitative research design with exploratory, descriptive and contextual approach. The research population were first-time mothers who had booked and delivered in any of the obstetric units in the NMBHD. The convenience, non-probability sampling methods were used in selecting the first-time mothers who met the inclusion criteria. Envisaged sample size was 21 participants but also depending on data saturation. Sixteen participants were ultimately interviewed but only fifteen of those interviews were used. The data collection method used was one-on-one semi-structured interviews which were captured on a digital voice-recorder. The thematic method of data analysis was used to analyse data from the interviews. Three main themes emerged from the data analysis: • Theme 1: Participants shared their experiences regarding the birthing process and their birthing process preparedness. • Theme 2: Participants expressed having had varied experiences from factors that had influenced their birthing preparedness. iv • Theme 3: Participants provided suggestions for midwives to facilitate their birthing process preparedness. Recommendations were made for midwives and managers, nursing education, research and limitations of the study were outlined. To comply with trustworthiness, this study adopted Lincoln and Guba’s Model of trustworthiness. The ethical principles that guided this study with human participants were the principles of respect for persons, beneficence, non-maleficence and justice. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
Bootstrap-based tolerance intervals for nested two-way random effects models
- Authors: Erasmus, Christopher Daniel
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Mathematical statistics-South Africa , Multilevel models
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/55573 , vital:53331
- Description: Variance component, or random effects, models are frequently used by manufacturers to model the variance present in a manufacturing process. By applying tolerance intervals to variance component models, manufacturers are able to set upper and lower limits to monitor the variance within a process. Existing methods for constructing tolerance intervals are constrained by the necessity for data to be normally distributed. Recently, non-parametric bootstrap-based methods were developed by Deyzel (2018) to obtain α-expectation and (α, β) two-sided tolerance intervals for the two-way nested random effects model. Classical and non-parametric methods for obtaining tolerance intervals for the one way random effects model have been assessed in accordance with Rebafka et al. (2007). The present study assesses and compares classical, Bayesian and non-parametric methods for obtaining tolerance intervals for the two-way nested random effects model under different assumptions of the underlying distribution. Results show that the non-parametric methods provided relatively narrow intervals, and generally retain the nominal content and guarantee levels, regardless of the underlying distribution , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Mathematical Statistics , 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
- Authors: Erasmus, Christopher Daniel
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Mathematical statistics-South Africa , Multilevel models
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/55573 , vital:53331
- Description: Variance component, or random effects, models are frequently used by manufacturers to model the variance present in a manufacturing process. By applying tolerance intervals to variance component models, manufacturers are able to set upper and lower limits to monitor the variance within a process. Existing methods for constructing tolerance intervals are constrained by the necessity for data to be normally distributed. Recently, non-parametric bootstrap-based methods were developed by Deyzel (2018) to obtain α-expectation and (α, β) two-sided tolerance intervals for the two-way nested random effects model. Classical and non-parametric methods for obtaining tolerance intervals for the one way random effects model have been assessed in accordance with Rebafka et al. (2007). The present study assesses and compares classical, Bayesian and non-parametric methods for obtaining tolerance intervals for the two-way nested random effects model under different assumptions of the underlying distribution. Results show that the non-parametric methods provided relatively narrow intervals, and generally retain the nominal content and guarantee levels, regardless of the underlying distribution , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Mathematical Statistics , 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
Cannabidiol: extraction and purification using flow Chemistry
- Authors: Bopape, Karabo
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Supercritical fluid extraction --South Africa , Cannabis--Therapeutic use
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/55723 , vital:53410
- Description: cannabinoids are of growing interest in research and pharmaceutical applications. Cannabidiol, which is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid, has many pharmaceutical applications. The current and main source of cannabidiol and other cannabinoids is from cannabis and hemp extractions. Current extraction methods involve the use of conventional solvent extraction, which employs the use of organic solvents, in some cases along with mechanical assistance from various equipment. Alternatively, another widely used extraction method is the use of supercritical extraction fluids (SC-CO2 being the most common). An alternative method, which uses chemical synthesis to derivatize cannabidiol to form an intermediate, which is crystalline and can easily be isolated from the extract; the crystalline intermediate can then be deprotected back to pure cannabidiol. In this research, we investigated and adapted the crystallisation method (originally employed by Adams) into continuous flow. In this research, hemp extracts and oilsrich in CBD were used as the source for cannabidiol. This synthesis was adapted into microreactors to synthesise the crystalline intermediate ester product (cannabidiol-3,5-bis-benzoate) which was subsequently reacted in a saponification ester hydrolysis to convert back and isolate pure CBD using continuous flow microreactor technology. Chapter one gives a comprehensive literature review and background on cannabidiol, along with its chemistry and pharmacological benefits in addition to a brief introduction to continuous flow technology with its advantages. Chapter two details the experimental procedures utilised for both batch and continuous flow syntheses. The continuous flow synthesis and subsequent hydrolysis of the ester intermediate, which shows the improvements in comparison to batch; giving higher product recovery (63% CBD), in shorter reaction times (2.5 min for CBD bis-benzoate; 30 min for CBD) is subsequently presented. This is expanded in chapter three with detailed discussions of the results attained during the continuous flow. The concluding remarks, the impact of this study and future work are elucidated in chapter four. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Biomolecular and Chemical Sciences, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
- Authors: Bopape, Karabo
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Supercritical fluid extraction --South Africa , Cannabis--Therapeutic use
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/55723 , vital:53410
- Description: cannabinoids are of growing interest in research and pharmaceutical applications. Cannabidiol, which is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid, has many pharmaceutical applications. The current and main source of cannabidiol and other cannabinoids is from cannabis and hemp extractions. Current extraction methods involve the use of conventional solvent extraction, which employs the use of organic solvents, in some cases along with mechanical assistance from various equipment. Alternatively, another widely used extraction method is the use of supercritical extraction fluids (SC-CO2 being the most common). An alternative method, which uses chemical synthesis to derivatize cannabidiol to form an intermediate, which is crystalline and can easily be isolated from the extract; the crystalline intermediate can then be deprotected back to pure cannabidiol. In this research, we investigated and adapted the crystallisation method (originally employed by Adams) into continuous flow. In this research, hemp extracts and oilsrich in CBD were used as the source for cannabidiol. This synthesis was adapted into microreactors to synthesise the crystalline intermediate ester product (cannabidiol-3,5-bis-benzoate) which was subsequently reacted in a saponification ester hydrolysis to convert back and isolate pure CBD using continuous flow microreactor technology. Chapter one gives a comprehensive literature review and background on cannabidiol, along with its chemistry and pharmacological benefits in addition to a brief introduction to continuous flow technology with its advantages. Chapter two details the experimental procedures utilised for both batch and continuous flow syntheses. The continuous flow synthesis and subsequent hydrolysis of the ester intermediate, which shows the improvements in comparison to batch; giving higher product recovery (63% CBD), in shorter reaction times (2.5 min for CBD bis-benzoate; 30 min for CBD) is subsequently presented. This is expanded in chapter three with detailed discussions of the results attained during the continuous flow. The concluding remarks, the impact of this study and future work are elucidated in chapter four. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Biomolecular and Chemical Sciences, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
Cape Vultures (Gyps coprotheres) and the threat of wind farms: a race to extinction?
- Authors: Brooke, Francis Rae
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Wind Turbines --Blades --Materials , Gyps --South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/55910 , vital:54399
- Description: The development of wind energy is increasing globally and is often considered more environmentally friendly when compared to fossil fuel technologies. However, one of the ecological drawbacks of wind energy are the collisions of wildlife with turbine blades. In addition, the resulting anthropogenic landscape transformation can negatively impact populations. The Cape Vulture (Gyps coprotheres), a large endangered southern African endemic species, thus may be at risk from turbine development. The species has decreased dramatically in the past 50 years and understanding how additional mortalities from wind turbine impacts affect the population is needed to ensure effective conservation efforts. This study aimed to determine the population response to this emerging threat. This study first reviewed the species-, site- and wind farm- specific traits that make Gyps species vulnerable to collision with wind energy infrastructure. It examined the monitoring practices employed during the pre- and post-construction phase and mitigation measures in South Africa and compared it with international standards. Furthermore, wind energy development may disrupt landscape connectivity and understanding which, and how habitat patches are used is needed. Using network theory combined with telemetry data from tagged individuals across three age classes, habitat patch use was identified. Further, environmental variables associated with identified habitat patches were identified. Additionally, considering the wind energy industry is expanding in South Africa, exploring how the Cape Vulture population will respond to this novel and emerging threat may aid future conservation management plans. Therefore, using a population viability analysis approach, the study explored how present and future wind turbine mortality scenarios impact the Cape Vulture population and how the population will respond to increased wind turbine development. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, School of Environmental Sciences, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
- Authors: Brooke, Francis Rae
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Wind Turbines --Blades --Materials , Gyps --South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/55910 , vital:54399
- Description: The development of wind energy is increasing globally and is often considered more environmentally friendly when compared to fossil fuel technologies. However, one of the ecological drawbacks of wind energy are the collisions of wildlife with turbine blades. In addition, the resulting anthropogenic landscape transformation can negatively impact populations. The Cape Vulture (Gyps coprotheres), a large endangered southern African endemic species, thus may be at risk from turbine development. The species has decreased dramatically in the past 50 years and understanding how additional mortalities from wind turbine impacts affect the population is needed to ensure effective conservation efforts. This study aimed to determine the population response to this emerging threat. This study first reviewed the species-, site- and wind farm- specific traits that make Gyps species vulnerable to collision with wind energy infrastructure. It examined the monitoring practices employed during the pre- and post-construction phase and mitigation measures in South Africa and compared it with international standards. Furthermore, wind energy development may disrupt landscape connectivity and understanding which, and how habitat patches are used is needed. Using network theory combined with telemetry data from tagged individuals across three age classes, habitat patch use was identified. Further, environmental variables associated with identified habitat patches were identified. Additionally, considering the wind energy industry is expanding in South Africa, exploring how the Cape Vulture population will respond to this novel and emerging threat may aid future conservation management plans. Therefore, using a population viability analysis approach, the study explored how present and future wind turbine mortality scenarios impact the Cape Vulture population and how the population will respond to increased wind turbine development. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, School of Environmental Sciences, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
Career counselling in the context of Industry 4.0: A systematic literature review
- Authors: Chintokoma, Kudzai Ashley
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Career development , Career changes
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/57589 , vital:58102
- Description: The researcher’s main aim was to summarise and evaluate the existing body of knowledge of career counselling practices, theory and models that can be used as a tool to help individuals cope or manage change in a contemporary work environment. The findings show that the world of work has changed due to technological advancement associated with Industry 4.0, resulting in careers becoming short term. More so, given the increasing speed at which current occupations are changing, people are forced to familiarize themselves with new occupations and industries that might offer new employment opportunities and career prospects. Based on a systematic literature review, the study holds the practical implication that with the help of evolving career counselling practices and HR processes, organisations can help employees attain a meaningful career and wellbeing in the digital era, through paying more attention to enabling interventions that help individuals develop self-regulatory future fit career self-management capabilities. This support system can be of assistance if they understand how employees’ identity in the demonstration of self-management capability can be developed and sustained both in the short and long run. Overall, the literature was effective and quite convincing in its call to discuss the pressing issues that come as a result of industry 4.0. The proposition is that career support should be promoted more and become an important policy within organisations in the digital era. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic science, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
- Authors: Chintokoma, Kudzai Ashley
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Career development , Career changes
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/57589 , vital:58102
- Description: The researcher’s main aim was to summarise and evaluate the existing body of knowledge of career counselling practices, theory and models that can be used as a tool to help individuals cope or manage change in a contemporary work environment. The findings show that the world of work has changed due to technological advancement associated with Industry 4.0, resulting in careers becoming short term. More so, given the increasing speed at which current occupations are changing, people are forced to familiarize themselves with new occupations and industries that might offer new employment opportunities and career prospects. Based on a systematic literature review, the study holds the practical implication that with the help of evolving career counselling practices and HR processes, organisations can help employees attain a meaningful career and wellbeing in the digital era, through paying more attention to enabling interventions that help individuals develop self-regulatory future fit career self-management capabilities. This support system can be of assistance if they understand how employees’ identity in the demonstration of self-management capability can be developed and sustained both in the short and long run. Overall, the literature was effective and quite convincing in its call to discuss the pressing issues that come as a result of industry 4.0. The proposition is that career support should be promoted more and become an important policy within organisations in the digital era. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic science, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04